River Cruising Sells 2028
Scenic and Emerald have opened 2028 Europe river cruise sales, and VIVA's 332-departure 2028 programme follows on 15 October. Early prices and the best cabins go first.
The UK river cruise trade is now selling 2028. Scenic Group, which owns Scenic and Emerald Cruises, has pushed its 2028 Europe programme to UK agents with early-booking savings, and VIVA Cruises opens its largest-ever programme, 332 departures, on 15 October. For advisors with repeat river clients, this is the moment to secure the best cabins and the lowest fares.
Scenic and Emerald
Scenic Group opened early access to 2028 Europe river cruises in September and is now promoting it to UK agents. The new itinerary is Emerald Cruises’ Danube Capitals & Crossroads, a 10-night sailing between Passau and Belgrade through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and Serbia, with overnights in Vienna and Budapest. Departures run in March, April and August 2028. Inclusions listed by the company include a Wachau Valley wine tasting and a Serbian folklore evening, plus EmeraldACTIVE hiking and cycling options.
Emerald’s UK site shows a 14-day version that adds three nights in Prague, sailing Belgrade to Passau, at £5,580 per person full fare and £4,914 at its best available fare for April and August 2028 departures.
Travel Gossip reports early-booking savings of up to 20% and free return flights on selected departures. Scenic has also redesigned its 11-day Spectacular South of France cruise between Lyon and Tarascon, with six overnight port stays, and added land extensions to Monte-Carlo and the French Riviera, the Loire, Brittany and Munich. Agents who make bookings by 4 November 2026 enter a draw for 40 prizes, including river cruises.
VIVA
VIVA’s 2028 programme runs across seven vessels on the Rhine, Danube, Douro and Dutch waterways, among others. New itineraries include a 14-night Amsterdam to Budapest voyage on VIVA ENJOY and a 10-night wine sailing between Basel and Nancy on VIVA RUBY. The more interesting addition for luxury clients is VIVA Boutique: the 112-guest VIVA BEYOND on the Seine, with a Champagne & Sparkling Cruise from Paris from £3,150 per person, and the 104-guest VIVA UNIQUE on Italian rivers, offering a three-night Venice stay during Carnival from £750 per person. Director of sales Michelle Daniels said the programme has “more departures than ever.”
The water question
Low water has disrupted European river cruising in recent summers. CroisiEurope says it has reworked its summer 2027 programme “using its knowledge of individual river basins to plan for navigation challenges,” including shallow-draught vessels on some routes.
For advisors
- Hold the best cabins now for repeat river clients. Early fares and free-flight offers are usually best at launch.
- Note 15 October for VIVA, and pitch VIVA Boutique to clients who want a small ship.
- Pitch spring and autumn. Emerald’s new Danube route runs in March, April and August. Spring departures may suit clients worried about summer water levels.
- Ask about low water. Ask each line how it reroutes or substitutes when water levels drop, and what clients receive if it does.