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Europe River Cruise Reviews By Cruise Operator

Before you dive in, there is one important thing for you to know: Some river cruises are all-inclusive, some are not. The chart below provides a quick glance at what’s included and what’s not. Also see Comparing River Cruise Companies

Attributes Of The Top River Cruise Companies

AmaWaterwaysAvalonCroisiEuropeEmeraldRivieraScenicTauckUniworldViking
Excursions Included?checkmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmark
Beer/Wine Lunch & Dinner?checkmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmark**checkmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmark
Drinks Included 24/7?****checkmark**checkmarkcheckmarkcheckmark**
Onboard Bicyclescheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmark**
Fitness Centercheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmark**
Exterior Balconies/Verandacheckmark**checkmark**checkmark**checkmarkcheckmark**checkmarkcheckmarkcheckmark**
Two Room Suitescheckmark**checkmark**
Service Guaranteecheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmark
Own & Operatecheckmarkcheckmark**checkmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmark
Room Service**checkmarkcheckmarkcheckmark**
Mini Barcheckmark****checkmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmark**
Dining Venues3**2**13262**2
Personal Butlercheckmarkcheckmark
Port Charges Includedcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmark
Airport Transfers****checkmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmark**
Prepaid Gratuitiescheckmark**
Gratuities Includedcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmarkcheckmark**
Laundry Included**checkmark****
Please note that the table can be scrolled horizontally so that you may view all data.

While we've tried to be as accurate as possible, sometimes the answer require more than a simple yes or no. For example, while all river cruise companies in the accompanying table offer complimentary shore excursions in ports of call, some charge for "optional" excursions. Also, airport transfers are included when air tickets are purchased with the river cruise company, but may not be included otherwise. We’ve indicated companies that always include airport transfers, even for guests who have made independent air arrangements.

AmaWaterways **: Beer, wine and soft drinks included with lunch and dinner; sparkling wine with breakfast; and complimentary cocktails during Happy Hour. Complimentary shore excursions included in every port, along with complimentary Special Interest Tours. AmaWaterways features twin balconies, both a French and an outside balcony, in many staterooms. In addition to the main dining room, AmaWaterways features The Chef's Table restaurant, with its multi-course, wine-paired dinners, at no additional charge. Light lunches and breakfast are served in the lounge, along with full lunches and breakfast served in the main dining room. Airport transfers are included when purchasing air through AmaWaterways. Pre-paid gratuities are offered.

Avalon Waterways **: Beer and wine included with lunch and dinner, sparkling wine with breakfast, and complimentary cocktails during happy hour. Coffee, tea and non-alcoholic beverages complimentary 24/7. In addition to the main dining room, Avalon offers small group (30 people) reservations to Panorama Bistro (light menu paired with wine). When weather permits, grilled lunches are available on the Sky Deck. Meals can also be served in the Club Lounge and Panorama Lounge. Some optional tours require a fee. Airport transfers included when purchasing air from Avalon.

CroisiEurope **: Extra charge only for high-end champagnes and wines. Wi-Fi internet access with complimentary use of Samsung tablet. Complimentary shore excursions included in every port.

Emerald Cruises **: Complimentary shore excursions in every port. Wine, beer & soda complimentary with lunch and dinner. Room service included for suites. Laundry concierge available for a fee; complimentary for suites.

Riviera **: Riviera’s beverage package, which includes wine and beer with lunch and dinner, ranges from $99 per person to $299 per person depending on the duration of the cruise. Expect to pay $129 for the drink package on a weeklong cruise.

Scenic **: Inclusions are for all guests, regardless of ship or suite.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection **: Free laundry service in higher-end suites across its fleet. Additionally, most Uniworld ships have complimentary self-service laundry facilities for passengers to use. Room Service and Butler Service on Uniworld is at the suite level only. Uniworld’s ships have multiple dining venues including restaurants and cafés. Guests also have the option to eat each course in a different part of the ship such as appetizers on the top deck and dessert in the galley on all super ships.

Viking River Cruises ** : A complimentary shore excursion is included in every port. Beer, wine and soft drinks included with lunch and dinner. Specialty coffee & teas available anytime. Optional Silver Spirit beverage packages are available for an extra fee, this makes drinks all-inclusive. Room service, stocked mini-bars and laundry are included for Explorer Suites. Bicycles and gyms are available ashore and arranged by Viking. Airport transfers included when booking air (or receiving free air) with Europe.

River Cruise Reviews By Company

AmaWaterways: Once known as Amadeus Waterways, AmaWaterways has grown exponentially in the intervening years to become one of the major players in the European river cruise market.

American Cruise Lines: Offers river cruises along the Mississippi River, along with small-ship cruises that explore Alaska & the Pacific Northwest, and the North and Southeast United States.

American Queen Steamboat Company: Operates cruises on the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee rivers, as well as the Columbia and Snake rivers. Cruise the Mississippi on the celebrated American Queen or the new American Duchess.

