When you think about booking your next cruise vacation, luxury mega ships and far flung tropical destinations usually come to mind. But what if there was something more relaxing, more intimate, more cultured you could enjoy? Welcome to river cruises, the fastest growing sector of the UK cruise market.

So what’s the big attraction of river cruises?

A river cruise is probably one of the most culturally rewarding and enriching travel experiences available today. Surprisingly, river cruising offers a globe-trotting vacation the even the most well-travelled holiday maker may not know even existed. And one of the main benefits – you can be enjoying your cruise in just a few hours, free from the inconvenience of crowded flights and long security delays. There is simply no better way to discover the cultural and historical treasures of Europe.

After all, many famous cities grew up along the banks of rivers, using the river as the main form of transportation and as a catalyst to trade successfully. As the major cities of Europe flourished, many beautiful civic centres, monuments, galleries and other attractions developed along its banks.

Paris, Prague, Budapest and Vienna and are just some of the fabulous destinations available for a river cruise. I wanted to discover just why the river cruises are quickly becoming the holiday of choice amongst today’s cruise aficionados.

Enjoying the constantly unfolding landscape:

As you navigate from one luxurious destination to the next, you are rewarded with breath-taking scenery, picturesque towns and villages, ancient castles and famous monuments lined up along the river banks.

Using boats designed specifically to encourage a panoramic view from every possible angle, with indulgent restaurants, well stocked bars, spacious cabins and intimate sun decks, your camera will not stop clicking.

And given the more sedate pace of river cruising, you can drift off to sleep, knowing that you'll see the sun rise in a new and exciting destination ... making every day a new adventure.

Enjoying new levels of privacy and luxury:

Size matters when it comes to a river cruise. Whereas some cruise ships are truly massive, most river cruise boats run on a much more discreet scale, typically balanced comfortably with around 150 to 300 passengers – which makes them able to dock at a many ports along the river that bigger boats cannot.

Due to the smaller scale, provisioning, luggage and loading times are minimal which makes for a lot less logistical inconvenience than on a bigger cruise boat. Most river cruise boats also have specially designed flat-bottoms which cut down on turbulence, making them the perfect choice for people who tend to get seasick.

Whilst cabins have to make good use of space, they do tend to offer higher levels of comfort and spaciousness than commonly found on bigger cruise liners, and there’s no issue with being stuck in an internal cabins - all cabins have an excellent view of the river.

River cruise ships tend to target the more discerning cruiser, with all the amenities you would expect to find in a luxury hotel, including hotel-style beds with deluxe bedding, modern decor and television. Many cabins have French balconies, too – making a delightful place to relax as you watch the world go by. Many ships, such as Avalon Waterways also offer bottled water and come with a fully stocked mini bar in each cabin.

Enjoying a different cruise experience:

Quality dining is guaranteed to win the hearts of everyone on board and one of the most important elements of a cruise has to be the delicious fare on offer.

Inspired by the regions on your route, you can enjoy a range of cuisine prepared for all tastes. As with larger cruises, breakfast and lunch are usually served buffet style, with dinner served in the open dining room, providing a more elegant and relaxed experience to mass market cruising.

With a greater degree of meal time flexibility, and nice touches such as free wine with dinner, you’re probably getting an idea of how river cruises differ from their tropical counterparts. When it comes to entertainment, various lounges and bars can offer an overview of each region you visit, with local music and folk dancing, wine tasting and informative guest talks by local experts.

Enjoying a different adventure each day:

Almost all holiday destinations offer you the opportunity to try something new, whether it’s cooking, shopping, fine wine and festivals held locally or in the markets.

One of the main draws of a river cruise however, is the increased number of options to pepper your journey with inspiring shore excursions, especially as they tend to be included in the price. Well informed local guides with good English are usually on hand to help you enjoy and appreciate the famous monuments and historical sites along the way. This is a great way to learn more about each destination you pass through, without lengthy connecting trips and the time constraints of helping thousands of cruisers off the boat - as river cruises usually dock in the heart of each city or town, your holiday starts the moment you land.

Of course, for the more independent traveller, you can explore the river towns on your own. Many cruise companies like AMA Waterways, even offer free bikes - so you can explore at your leisure. By docking overnight, having the freedom to explore at night for dinner, trips to the cinema, or to take in a show or concert simply adds to your enjoyment.

So if you’re looking for a value for money cruise, river cruising offers a great alternative to short breaks, coach tours or the more obvious tropical cruise options. Many European cruises include everything you might want – excursions, meals, and entertainment means that are truly all inclusive. Using a single currency on board, life aboard is much easier and if you like adventure travel, it is almost impossible to find a better way to disappear for a short time.