We're calling it: 8 of the world's most magical river cruises

Meet me on the top deck, glass of wine, sunshine and let's unwind to watch the passing views. Pink dolphins, golden palaces, medieval castles, peanut fields, floating flower markets and children jumping off the pier into the silty water.

Over nearly two decades, I have done 24 river cruises with 14 companies, searing endless moments into my mind.

Here are a few favourites, and how you can follow my footsteps along the riverbanks to create memories of your own.

The only fish I've ever caught was a piranha in Peru, off the side of a canoe. Elated by my success, I was the only person brave enough to jump in for a swim in the Amazon. By then, we had returned to the Delfin vessel and moved to safer waters. Later that evening, while witnessing a neon purple sunset from my suite's balcony, I spotted what I was seeking: the pink river dolphin. Glistening in the fading glow, he spent half-an-hour frolicking in front of me.

My first river cruise was the Yangtze in 2008. The ship was shabby and the weather woeful, but China was fascinating. At Fengdu Ghost City, an eerie site dedicated to the afterlife, we gaped at sculptures of demons. Sailing through the Three Gorges and visiting its controversial dam were memorable. However, I will never forget waking up to the haunting sound of chanting from a riverside monastery and opening my curtains to see a giant Buddha peering back at me in the misty darkness.

Try it: Wendy Wu Tours' 14-day Majestic Yangtze package includes a cruise on a better ship. wendywutours.com.au

Try it: Delfin Amazon Cruises offers luxury adventures for three or four nights. delfinamazoncruises.com

AmaLotus was stuck downstream, unable to pass under a bridge. It was 2011, Cambodia's worst flood in a decade, which clashed with the start of the cruising season. In Siem Reap, shops and restaurants remained open, despite the knee-high water, and staff were smiling as if this was normal. We bought some beers and took a bus to the ship, marvelling at the stilt-houses still standing. In Phnom Penh, the scene transformed to grandeur as we reached the city's centrepieces: the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda.

Try it: APT's Mekong Serenity offers journeys from 11 to 23 days. aptouring.com.au

Arriving at night at Marco Polo Airport, I was transferred by water taxi along the Venetian lagoon. I stood up 007-style for my Bond Girl moment, long hair billowing in the wind, being chased by imaginary villains. Leaping off near a stone bridge, I boarded the moonlit vessel, where four models were posing for the cruise line's photo shoot. My movie scene turned into a brochure in an instant. Somewhere along Italy's Po River, I shared a sneaky kiss with one of those handsome silver foxes. We're still Facebook friends.

Try it: S.S. La Venezia departs from Venice on several Italian itineraries. uniworld.com

The Valley of the Kings is the burial ground of King Tutankhamun and more than 60 other pharaohs and nobles. Inside the tomb of Ramses III, I spotted a kangaroo hieroglyph among the thousands of inscriptions. The guide denied it, saying it must be another animal, but I know what I saw. Proof that kangaroos existed in Egypt 3000 years ago! Viking's Egyptologist was more open-minded and said this sighting would make me famous. Three years later, I'm still waiting.

Try it: The 12-day Pharaohs and Pyramids combines a Nile river cruise and four nights in Cairo. vikingrivercruises.com.au

Riverside Ravel was docked at Tournon-sur-Rhone, opposite the vineyards of Tain-l'Hermitage, overlooked by a 16th-century hilltop castle. The barbecue was sizzling as the crew cooked dinner and delivered cocktails from the rooftop bar. Passengers were reminiscing about wine-tasting at Chateauneuf-du-Pape and kayaking along the Gardon River to the Pont du Gard, the world's tallest Roman aqueduct, built around 50 CE. It was one of those balmy summer evenings in France, when there's nowhere else you'd rather be.

Try it: Riverside Luxury Cruises' Rhone sailings are three to seven nights long. riversidecruises.com.au

The start of the Danube, where it meets the Black Sea in Romania, was plainly marked by a white pole painted with a black "0". Reaching this unremarkable signpost, Kilometre Zero, felt like an achievement after my previous cruises ended halfway in Hungary. Some insist this waterway starts from the source in Germany, but the Danube is the world's only river that is measured upstream from the mouth. I spent many geeky hours discussing such technicalities with the captain, the onboard historian and other potamology nerds.

Try it: Avalon Waterways operates cruises from Romania to Germany or reverse. avalonwaterways.com.au

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I almost missed the ship when I got stopped at a train station for an unvalidated ticket. The longer I refused to pay the fine, explaining the machine malfunctioned, the closer it came to departure time. When I was finally released, I had to sprint across the Szechenyi Chain Bridge, which spans the vast river between Buda and Pest. Extremely stressful, but I made it. I was not so inclined to join my friend who decided to jog, instead of cruise, to the next port one afternoon, as she was training for a marathon. I cheered her on from the sundeck, sipping Austrian riesling, laughing as dogs chased her along the riverside path. So, I guess, if you like running, try a river cruise.

Try it: Scenic sails between Budapest and Amsterdam. scenic.com.au