We love a 2-for-1 deal. And “deal” and “river cruises” don’t often go together. But lately we’ve found more and more river cruise lines are starting to offer deals that save up to 50% off the price of your cruise fare.
Companies offering 2-for-1 river cruises
Trip A Deal
The deals on site change up, but we’ve seen specials on Yangtze and Egypt river cruises, which offer something a bit different than the usual European journeys. There’s trips for every budget, too.
With Qantas owning a major stake in Trip A Deal, you can add on flights (if they aren’t already included) or opt to pay for your trip using Qantas points, if you’d like. There’s frequent bonus points offers, too, where you’ll be able to earn extra points with your booking.
Can you book now and pay later? Yes! You can use Zip.
Croisi Europe River Cruises
Along the Seine or down the Danube? Croisi covers all the classic European river cruise journeys and is flogging some of them at half the price. But experience is not skimped on.
The French cruise line has been sailing Europe’s rivers for almost 50 years, along with additional itineraries in Africa and Asia. The fleet offers relatively small ships, with the largest carrying just 200 passengers. (For reference, ocean liners often carry at least 10 times that!).
Can you book now and pay later? No.
How do I get the best deal on a river cruise?
- Sign up for company newsletters: You’ll get the latest sales sent straight to your inbox when they start. Some even offer a discount just for signing up!
- Book either far in advance or last-minute: River cruise companies tend to discount voyages that are departing more than a year from now and those unsold cabins on last-minute journeys.
- Stay in the cheapest cabin: Unlike ocean cruises, just about every cabin on a river cruise has windows. Sure, you may not have a balcony, but you’ll get a view no matter where you sleep.
What is the cheapest month to take a European river cruise?
Peak-season in Europe will be from June to September, with July and August being the most expensive. But, river cruises do actually sail year round. (You can even book Christmas markets river cruises!)
For the cheapest time with still-favourable weather, consider May and October. For example, this 8-day France journey with Viking is priced from $6,095 during peak-summer (July and August), and is available from $5,695 in May or just $4,795 in October.
Do river cruises get cheaper the closer you get to departure?
Sometimes. But we generally find the further in advance you book, the cheaper. For example, while it’s mid-2024, lines like Uniworld are already heavily discounting 2025 sailings.
The thing about river cruises is that cabins are much more limited than ocean sailings, so there are fewer budget-friendly cabins to go around. And, the price difference between the lowest and highest on a river cruise can be massive.
