Featured image: Step into solo travel and save money on one of these no single supplement women’s trips | Photo by Photo by Mint_Images on Envato. 

Why not spend the holidays on the water? 

by JourneyWoman Staff

With the holiday season less than three months away, we’ve curated a list of our favourite rivers for women to explore in Europe, Asia and South America. A Christmas markets river cruise is always a wonderful way to experience local festivities, and there’s something so special about wandering through centuries-old squares with a mug of mulled wine in hand. But there’s even more to see for those who want venture further to the Mekong, Nile or Amazon River.  Here are our top picks for holiday cruises to help you find the journey of your dreams. 

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Some of our favourite holiday-season cruises

1.  Christmastime on the Danube with Avalon Waterways

​This 9-day Danube river cruise includes two nights in Prague, followed by a festive sailing from Nuremberg to Vienna. You’ll visit some of the most well-known Christmas markets in Central Europe, including Prague’s Old Town, Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt, and Vienna’s city square markets. This Avalon cruise is a good option for women looking to combine a river cruise with time on land in Prague, with plenty of opportunities to explore on your own or with a guide. Multiple departure dates available in December 2025.  Read more about our experience on Avalon’s Christmas Markets cruise here. 

2. Rhine Holiday Markets in Germany with Uniworld

Explore some of Europe’s most festive towns on Uniworld’s Rhine Holiday Markets cruise from Cologne to Basel. Visit Christmas markets in Cologne, Rüdesheim, Mainz, Strasbourg, and Basel, and enjoy seasonal treats like gingerbread and mulled wine along the way. This is a relaxed way to see multiple Christmas markets without packing and unpacking, and a great option for first-time cruisers. Multiple dates available from November to December 2025. 

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3. Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia with AmaWaterways

Lively Ho Chi Minh City, once known as the “Pearl of the Orient,” offers a vibrant mix of old and new and provides the perfect start to your incredible journey through Vietnam and Cambodia. Cruise along the mighty Mekong, discovering a glimpse into another era, one where people still happily honour the timeless traditions passed down through the centuries from their ancestors. Multiple dates available from November to December 2025. 

JourneyWoman’s Carolyn Ray will be joining AmaWaterways in December for “Charms of the Mekong,” which starts in Ho Chi Minh City and ends in Siem Reap. Look for her updates soon! ​

4. Amazon River Boat in Peru with G Adventures

Hop aboard a riverboat and experience Peru’s Amazon in style. Led by Amazon Reserve naturalist guides, your cruise will include daily excursions by motorized skiff designed to reveal the exotic wildlife that calls the rainforest home.

The cuisine on board is regional and provides a unique and delicious window into local culture. Gain a rare glimpse of how life “on the river” is lived and experience the magic of the Amazon on this riverboat adventure. Save 25% on departures in November to December 2025. 

5. Sail on the Nile with CroisiEurope

The cradle of all civilizations, ancient Egypt, has fascinated humankind forever. Since the dawn of time, explorers, diplomats, writers, and painters have used the fertile banks of the Nile as inspiration for their work. Majestic temples, tombs, pyramids, and lively villages dot the Nile Valley landscapes from Luxor to Aswan. Wind down from your everyday grind and step way back in time on a cruise through Upper Egypt. Prices start at $1920 per person for an 8-day cruise. Save 20% on the December 2025 departure. 

6. Sail the Duroro with Amawaterways

Vineyards and charming native farms cling to the steep sides of the Douro River Valley, creating an incomparable backdrop to one of Europe’s most unspoiled regions and to Port country, the world’s oldest demarcated wine region. Sail round-trip from Porto, the beautiful “City of Bridges”; visit Regua, the ‘capital’ of the Douro Valley; and marvel at Salamanca, the UNESCO-designated “Golden City.” Taste wines from historic wineries and soak up the genuine beauty of one of Europe’s most unadulterated landscapes. This trip runs from December 26 to January 6, 2026.

About the JourneyWoman Women’s Travel Directory

JourneyWoman, the world’s first resource for solo women travellers established in 1994, hosts the JourneyWoman Women’s Travel Directory as a free service to help women plan safe, women-friendly solo travel, while supporting women-owned and small tourism businesses around the world.

The Directory includes hundreds of curated and vetted multi-day tours, retreats, small ships and train experiences, as well as a concierge service to connect women with travel advisors, coaches and guides. Featured categories include adventure travel, wellness, hiking and walking, special interest trips, as well as accessible, LGBTQ+ and Indigenous tours. Within the Directory, there is a ‘Places to Stay’ resource where women can find and share safe, affordable women-friendly hotels, hostels and other accommodation options. JourneyWoman vets each business and provides a “JourneyWoman Verified,” badge to those that meet certain criteria.

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