How To Pick The Best European River Cruise For You

River cruises look effortless on the surface – unpack once, glide through Europe, wake up somewhere new each day – but choosing the right one is anything but simple.

Don’t assume they’re just smaller versions of ocean cruises. They’re not.

The river you pick can completely change the feel of the trip, and two cruises that look almost identical on paper can deliver very different experiences once you’re onboard.

River cruising is brilliant – one of the easiest, most immersive ways to see Europe. But getting it right takes a bit more thought than just picking a date and pressing book.

1. Pick The Right River

Before you get too deep into cabin types, inclusions and cruise line comparisons, it helps to choose the river that actually suits the sort of trip you want. That’s the part many first-time river cruisers get backwards.

A European river cruise isn’t one single type of holiday. The Rhine feels very different from the Danube. The Douro doesn’t have the same rhythm as the Seine. Even if ships look broadly similar, the destinations, scenery and pace can vary a lot.

For most people, the right choice comes down to one question – what do you most want from the trip? Big cities? Castles? Vineyards? Food? Famous sights? Scenic sailing? Once you know that, it gets much easier to narrow things down.

The Rhine – Best For Classic Scenery And First-Time River Cruisers

If someone asks which river to choose for a first European river cruise, the Rhine is always near the top of the list. It has that instantly recognisable, storybook feel that a lot of people picture when they think of river cruising in Europe.

This is where you get hilltop castles, vineyard-covered slopes, half-timbered towns and some of the prettiest stretches of scenery on the continent. The Middle Rhine Gorge is the real showstopper – the bit with the castles, the Lorelei rock and those winding, dramatic views that make people fall in love with river cruising in the first place.

It’s also a very easy river to understand as a first-timer. Popular itineraries often run between Amsterdam and Basel, or the reverse, which means you can combine Dutch city breaks, German riverside towns, a touch of France and access to Switzerland in one trip. That’s a very strong mix if you want variety without overcomplicating things.

The Rhine is especially good if Germany and Switzerland are high on your wish list. You’ll often visit places like Cologne, Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Strasbourg and Basel, with some itineraries adding Heidelberg or extending into the Moselle or Main. There’s a nice balance here between scenic cruising and ports that are genuinely interesting to explore.

It’s also one of the best rivers for seasonal sailings. Spring brings tulip cruises in the Netherlands and Belgium, while late November and December are packed with Christmas market itineraries. That makes it very easy to tailor the same river to a completely different sort of holiday.

Read more: Highlights Of The Rhine With TUI River Cruises

The Danube – Best For Big Cities, Culture And Variety

If the Rhine is the fairytale river, the Danube is the one for travellers who want a bit more grandeur and a stronger run of headline cities.

This is often the top recommendation for first-time river cruisers who care as much about what they’ll see ashore as they do about the scenery between ports. A typical Danube itinerary can include Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava, with places like Passau, Linz, Melk and Dürnstein adding smaller-scale charm in between. That’s an impressive line-up for one trip.

The Danube works brilliantly because it mixes very different experiences. One day you’re in a major capital city with grand architecture, music history and elegant cafés, and the next you’re cruising through vineyard country or stopping at an abbey in a small riverside town. It never feels too repetitive.

It’s also one of the best rivers for people who want a stronger sense of European history. You’re travelling through the old Habsburg heartlands, and in some itineraries into parts of Eastern Europe that feel very different from the more familiar western routes. That gives the Danube a broad appeal – it can be classic and easy for beginners, but it can also feel more adventurous if you choose a longer sailing.

For a first cruise, the middle Danube is usually the easiest place to start. Sailings between Passau and Budapest are especially popular because they combine the biggest highlights without feeling rushed. You get the best-known cities, lovely scenic stretches such as the Wachau Valley, and enough contrast from port to port to keep things interesting.

Longer Danube itineraries can continue east through Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania towards the Black Sea. These can be fantastic for returning river cruisers or travellers who want something less predictable than the standard western European routes.

The Rhône – Best For Food, Wine And Southern France

The Rhône is one of the easiest rivers to fall for if you love the idea of France in all its richest, most indulgent forms. This is a cruise for people who hear Burgundy, Provence, Lyon and Avignon and immediately think yes, that sounds like my sort of holiday.

