I used to believe that river cruises were exclusively for retirees, but my experience on a Disney river cruise changed my perspective.

Whenever my Gen X and younger friends inquire about river cruises, I usually advise them to steer clear. While river cruises are fantastic getaways, they're primarily aimed at retirees rather than families with children. Each day involves following a guide holding a flag or sign to World War II memorials and local cathedrals, with the ever-present Quietvox headset making it clear you’re a tourist. River cruises resemble bus tours—just on water and tailored to the pace and interests of older couples.

But that was before I booked an Adventures by Disney Rhine River cruise.

Although we visited the same French, German, and Dutch cities as other river cruises, the atmosphere was entirely different. In the Black Forest, I cheered with excitement as my alpine toboggan flew around thrilling curves. In Strasbourg, I enjoyed an upper-body workout canoeing through the city's canals, and in Cologne, I explored a chocolate museum filled with delightful samples.

Even better? My whole family joined me, allowing me to introduce my kids to multiple countries in Europe through activities they enjoyed, all aboard a ship filled with other families and expert guides to enhance our travels.

It seems that river cruising can indeed attract younger travelers.

If you weren't aware that a Disney river cruise was an option for vacations, you’re not alone. Disney's ocean-going cruise ships tend to be more well-known. Your friends and family have probably considered or even booked a getaway on one of Mickey's floating resorts, which are packed with fantastic kids' clubs, adults-only retreats, and countless chances to meet princesses and beloved Disney characters. Shorter trips from Florida or California make it easy to combine these cruises with visits to Disney World or Disneyland.

Adventures by Disney isn't just about water travel. This segment of the brand primarily provides land-based adventures in destinations like Wyoming and Paris, but it also collaborates with the river cruise line AmaWaterways to offer multigenerational family-friendly cruises on the Rhine, Seine, and Danube rivers. These journeys deliver the same attention to detail and magical experiences you cherish from Disney, but with a more sophisticated atmosphere and a touch less of the Mouse. The Disney guides onboard will alleviate the stress of vacationing while ensuring the fun stays high.

If you've dreamt of gliding down European waterways and showing your kids new countries in a hassle-free manner, while seeking more active adventures and like-minded fellow travelers, Adventures by Disney could be the perfect getaway you didn't know you were looking for.

In July, I spent a week on a Rhine River cruise with my husband and our two kids, aged 10 and 13. Here’s a glimpse of how Disney brings its unique touch to river cruising.

Guests aged 5 and older are welcome aboard.

The little ones under eight on our cruise were few but full of energy.

They were the first to hit the dance floor after dinner, even though it was past their bedtime. They joyfully assisted the guides in raising their "paddles of power" signs high for the rest of us to follow. The ship's wait staff adored them, crafting flowers from napkins and making masks and swords from paper for their amusement.

Adventures by Disney suggests its cruises for travelers aged 8 and older, but welcomes everyone over 5. On our ship, which holds 160 passengers, nearly a third were under 18, with a few college-aged young adults also aboard. Most were with their parents, though some were in multi-generational groups with their grandparents.

Among our fellow travelers were several adult couples and groups of friends without kids, which surprised me. They were often Disney adults — members of the Disney Vacation Club, devoted fans of Disney Cruise Line, or individuals who had enjoyed Disney vacations with their children or grandchildren and appreciated the level of service.

This demographic mix isn't typical for river cruises. Whenever we docked next to ships from other lines, I mostly noticed older couples with gray hair.

If you adore Disney and its meticulous attention to detail but prefer a kid-free experience, Adventures by Disney offers adults-only food and wine cruises, as well as Oktoberfest cruises on select dates.

The ship's design caters specifically to families.

Disney doesn't merely charter river ships; it collaborates with AmaWaterways to cultivate a family-friendly atmosphere on Europe's waterways. The family-owned cruise line even designed some river ships specifically for Disney travelers.

In contrast to most other vessels navigating the Rhine, Seine, and Danube, our ship, AmaLucia, features cabins and suites that accommodate more than two guests. Some cabins include a connecting door, allowing families of four or five to enjoy a shared space, while others are triples with an armchair that converts into a single bed. Suites come equipped with pull-out sofa beds.

AmaWaterways boasts a distinctive twin balcony design — a real balcony just spacious enough for two chairs, alongside a French balcony adjoining a cozy sitting area — which accommodates those extra chairs and connecting doors. My daughter loved lounging on our balcony to read, and I’m sure she wouldn’t have enjoyed an open window or door inside the cabin nearly as much.

AmaLucia offers one feature that many other river ships lack — a swimming pool.

