River Cruise Lines A–Z
From AmaWaterways to Viking: one entry per line, with style, ships, rivers and who it suits.
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AmaWaterways
Style: Upscale, family-owned, wellness-minded
Ships: Modern European ships, many with “twin balconies” (a French balcony plus an outside balcony); bikes carried onboard; small ships in Asia, Africa and Colombia
Main rivers: Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Seine, Rhône, Douro, Dutch & Belgian waterways; Mekong; Nile; Chobe (with land safari); Magdalena in Colombia
Who it suits: Active couples and friends who want wine, walking and cycling options, and a fitness or wellness program onboard
American Cruise Lines
Style: All-American, small-ship, relaxed
Ships: U.S.-flagged riverboats, including modern riverboats and paddlewheel-style ships, staffed by American crews
Main rivers: Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland; Columbia & Snake; plus East Coast waterways such as the Hudson
Who it suits: Travelers who want a river cruise without a passport or long flight, and who enjoy American history and regional food
Aqua Expeditions
Style: Luxury expedition
Ships: Small, design-led expedition riverboats with naturalist guides and skiffs for side-channel trips
Main rivers: Peruvian Amazon; Mekong
Who it suits: Well-traveled guests who want wildlife, remote places and very high food standards on a small ship
Avalon Waterways
Style: Premium, relaxed, choice-driven
Ships: “Suite Ships” whose main cabins face the river with wall-to-wall panoramic windows that open to an open-air balcony
Main rivers: Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Seine, Rhône & Saône, Dutch & Belgian waterways; Mekong
Who it suits: Couples who rate the view from the cabin highly and like choosing between classic, active and discovery excursions
C
CroisiEurope
Style: French, family-run, good value
Ships: A large and varied fleet, from standard river ships to shallow-draft paddlewheel vessels and canal barges
Main rivers: Rhine, Danube, Seine, Rhône, Loire, Garonne & Dordogne, Douro, Elbe, plus French canals
Who it suits: Value-minded travelers and Francophiles, and anyone after rivers few others sail, such as the Loire
E
Emerald Cruises
Style: Contemporary, younger feel, inclusive
Ships: “Star-Ships” in Europe with an indoor heated pool that converts to a cinema at night; a sister brand of Scenic
Main rivers: Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Rhône, Douro and more; Mekong
Who it suits: First-timers and active travelers who want stylish ships and an inclusive fare without the top-tier luxury price point
European Waterways
Style: Luxury hotel barges
Ships: Small hotel barges carrying a handful of guests, often chartered whole by families or friends
Main rivers: French canals and rivers (Burgundy, Champagne, Alsace, the Canal du Midi), plus barging elsewhere in Europe and the British Isles
Who it suits: Small groups who want slow travel, gourmet meals and the chance to walk or cycle the towpath
G
Grand Circle Cruise Line
Style: Value-focused, learning-centered small groups
Ships: Smaller river ships reserved for its own (largely American, mostly older) travelers
Main rivers: Major European rivers; the Nile
Who it suits: Older travelers and solo travelers who want cultural depth, local encounters and a strong program director
O
Oberoi Nile Cruises
Style: Ultra-luxury, Egypt only
Ships: A small number of elegant Nile cruisers run by the Indian hotel group
Main rivers: Nile, between Luxor and Aswan
Who it suits: Travelers who want a hotel-group standard of service on a classic Nile itinerary
R
Riverside Luxury Cruises
Style: Luxury, suite-focused
Ships: Former Crystal river ships now sailing as Riverside Mozart, Riverside Debussy and Riverside Ravel, with Riverside Mahler announced for 2028
Main rivers: Rhine, Main, Moselle, Danube, Rhône & Saône
Who it suits: Luxury travelers who want big suites, fine dining and itineraries from short getaways to multi-week sailings
Riviera River Cruises
Style: British-run, traditional, value
Ships: Modern European river ships, with solo-only sailings on selected dates
Main rivers: Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Seine, Rhône, Elbe, Douro and Dutch waterways
Who it suits: Solo travelers and value-minded couples who prefer a classic, unfussy river cruise
S
Scenic
Style: Luxury, truly all-inclusive
Ships: “Space-Ships” in Europe with butler service for every suite and a balcony that converts to an enclosed sun lounge; e-bikes onboard
Main rivers: Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Seine, Rhône, Garonne & Dordogne, Douro; Mekong; Nile
Who it suits: Travelers who want nearly everything prepaid — drinks, tips, excursions, transfers — and a high level of service
T
Tauck
Style: Escorted, premium, all-inclusive
Ships: Spacious river ships carrying fewer guests than their size would allow, with Tauck Directors traveling onboard
Main rivers: Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Seine, Rhône, Douro and more; dedicated family departures under Tauck Bridges
Who it suits: Travelers who want a fully hosted trip, and multigenerational families on Tauck’s family sailings
U
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Style: Boutique luxury, all-inclusive
Ships: Individually designed “floating boutique hotels” with ornate, art-filled interiors
Main rivers: Danube, Rhine, Seine, Rhône, Douro, Italian waterways; Nile; Mekong; Ganges; and a multi-river “Rivers of the World” voyage
Who it suits: Couples who want the ship itself to be a highlight, with drinks, tips and excursions included
V
Viking
Style: Mainstream premium, adults only
Ships: Uniform Scandinavian-designed “longships” in Europe; purpose-built ships on the Nile, Mekong and Mississippi; no casinos, no children under 18
Main rivers: Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Seine, Rhône, Elbe, Douro, Dutch & Belgian waterways; Nile; Mekong; Mississippi
Who it suits: First-time river cruisers, culture-minded couples, and anyone who likes knowing exactly what to expect on every sailing
Not Listed Above
A few names you may come across are deliberately left out. American Queen Voyages ceased operations in 2024. Lines that sail Russian and Ukrainian rivers are not sold by U.S.-market river lines today and are not included. Some regional or single-ship operators are covered on the Asia, Africa & Beyond page instead, where they are often the only way to sail a particular river.
Want the lines grouped by travel style instead of by letter? See Lines by Style.
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