The scenery here is lovely, but the real pull is the atmosphere ashore. Rhône itineraries tend to be more about regional flavour than ticking off a long list of countries. You’re sailing through an area known for food, wine, Roman history and those golden-stone towns and villages that seem built for lingering over lunch.

Lyon is usually either the start or end point, and that alone is a selling point. It’s one of France’s great food cities and well worth extra time before or after the cruise. From there, itineraries often head towards Avignon or Arles, with calls that can include Vienne, Tournon, Viviers and other small towns that many travellers wouldn’t otherwise visit.

This river suits people who like a slower, more immersive style of trip. You’re not trying to squeeze in as many countries as possible. Instead, you’re getting properly stuck into one region – its wines, its markets, its Roman ruins, its art and its cuisine. If the Rhine and Danube are the obvious first-timer choices, the Rhône is the one for travellers who already know that food and place matter more than headline landmarks.

It’s also a very appealing option for wine lovers. Burgundy and the Rhône Valley are not exactly bad places to base a holiday around tastings and vineyard excursions. Even for people who aren’t serious wine buffs, there’s something very easy to enjoy about cruising through this part of France.

The Seine – Best For Paris And Normandy

The Seine has one huge advantage over just about every other European river – Paris. Starting or ending a cruise there gives it immediate appeal, especially for anyone who likes the idea of pairing a river sailing with time in one of Europe’s great cities.

But the Seine isn’t just about Paris. It also takes you through Normandy, which gives this river a really nice blend of countryside, history and culture. In one week, you can move from iconic city sights to half-timbered towns, Monet’s garden, coastal landscapes and excursions connected to the D-Day landings.

That mix makes the Seine feel a bit different from the more scenic-castle-heavy Rhine or the city-rich Danube. It’s less about a changing run of countries and more about exploring a single region in depth. For some travellers, that’s a real plus. You get a stronger sense of place rather than a more general sweep through central Europe.

Typical itineraries are round trips from Paris or sailings between Paris and the Normandy coast. Rouen and Honfleur are often among the standout stops. Rouen brings history and striking architecture, while Honfleur has the sort of harbourfront charm that makes you want to stay longer than the schedule allows.

The Seine is also a particularly good choice for art lovers and history lovers. Excursions to Giverny and the Normandy beaches add a lot of weight to the itinerary, and it’s a river that tends to appeal to travellers who enjoy the stories behind the places they visit.

The Douro – Best For Wine Lovers And Scenic Relaxation

The Douro is quite different from the classic Rhine-or-Danube first cruise, which is exactly why some people end up loving it. This is a river for scenery, wine country and a generally slower, more relaxed rhythm.

Sailings usually begin and end in Porto, which is a brilliant start. It’s one of Europe’s most characterful cities, full of steep streets, tiled buildings and riverfront views, and it sets the tone nicely for the rest of the trip. Once you leave Porto behind, the landscape becomes the star – terraced vineyards, quiet hillsides and a countryside feel that’s less about big cities and more about atmosphere.

The Douro tends to appeal to travellers who don’t mind that the ports themselves are often less famous than those on the Rhine or Danube. This is not the river for headline city after headline city. It’s about the valley, the wine estates, the scenery and the sense of being somewhere a bit more tucked away.

There’s also usually a Spanish element, with many itineraries including an excursion to Salamanca. That adds another layer to the trip and makes it feel slightly broader than a purely Portugal-focused holiday.

It’s worth noting that the Douro often involves more coach transfers for certain sights than some other rivers. That’s just part of how the region works. The reward is the landscape itself, which is one of the most distinctive in European river cruising.

Dutch & Belgian Waterways – Best For Tulips, Canals And Easy First Cruises

These itineraries don’t always get as much attention as the Rhine or Danube, but they’re a brilliant option – especially if you’re after something shorter, more relaxed or very seasonal.

While parts of the journey may touch the Rhine, these cruises are really about the network of canals, rivers and waterways that connect the Netherlands and Belgium. It’s a completely different feel from the castle-lined valleys of Germany or the grand capitals of central Europe. Here, it’s all about low-lying landscapes, historic trading cities and picture-perfect canal towns.