It's small, just 3 feet deep, but don’t underestimate it — this pool became the go-to spot for many kids on board. By the end of our trip, my daughter joked that it was half sunscreen, but that didn’t stop her and her new friends from splashing around there every afternoon. The giant chess set nearby on the sun deck also attracted the young teens.

The onboard chefs ensure there are plenty of kid-friendly meal options specifically for Disney river cruises. I doubt regular AmaWaterways guests consume as many chocolate cornflakes as my son did each morning — they might not even offer sugary cereals! Each evening featured a kids’ menu for dinner, with favorites like pasta (buttered noodles were particularly popular), burgers, chicken tenders, and hot dogs. One afternoon, we chose to have lunch in the casual dining area behind the lounge because pizza was being served.

On many days, we had the choice of dining in town or returning to the ship for a buffet lunch. If your kids are up for it, you can explore the local cuisine, but if they’re more hesitant, the ship offers familiar options. Or, like my family, you can skip a formal meal altogether and enjoy large scoops of gelato for lunch instead.

Adventure Guides provide hands-on assistance and keep your kids entertained.

While most river cruises have a cruise manager to organize tours and address inquiries, Adventures by Disney sailings employ up to five Adventure Guides (depending on the number of passengers) who fulfill various roles and elevate the service level on board.

The guides take on the responsibilities of a cruise manager, hosting evening briefings to outline the next day's plans, assisting guests on and off buses, coordinating with local guides, and responding to questions. However, they go the extra mile. When the lunch options during our Black Forest tour changed to something my family couldn’t eat, our guide Gina took the initiative to find an alternative and ensured we received the special meals we had ordered.

Although the Adventure Guides are not classified as youth staff and don't always plan activities for kids on board, they make an effort to connect with younger guests. They host at least two Junior Adventure dinners, supervising a kids' buffet so parents can enjoy an adults-only meal in the ship's restaurant or Chef's Table, and they organize a movie night one evening in the lounge.

They also keep the kids entertained during more adult-focused excursions, allowing parents to participate without having to manage their children. On our cruise, a 6-year-old said her favorite excursion was the wine tasting because she got to sip juice and play with the Adventure Guides, who had gathered all the kids in a courtyard away from the adults. During our visit to the Van Gogh Museum, one guide helped a young cruiser with a scavenger hunt while her parents listened to the local guide discuss the art; she also engaged my son by asking about the books he was reading and patiently listened as he enthusiastically talked about his favorite fantasy series.

The Adventure Guides are also well-versed in the best local delicacies to sample (like "spaghetti" ice cream in Heidelberg and chimney cakes in Rudesheim) and know exactly where to find them. They can suggest activities for your free time in town, but don’t expect them to provide personal tours.

Our guides came from diverse backgrounds; our brave leaders included Americans Amanda and Gina, French guides Hugo and Clement, and German guide Susanna. Each was selected for their knowledge of the cruise region and proficiency in the local language, with many having experience working in Disney parks globally. They bring exceptional people skills (Amanda holds a psychology degree, and Gina was a teacher) and a deep understanding of Disney's philosophy for creating magical family experiences.

While we appreciated all the guides, I found the American guides particularly adept at grasping the needs of American tourists, while the European guides added valuable local insights to our visits. Clement shared a poignant story about how his grandmother's family in Normandy had sheltered Jewish families during WWII, while Susanna entertained us with humorous anecdotes about driving in Germany.

Excursions are diverse and engaging.

What drew me most to an Adventures by Disney river cruise was the array of excursions. Rather than being stuck in endless walking tours and history lectures, we had the opportunity to choose more active and engaging experiences.

In the Black Forest, we zoomed down hills on alpine toboggans before heading to an open-air museum where the kids churned butter and crafted wooden whistles. In Strasbourg, France, we canoed through picturesque canals and participated in a macaron-making session on the ship, while in Rudesheim, Germany, we took a scenic cable car ride to the hilltop. In Cologne, we explored a chocolate museum.

For those traveling without children, or for families willing to split up for the day, there were more adult-oriented tours available. Options included several winery visits and a lively pub crawl in Cologne to sample German beer. More leisurely excursions featured a quick trip to the enchanting village of Riquewihr in France, which inspired Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," and a canal boat ride in Strasbourg as an alternative to canoeing.

After some of the organized activities, passengers enjoyed free time in cities like Heidelberg or Cologne, with several bus options available to return to the ship. Tired kids or grandparents could head back early, while more adventurous explorers could linger all afternoon. In various ports, passengers could easily walk from the ship into town for their own adventures or dinner off the ship. This flexible schedule catered to both independent travelers and those who preferred a bit more guidance.

