River cruising has enjoyed a tremendous resurgence in the 1990s. Almost 150,000 people took a river cruise in 1997, compared to 44,200 in 1992, and Bill Gibbons, PSA director, put the phenomenal success of river cruising down to two factors. "The recovery of Egypt’s tourism industry and the return of operators to Nile cruises has had a huge impact. Almost half of all river cruise holidays are now taken on the Nile. "The other reason for the tremendous growth is the fact that countries such as Russia and China have opened up for river passengers. In these countries, river cruises can

offer a comfortable way of travelling when the infrastructure may not be geared for tourists.

Any voyage that stays within interior waterways rather than venturing between oceanic islands is a river cruise. The rivers may be major transportation routes or simply quiet backwaters that offer visitors a glimpse of the regional culture not typically noticeable in major cruise ports. Because of their unique itineraries and navigation concerns, however, river-going vessels are far different from typical cruise ships.

Most river ships only host between 100 and 200 guests. The ships are often narrow to help them navigate slender, shallow waterways, and they are not usually equipped with stabilizers – something that passengers prone to seasickness should take note of, since the ship may need to cross turbulent waters or rough weather could make the voyage less peaceful than anticipated.

Few structured diversions are planned on river voyages other than shore excursions. Passengers can easily amuse themselves, however, by observing the passing countryside – binoculars are an essential accessory on river cruises. The atmosphere is more casual than on larger ships, and meals are often served family style. Most menus incorporate regional tastes, such as local vintages when exploring California’s wine country, Cajun dishes on the lower Mississippi, or fresh fish from the Great Lakes.

The Nile, Egypt
The Rhine and tributaries, Germany, Holland and Switzerland
Russia Neva Volga rivers and waterways
Danube, Czech Rep, Austria and Hungary
Yangtse, China
The Rhone, Switzerland, France
Elbe, Germany
Mississippi, America
The Duro, Portugal
Others including the Po in Italy, the Amazon in S America and the Irawaddi in Burma