Below are the 6 river cruise lines we recommend the most, AND a 7th that we’re the most curious about, but it’s so new, we don’t know for sure if it will be as good as it looks.
Katz Castle on the Rhine is one of the most iconic river cruise scenes.
There are key differences in inclusions, price, and style.
After cruising all price points, I’ve seen how a lower upfront price doesn’t always mean a cheaper trip once you add gratuities, transfers, excursions, and drinks.
As you know, the price of shore excursions on most cruises can be $140 per person, which adds up fast.
Imagine if shore excursions were included! That’s easily a savings of $300 per day, per couple.
So, a river cruise IS LESS EXPENSIVE than you think!
1. Viking — The Best-Known Name in River Cruising
If you’ve seen the TV commercials, you already know Viking. They’re the largest river cruise line in the world, and their name
recognition alone gives a lot of first-time river cruisers confidence. Base fares for an 11-night Viking cruise-land combo start at around $2,899 per person, which makes them one of the most accessible entry points on this list.
What’s included in your fare: You’ll receive a daily shore excursion, Wi-Fi, beer, wine, and soda with meals, bottled water, and some onboard entertainment and enrichment.
What you’ll pay extra for: Extra drinks before and after dinner and cocktails anytime. Gratuities are charged at the end of the cruise, and transfers are extra.
What makes Viking special: Viking has the largest fleet in Europe, with 55 nearly identical 190-passenger Scandinavian-inspired Longships. That means more departure dates, more itineraries to choose from, and frequent promotional pricing. The design is clean and elegant — understated Scandinavian style. It’s a well-organized, trustworthy experience, and a great way to try river cruising for the first time. Just go in knowing that gratuities and transfers will be added on top.
Gratuities: No. Transfers: No. Cocktails: Nope.
Airfare: Sometimes available as a promotion. Hotel stay: Nope.
Search all Viking River Cruises here – but NOTE: the prices you see here do not include our discount! Call to get that applied. 866 964 5482
2. American Cruise Lines — America’s River Cruise Line
This one is in a category all its own, because American Cruise Lines sails exclusively in the United States — the Mississippi, Columbia and Snake Rivers, the Hudson, Alaska waterways, and New England coastlines.
No passport required, no foreign currency, and every itinerary is steeped in American history and culture.
The average price runs around $3,230 per person for an 8-night itinerary, and the inclusions are genuinely strong for the price.
What’s included: Your fare includes passage, dining service, snacks, complimentary cocktail parties, entertainment, onboard gratuities, and port charges and fees. You’ll also enjoy fine cuisine, wine and beer with both lunch and dinner, and a festive cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres each evening.
On new bookings made on or after August 7, 2025, you’re treated to a hotel stay prior to embarkation — including a one-night stay, luggage service, and transportation to the ship. Free domestic airfare is occasionally available on select dates.
What makes American Cruise Lines special:
They have the largest staterooms in the industry, averaging over 300 square feet on newer ships — which is remarkable compared to European river boats that are physically limited by the narrow waterways they sail.
With no more than 180 guests on board, you’ll never feel like you’re part of a crowd, and the ships are built to access smaller ports and waterways that larger vessels simply can’t reach.
If exploring your own country in depth — with all the comfort of a small luxury ship — sounds appealing, this is a wonderful and often overlooked option.
Gratuities: Yes. Transfers: Yes (hotel and transfer to ship included on new bookings). Airfare: Flat-rate domestic available; complimentary on select dates. Hotel stay: Yes, one night pre-cruise included on new bookings.
3. AmaWaterways — For the Food Lover and the Active Traveler
For a comparable European itinerary, AmaWaterways comes in around $4,198 per person — a step up from Viking, and with noticeably more included.
What’s included: You’ll enjoy wine, beer, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, with wines specifically chosen from each region you’re sailing through.
Almost all excursions are included, with only two optional tours as extras. And excursion group sizes are kept to just 12 guests — a big difference from the bus-sized groups you’ll sometimes find on other lines.