A-ROSA: A long-standing player in Europe, the line recently partnered with David Morris International to bring its unique brand of river cruising to North American audiences for the first time.

Avalon Waterways: With its royal-blue hulls, this subsidiary of Globus Travel is arguably best known for its successful Suite Ships like the Avalon Panorama.

CroisiEurope: In 1976 Gérard Schmitter introduced the river cruise line, CroisiEurope. It’s the only major river cruise company that is family owned. With its headquarters in Strasbourg, CroisiEurope is one of the few suppliers that can dock in this French city. Because it designs shallow-draft river cruise vessels, CroisiEurope can dock in ports where other vessels cannot.

Crystal River Cruises: Crystal River Cruises launched in July 2016, and I was on board to take a look at its first ship, Crystal Mozart. See Crystal Mozart Photo Gallery Now Crystal aims to redefine river cruising. For starters, the company calls its ships “River Yachts.”

Emerald Cruises: Founded by travel company Scenic, Emerald Cruises made its debut in April 2014. Much like its parent company, Emerald Cruises serves travelers who are seeking a luxury river cruise experience. However, river cruise packages are offered at a more budget-friendly price compared to Scenic.

Grand Circle Travel: Founded by Ethel Andrus, who also founded AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), Grand Circle has been in operation since 1958. The company offers land tours, small ship cruises and river cruises. Grand Circle caters to the 55+ community, perhaps more so than other river cruise companies.

Scenic: Led by Australian Glen Moroney, Scenic (previously known as Scenic Tours) operates a fleet of all-step-out-balcony ships in Europe and new ships in Southeast Asia.

Tauck: Long-standing American tour operator Tauck distinguishes itself in Europe by offering river cruise tours featuring hallmarks of the company’s “Uncommon Access.” Have you ever wanted to have a private tour of Prague Castle or enjoy dinner at the Hungarian Academy of Science? You can do it with Tauck.

Teeming River Cruises: For many would-be travelers, however, river cruising remains only a dream. The cost of the experience has been prohibitive for many travelers who would love to see Europe by river ship but simply cannot justify the expense. That’s changing as new operators like Teeming River Cruises introduce river cruises that go for around $200 per person per day.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection: In conjunction with Red Carnation Hotels, Uniworld has crafted some of the most distinctive vessels on the waterways of Europe; something the company has been doing for nearly three decades. Uniworld also offers sailings on Italy’s Po River.

Vantage Deluxe World Travel: Vantage operates four river cruisers: ms River Discovery II launched in 2012; River Splendor launched in Spring 2013; River Splendor launched in Spring 2013; and ms River Navigator built in 200 and refurbished in 2013.

Viking River Cruises: You’ve probably heard of the company founded by Torstein Hagen in 1997, which recently earned a Guinness World Record for christening the most ships ever in a single day. Viking has more river cruise vessels operating in Europe than any other company.

All-Inclusive River Cruise Companies

These companies include prepaid gratuities and complimentary beverages 24/7

‘Premium’ River Cruise Companies

These companies normally price out less than the all-inclusive companies but do not include prepaid gratuities. CroisiEurope includes complimentary beverages 24/7 but lacks bicycles on its river cruisers (the company also operates barges). Viking River Cruises does not feature gyms or complimentary bicycles on its ships.

Barge Operators

Operating On U.S. Rivers Only

Other River Cruise Operators

Comments

  1. We are 2 adults tavellig together needing 2 single rooms. We are interested in a river cruise in September 2020 with an itinerary going to/from the Black Sea-e.g. Vienna.
    The Regina Cruises has an itinerary of the kind, but we know too little about the standard. Would you have any comments or suggestions?
    Kind regards,
    Dorrit Romanoff

    Reply

  2. Apparently, shoulder schedule of October affords discounts from higher prices of summer; when do prices change for Croisi Europe river cruises. Does travelling at that time of year create problems of river water levels? Would be interested in opinions regarding travelling the Rhine or the Douro River
    on Croisi Europe line as it seems more economic.

    Reply

  3. Dear Ralf,
    Your description of what the ship is totally accurate.
    We are at the moment on a Viking tour from Budapest to Amsterdam. Due to the weather the Danube, Main and Rhein experienced low water levels, so a few stages of the trip had to be done by Bus transfers to another ship. This fact was known for 6 weeks or more but neither Viking or our travel agent alerted us of this fact. Since we came a long way from Australia we were very disappointed about the information given to us before the trip. We are in the middle of the trip now and still have no full itinerary of the rest of the trip. It seems to be given out by the Programs Officer in two day increments. Please alert your readers not to fall into the same trap because the main office of Viking is of no help at all.
    R and C Szekely
    Australia

    Reply

  6. Most interested in which cruise line you suggest based on my comments. Noted that on your comparison of carriers link, you did not give pricing/amenities for Avalon? wondering why not?

    Reply

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