River Cruise Lines
If you love to cruise but feel limited by only getting to travel to locations accessible by sea, then you're in for a treat aboard a river cruise. As their own category of cruising, river cruises are unlike any other cruising experience as you board a steamboat, paddlewheeler or other fascinating, unique riverboat on the Mississippi, Rhine, Danube or other legendary river.
On the calm river waters, you'll be lulled into a state of relaxation as you're carried off to the heart of old, historic inland towns. On the best river cruise lines you'll likely experience:
- Luxury-level service
- Regionally inspired cuisine
- Themed onboard entertainment
Whether you're looking to cruise to destinations along the Mississippi such as New Orleans and Memphis, or throughout Europe, there's likely a river cruise that'll spark the adventurer and fascination in you.
The Best River Cruise Lines
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AMA WaterwaysThis river cruise line takes its cruises along rivers throughout Europe, Africa, Vietnam and Cambodia, and Myanmar. Enjoy sailing at night or during the day as you relax and enjoy all the sights these rivers have to offer.
American Queen Steamboat CompanySteamboating is back and better than ever with the American Queen Steamboat Company! Experience history and heritage with the ambiance of a floating antebellum mansion.
Avalon WaterwaysSince 2004, Avalon Waterways has built a vast array of riverboats, including their all "Suite Ship" - the Panorama. With some of the largest staterooms on European river cruises, Avalon Waterways has created an elegant, and relaxed approach to river cruising, taking guests along the Danube, Nile, Rhine, Seine, and more.
Crystal River CruisesFounded in 1988, Crystal Cruise Line has since strived to become the best in luxury (not just in luxury cruising, but in the entire luxury service business). Today they not only offer ocean and expedition ships, but they also offer a great number of European river cruises, including their Christmas market cruises along the Rhine.
Scenic CruisesRiverboats are known to be fairly small, which is why Scenic Cruises created their innovative fleet of "Space Ships" - riverboats that provide 20% more space than the average river cruise ship. Feel the luxury of more space to relax as you travel the historic rivers of Europe, France and Russia.
Tauck River CruisesThis award-winning river cruise line has received recognition from publications such as National Geographic Traveler and Travel + Leisure for its culturally immersive European river cruises. With all shore excursions covered and unlimited complimentary beverages, you can look forward to just paying one rate for your cruise and not have to worry about additional gratuities, beverages and shore excursions after booking.
Uniworld River CruisesPartner of the Red Carnation Hotels (award-winning luxury hotels), Uniworld not only offers itineraries to fascinating destinations throughout Europe, Russia and China, but also a stunning interior so you can enjoy your time both off and on the ship.
Viking River CruisesViking River Cruises transports guests back in time along the world's grandest rivers to the grandest cities, medieval towns and charming villages in the interior of Europe, Russia and China.
What is the best time to take a European river cruise?
Seeing that most of the best river cruise lines travel throughout Europe, you may be curious about when the best time is to river cruise in the continent. This can have mixed answers due to the multitude of river cruises practically year-round; therefore, the time you cruise primarily depends on what you are most looking forward to on your river cruise.
The peak season is June through August when the weather is warm, Europe is mostly sunny, and you'll find the most festivals and events at the riverside cities. The summer is also when there are the most crowds though and prices tend to be higher during this time.
If you are hoping to avoid crowds and don't mind cooler weather, you may wish to travel during the shoulder seasons from April through May or September through November. In the late fall or in December, you may also get the benefit of visiting Christmas markets filled with souvenirs, gifts, food and drinks. In the spring, you may risk though having to tough out the rain.
This isn't to mention specifically which rivers you'd like to cruise on. The river itself can also be a contributing factor for when you may want to river cruise. For example, you may want to take a Rhine river cruise in the spring to see the tulips in bloom.
Therefore, there's no right or wrong answer for when to river cruise in Europe. Determine which river you'd like to travel, your reasons for going to these destinations, and what's important to you, and the time to cruise should line up with your preferences.
Just bear in mind that there are certain weather conditions that could impact your cruise - such as flooding from melted snow or rain in the spring or low water levels during a dry summer. In such conditions, cruises can take the trip on land or even change the itinerary, so make sure to weigh the risks as you decide when to travel.
What is the best river cruise line in the US?
Since most river cruise lines travel Europe, you may be wondering what river cruise you can take in the US. We recommend the American Queen Steamboat Company because they specialize in US river cruises along the Mississippi, Columbia & Snake, and Ohio & Tennessee, as well as provide themed voyages such as Mark Twain, country music, bourbon, the Civil War, Elvis, and more.
What is the best luxury river cruise line?
Each river cruise line provides their own form of luxury, making the best luxury river cruise line dependent on what matters most to you when cruising. But the river cruise lines that are most known for luxury include Crystal, Scenic, Uniworld and Viking River Cruise.