What you’ll pay extra for: Gratuities and transfers are not included in the base fare.
AMA has pickleball and bikes on board!
What makes AmaWaterways special:
This is the line for active travelers and food and wine lovers. Excursions are divided into Gentle Walkers, Active Walkers, and even a Late Starter group for those who prefer to sleep in — so no matter your pace, there’s something designed just for you.
Bikes are on board for your use, hiking is a real option, and the wine programming is exceptional, with regionally paired wines at every meal.
Many ships also feature a twin-balcony design where the bedroom wall opens fully to the river. If you love staying active and eating and drinking well, AmaWaterways is hard to beat.
Gratuities: No. Transfers: No. Airfare: Sometimes available as a promotional add-on. Hotel stay: Not standard.
Uniworld interiors are divine, old-world elegance and luxury. If you love thick drapes, this is the interior for you. 🙂
4. Uniworld — The Most Beautiful Ships on the River
Uniworld sits firmly in the luxury tier. Fares typically exceed $800 per person per day during peak season, but when you look at what’s covered, it starts to make a lot of sense.
What’s included: Your fare covers unlimited premium spirits and wines, farm-to-table cuisine, carefully curated shore excursions, all onboard gratuities, fitness centers and wellness classes, all scheduled airport transfers, bicycles and Nordic walking sticks for onshore use, shipwide Wi-Fi, and onboard entertainment and enrichment.
What makes Uniworld special: The ships are the star of the show. Every single vessel is uniquely decorated, inspired by the destination it sails — think dramatic artwork, antiques, and interiors that feel more like a five-star boutique hotel than a river boat. No two ships look alike. With a staff-to-guest ratio of 1 to 2.4, the crew is trained to the highest standards of service. Bikes are on board for every guest, and the culinary experience draws from locally sourced, regional ingredients throughout the journey. If you care deeply about beautiful surroundings and being treated exceptionally well from the moment you step on board, Uniworld is in a class by itself for aesthetics and warmth.
Gratuities: Yes. Transfers: Yes (scheduled airport transfers). Airfare: Available on some promotions. Hotel stay: Not standard, but cruise-and-land packages available.
Scenic river ship on the Moselle.
5. Scenic — Butler Service for Every Single Guest
Scenic fares also typically exceed $800 per person per day during peak season, and they compete closely with Uniworld at the top of the market. What sets them apart is how consistently and completely everything is wrapped into your fare.
What’s included: All meals, beverages, shore excursions, butler service, and gratuities are included in the price of the cruise. Also included are all transfers to and from the ship, free e-bikes with a GPS system and a recorded tour narrative, and all tipping and gratuities.
Every suite also comes with a private butler, unlimited complimentary beverages and spirits including a mini-bar restocked daily, and up to six dining options onboard.
A private butler isn’t just for the top suites — every single guest gets one. That alone sets the tone for what kind of experience you’re signing up for. The e-bikes with GPS and audio narration are a brilliant touch for anyone who wants to explore independently at their own pace. When you book your flights through Scenic to connect with your cruise, complimentary airport transfers are included. Scenic has been doing this for nearly four decades, and the consistency of the experience — where nothing feels like an afterthought — is what their guests rave about most.
Gratuities: Yes. Transfers: Yes (when flights booked through Scenic). Airfare: Available on select promotions. Hotel stay: Available as city extension add-ons.
Singapore to Bali on Tauck, the Uluwatu Temple in Bali shown here.
6. Tauck — The Gold Standard of River Cruising
A comparable Tauck 13-night European itinerary starts at around $11,590 per person, and yes, that number stops people in their tracks. But here’s what that price gets you.
What’s included: You’ll have unlimited complimentary beverages onboard — wine, beer, soft drinks, and premium spirits. Every excursion is included. All gratuities are covered, including for your cruise directors, tour directors, and local guides. Airport transfers are included even if you didn’t book your flights through Tauck. And Tauck regularly arranges private, exclusive experiences — like a private dinner and performance in a Viennese palace — that simply aren’t available to other passengers.
