Monday, April 1, 2024

The 10 Best River Cruise Lines in Europe

best river cruise companies

See all of our readers' favorite hotels, cities, airlines, cruise lines, and more in the World's Best Awards for 2020. Passengers were unimpressed by the facilities on board, while cabins and meals (described by one guest as ‘a bit school dinners’) tended to be mediocre. It’s one of the cheapest brands in our table, but guests have to fork out extra for drinks, excursions and tips – perhaps going some way to explain why it scores only two stars for value for money.

Best small ship cruise lines

Passengers will have the chance to explore charming villages, see the Palace Duques de Bragança, kayak along the Pinhão River, and sample delicacies of the region. Plus, every stateroom aboard Scenic's ship comes with private butler service to ensure the journey is truly stress free. Most river cruises are all-inclusive with all meals, beverages, and almost all excursions included in the rate. But if you think this a Disney river cruise would be all about the kids, you're wrong. Grownups may enjoy adult-only dinners and wine tastings, and there is actually a nice variety of adult-exclusive sailings (generally when school is in session), which offer more sophisticated offerings. Activities include educational lectures from visiting professors, and well as local entertainment, and even Broadway-level performances.

Are river cruise cabins small?

Book their "Open-Air Balcony" and enjoy wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows that open for fresh air. The beds in the Panorama Suites are also cleverly placed against the opposite wall so guests may view the scenery from bed. The company lets you personalize your experience down to the kind of pillows you prefer. All ships have a fitness room and fleet of bikes for tours in places such as Amsterdam and Cochem, Germany.

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Book a cruise on Crystal Cruises

Readers rated individual cruise ships on their cabins/facilities, food, service, itineraries/destinations, excursions/activities, and value. Those assessments were combined to generate results for the cruise lines in five categories, including river cruising. Readers rated individual cruise ships on their cabins and facilities, food, service, itineraries and destinations, excursions and activities, and value.

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best river cruise companies

I've always been a fan of traditional cruise line journeys, but a river cruise is much more intimate and in many cases, luxurious. These sleek ships generally host less than 200 passengers and go where giant cruise liners cannot, such as the Danube, Rhine, Rhône, Mekong, Mississippi, and Nile Rivers. European Waterways isn't the most widely known European river cruise line, but for travelers craving something truly intimate and unlike any other sailing, it's the best. Find the full list of the best river cruise lines — and more on what sets Viking apart — below.

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The suites, which are about 300 square feet, have floor-to-ceiling windows, King-sized beds, and a lounge area with a daybed. There is a price difference between the first deck and the second deck, with the former being more affordable. As expected, the ships serve American cuisines with options for fresh lobster or USDA Prime Beef. Unique to riverboats is the two-level theater, the Grand Saloon, found on the American Queen.

Everything from the food and service to the entertainment caters to that crowd. Some will love the idea of cruising like a European, while others may miss, for instance, a wide breadth of entree choices at dinner. An outdoor restaurant on the bow means you never miss a chance to take in unobstructed views. Upscale river line Tauck is the best for solo river cruises in Europe, even though Grand Circle gives the line a run for its money. Tauck waives single supplement charges on all of its Category 1 lower-deck cabins on every ship in its European fleet. We found peak-season Rhine cruises around £1,700 cheaper with Riviera than Uniworld.

best river cruise companies

Viking has river ships across Europe, of course, but also sails the Mekong and the Nile. The past year put the entire travel industry through the wringer, perhaps no segment more so than cruising. The Adventures by Disney river cruises are designed for families, and their itineraries, both onboard and onshore, have something for every age group.

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Drinks with meals, on-board gratuities and an escorted tour in every port are included. Our survey didn't just uncover the companies offering great food and facilities. It also highlighted the brands with lacklustre cabins, unimaginative excursions and overpriced packages. In The Dalles, you can enjoy a sommelier-led tasting of Columbia Valley wines, visit Multnomah Falls or get adventurous on a river kayak tour.

During a call on Richland, Washington, you can admire the scenic beauty around the confluence of the Columbia and Snake rivers at Sacajawea State Park. You can cruise the entire length of this mighty river as you visit 14 cities in seven U.S. states on Viking's two-week sailing. These excursions are all included in the price of the cruise and are considered part of the river experience, although they aren't included for the sole domestic option on our list, the American Queen Steamboat Company.

Always onboard are Grand Circle program directors supplementing the onboard team and assuring a certain amount of handholding on ship and shore; your American tastes and expectations will be catered to. The line focuses attention on onboard enrichment, such as lectures, dance performances and cooking demonstrations. On shore, Grand Circle's signature experiences are a home visit with a local family and a school visit. River ships dock near key attractions and feature mostly-inclusive pricing; fares include such perks as basic daily walking tours and wine and beer at meals. One person's idea of a great vacation may be extraordinary excursions such as an exclusive dinner in a chateau, while others may want spacious cabins or as much foie gras and French cheese as you can possibly eat.

In the evenings, supervised meals for kids and teens (and movie nights) keep the vibe upbeat until bedtime. Fancy associations aside, these credentials translate into some truly awesome dining experiences. European ships have the cozy Chef's Table restaurant where all guests get to dine for free once every cruise. AmaWaterways also has food and wine-themed sailings accompanied by expert hosts.

Not only are these operators considered to be some of the leading brands in the industry, but they also offer an extensive selection of top-rated River Cruise tours. Uniworld stands out immediately for its impressively designed interiors; each ship is themed to the areas that ships sail through. BonVoyage in France, the Le Salon Champagne was inspired by Yves Saint Laurent's home, Villa Majorelle.

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