Independent reviews based on firsthand experience across 60+ river cruises in Europe. We compare what’s included, what you’ll actually pay, and what the onboard experience is really like.
About our reviews: River Cruise Advisor is run by Ralph Grizzle and Britton Frost, two journalists who specialize in river cruising. Most of our reviews are based on press trips where we’re invited by cruise lines to sail as guests for evaluation and reporting. We experience the ships the same way you would—staying in a variety of cabins, eating included meals and taking the same excursions. Some of our reviews are as paying guests, such as the barge trips and Dream Cruises that we host annually.
We maintain full editorial independence. Our opinions reflect our firsthand experience, not sponsorship relationships. Learn more about how we work →
| Cruise Line | Daily Rate | Category | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| AmaWaterways | $$$ | Premium | Active travelers, couples |
| Avalon Waterways | $$$ | Premium | Independent-minded cruisers, couples |
| CroisiEurope | $$ | Value-Focused | Value-minded travelers, Francophiles |
| Emerald Cruises | $$$ | Premium | First-time cruisers, mid-range budgets |
| Riverside Luxury Cruises | $$$$ | Ultra-Luxury | Luxury purists, special occasions |
| Riviera Travel | $$ | Value-Focused | Price-conscious travelers, British style |
| Scenic | $$$$ | Ultra-Luxury | All-inclusive luxury travelers |
| Tauck | $$$$ | Ultra-Luxury | Tour-focused, culturally curious travelers |
| Uniworld | $$$$ | Ultra-Luxury | Style-focused, repeat cruisers |
| Viking River Cruises | $$$ | Premium | First-time river cruisers |
Price guide (per person/day): $$ = $400–$600 · $$$ = $600–$800 · $$$$ = $800+
Most river cruises include accommodations, meals, and wine or beer with dinner. But beyond that, inclusions vary widely:
Our reviews answer those questions—so you can find the right fit.
These are abbreviated reviews. For full details on inclusions and pricing, see our guides at these links:
This is the top tier. These lines include almost everything in the fare:
These cruises are ideal for travelers who want a fully inclusive experience and are comfortable paying for it—often $700–$800 per person per day.
Tauck, Scenic, Uniworld and Riverside all operate in the luxury tier, but they approach luxury differently. Tauck emphasizes guided journeys with exclusive access and seamless logistics. Scenic focuses on comprehensive inclusions that remove nearly every onboard decision. Uniworld delivers boutique luxury through distinctive ship design and personalized atmosphere. Riverside centers on spacious suites, refined dining and a quieter hotel-style environment. Each offers luxury—the difference lies in whether you prioritize guided access, all-inclusive simplicity, immersive design or residential comfort.
See full reviews: Ultra-Luxury River Cruises →
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Riverside delivers a refined, hotel-style experience with spacious suites, standout dining, and a more flexible, less scripted feel.
Scenic offers a polished, highly inclusive luxury experience with strong onboard amenities and a “no-wallet” approach.
Tauck delivers one of the most tour-intensive, seamlessly operated river cruise experiences, backed by deep land-tour expertise.
Uniworld pairs all-inclusive luxury with distinctive ship design and immersive itineraries that emphasize local culture.
Premium lines deliver excellent ships, itineraries and service, but with fewer inclusions bundled into the base fare.
Many premium lines now offer complimentary cocktail hours or expanded drink packages as they refine their value proposition.
AmaWaterways, Avalon, Celebrity River Cruises, Emerald and Viking operate in the premium tier, each emphasizing a different balance of comfort, flexibility and value. AmaWaterways focuses on service warmth, culinary strength and active excursion choices. Avalon prioritizes cabin space and flexibility through its open-air balcony design and varied touring pace. Celebrity River Cruises is expected to bring contemporary ocean-cruise design and hospitality into the river space. Emerald emphasizes modern ships, active touring options and strong inclusions at competitive pricing. Viking centers on cultural immersion, Scandinavian design and consistent delivery across a large fleet. The distinction lies in whether you value personalization, space, modern style, activity options or reliability at scale.
For many travelers, this category offers the best balance of comfort, experience and price. See full reviews: Premium River Cruises →
AmaWaterways delivers a well-balanced premium experience with strong dining, active excursion options, and a relaxed yet polished onboard atmosphere.
Avalon focuses on comfort and space, pairing Panorama Suites and flexible touring with a straightforward, good-value premium experience.
Celebrity brings a contemporary design-forward approach to river cruising, backed by strong service standards and an emphasis on modern luxury.
Emerald offers modern ships and inclusive touring at a competitive price point, appealing to travelers new to river cruising or watching value.
Viking emphasizes cultural enrichment and destination focus, with streamlined inclusions and a consistent, no-frills premium experience.
These are typically international cruise companies based in Europe.
What they may lack in polish, they often make up for in price and interesting itineraries, sometimes sailing rivers or routes that larger operators don’t serve. CroisiEurope, however, has something the other cruise companies do not have: luxury hotel barge. See Canal Cruising in France.
CroisiEurope and Riviera occupy the value-focused end of European river cruising, though they arrive there through different traditions. CroisiEurope reflects its French family ownership, emphasizing itinerary variety, regional authenticity and access to waterways larger operators often cannot reach. Riviera brings a British tour-operator approach built around clear pricing, structured excursions and strong value for guided travel. Both prioritize destination over onboard spectacle, but CroisiEurope leans toward local character and geographic breadth, while Riviera emphasizes consistency, accessibility and solo-friendly policies. The distinction comes down to whether travelers prefer French-rooted authenticity or British-style structure and value clarity.
For travelers who care more about destination than amenities, these cruises can be an excellent fit. See full reviews: Value-Focused River Cruises →
CroisiEurope offers strong value and unique itineraries, particularly in France, with a more traditional onboard style and competitive pricing. CroisiEurope also is the only mainstream river cruise company to offer luxury hotel barges. See Canal Cruising in France.
Riviera delivers a solid, well-organized river cruise experience with a distinctly British feel and pricing that appeals to value-conscious travelers.
Reviews show you what the experience is like. Our comparison pages show you what you'll actually pay—and what's included.
River cruise pricing isn't always transparent. A lower upfront price may cost more once gratuities, drinks and transfers are added. A higher-priced cruise may offer better value if everything's included.
Our comparison pages do the math for you. We compare cruises on the same river, sailing similar dates, and calculate the true per-person, per-day cost—including:
If you’d like to explore further, take a look at what a river cruise will cost you here. How Much Does a River Cruise Cost? What Most Travelers Actually Pay Also check out our 7 Best River Cruises In Europe
