At least two new vessels will join the fleet of European river cruisers this year, the 140-passenger River Princess and the 120-passenger Rhone Princess.

Banagher is still a major centre for river cruisers, with a number of hire companies operating from an extensive and modern marina.

At Luxor the river eased past the hotel, laden with triangular-sailed feluccas floating sideways like ducks, giant river cruisers and fishermen in wooden canoes.

Members of this family include baskettails, emeralds, river cruisers, sundragons, shadowdragons, boghaunters, and other creatively named dragonflies.

Boats of different types can be hired from here, from rowing boats to river cruisers.

The vessel is the Venezia, a Swiss-owned river cruiser carrying 90 passengers in air-conditioned cabins with large windows and private bathrooms.

It dominated my days aboard Aria, a new and luxurious river cruiser that came into service last month on the Amazon in Peru.

At least four 270-passenger river cruisers, represented by OdessAmerica, and a 210-passenger cruiser, the Leo Tolstoy, are scheduled to make the journey.

In the summer months the port is a berthing places for river cruisers.

A backlog of Chinese and Western tourists have swarmed down to the waterfront after days of waiting in dingy hotels or on their river cruisers.