Most river ships provide bicycles for guest use, and AmaLucia offered a selection of adult-sized bikes for borrowing. Adventures by Disney ensures that a few kid-sized bikes and helmets are available as well, allowing us to bike with our 10-year-old in Rudesheim.

The Disney touches are charming yet understated.

While we didn’t have a life-sized Mickey Mouse cruising with us, nor did any princesses make an appearance, the essence of being on a Disney-run cruise was unmistakable throughout our journey.

The ship's lounge was always filled with music from the Disney songbook, and Disney movies were screened on select nights. Ratatouille was featured during the macaron-making event, and Mickey-shaped cookies were served during afternoon tea.

However, two Disney traditions stood out during the cruise, much to everyone's delight. Each evening, a plush Captain Minnie doll was handed over to a new passenger, who was responsible for taking her on adventures (and keeping her safe) the next day. At the evening recap, the person in charge of Minnie would share her adventures and select the next passenger to take her along. (On our cruise, Minnie loved riding the bus and always made sure to buckle up.)

The other eagerly awaited daily event was the unveiling of the day’s collectible pin. Each day, the Adventure Guides distributed Disney-character pins linked to that day’s destination and activities, featuring slogans like "Rendezvous on the Rhine." Some pins were found on our pillows alongside turndown chocolates, while others were handed out on the tour bus or during the evening recap. My typically too-cool-for-school kids would become excited when evening approached and we hadn’t yet received a new pin.

You can attach the pins to a lanyard, hat, or backpack, or save them for trading at Disney pin-trading events both on land and at sea.

Your kids will make friends.

My kids aren’t exactly social butterflies. They tend to shy away from large groups of children and prefer hanging out alone or with us while traveling. My daughter is often reluctant to join kids' clubs on ocean cruises, and my son typically plays video games rather than interacting with other tweens.

Given this, I was uncertain about what the social scene for kids and teens would be like on board.

To my surprise and joy, my 10-year-old daughter made a friend on the very first day — a 14-year-old girl in our group. They shared a seat on the bus and took their first toboggan ride together. Although my daughter was initially hesitant about attending the Junior Adventurer dinner, she was willing to go because her friend would be there. That friend helped her connect with other kids, and by the final night, my daughter was inviting girls her age to join her for giant chess on the sun deck.

My son didn’t forge any specific friendships, but he connected with all the young teens during the first teen dinner. Whenever boredom struck, the teens would knock on each other's doors, including my son’s, inviting everyone to play Roblox in the lounge or chess on the deck. Sometimes they’d dash through the hallways, knocking on doors or attempting playful pranks, but from what I observed, they were being inclusive rather than forming cliques.

The trip is all-inclusive.

Adventures by Disney river cruises come with a hefty price tag. Rates begin at $5,799 per adult or $5,199 per child under 12, totaling over $21,996 for a family of four sharing two cabins. However, you receive considerable value for your investment.

All excursions are included in the price; unlike other river cruises, there are no additional tour options to pay for. The guides would distribute tickets or tokens for complimentary local coffee or entry to a windmill, rather than treating those as extra costs.

All meals on board are included, encompassing the multicourse Chef's Table experience, along with select meals during extended excursions. Wine, beer, and soft drinks are always complimentary at lunch and dinner, while breakfast features sparkling wine and fresh juices. Additionally, you can enjoy free cocktails during the daily Sip and Sail happy hour, with mocktail options available for kids.

Wi-Fi, crew gratuities, airport transfers, and taxes are all included in the package.

We primarily spent money on lunches or snacks off the ship, as well as one dinner in Amsterdam when we docked overnight; however, we could have dined on the ship on all those occasions. During our free time off the ship, we opted to pay for a few activities independently, such as climbing to the top of the cathedral in Cologne and taking the funicular in Heidelberg all the way to the summit (our Disney-included castle ticket covered the cost of the lower funicular). AmaLucia also features a spa and salon, where guests can book treatments for an additional fee.

Bottom line.

River cruises may not be the ideal getaway for every family. They can be expensive, and days often start early with morning tours at 8 or 9 a.m., packed with sightseeing activities. Being constantly surrounded by other guests, sharing tables at meals or buses for excursions, can feel overwhelming for some families.

However, for those who appreciate having a single base of operations, along with scheduled meals and activities, plus the guidance of knowledgeable hosts to help introduce their kids to the wonders of international travel, a Disney river cruise could be the perfect solution. It offers a familiar setting from which to explore new countries, sprinkled with just the right amount of magic to elevate your vacation experience. Unlike standard river cruises, Adventures by Disney is designed to engage kids, teens, parents, and grandparents alike.

Now, when my friends ask about river cruises, I no longer have to dampen their enthusiasm. I can share that there are family-friendly options for adventures along the Rhine, Seine, and Danube.