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Best and worst river cruise lines
Passengers rate Riviera Travel, Viking, Emerald Cruises and more. We reveal the companies to book with and the ones to avoid
There is a lot to love about river cruises. The intimate ships are small enough to dock right in the centre of historic cities, with no inconvenient transfers.
Entertainment is elegantly low-key and itineraries are varied too: from visiting fairytale castles along the Danube to ancient temples on the jungle-dense banks of the Mekong.
All of this means you were overwhelmingly positive about your experiences – with very little to separate the river cruise lines in our latest survey of more than 1,400 people. However, what does divide them is price.
Scenic, a Which? Recommended Provider (WRP), promises an ultraluxurious all-inclusive experience with flights, unlimited premium drinks and gratuities thrown in. The five-star treatment will cost you, though – an eye-watering £5,000 per person for a week-long voyage along the Rhine.
Compare this to CroisiEurope, which is less than half the price for a similar trip, albeit without the glamorous extras. Vessels are tiny – with as few as 12 cabins (all with panoramic views) – plus wine and cocktails on tap.
Read on to find the right cruise line for your style and budget.
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Best river cruise companies
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RECOMMENDED PROVIDER | 84% | £535 | ||||||||
RECOMMENDED PROVIDER | 82% | £710 | ||||||||
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| 77% | £311* |
USING THE TABLE In October and November 2025, we asked 1,405 members of the Which? Connect panel and the general public about their experiences of cruise holidays in the past two years. Avalon Waterways missed out on being a WRP because of its policy on surcharging. Sample sizes in brackets. Indicative price Based on the price per night for two people sharing a Rhine cruise in a French balcony cabin in June 2027 where available, including flights, train or coach travel. *Doesn’t include travel. Passenger space Ratio of number of passengers to ship’s size. Customer score Combines satisfaction and likelihood of recommending the brand.
What makes a Which? Recommended Provider river cruise line?
Which? Recommended Providers (WRPs) are the cream of the crop, and we only consider giving the accolade to river cruise lines with the highest customer scores.
That’s not all. We only make a company a WRP if it provides clear information about gratuities, excursions and drinks at the booking stage. We know price transparency is essential to help customers make informed decisions before parting with their cash.
All our WRPs also scored at least four out of five stars for both customer service and value for money.
Plus all WRPs have vowed not to apply surcharges to any 2026/27 departures. This means that even if fuel costs rise or exchange rates fluctuate, you won’t be asked to pay more money after you’ve booked.
Which? is independent. You can be sure that our recommendations are based on survey results and policy analysis only. We're not influenced by third parties, and we don't accept freebies from product manufacturers, retailers or providers.
River cruise line reviews
Top-rated luxury cruise lines: Avalon Waterways
Swiss brand Avalon Waterways offers small-ship luxury river cruises, sailing everywhere from Provence to the Peruvian Amazon. Some of its itineraries are themed, including wine-lovers’ voyages with sommeliers on board.
There is plenty included – from sunrise yoga to the wine served every lunch and dinner, plus free cocktails at happy hour. Shore excursions – from kayaking to chocolate workshops – are also thrown in (up to 28 excursions per trip). You’ll only have to pay extra for gratuities and (sometimes) flights.
Roomy cabins – with Egyptian cotton sheets, marble bathrooms and, often, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that open into balconies – were awarded the full five stars.
Should I book with Avalon Waterways? For high-end cabins and super-attentive service, Avalon is the best on the waterways.
Uniworld
Uniworld says it took the boutique hotel concept and ‘made it float’. The result is Baroque-style staterooms dripping with Murano glass and gilded splendour.
‘Farm to ship’ food, sourced from the surrounding countryside, is equally well presented. There’s a butler service for each suite, and you won’t have to put your hand in your pocket the whole trip – not even to tip staff.
As one passenger put it: ‘We like the quirkiness of their ships and decor, and the fact that everything is included.’
Should I book with Uniworld? An excellent all-inclusive choice for your next river cruise if luxury and style are important to you.
Scenic
Sailing Europe and Asia, this Australian-founded river cruise line calls its cavernous and futuristic five-star vessels ‘Space-Ships’. Expect outdoor pools, swanky spas, a salt therapy lounge and an attentive crew (five stars).
You’ll also find plenty of luxury touches in the suites, from sun terraces to Dyson hairdryers. Excursions (rated four stars) promise exclusive behind-the-scenes access to cultural sites along the way – such as Vienna’s Palais Liechtenstein. Again, everything (along with unlimited premium drinks) is included – and you’d expect it to be for the eyewatering price per night.
Should I book with Scenic? For a special occasion holiday with all the trimmings, Scenic is worth the splurge.
Riviera Travel: the most-used river cruise line
The most-used cruise line in our survey, Riviera sails everywhere from the Rhine to the misty gorges of China’s Yangtze. You loved the service and the quality of the cabins – both rated five stars. You were less enamoured by the port excursions (three stars) – a mix of guided walks, coach tours and museum visits – with guests describing them as ‘rushed’ and ‘a bit samey’.
The all-inclusive drinks package is standard, including sparkling wine and the cocktail of the day. There’s even a ‘Happiness Guarantee’; if you’re not enjoying yourself by day two, Riviera will bring you home with a full refund.
Should I book with Riviera Travel? Popular for good reason, it’s a solid mid-priced Option for your next voyage.
Noble Caledonia: small ship cruise line
Noble Caledonia has some of the smallest ships on Europe’s waterways and beyond – one of its most exciting itineraries is an 18-night adventure along the Brahmaputra in India.
You’ll find as few as 28 guests on board, matched by a similar number of staff. This impressive passenger-to-crew ratio has helped it bag the full five stars for customer service.
Entertainment (four stars) is low-key and destination-focused, featuring guest speakers and live pianists. Gratuities and daily excursions are included, plus alcoholic drinks at lunch and dinner.
Should I book with Noble Caledonia? It’s a great choice for a refined, educational small-ship experience. But for fancier cabins and facilities, look elsewhere.
CroisiEurope: budget cruise line
CroisiEurope charges a fraction of the price of some of its rivals, and yet ships are still small – with as few as 12 cabins – and standards are high. The family-owned independent brand mainly sails on the continent’s major rivers – including the Rhine, Seine and Danube – but it has recently extended to more exotic destinations such as the Ganges and the Mekong. Cabins lack opulence (guests rated them three stars) but all have a view, some with balconies and private terraces.
Unlike some of the priciest cruise lines, the free drinks (including cocktails) flow all day, not just at mealtimes. Excursions (and often flights) cost extra, but the former are relatively cheap: a panoramic hike in Cochem, Germany, is £33pp.
Should I book with CrisiEurope? You won’t feel like you’ve scrimped with this budget-friendly river cruise – particularly when it comes to a tipple.
This article uses insights from the Which? Connect panel, collected from research activities with our members. Find out how to get involved