Spring is when this region really shines. Tulip season cruises are hugely popular for a reason, with visits to places like Keukenhof Gardens and fields bursting with colour across the Dutch countryside. It’s one of the most visually distinctive river cruise experiences you can have, and it only happens for a short window each year.

Beyond the flowers, you’re looking at a line-up of very walkable, easy-to-enjoy cities. Amsterdam is often the starting point, with its canals, museums and relaxed atmosphere. From there, itineraries might include Utrecht, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent – all places that are compact, characterful and ideal for exploring on foot or by bike.

That ease is a big part of the appeal. You’re rarely dealing with long transfers or sprawling ports. Ships often dock close to the centre, and the overall pace tends to feel gentler than some of the longer Rhine or Danube sailings. It’s a good fit if you want a more laid-back introduction to river cruising without trying to cover too much ground.

These cruises also tend to be shorter – often around five to seven nights – which makes them a smart choice if you’re testing the waters or don’t want to commit to a longer itinerary straight away.

The Main And Moselle – Best For Extra Variety On A Rhine Cruise

The Main and Moselle are often not the headline rivers people mention first, but they can add a lot to a cruise if you want something slightly different from the standard Rhine route.

The Moselle is especially pretty – quieter, narrower and arguably more intimate in feel than the Rhine in places. It winds through wine country, with steep vineyard slopes and charming little towns such as Cochem that feel more tucked away and less busy than some of the larger Rhine stops. If you like the idea of a gentler, more romantic version of Germany, the Moselle has a lot going for it.

The Main tends to appear more often on longer itineraries, especially those linking the Rhine and Danube via the Main–Danube Canal. It’s less about one iconic scenic stretch and more about opening up a wider route through Germany. You may see places like Frankfurt, Würzburg, Bamberg or Nuremberg, depending on the sailing.

These rivers are often best thought of as additions rather than standalone first choices. If you’re looking at a longer cruise and wondering whether it’s worth picking one that includes the Moselle or Main, the answer is usually yes. They can make the itinerary feel more varied and a little less obvious.

For wine lovers in particular, the Moselle is a very attractive add-on, and for anyone interested in a longer journey through central Europe, the Main helps unlock that.

The Elbe – Best For Repeat River Cruisers And History Fans

The Elbe is much less mainstream than the Rhine or Danube, which is exactly what makes it appealing. This is the river for travellers who’ve either already done one of the more classic itineraries or simply want something a bit different from the start.

One of the big draws here is the pairing of Berlin and Prague. Even if the cruise itself is shorter or more specialised, those bookend cities add huge value. In between, you get places like Dresden, Meissen and the landscapes of Saxon Switzerland, which give the route a strong historical and cultural identity.

The Elbe is particularly good for travellers interested in German and central European history. There’s a lot here tied to war, reconstruction, religion and old trading routes. It feels more niche than the broader appeal of the Rhine, but in a good way.

It’s also a river that comes with practical caveats. Water levels can be more of a challenge here, and the choice of ships and itineraries is far more limited. So while it can be a brilliant cruise, it’s usually not the most straightforward first booking for someone who just wants an easy introduction to river cruising.

The Po And Venetian Lagoon – Best For Italy Lovers

Italy doesn’t have the same huge range of river cruise options as Germany, France or Portugal, but what it does offer is very distinctive. Cruises in the Po Valley and Venetian Lagoon are less about classic river cruising in the Rhine sense and more about combining waterways, culture and iconic Italian cities.

These itineraries are particularly appealing if you love Italy and want a small-ship holiday that feels more unusual. Venice is often the main draw, and rightly so, but the surrounding region has plenty to offer too – places like Padua, Verona, Ferrara and Bologna can appear on the right itinerary.

This type of cruise feels different from the others because the setting is different. You’re not sailing through endless vineyard valleys or moving from one riverside capital to the next. Instead, you’re exploring the waterways and cultural treasures of northern Italy, with a stronger focus on art, architecture and regional history.

So Which River Should You Choose?

If you’re still not sure, it helps to simplify things.

• Choose the Rhine if you want castles, classic scenery, Germany and Switzerland, and an easy first river cruise.
• Choose the Danube if you want big cities, culture, music, history and a little more variety between urban highlights and countryside.
• Choose the Rhône if food, wine and southern France are what really excite you.
• Choose the Seine if Paris and Normandy are the main attraction.
• Choose the Douro if you want vineyard scenery, a relaxed pace and a trip that feels more about the landscape than the ports.
• And choose the Elbe or Po if you’re after something more niche, more specialised or a bit less expected.

