Although the 2018 ABTA Holiday Habits Report suggests that the trend is slowing, many studies over the last few years have revealed that British people have switched their focus to shorter breaks when it comes to getting away for a while. This is particularly true for younger generations who are less keen to take time away from the office and who want to maximise their annual leave in a way that enables them to experience more variety in terms of holidays.

So, could shorter river cruises encourage more people to sail the world’s waterways? Could it be the key to persuading millennials to choose this type of trip over a city break? And could these fleeting forays into the world of rivers be a helpful gateway for first-timers?

Tempting You With A Taste

A number of river cruise operators certainly think so. Avalon Waterways recently announced that there will be three different itineraries available from 2020 lasting four, five and six days respectively. Taking you to beautiful cities such as Vienna, Budapest and Nuremberg, the options are ‘A Taste of the Danube’, ‘A Taste of the Rhine’ and ‘Heart of Germany’. They will traverse some of Europe’s most popular routes, offering immersive shore excursions alongside typical walking tours of each city.

As the names suggest, these trips are not only ideal for those looking to use their holiday time more efficiently, but they will also appeal to would-be cruisers who are yet to take the plunge on a river cruise. You may be keen to make the jump from ocean to river cruising but are unsure whether you will enjoy it as much or you may have never been on any type of cruise but like the idea of sailing into the heart of each destination – either way, these shorter breaks should definitely appeal.

Options In Asia Too

Another way to try river cruising for the first time is to add one as part of a longer, land-based tour. This is something you can do on board the forthcoming Victoria Mekong, a luxurious ship set to be launched on its eponymous Asian waterway by Wendy Wu Tours. Scheduled to make her debut in December 2019, the ship will offer three and four-night itineraries between Can Tho, Vietnam and Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

These have been combined with other experiences on land in places such as Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Siem Reap to give you an in-depth insight into life in South-East Asia. It’s rare to have the chance to enjoy a shorter Mekong river cruise but a great way to slowly introduce yourself to this world.

As well as bucking the trend in terms of the departure point (most ships in the region set sail from Ho Chi Minh or Phnom Penh), Victoria Mekong will also include a number of interesting facilities. At the forefront of these are the stylish swim-up bar on the sun deck and an open kitchen restaurant where you can watch the chefs hard at work preparing your regionally inspired meal.

Would the chance to take a shorter river cruise encourage you to try this kind of holiday? It remains to be seen whether other cruise lines will begin offering similar itineraries.

If you would like to know more about the four, five and six-day sailings from Avalon Waterways, call the GoRiverCruise team on 0800 954 0064. Alternatively, you can contact us through the website.