Tom Stieghorst
River cruising has its go-to routes, tried and true itineraries on mainstay rivers such as the Rhine, the Danube or the Seine.
But it seems that new choices are popping up regularly for cruises on rivers I've never heard of, or at least never considered as cruise options.
I fancy myself as geographically literate and have been a lot of places for Travel Weekly over the years, but I wouldn't have known what country I would be in if someone had proposed sailing the Kerala.
Turns out it is a trick question of sorts. Kerala is not a river but a region along India's west coast. And according to Pandaw River Cruises, the Kochi Pandaw will sail the backwaters of Kerala next year, operating seven-night cruises roundtrip from Kochi.
The 20-passenger vessel will feature the line's signature wraparound promenade decks and will visit towns and villages in remote areas, cruising 550 miles of waterways that connect rivers and lakes.
Guests can expect to see ancient churches, Hindu temples, artisan villages and take in the sights of the beaches along the Malabar coast.
Fascinating. I want to go just to learn more about this part of the world, even though it would be a long trip from Miami.
Cruising in Colombia
Then there's the Magdalena River. That one is situated a lot closer to Miami. It is in Colombia, where AmaWaterways plans to debut seven-night cruises between Cartagena and Barranquilla starting March 15.
Ama is pioneering international-style cruises on the 950 mile river, using new ships: the 60-passenger AmaMagdalena and the 64-passenger AmaMelodia, which is expected to join the AmaMagdalena in June.
The startup has been delayed more than once. "Opening a new river to the world is not easy, but it's exactly these kinds of bold steps that allow us to offer our guests new experiences," Ama co-founder and president Rudi Schreiner said.
Sailings in Southeastern Asia and Amazon
Another provider offering a new experience is Heritage Line, which specializes in river cruises in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. Laos is the venue for a package that combines a three-night cruise on the Upper Mekong River with stays at the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle in Thailand and the Rosewood Luang Prabang in Laos.
Alternatively, the four-night Northern Lights package includes a stay at the Capella Hanoi and a choice of two-night cruises that explore the Unesco World Heritage sites of Ha Long Bay and the Cat Ba archipelago in Vietnam.
The Amazon is hardly an unknown waterway, but Abercrombie & Kent will offer a stylish way to see the Peruvian reaches of the river next year when it debuts the 22-passenger Pure Amazon, its first boat on the South American river.
One way to go is the 13-night Machu Picchu & the Amazon package, which includes time in Lima and Cusco, a visit to Machu Picchu and a flight to Iquitos where passengers board for a 3-night cruise along a wildlife-rich tributary of the Amazon.
Unusual itineraries in the U.S.?
There's even something a little exotic for travelers who would rather stay closer to home and find their new experience within the continental U.S.
American Cruise Lines offers an eight-day Great Rivers of Florida voyage that includes cruising the St. Johns and Tolomato rivers in northern Florida. Having lived in Florida for 40 years, I'm embarrassed to admit I've never heard of the Tolomato River. A St. Johns County brochure says you can see manatees there.
Also planning to sail the Tolomato is American's newest ship, the 130-passenger American Patriot, which will offer a new itinerary when it debuts in June. The 15-day Grand Florida Coast & Keys cruise starts in Jacksonville and cruises south on the Tolomato before circumnavigating the Florida peninsula as far as St. Petersburg.