That’s usually the easiest way to start narrowing things down – not by asking which river is best overall, but by asking which one sounds most like your sort of holiday.

2. Choosing a Cruise Line

Once you’ve picked your river, now’s the time to check out your cruise line.

Firstly, you need to find a cruise line that sails to the destination you want to visit – not all cruise lines cover all rivers!

Let’s break that down first, and then we’ll dig into what each cruise line offers, and what’s included with their fares.

Cruise Line	The Rhine	The Danube	The Rhône	The Seine	The Douro	Dutch & Belgian Waterways	The Main & Moselle	The Elbe	The Po
A-ROSA	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	✅	❌	❌
AMAWaterways	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	❌
APT Touring	✅	✅	❌	❌	✅	❌	✅	❌	❌
Avalon Waterways	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	✅	❌	❌
Celebrity River Cruises	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌
CroisiEurope	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Emerald Cruises	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	❌
Riviera Travel	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Scenic River	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	❌
Tauck	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	❌
TUI River Cruises	✅	✅	❌	❌	✅	✅	✅	❌	❌
Uniworld	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	✅
Viking River Cruises	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
VIVA Cruises	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅

So, you’ve picked a river, you now know which cruise lines offer itineraries in that destination – how do you pick between them?

This will help:

Cruise Line	Lowest Price 7-Night Rhine Cruise	Flights Included	Excursions Included	Drinks Included	Tips Included	WiFi Included
A-ROSA	£864pp	No	No	No	No	No
AMAWaterways	£2,079pp	Yes	Yes*	During Meals	No	Yes
APT Touring	£1,995pp	Yes	No	During Meals	Yes	Yes
Avalon Waterways	£1,700pp	Yes	Yes	During Meals	No	Yes
Celebrity River Cruises	£2,448pp	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
CroisiEurope	£1,211pp	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
Emerald Cruises	£1,885pp	No	Yes	During Meals	Yes	Yes
Riviera Travel	£1,999pp	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Scenic River	£2,569pp	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Tauck	£3,290pp	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
TUI River Cruises	£1,199pp	Yes	No	During Meals	Yes	Yes
Uniworld	£2,199pp	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Viking River Cruises	£1,695pp	Yes	Yes	During Meals	Yes	Yes
VIVA Cruises	£1350pp	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

A-ROSA

A-ROSA offers a more relaxed, flexible style of river cruising, often with fewer structured excursions and a more casual onboard feel. It’s usually good value and popular with European travellers, but feels less traditional than most river cruise lines.

They’re also one of the few river cruise lines that are genuinely good for families. Most are adults only, but A-ROSA has some great child-friendly cruise options, particularly on A-ROSA Sena.

Read more: 10 Reasons To Love A-ROSA Family Cruises

AmaWaterways

AmaWaterways is a favourite for active travellers, with multiple excursion options in each port including hikes and bike rides. It strikes a strong balance between inclusions, quality and a slightly more energetic onboard atmosphere.

Read more: AmaWaterways vs Viking River Cruises: Which Should You Choose?

APT Touring

APT leans towards the premium and luxury end, with a focus on high inclusions, unique experiences and a polished onboard feel. It’s especially appealing if you like the idea of a more all-inclusive trip with fewer extra costs to think about.

Avalon Waterways

Avalon is known for its spacious, modern cabins and excellent overall value, making it a popular choice for first-time river cruisers. It delivers a comfortable, easy-going experience without pushing into ultra-luxury pricing.

Read more: Avalon Waterways vs Viking River Cruises: Which Is Better for Your River Cruise?

Celebrity River Cruises

Celebrity River Cruises brings a more contemporary, design-led approach to river cruising, with a focus on style, dining and a slightly more modern onboard vibe. It’s one to watch if you like the feel of newer ocean cruise brands but want a smaller ship experience.

Suggested read: Celebrity Cruises to Enter the River Cruise Market with Premium Fleet Launching in 2027

CroisiEurope

CroisiEurope is often one of the most affordable ways into river cruising, with a simple, no-frills approach that still covers the essentials well. It also offers some more unusual itineraries that other lines don’t operate.

