You’ve heard of the road less travelled, but what about the rivers most travelled?
As river cruises are embraced as a more relaxed—and often posher—alternative to ocean cruises, more and more operators are offering river cruises that are LGBTQ+-focused or friendly.
There are lots of decisions to make when choosing such a cruise: LGBTQ+-focused or welcoming, tour company, price points, amenities, quality of lodging and food, excursions and entertainment. But perhaps one of the most crucial decisions is: Which river?
Here’s a quick rundown of some of the rivers for cruises around the world. Some of the countries they meander through are more queer friendly than others.
Europe
Low Countries waterways
The three modern Benelux countries—Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg—are also known as the Low Countries, part of the lowlands along the North Sea. The region is crisscrossed by canals and rivers, including the Scheldt, Meuse and Yser, providing dozens of routes for cruises that stop in Brussels, Ghent, Rotterdam, Amsterdam and other cities. Various tour operators offer LGBTQ+-focused cruises around the area. Canada’s Detours Travel is offering a cruise here timed to Amsterdam Pride 2025.
How queer is the route? Hard to beat. Belgium and Netherlands were the first two countries in the world to legalize same-sex marriage and are among the world’s most welcoming countries overall. Amsterdam is a global LGBTQ+ destination for its history and nightlife, while Antwerp and Brussels also have robust gay scenes. Luxembourg is a little more conservative, but still welcoming.
Douro
This river runs almost 900 kilometres from the Spanish interior, across the breadth of Portugal, to the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way the Douro passes through a beautiful wine region, tiny towns and, on the coast, the picturesque city of Porto. Though it’s an easy route to tour independently in a day or two, booking an LGBTQ+-focused cruise can help you find your tribe. For example, Cruise4Bears is hosting a seven-day itinerary this summer.
How queer is the route? Though Portugal is not as flamboyant and party-oriented as its Iberian neighbour, Spain, it’s become an LGBTQ+ favourite over the last decade or so, checking the list of all the rights queers expect short of nonbinary gender recognition.
Seine and Rhône
Cutting diagonally across northern France, the 777-kilometre-long Seine river passes through the centre of Paris, as well as Rouen, Le Havre and Honfleur. The Rhône, 814 kilometres long, connects France’s second city, Lyon, to the Mediterranean coast and Marseille. Remember that they don’t connect, so you’d have to fly or go overland to do both of them. You’re not leaving France on one of these cruises, but why would you want to? Out Adventures and Out of Office offer LGBTQ+-focused cruises on these routes.
How queer is the route? The Paris nightlife? Lyon’s cool student culture? The French Mediterranean coast? France’s openness to LGBTQ+ people is well known, though nonbinary gender recognition is not embedded in law.
Danube, Main and Rhine
This river system, connected by the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal, runs through 14 countries. Travellers can get from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, all the way east to Romania and Ukraine, though a single cruise isn’t likely to go the whole distance. Whistle stops include some of Europe’s most famous destinations, including Basel, Strasbourg, Cologne, Frankfurt am Main, Vienna, Budapest and Belgrade. No wonder there are so many river cruises offered in this system, including many popular “Christmas Market” cruises that focus on small towns and cities in Germany. Uniworld’s Out on the Rivers program frequently offers tours on these central European rivers.
How queer is the route? Attitudes are more welcoming in the west (Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Germany and Austria all actively welcome LGBTQ+ visitors) and get a little stickier as you go east. For example, Hungary recognizes same-sex civil unions, but just banned Pride events. Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine do not recognize same-sex relationships at all. To put it glibly: Start removing pieces of your rainbow wardrobe as you move east.
Africa
The Nile
One of the world’s longest (6,650 kilometres) and most famous rivers, the Nile flows through 11 African countries, but most cruises stay in one: Egypt. Seeing the pyramids, the Sphinx and other historical sights by boat certainly sparks the imagination, whether you’re living a Cleopatra or Indiana Jones fantasy. Out Adventures is offering a gay cruise here in late 2025.
How queer is the route? Homosexuality is illegal in Egypt, and there are no protections against discrimination. What gay scene there is is very underground. Police raids on unofficial queer spaces are not uncommon and authorities have used hookup apps to harass and arrest gay men. Stick with your group, avoid PDAs and focus on the sights.
Asia
Mekong
The Mekong starts on the Tibetan Plateau in China, flowing almost 5,000 kilometres through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, emptying into the South China Sea near Ho Chi Minh City. River cruises are usually in Cambodia and Vietnam, letting passengers experience street food in Ho Chi Minh City as well as the night markets of Siem Reap. Source Journeys offers a luxury-oriented LGBTQ+-focused trip here in fall 2025.
How queer is the route? Homosexuality is legal in both Vietnam and Cambodia, though same-gender marriage is not. Attitudes will vary from region to region. Overt hostility is unlikely if queer visitors exercise modesty and demonstrate respect for the culture.
North American
St. Lawrence River
Connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, the St. Lawrence River is rich with pre-colonial and colonial history. Quebec City, one of the oldest walled cities in the Americas, and Montreal, a famously LGBTQ2S+-friendly metropolis, are on its banks. Some cruises emphasize the Great Lakes end of the St. Lawrence, cruising right up to Lake Superior, while others focus more on the Atlantic Coast end of things, including the Maritimes.
How queer is the route? We couldn’t find a tour operator offering an LGBTQ2S+-focused cruise, but Canadian policies and attitudes ensure that this route will be friendly for queers, if not dominated by them on board. A port like Montreal can’t be beat for queerness.
