Element of surprise: New ways to go against the flow

Until this year, the Amazon was the main river to explore in South America. From November, AmaWaterways will become the first mainstream river cruise line to offer sailings on Colombia's Magdalena River, in partnership with a local tour operator. The 60-passenger AmaMagdalena is set to sail from Cartagena to Barranquilla, delving into the history and culture with live music performances in island towns, birdwatching and boat tours, kayaking, hiking and walking excursions accompanied by nature and wildlife experts. amawaterways.com

A more intimate experience than a longboat with 100 strangers, hotel barges accommodate fewer than 20 passengers, plus a chef, host and tour guide. Families or groups of friends can charter the whole barge or you can join a theme cruise, such as golf, cycling, wine or opera. Barges are best known for meandering through French villages and vineyards along the Canal du Midi, but other destinations include England's River Thames, Ireland's Shannon River, Italy's Po River and Germany's Moselle. europeanwaterways.com

We will have to wait until next year for Murray River Paddlesteamers' fancy new vessel. Under construction, PS Australian Star is scheduled to start cruising year-round from Echuca, Victoria, in April 2025. Funded by the state government to the tune of $6.75 million, it will be the largest paddlesteamer in the Southern Hemisphere and the only wood-fired, five-star paddlesteamer in the world. With all-inclusive fares, the luxury cruiser will have 19 deluxe cabins, a contemporary bar and a fine-dining restaurant. The modern vessel will retain a touch of nostalgia with its hybrid diesel/steam propulsion system that will use a refurbished 1907 Richard Garrett and Sons steam engine. murrayriverpaddlesteamers.com.au

Lindblad Expeditions is known for adventures in far-flung locations like Antarctica and the Galapagos. Lesser known is its itinerary along the Snake and Columbia rivers in Oregon and Washington, USA. This weeklong cruise through wine regions, farmlands and mountainous landscapes includes the Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah Falls, Bonneville Dam and a series of eight locks. Both ships on this route, the 62-passenger National Geographic Sea Lion and Sea Bird, are equipped with zodiacs for scenic rides, while a fun day out on a jetboat zips through Hells Canyon, 600 metres deeper than the Grand Canyon. expeditions.com

It's unusual for large cruise ships to venture away from the sea and sail through narrow passages. But Viking Cruises sends its identical 930-passenger vessels, Viking Mars and Viking Neptune, down the St Lawrence River, which forms part of the international boundary between Canada and the United States. A slow drift along the Saguenay River in Canada is also part of the experience. The two-week trip from Montreal to New York City (or vice versa) also transits the Cape Cod Canal. Instead of endless ocean, guests can gaze at the gorgeous shoreline of forests bursting with colour in autumn. Complimentary coach tours are offered in Quebec, Halifax, Boston and Manhattan. vikingcruises.com.au

Here's another unique experience from Viking, which combines a river cruise with an ocean voyage. This back-to-back offering comprises a Rhine cruise from Switzerland to Holland, before switching to the next ship in Amsterdam to cross the North Sea for a journey through the spectacular fjords of Norway. vikingcruises.com.au

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has broken all the rules with its 55-day Rivers of the World experience, which spans three continents. Conducted on four ships, this adventure takes 40 passengers to 10 countries from Lima, Peru, to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Among the many highlights are Iguazu Falls on the border of Brazil and Argentina, Machu Picchu, Rio de Janeiro, Cambodia and multiple stops in Europe. uniworld.com

Too much water? Mix it up on a train. Some travel agencies create packages that offer both river and rail; check out deals from Cruise Express and Cruise1st. Independent travellers can also plan Eurostar or Eurail holidays with a river cruise before or after.

The easiest done-for-you deal is Uniworld's 12-day Venice and the Swiss Alps journey with four nights on the Golden Eagle Danube Express, traversing Western Europe to Italy, where guests embark the SS La Venezia to spend a week on the Venetian Lagoon.

Australia is blessed with some of the best rivers for houseboats. On the Hawkesbury River in NSW, Luxury Afloat has a fleet for hire to navigate lush bushland, bays, creeks. To let a captain do the driving, Murray River Trails runs outback-style safaris from Renmark, SA.

Imagine four days of guided walks, wildlife spotting, canoeing, lake tours, barbecues and stargazing. The solar-powered High River has six double ensuite rooms, lounge and dining rooms with wraparound windows, and a hot tub on the top deck. luxuryafloat.com; murrayrivertrails.com.au

Not sure if river cruising is for you? Or perhaps you'd like to break up your European holiday with a few relaxing days afloat. Riverside Luxury Cruises offers three-night tasters in Amsterdam, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia, with some dipping into a different country every day.

Another point of difference is its flexible pricing, so you can choose cheaper fares without alcohol or shore excursions included.

Riverside acquired its three beautiful vessels from Crystal River Cruises, which built them to be the most luxurious ships in Europe. It's a big call but they live up to the hype. riversidecruises.com.au

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