10 Historic River Trips Worth Flying For

1.Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Historic Mississippi River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,948 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $47Our pick

Spend about 2.5 hours aboard the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen, with narration on New Orleans, the Lemoyne brothers, Hurricane Katrina, and the Mississippi River. You will also visit Chalmette Battlefield, where a guide or park ranger explains the 1815 Battle of New Orleans. Food and drinks are available for purchase onboard.

“The food was excellent, especially the whiskey glazed bread pudding. The narrator, Charles was mesmerizing!! The Battlefield Tour was good. Everything was perfect, even the weather!”

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2.Morning World Heritage Cruise on the Gordon River from Strahan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,193 reviews · from $111Top rated

From Strahan, you’ll cruise Macquarie Harbour to Hell’s Gates, visit Sarah Island with a guide, eat lunch aboard a comfortable catamaran, and walk through Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. Guides such as Sarah, Kim, and Kaiah bring the convict and conservation stories to life. Allow six hours and dress for changeable weather.

“Awesome experience on the River and out through Hells Gate. Skipper and crew were amazing. A must do if staying at Strahan”

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3.Strahan: World Heritage Cruise on Gordon River with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,143 reviews · 6 hours · from $109

Spend six hours cruising from Strahan through Macquarie Harbour and the Gordon River. You’ll visit Sarah Island with a guide such as Lyle or Maggie, walk the Heritage Landing rainforest boardwalk, enjoy Tasmanian produce at your seat, and see a working Huon pine sawmill.

“nice easy going day... I noticed a lot of passengers from overseas.... I think they need to be warned about the Australian Drop Bear..... 🤔 😅”

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4.Historic City Centre Canal Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 659 reviews · 1 hour - 75 minutes · from $16Best value

Cruise Amsterdam’s historic center for 1 to 1.25 hours with an English or Dutch skipper, multilingual audio guide, heated cabin, toilet, and open rear deck. Board near the Anne Frank House or Central Station, then pass the Nine Streets, Skinny Bridge, Maritime Museum, Jordaan, IJ River, and other central sights.

“Bought ticket for my son. He said even though it was raining on the day be thoroughly enjoyed the trip.”

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5.Canal & Daugava Cruise on a Historic Wooden Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 496 reviews · 1 hour · from $20

Spend one hour aboard an original wooden boat on Riga’s City Canal and Daugava River. From Bastejkalns, you pass the Freedom Monument, Opera, Central Market, Spīķeri, Old Town, Riga Castle, Kipsala, and Kronvalda Park. An audio guide is available in five languages. Bring headphones, and pack a jacket for the cooler river section.

“got to see a lot of the city in a relaxing mode of transportation”

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6.Luxury Canal Cruise with Historic VR Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 305 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $51

Set out from Leidseplein on a 75-minute enclosed luxury boat cruise with English or Dutch audio commentary, seven VR animations, and one drink. At selected points, your headset shows Amsterdam as it looked 400 years ago, then you return to the present-day canal views. VR assistance is provided onboard.

“Already living in Amsterdam for 15 years, but never experienced this before! Great way to explore more about the city and very well organized”

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7.Luxury Canal Cruise with Historic VR Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 31 reviews · 1h 15m · from $50

Cruise Amsterdam in a warm, enclosed luxury boat while an English or Dutch audio tour explains the city. At seven points, a headset reveals the same canals, harbor, shipyard, and city wall 400 years ago. The 15-minute VR program includes seven historical animations and one drink.

“We vonden het helemaal super! Aardige ontvangst fijne warme boot en interessant om er eens door "een andere bril" naar te kijken”

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8.Historic Architecture Chicago River Small Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 26 reviews · 1h 30m · from $67

Cruise the Chicago River aboard a smaller historic yacht for 90 minutes of architecture-focused commentary in English. You’ll hear about the designs, builders, and ideas behind more than 50 skyscrapers, from Art Deco and Gothic towers to modern high-rises. Coffee, lemonade, sodas, and snacks are included, with drinks available at the bar.

“We enjoyed the smaller feel of this tour vs others that have hundreds of people, but we had a hard time hearing the guide. We were at the front of the boat and between the people around us talking nonstop and the low volume of the speaker, we only heard about half of the tour. This wasn’t the guide’s fault, he was humorous and knowledgeable, but it did affect how much we learned while on the cruise. I also highly recommend arriving very early. Instructions said come 15 mins early and we got there 30 mins early to be safe, and almost every single seat was already taken. Overall, I…”

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9.Corinth Canal Cruise: Ancient Ports, Crystal Waters &History

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 14 reviews · 4h 30m · from $117

Spend 270 minutes aboard the 17-meter Agios Andreas, passing through the Corinth Canal, ancient Kenchreai, and the Baths of Helen of Troy before swimming at Siderona Beach. The English-speaking tour assistant, glass-bottom viewing, buffet meal, wine, and transfers from Corinth make this a history-and-sea outing in one.

“Sehr nette Betreiber, feine Verköstigung an Bord und schöne Bucht angefahren zum Baden. Musik und Tanz an Bord, top👍”

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10.Arles: Culture & History River Cruise – Day Trip w/Meals

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 13 reviews · from $105

Cruise from Avignon toward Arles, passing the Saint-Bénézet Bridge, Palais des Papes, Tarascon, Beaucaire, and the Vallabrègues lock. You get lunch aboard, a two-hour Arles visit, and an evening aperitif dinner with entertainment. French and English service is offered, though the Arles guide may not always speak English.

“Very friendly staff, excellent food, good value for money. Overall very satisfied, would recommend.”

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