Read more: Kids Sail Free With (Some) CroisiEurope River Cruises – What You Need To Know

Emerald Cruises

Emerald Cruises sits firmly in the “value with extras” category, often including things like gratuities and a decent range of excursions. Ships feel modern and the overall experience is polished without the higher price tag of luxury lines.

Riviera Travel

Riviera is a go-to for value-conscious travellers, offering stylish ships and well-organised itineraries at competitive prices. It’s a more classic river cruise experience, with a focus on good service and solid inclusions rather than luxury extras.

Read more: Riviera Travel Drinks Package Guide

Scenic River Tours

Scenic is firmly in the ultra-all-inclusive luxury category, with drinks, excursions, gratuities and even extras like e-bikes and butler service bundled in. It’s a seamless experience, but you’ll pay more upfront for that level of inclusion.

Suggested read: Scenic vs Emerald River Cruises

Tauck

Tauck is all about curated experiences and high-end, fully inclusive travel, often with unique excursions you won’t find elsewhere. It feels more like a guided journey than a standard cruise, with a strong focus on service and detail.

TUI River Cruises

TUI offers a very accessible, UK-friendly river cruise experience with straightforward pricing and familiar touches. It’s a good entry point if you want something simple, sociable and easy to book without overthinking the details.

Read more: TUI River Cruise Ships Compared: What Each One Offers

Uniworld

Uniworld delivers a more boutique, luxury feel, with highly styled ships and a very all-inclusive approach. It’s ideal if you want something that feels a bit more distinctive and indulgent than the standard river cruise offering.

Viking River Cruises

Viking is one of the biggest names in river cruising, known for its consistent, well-run experience and wide choice of itineraries. It’s a safe, reliable option that gets the basics right, even if it’s not the most all-inclusive.

VIVA Cruises

VIVA Cruises is a relatively new European river cruise line that focuses on modern ships, all-inclusive fares and a more relaxed, contemporary atmosphere than some of the traditional luxury river cruise brands.

VIVA Cruises is particularly known for its stylish newer ships, flexible dining and good-value pricing, making it a popular choice for younger retirees and travellers who want a premium river cruise experience without the ultra-luxury price tag.

3. Other Considerations for a Europe River Cruise

Think Carefully About Excursions

Excursions are a huge part of river cruising. In fact, they shape the whole trip more than many first-timers expect.

On an ocean cruise, shore days can feel optional. On a river cruise, the ports are the point. That means you need to look beyond the ship and ask what’s actually included each day.

Are there guided walks in every port? Are there choices, or just one standard coach tour? Is there anything active, like hiking or cycling? Are special events and evening outings included or extra?

If you already know you enjoy getting off the ship and making the most of each stop, this can be the difference between a good holiday and a great one.

Some lines offer multiple touring styles, which can be really useful. A gentle group, a regular-paced walk and a faster active option can make the day much more enjoyable than being stuck in one big mixed group. That’s especially true if you don’t want every port to feel like the same guided wander followed by souvenir shopping.

Don’t Overlook Drinks And Onboard Atmosphere

Anyone moving from big-ship cruising needs to reset expectations a bit here.

River cruises generally aren’t built around drinks packages, late-night entertainment or lively pool decks. That doesn’t mean they’re dull – it just means the social life is different.

Think pre-dinner drinks, a quiet cocktail in the lounge, regional wines with dinner and maybe some music in the bar later on. It’s more relaxed than high-energy. Not always – some cruise lines put on big parties – but those are the exception.

That actually suits a lot of people very well. If you enjoy an occasional evening drink but you’re not the kind of cruiser who wants unlimited cocktails all day, river cruising can feel like a much better fit than ocean lines that push packages heavily.

A lot of lines include wine and beer at lunch and dinner, and some add a happy hour or more generous drinks policy. A few luxury operators include pretty much everything. It’s worth checking because drink inclusions vary more than many people assume.

Book The Right Time Of Year

Timing matters on a river cruise, and not just for weather.

Spring is lovely for a first trip. You get fresh scenery, generally comfortable temperatures and special seasonal sailings like tulip cruises in the Netherlands and Belgium. Early summer is popular too, with long daylight hours and lively cities, but it can also be busier and hotter.

