River Cruise Lines Everyone Is Raving About RIGHT NOW (And Why)
I decided to see how today’s travellers spending their own hard-earned money river cruising in Europe are rating the lines on review sites. I quickly discovered the rankings were not as I expected them to be and were different to those of the magazines and sites. So, I let you in on the top 8 traveller best rated river cruise lines right now, and why.
Videos referred to:
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1AxASH8RN8 @PopularCruising
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9Hq7eu3ZYQ&t=10s @ScenicLuxuryCruises
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7rpuXE8M38&t=4s @InTheLoopTravel
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DZrFC_D9Jk @CruiseandTravelBP
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vpa-mWN-uEg @InTheLoopTravel
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00:00 Start
00:37 Why the ratings matter?
01:44 River Cruise Line #8
02:47 River Cruise Line #7
03:24 River Cruise Line #6
04:00 River Cruise Line #5
05:14 River Cruise Line #4
06:45 River Cruise Line #3
07:30 River Cruise Line #2
09:39 River Cruise Line #1
32 Comments
Just to clarify a couple of points, Uniworld do have butlers on their ships for Suite and Royal Suite clients and on our latest cruise our bed faced out.
Great cruises, high end. Gratuities are above average, 25 eur/ day just waiter. So about 300 eur for 7 days, happy couple makes it.
I'm surprised to see that you don't mention Scenic Cruise Lines. This Australian-based cruise line is super premium, more inclusive than Viking (drinks included at all times, not just at meals) with everything inclusive. Unique balcony design, butler service, great food, totally enjoyable. I will be taking my 6th Scenic cruise next year on the Danube, but I have also cruised with them on the Seine, Rhone, Rhine, Bordeaux area (Garonne, Dardogne, and Gironde), and the canals and waterways from Amsterdam to Antwerp. You should check them out.
Viking is wonderful until your partner dies, you can't get out of the booking. I'm out for 2 cruses so a considerable amount of money
We're not really intersted in river cruising in Europe. Probably because we lived in Germany for 6 years and have been up and down the Rhein and other rivers already. When traveling within Europe we would rather travel by train, staying in a city or town for 3 or more days and taking the train to surrounding towns, then moving on. We really like doing that for visiting the Christmas markets. So our cruising will remain focused on ocean cruising. But I do love watching your reviews of the river cruises.
I’m a big fan of Tauck land tours having been on 10 tours! But my first ever River cruise will be on AmaMagna next December. Super excited to try it out. Thanks for your video.
As a former Publisher of a lifestyle magazine, I can assure you there is a direct correlation between amount of advertising and the advertiser's ranking.
Sailed with Avalon twice in the last two years and concur, but we enjoyed one of their tours much more than another. Their Danube cruise featured much more authentic experiences with better docking locations, less busing on excursions, and a staff that spoke and understood English, The Romantic Rhine had some docking locations that were a mile away from anything to see, a trip to a castle crammed full of tourists that was largely a facade and a staff that spoke a form of English but with many waitstaff who acted like they didn't understand. Gary, maybe you need to do one comparing the common river cruise locations.
I was so surprised that Tauck wasn’t rated in the top 8. Expensive…yes…but I think some of the other lines end up costing the same after you add on the extras. My vote would always be the Tauck river cruises!
We sailed on Avalon on the Rhine (Amsterdam to Basel) in 2022 and on the Danube (Budapest to Prague) in 2023. The Royal Suites are simply the best. The cruise director is fully empowered to make major decisions, regardless of cost to the cruise line in the event any point of the itinerary does not go as planned. Avalon has earned the #1 ranking and we only sail on Avalon.
My wife and I are first-time river cruisers trying to make a decision on a cruise line. We love your videos. We were looking at Viking first, but the 12 month advance payment was a no-go for us. Our money makes money (for us), so we are not about to let it sit in someone else's account making money for them. I guess other people are more willing to do that. We're now looking at Amawaterways.
Gary, If you haven't sailed with Scenic. I suggest you do and give this line a full review. We sailed on the Scenic Jade, Budapest-Amsterdam, 15 days from August 21.
They have amazing excursions to choose from including Ebikes (we did 2 x 35km rides), a wellness program including gym, stretch classes and a massage room. Butler service for all grades of cabin. Enrichment talks and the entertainment they bring on board is first class, one of ours was a glass blowing expert!
