River cruising is one of the most wonderful and relaxing ways of experiencing Europe, but many people aren’t quite sure what to expect or how the different river cruise lines differ from one another.

What is a River Cruise like? 

If you have been on ocean cruises, you might expect a river cruise to be similar, but that would be a mistake. River ships are much smaller than even the smaller ocean ships, and they are more integrated with the places  you will visit.  They are intimate, cozy, and very immersive.

The cities you visit on a river cruise are generally smaller, and give off more old world charm with fewer tourists.   Naturally, they will also visit some of the larger cities, but there is usually a wonderful mixture of both.  When you stop somewhere on a river cruise, there are always tours to choose from, but many people feel extremely comfortable visiting the destinations on their own.  Doing so is usually very simple, as they tend to dock in very central parts of town.

River cruises tend to be more social.  With fewer people and a more intimate setting, it is easy to find others to strike up conversations with.

Finally, while you are aboard, the rooms tend to be larger than ocean ships, and the overall feel is much less crowded.  Activities aboard will vary from ship to ship, so it is important to match the line and ship with what you most desire out of the experience.

How is the Food on a River Cruise?

Since river cruising tends to attract a more discerning groups of people than mass market cruising and the kitchen it preparing meals for fewer guests, there is generally a stronger focus on very high quality quality food and wine.  This will differ from line to line, but in general you will find it is be excellent.  You will also usually find more locally sourced and themed food and wine coming from the local markets and vineyards where you are cruising.

Who Goes on River Cruises?

Each river cruise will focus on a small geographic region, which helps travelers really get a feel for the area they are visiting.  It is like visiting a smaller area of the world and going town to town without having to change hotels or pack and unpack.

The most popular river cruises are on European rivers, such as The Rhine, Main, Moselle, Danube, Rhône & Saône in Europe, or Portugal’s breathtaking Duoro river, or The Dordogne, Garonne & Gironde to enjoy some of France’s best wines.  But you will find wonderful river cruises all over the world, including The Yangtze in China, The Mekong in Vietnam and Cambodia, The Amazon, many of America’s magnificent rivers, The Kerala in India,  or my personal favorite, the amazing Nile river in Egypt, discovering the many temples and pyramids of Egypt.  The list goes on and on.

What Are The Best River Cruises and Why?

Asking which is the best is always subjective, because each person has their personal preferences. 

Without question, the most popular line is Viking River Cruises.  They are the biggest, with more than 50 ships across the globe.

For European cruises, my personal favorite is AmaWaterways, as they have a wonderful sweet spot of luxury and value combined with some of the most interesting itineraries.

The next on my list would be Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, followed by Scenic River Cruises. I would also consider Riviera River Cruises for people that want wonderful luxury along with a more international groups of passengers.

For cruises outside of Europe, including The Nile, The Mekong, The Amazon and so many more, some of these larger companies also have ships, but often the best that can be found are small, local specialty ships.

Whatever your desires, if you are looking for a river cruise, I have you covered!