River Cruise Facts From Published Surveys
Destinations, seasons and satisfaction, from a survey of 703 travel advisors.
Tell Us What You Want in a River CruiseRiver cruise facts you can trust start with a named source. Most of the findings below come from one detailed, recent survey of the advisors who sell river cruises every day.
The Source
The Travel Market Report River Cruise Outlook 2024 is an online survey that Travel Market Report carried out in September 2024. A total of 703 travel advisors took part, 72% from the United States and 28% from Canada. The report compares results with its 2023 and 2022 editions. Because the respondents are advisors, the findings describe what advisors see among their river cruise clients — a well-informed view, but a second-hand one.
Survey at a glance
Publisher: Travel Market Report
Fieldwork: September 2024, online
Respondents: 703 travel advisors (72% U.S., 28% Canada)
Compared with: the 2023 and 2022 editions
Where and When
| Finding | Share of advisors | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Clients prefer a European river vacation | 99% | TMR River Cruise Outlook 2024 |
| Clients would choose a U.S. river vacation | 21% | TMR River Cruise Outlook 2024 |
| Top European destination: Germany | 83% | TMR River Cruise Outlook 2024 |
| Then France | 74% | TMR River Cruise Outlook 2024 |
| Then the Netherlands | 61% | TMR River Cruise Outlook 2024 |
| Most popular month: September | 62% | TMR River Cruise Outlook 2024 |
| Next: May | 56% | TMR River Cruise Outlook 2024 |
The report also notes that about three in ten U.S. advisors said their clients take river cruises lasting longer than a week, and that four in ten advisors saw Portugal and Spain gaining popularity.
What Satisfies River Cruisers
Itinerary — 82%
The leading factor in client satisfaction, according to advisors.
Food and wine — 69%
Quality of food and drink came next.
Value for money — 64%
Whether the trip felt worth what it cost.
Service from staff — 63%
The crew’s service quality rounds out the top four.
Advisors also passed on a common complaint: some clients feel rushed by early starts for excursions and would rather have time to relax and enjoy the scenery. That is useful when you compare itineraries — look at how many early mornings and how many free afternoons each one has. Our sister site Mister River Cruise helps first-timers choose a river and itinerary.
What People Book Around the Cruise
Advisors reported that pre- and post-cruise packages (85%) and ground transfers (83%) were the products their river cruise clients booked most often besides the cruise itself (89%), and eight in ten said clients chose river cruises partly to combine them with land stays before or after. If you are planning, budget time for a city stay at one or both ends.
River Cruise Facts: FAQs
What are the most popular months for river cruises?
In the Travel Market Report River Cruise Outlook 2024 advisor survey, September (62%) and May (56%) were the months advisors named most often.
Which countries sell best for river cruises?
In the same survey, advisors named Germany (83%), France (74%) and the Netherlands (61%) as the top-selling European river cruise destinations, with four in ten saying Portugal and Spain were gaining in popularity.
How was the survey carried out?
It was an online survey by Travel Market Report in September 2024. A total of 703 travel advisors from the U.S. (72%) and Canada (28%) took part.
Plan Around What Satisfies Most
Itinerary first, then food, value and service. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will compare options on those four points and send free quotes.
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