Saving the best for last….the food and the Scenic Enrich evenings they provide, completely incredible evenings in locations unique to their guests.
Some days we got to do 2 or 3 excursions.
Once on board you pay nothing unless you want to enjoy a spa treatment.
We were in the lowest grade of cabin, 'swan class', traveling with friends and rarely in our cabin which were still spacious. All cabin grades enjoy the same wonderful service from amazing staff who called us by name within a day or two.
smarttripai AI fixes this. River cruising in Europe praised.
smarttripai AI fixes this. River cruising in Europe praised.
We just took a Viking cruise. Prior experience was 2 cruises on Ama Waterways. Viking sets their expectations very high in their U.S. advertising and marketing programs. We found them no better than AMA overall, and their shore excursions were not quite as good. We paid Viking for an optional winery tour that went to a very small French location that had wines I would rate no better than we can buy here in Indiana. The ship we were on was not squeaky clean either. Food was good, but again no better than Ama. However, I have to admit that at 3, our sample size of European river cruises is very small. In summary, we were pleased we did the trip, but far from overwhelmed by this Viking experience. It was a case of very high expectations that were not met.
You are so blessed to be able to see the 🌎 in such great fashion. Maybe in my next life I'll develop the skills and personality to enjoy my life more
Our review of Viking River Cruise -If you’re LGBT don’t take one. The micro discrimination is rampant. Constant misgendering of two gay guys, not giving us the iced tea we ordered at dinner, not giving us all the food we ordered at dinner, and waiting longer than other customers for food are some examples. They don’t know how to handle two gay guys. I would strongly advise taking another cruise line and not Viking. At first we thought it was just chaotic incompetence however after constantly experiencing discrimination time and time again at dinner, it was too much to ignore. The bar staff are the only team that is decent. I regret taking this cruise because we have to put up with constant micro aggression from the staff and passengers. For your own peace of mind and safety if you are LGBT take a different cruise line. Maybe other ships aren’t so bad, but this crew is making me regret this purchase.
Our review of Viking River Cruise -If you’re LGBT don’t take one. The micro discrimination is rampant. Constant misgendering of two gay guys, not giving us the iced tea we ordered at dinner, not giving us all the food we ordered at dinner, and waiting longer than other customers for food are some examples. They don’t know how to handle two gay guys. I would strongly advise taking another cruise line and not Viking. At first we thought it was just chaotic incompetence however after constantly experiencing discrimination time and time again at dinner, it was too much to ignore. The bar staff are the only team that is decent. I regret taking this cruise because we have to put up with constant micro aggression from the staff and passengers. For your own peace of mind and safety if you are LGBT take a different cruise line. Maybe other ships aren’t so bad, but this crew is making me regret this purchase.
Sir,
If I can only choose one, would you recommend a Danube or a Rhine River cruise?
Viva Cruises is the line that has piqued my interest lately.
Hi Gary thanks for your reviews. Have you ever travelled with Nicko Cruises? We are looking at one of their English language cruises. We've seen good reviews but I'd love to know what you think of them.
I am glad that Seachefs cruise ship company not mentioned. They are soo bad. They poorly treat their staff too.
Went on Viking in group of 10- we all agreed it was one and done! Terrible food and subpar service. They spend a fortune on advertising and we felt they did not live up to the reputation they have fostered
Love AmaWaterways!
What about Gate 1?
We did Viking from Prague to Berlin in December and it was great. The service was great. Food was mixed but the regional specialties were always great.
We went from Switzerland to Paris for the 2024 Olympics on Viking, loved every second of it!!!
Sailed on Viking Hathor Nile in September 2024. Absolutly #1. On Mekong in December. Almost 80 years old and trying to get as much in until I can't doit any more. Bravo Viking.
Been on two Ama cruises and his description is spot on, the food is superb
Excellent summary. Thank you.🎉
We took our first river cruise from Amsterdam to Switzerland with the post cruise in Italy. It far exceeded our expectations so much, we just booked our second cruise on Ama on the Douro for June. Ama is a first-class experience without too much "fancy and frills". The food selection was varied, VERY delicious, and they went out of their way to accommodate special requests. The rooms are beautifully appointed, the staff is beyond professional, courteous, extremely friendly, and no request it too much to ask. Additionally, the passengers on the cruise were also to our liking. . . professional, polite, not stuffy, and very fun. We can't say enough about the excellence of Ama river cruises.
A very timely video, Gary. Thank you.