There is a version of river cruising that feels quite formal, all quiet lounges and carefully pressed jackets. Travelmarvel, part of the Australian-founded APT Travel Group, takes the same great rivers and turns the dial towards something more easygoing: contemporary ships, clever itineraries and a friendly, unpretentious atmosphere.
A typical Travelmarvel day
Mornings often start on the sun deck, coffee in hand, as the ship slips past vine-striped hillsides or castle-topped bends in the river. On modern vessels like Polaris, Capella, Vega and Rigel, there are big windows everywhere and a roof deck that is designed to be lived on, not just admired in the brochure.
Breakfast is relaxed rather than regimented, then most guests head out on one of the included excursions. Depending on the itinerary, that might mean a guided wander through a baroque old town, a visit to an abbey, a wine tasting or a bike ride along the Danube. Because the key sightseeing is already built into the fare, planning your day is pleasingly straightforward.
Back on board for lunch, Travelmarvel’s generous side shows itself. Beer, local wine and soft drinks are poured with lunch and dinner as standard, so an afternoon glass of Riesling with your schnitzel feels like part of the experience rather than an added calculation.
Afternoons might be spent sailing, reading in the lounge or making use of the small gym or whirlpool. Evenings revolve around Constellations Restaurant for four-course dinners, the True North Lounge for a nightcap and McGeary’s Bar if you fancy something more pub-style. The mood is sociable and relaxed; conversations tend to jump from which village you explored to which cake was best at the afternoon buffet.
Where Travelmarvel can take you
On Europe’s main waterways, Travelmarvel’s river fleet works the classic Rhine, Main and Danube routes between Amsterdam and Budapest, threading together wine towns, fortress cities and smaller stops that would be hard to string into one land-based trip.
Further west, the purpose-built MS Estrela sails the Douro from Porto, all terraced vineyards, poolside barbecues and around 120 guests on board. If you prefer salt water, the boutique yacht Princess Eleganza carries just 36 guests along Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, calling at islands like Hvar and Korčula in a way that feels more like an extremely well organised house party than a big-ship cruise.
Beyond Europe, Travelmarvel Sirius on the Nile pairs Cairo’s headline sights with a week between Luxor and Aswan, taking in temples at Kom Ombo, Edfu and Abu Simbel with an Egyptologist to join the dots. In South-East Asia, RV Lotus works the Mekong between Vietnam and Cambodia, with balcony suites and long, lazy stretches on deck between market stops and temple visits.
Wherever you go, the pattern is reassuringly similar: flights, transfers, guided excursions, most meals, drinks with lunch and dinner, port charges and tips are wrapped into the price. It feels premium, but comfortably so.
Premium without the performance
Travelmarvel sits in a sweet spot on the river-cruise spectrum. The ships are modern, the food and excursions are thoughtfully put together and the crews are consistently praised for being warm and attentive, yet the overall feel is more relaxed hotel than hushed country club. It is an appealing prospect if you are stepping up from a mainstream ocean line or trying river cruising for the first time and want it to feel like your sort of crowd.
For Cruise Collective members, there is an extra incentive: on eligible Travelmarvel river and yacht journeys, members can save up to £150 per person. If you were already considering a premium river holiday, that little nudge often makes “one day” feel very much like “this year.”