Autumn is another strong choice, especially if you like wine regions, harvest season and slightly softer temperatures. Late November and December bring Christmas market cruises, which are hugely popular and feel completely different from standard sailings.

For the Rhine and Danube in particular, many seasoned travellers try to avoid the hottest part of late summer, partly because of crowds and partly because of water level concerns. There are no guarantees either way, but shoulder season often feels like the nicest balance.

Understand The Water Level Risk

This is one of the biggest practical differences between river cruising and ocean cruising, and it’s something every first-timer should know before booking.

River ships are vulnerable to both high water and low water. Too much water and they may not fit under bridges. Too little and they may not be able to sail certain stretches at all. When that happens, the cruise line may switch ships, coach passengers between sections, or alter the itinerary.

That doesn’t mean you should avoid river cruising. It just means you should go in with realistic expectations. This is part of the deal, especially on some rivers and at some times of year.

If this risk worries you, it’s worth looking at cruise lines with bigger fleets, because they may have more flexibility when disruption happens. You should also read the terms carefully so you know exactly what happens if the itinerary changes. It’s not the most glamorous part of trip planning, but it’s important.

Plan Your Flights And Hotel Stays Sensibly

For many travellers, especially those used to planning their own trips, booking airfare separately sometimes makes the most sense. You get more control over airline, route, seat choice and timing. That can be especially useful if you live near a major gateway and are comfortable arranging things yourself.

Cruise-line air can still be worth pricing up, though, since it’s reasonably priced in many cases and can make things a lot more seamless. Sometimes there are promotions, and in some cases transfers are included. For travellers who want everything kept simple in one booking, that can be appealing.

Whichever route you choose, arriving at least a day or two early is one of the smartest things you can do. It gives you breathing room if there are flight delays, and it means you actually get to enjoy your embarkation city instead of seeing it through jet lag. The same goes for the end of the trip. A post-cruise stay can turn a good holiday into a much better one.

With river cruises starting or ending in cities like Amsterdam, Budapest, Basel or Vienna, there’s usually a very good case for adding hotel time on either side.

I would advise getting a good travel agent who can package your river cruise along with flights and hotel stays so you will benefit from ATOL protection.

Check The Ship Layout And Cabin Style

River ships are small, but they’re not all identical in feel.

Some have more spacious cabins, almost all have French balconies rather than step-out balconies (but there are a few exceptions), and some feel noticeably more contemporary than others. A few ships include things like small fitness rooms, bikes for guests or multiple dining venues, while others are more straightforward.

Because you’ll spend a fair amount of time in your cabin and on the public decks watching the scenery go by, layout matters. On a first river cruise, it’s worth paying attention to what sort of balcony you’re actually getting and how much indoor space the cabin has.

This is one reason some travellers end up preferring one line over another even if the itinerary is very similar. On river ships, little design differences are more noticeable because the ships are so compact.

Know What River Cruising Isn’t

It helps to be clear about this before you book.

River cruising isn’t a floating resort. It isn’t packed with big production shows, waterslides, casinos or endless speciality restaurants. You probably won’t be sailing all day with nothing to do. And you may occasionally be docked beside another ship or beside a less-than-pretty stretch of town.

But that’s not really what this kind of holiday is for.

River cruising is about the route, the ease of unpacking once, the smaller number of guests, the included touring and the simple pleasure of gliding into one interesting place after another. For a lot of ocean cruisers, that ends up being the surprise – not that it’s smaller, but that it feels more immersive and far less hectic.

Final Thoughts

The easiest way to choose a European river cruise is to narrow it down in this order – river first, then cruise line.

If you’re brand new to river cruising and want a safe first pick, the Rhine is hard to beat for Germany, Switzerland and classic scenery. The Danube is just as tempting if you’d rather focus on big cities and central Europe. From there, compare what’s actually included rather than just staring at the fare.

For many first-timers who like excursions, enjoy a drink now and then but don’t need an all-inclusive bar setup, and want a good balance of quality and value, lines such as Avalon, AmaWaterways, Viking, Emerald and Riviera are all worth close attention.

Above all, book with the right expectations. River cruising is different from ocean cruising – and for plenty of people, that’s exactly why they end up loving it.

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