German river cruise line nicko cruises has released its 2027 river brochure, and it's one of the widest-ranging in the company's history: 22 ships, 81 routes, 33 waterways and 21 countries. That spans the dependable European classics — Rhine, Danube, Moselle — but also China's Yangtze, Egypt, the Mississippi and the coast of Croatia.
Managing director Guido Laukamp framed the brand around a simple idea the company calls "time to discover": slower-paced trips with room to actually see the places, rather than tick off landmarks. That philosophy shows up in how the new itineraries are built.
The headline additions for 2027:
China returns. A 14-day Yangtze sailing aboard the Victoria Sabrina starts in Shanghai, pauses in Zhujiajiao — a canal town that offers a quieter, traditional counterpoint to the big cities — then continues to Xi'an and Beijing. It's a rare river-and-land combination for a line mostly known for Europe.
Wine country by water. An eight-day Bordeaux cruise on the Cyrano De Bergerac threads the Garonne, Dordogne and Gironde, with stops in the Médoc, the citadel of Blaye and a Libourne excursion to Saint-Émilion. Crucially for anyone who hates rushing home, it ends with two hotel nights in Bordeaux itself.
A brand-new Rhine-Moselle-Saar route. A nine-day trip on the nickoSPIRIT sails round-trip from Cologne, working through Andernach down the Moselle to Treis-Karden, Bernkastel and Cochem, dipping into Luxembourg at Remich, visiting Trier — Germany's oldest city — and returning via Koblenz. Three rivers in nine days is an efficient way to cover a lot of romantic German river scenery.
Croatia gets a new small ship. The 38-guest Liberty (built 2011, refurbished 2024) joins the Dalmatian Coast programme from 2027, running the same Trogir-based northern and southern Dalmatian itineraries, combinable into eight- or 15-day trips.
Festive sailings expand. On the Rhine Melodie, there's a new six-day Advent cruise from Cologne to Strasbourg and Breisach, plus a 14-day Christmas and New Year voyage from Cologne via Amsterdam, Strasbourg and Mainz.
Portugal with a beach extension. The 12-day Douro journey now offers an Algarve extension, with stops at Nazaré and the big-wave beach Praia do Norte, a boat trip to the Benagil Cave and Cabo de São Vicente, the southwestern tip of Europe.
Beyond the brochure, nicko has also lined up event and theme cruises for 2027, including a hiking-focused eight-day Danube trip aboard the Bolero.
Why it matters: nicko sits in the sweet spot for travellers who want river cruising without the mega-ship feel — small vessels, unhurried schedules and itineraries that build in hotel stays and land segments. With 2027 brochures out early, anyone eyeing a Bordeaux wine cruise, a Christmas market sailing or a first Yangtze trip has plenty of time to pick dates and cabins at current pricing. Bookers who like combining a cruise with independent time in the destination will find this programme particularly well suited.
