River cruises are voyages on inland waterways, often stopping at multiple ports along the way. Unlike ocean cruises, river cruises typically feature smaller ships that can navigate narrower rivers and canals, allowing access to destinations closer to the heart of towns and cities. Following are our picks of the best river cruise companies and links to their websites.
Best River Cruise Lines
AmaWaterways leads the river cruise industry in innovation, highlighted by the launch of the revolutionary AmaMagna, and through its sustainable ship design, wide variety of small group shore excursions featuring biking and hiking options, and award-winning, locally sourced cuisine paired with fine wines
APT
Life-enriching, relaxing and unique – an APT river cruise is the ultimate holiday experience. Discover unforgettable destinations as you travel in comfort and style. From Europe’s many rivers, Australia’s tranquil Murray River and China’s Yangtze River, to South America’s Amazon River, Southeast Asia’s Mekong and India’s Lower Ganges, APT has a diverse range of river cruises.
Avalon Waterways
Avalon’s river cruises feature Suite Ships with spacious Panorama Suites & wall-to-wall windows for spectacular views. As part of the Globus family of brands, Avalon Waterways has been consistently named No.1 and Best in Class by the industry’s most trusted authorities and travel lovers.
Celebrity Cruises
Get ready to river, The Celebrity Way. Celebrity River Cruises is set to sail Europe’s most iconic rivers. Open for Booking 2025. Sailing 2027. Watch this space!
Croisi Europe Cruises
Since 1976 and throughout the years, Croisi have established themselves as the European leader in river cruises and specialized in intimate-sized cruises on rivers, canals and seas. This unique positioning, as well as the family spirit and the entrepreneurial culture of the company are strong values that Croisi promotes and share with their teams and our passengers.
Emerald Cruises
Whether you’re travelling to unspoilt islands or bustling metropolises, Emerald’s fleet of river-cruising Star-Ships and ocean-going luxury yachts guarantee an unparalleled voyage. Enjoy modern exploration, pairing authentic adventures with inimitable luxury.
Scenic Luxury Cruises
Cruise the waterways of Europe and South East Asia on a truly all-inclusive river cruise in a class of its own. Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has more than 39 years of experience creating unforgettable, award-winning river and ocean cruises and handcrafted land journeys.
Tauk
The magic of our award-winning European river cruises goes far beyond the riverboat you’re aboard or the landmarks you’ll visit. It’s in the intimate ambience and personalized service… the places you’ll discover off the beaten path… and in the uncommon access to local culture and exclusive destination driven experiences you can’t get on your own, as you experience a true slice of European life and return home transformed.
Travelmarvel
Travelmarvel’s latest fleet of European river ships shine bright. Named after the most luminous stars in European skies, every inch of these contemporary vessels has been custom-designed for your enjoyment. Travel Marvel offers state of the art river ships built in 2020/21/26, a maximum of 178 passengers onboard and a total of 89 cabins with a crew of 44.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Leading the Way since 1976, Uniworld took everything travellers love about boutique hotels and made it float. With the highest quality all-inclusive luxury River Cruising, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises offers exceptional river cruising in Asia, Central Europe, France, Italy, Egypt, India, Peru, Portugal and Spain.
Viking River Cruises
Explore the world’s most scenic rivers with Viking’s river cruises. Discover award-winning itineraries, elegant small ships and immersive experiences. Onboard activities are designed for enrichment and renewal, offering lectures on history and art, cooking demonstrations of regional favorites and menus offering regional cuisine and more. On shore, guests might accompany the ship’s chef to a local market; go behind the scenes at a famous theater company; tour a private chocolate or car factory; or view a museum’s private collection.
Pixsell Travels 