In recent years, riverboats have decisively shed their reputation as spartan ships with uninspiring itineraries. Stylish boats around the world offer cruises with an array of compelling excursions. We’ve been lucky enough to put several of these ships to the test, sailing on some of the most luxurious options in Europe, Africa and South America.

Our favorite river cruises bring sophisticated travelers on journeys along calm but captivating waterways, making daily stops for intimate explorations of villages, cities and countryside. As well as tracing storied landscapes, these cruises offer a convenient way to undertake itineraries that would otherwise be complicated and tiring. Most ships put into a different port each night, giving passengers more time ashore than they would typically have on an ocean voyage. And aside from high comfort and outstanding cuisine, leading riverboats provide insider excursions and exclusive events, from private Champagne tastings to epic wildlife sightings.

Note that the examples below are cruises we took ourselves; most of the companies in this article offer additional itineraries in other destinations.