What makes Tauck special: While most lines have one tour director on board, Tauck has three cruise directors on every single vessel. The level of attention and guidance you receive is unmatched. Tauck is a family-owned company celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025, and that heritage shows in how the experience is designed — nothing is left to chance, and every detail is considered. If you want someone to handle absolutely everything, including the extraordinary experiences you didn’t even know were possible, Tauck is the answer. It’s not just a cruise. It’s a fully guided, fully curated journey.
Gratuities: Yes. Transfers: Yes. Airfare: No (but promotions sometimes available). Hotel stay: Not typically standard, though pre/post extensions are available.
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7. Here it is, it’s so new, the only pictures are renderings: Celebrity River Cruises.
If you love Celebrity ocean cruises, you’re going to want to hear this. Celebrity Cruises is entering the river cruise world in a big way, with their first two ships — Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker — launching in 2027 on the Rhine and Danube. Three more ships (Wanderer, Roamer, and Boundless) will join the fleet in 2028, and Celebrity has committed to building a total of 20 river ships by 2031. This is not a toe in the water — this is a full dive.
The ships are boutique in size — 86 cabins each and roughly 172 passengers — but designed with Celebrity’s signature Edge-class flair. Think infinity-edge plunge pool, Café al Bacio, Martini Bar, a top deck bar and lounge, and their signature “Magic Edge” — a river version of their famous Magic Carpet, featuring cantilevered dining pods. There’s even a first-ever Skylight Infinite Balcony Suite with a ceiling window that floods the room with natural light — unlike anything currently on the river.
What’s included: One guided shore excursion per day, select wine, beer, cocktails, coffee and soft drinks throughout the day, complimentary Wi-Fi, onboard entertainment and experiences, and what Celebrity says is the only 24/7 dining available on any river cruise ship. Bike excursions are available as part of the guided shore tours — Celebrity has incorporated cycling options into their curated European experiences, which is great news for active travelers.
What you’ll pay extra for: Gratuities, specialty dining upgrades, premium beverages beyond the included package, and spa services.
Suite guests get butler service, complimentary laundry, a personalized mini bar, 24-hour room service, an upgraded drink package, a private cocktail hour, and priority booking for shore excursions — all included in the suite price.
How does the price compare to Viking? Celebrity’s 7-day Rhine and Danube itineraries start at $2,999 per person for a River View cabin — roughly comparable to or slightly less than what Viking charges for a similar 7-night itinerary (which runs $4,200–$4,600+). Given how much is included, Celebrity may offer even better value per dollar than Viking on comparable itineraries. That said, Celebrity is so new that reviews from real passengers are not yet available — the first sailings don’t happen until 2027.
What makes Celebrity River Cruises special: It’s fresh, modern, and designed by people who know luxury. The demand was so intense that when Celebrity opened priority booking access in September 2025, the website crashed in under 30 minutes. That tells you something. If you love the Celebrity brand and want a river cruise experience with more style and nightlife energy than the typically understated lines, this could be your ship.
So, Which One Is Right for You?
If you’re new to river cruising and want to ease in without breaking the bank, start with Viking.
If you want to explore America with no passport and genuinely impressive staterooms, American Cruise Lines deserves a serious look.
If food, wine, and staying active matter to you, AmaWaterways is your match. If you want stunning ship design and a seamless luxury experience, choose between Uniworld and Scenic — Scenic edges ahead for active travelers who want everything pre-handled; Univworld wins on pure beauty and warmth of service.
And if you want the absolute best, where every single detail is managed and the experiences are truly once-in-a-lifetime, Tauck is worth every penny.
If you want the Europe river experience, with American design asthetic, food and service – I’d go with Celebrity. I can’t wait to see how they are going to do river. I am so impressed with their Edge Class ships – I actually trust Celebrity more than anyone else to provide an amazing ship experience.
HAVE YOU BEEN ON ANY OF THESE RIVER CRUISE LINES?
We’d love to hear from you and share your experience with our other Veteran and Military cruises.
We’ll post your review on our river cruise page and blog post with this article.