Quick answer
Slim river ships that dock in the centre of Vienna, Budapest, Amsterdam, Paris and Porto — unpack once and see a new town every day. Typical trips are 7–15 nights from about US$250–750 per person per night. Couples, culture lovers, seniors and first-time Europe visitors who don't want to change hotels.
- Typical length
- 7–15 nights
- Price guide
- ≈ US$250–≈ US$750 pp/night
- Ship size
- 90–190 guests
- Who it suits
- Couples, culture lovers, seniors and first-time Europe visitors who don't want to change hotels.
- Dress code
- Smart casual throughout; no formal nights.
- Usually included
- Cabin, all meals, wine and beer with lunch and dinner on most lines, daily guided walking tours and Wi-Fi.
- Lines on our list
- 25
25 european river cruise lines
Riverside Luxury Cruises
German luxury river brand with spacious suites and fine dining, named after…
Tauck River Cruises
US tour operator famous for all-inclusive guided travel; its river cruises carry fewer guests than the ships could hold, and Tauck Bridges sailings…
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Ultra-luxury, all-inclusive river ships, each decorated like a boutique hotel with antiques and…
APT
Australian luxury tour operator with all-inclusive river cruises and 'Freedom of Choice'…
AmaWaterways
Family-founded line with twin-balcony cabins, included bikes and guided cycling, and wellness programmes. AmaMagna is twice the width of a standard…
Scenic River Cruises
All-inclusive river 'Space-Ships' with butler service in every suite, included drinks and electric…
Amadeus River Cruises
Austrian family-owned line with a European, multilingual feel on the Danube, Rhine and…
Avalon Waterways
Known for 'Panorama Suites' where the bed faces wall-to-wall opening windows, and 'Active & Discovery'…
DouroAzul
Portugal's biggest Douro river operator, sailing between Porto and the Spanish border through port-wine…
Emerald Cruises
Scenic's more relaxed sister brand, with a heated pool that turns into a cinema at night, plus small yachts in the Adriatic and…
Grand Circle Cruise Line
US operator for travellers 50+, with small-group 'learning and discovery' itineraries and generous solo…
Nicko Cruises
German river and ocean cruise brand sailing European rivers and small-ship ocean…
Rivages du Monde
French cultural river-cruise operator with French-speaking guides and…
Riviera Travel
Award-winning British operator with a large river fleet and generous inclusions for UK…
Scylla
Swiss river ship owner and operator whose vessels are chartered by many international river…
TUI River Cruises
Adults-only (16+) river cruises for UK travellers with drinks and tips…
VIVA Cruises
German all-inclusive river brand with modern ships and English-language sailings on some…
Vantage Deluxe World Travel
US river cruise and tour operator with its own ships, aimed at mature US…
Viking River Cruises
The world's largest river cruise line, with identical Scandinavian-design Longships, one included tour in every port and adults-only…
A-ROSA River Cruises
German line with a resort feel, buffet dining and family-friendly policies, plus English-language…
CroisiEurope
Europe's largest family-owned river line, with the widest choice of rivers, including the Loire, Garonne and Elbe, and drinks…
Gate 1 Travel
US budget tour operator selling river cruises on chartered ships with good-value…
Phoenix Reisen
German operator of both river ships and classic ocean ships, known for good value and long…
Plantours
German operator offering river cruises and small-ship ocean voyages for German-speaking…
1AVista Reisen
German budget river cruise brand with competitive fares on the Rhine, Danube and…
Popular destinations
European rivers (Danube, Rhine, Seine, Douro)
Best: Apr, May, Sep, Oct
Mekong & Irrawaddy
Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec
The Nile
Best: Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec
Mediterranean
Best: May, Jun, Sep, Oct
India's rivers: Ganga, Brahmaputra & Sundarbans
Best: Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec
Africa & the Indian Ocean islands
Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec
Sailings & fares
Loading sailings…
Frequently asked questions
What is a european river cruise?
Slim river ships that dock in the centre of Vienna, Budapest, Amsterdam, Paris and Porto — unpack once and see a new town every day.
How much does a european river cruise cost?
Roughly US$250–750 per person per night, depending on line, ship, cabin and season.
Which european river cruise lines are best?
It depends on who is travelling. Popular choices include Riverside Luxury Cruises, Tauck River Cruises, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, APT, AmaWaterways. Use Cruise Match to rank them for you.
What is included?
Cabin, all meals, wine and beer with lunch and dinner on most lines, daily guided walking tours and Wi-Fi.