When it comes to choosing a cruise on the river, he does not assume that paying more will guarantee a better experience.

We ask hundreds of customers about their experiences to help you find the best brand for your budget for 2025 and beyond.

Our survey not only discovered companies that offer excellent food and facilities. He also highlighted the cruise lines with mediocre cabins, non -imaginative excursions and expensive packages.

We find high season Rhine cruises around £ 1,700 cheaper with Riviera than Uniworld. However, passengers were more impressed with the Riviera cabins, land excursions and food and drink.

We reveal which cruise lines offer the best value for money, and which customers really think about each brand.

To obtain more independent travel tips and recommendations, subscribe to which one? Travel.

The best river cruise companies

River Cruises takes you directly to the city centers, so there is more time to do tourism and excursions.

You will not find the range of facilities aboard the vast ocean coatings, but it will not spend whole days at sea.

That said, with almost all meals on board, and generally only a dining option, you will want to make sure the food and drink are of good quality.

The following table shows the results of our most recent survey.

The best and worst ocean cruise lines: the results of our latest survey

What does what? That? Recommended provider? River cruise line

Which? The recommended suppliers (WRP) are the harvest cream, and we only consider giving the River cruise lines with the highest client scores.

That’s not all. We only make a company a WRP if it provides clear information about tips, excursions and drinks in the reserve stage. We know that price transparency is essential to help customers make informed decisions before separating with their cash.

All of us? The recommended suppliers also obtained at least four out of five stars for both customer service and value for money.

Which? It is independent. You may be sure that our recommendations are based only on the results of the survey and policy analysis. We are not influenced by third parties and we do not accept gifts from manufacturers of products, retailers or suppliers.

River Cruise Line reviews

Viking: The best luxury river cruises

The largest river cruise line in the world has a fleet of 75 ships that make the large river routes in Europe, as well as the Mississippi, Mekong and the Nile. Its ‘longships’ with 190 light light of light of light of 190 are carefully designed with many balcony cabins (a rarity in river ships) and the space for dinner outdoors.

Wait modern spacious ships, intelligent furnished cabins and top -level food, including local dishes. He was also the only operator to ensure the five full stars for his wide variety of itineraries: he has 14 Rin Solo trips.

The guests were also impressed by the “friendly” and “useful” staff for those who “was nothing too much problem.” Drinks with meals, tips on board and a escorted tour in each port are included.

Then, as a guest said: “You could leave your wallet at home and continue enjoying the holidays.” His oceanic vessels are also first class, and is it the only thing that? Recommended supplier for sea and river cruises.

Should I book with Viking? Yes. Viking all -inclusive cruises can be expensive, but they are also exceptional, money well spent according to their loyal customers.

Explore Viking river cruise range.

Riviera trips: cruises through the best value river

The largest supplier in the United Kingdom has achieved one of the best places in our last five surveys. Riviera takes away a dozen ships in Europe, with 120 to 169 passengers, and uses local companies for its Egyptian cruises and Vietnamese. Despite being one of the brands at more reasonable prices in our survey, he obtained complete grades for his elegant cabins and meals, buffet -style lunches and four -plates dinners.

Guided daily walks or trainers tours are included in the main price. Many guests were impressed by expert local guides and superior customer service. One told us: “The staff, from housewives to the managers, was very efficient and made the cruise very fun.”

The tips cost more, but Riviera launches a premium drink package with all its cruises through the European River. He has more solo and no -volume traveler options than most operators, and can travel by train to their Belgian, Dutch, French and German boats.

Should I book with Riviera Travel? Our best medium price cruise line. The reliable Riviera has class cruises at a good price, and really deals with its customers.

See the Cruises of the Riviera Travel River

Jules Verne: The best for small ships

His tour of Péniche (Barcaza) in France takes 20 guests to Provence, Bourgogne and Alsacia, while his cruise for the Danube is in a luxurious 16 cabin boat that Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip once sailed once.

The largest cruises often use the ships of the French operator Croisieurope. Jules Verne obtained a solid four stars almost in all areas and five for his excursions, which ‘all flowed without problems’ and ‘attended everyone’.

A satisfied customer summed up the appeal: “Very good value of a reliable company with a service to match.”

Should I book with Jules Verne? A great option if you are looking for unusual itineraries, characteristic ships and well -organized excursions.

Look for a river cruise with Jules Verne

Avalon Waterways: The best for thematic cruises

In addition to standard European itineraries, this all -inclusive line has a series of special interest cruises that serve music fans, music lovers and photographers.

Excursions were included in their active and discovery cruises ranging from speleology and kayak to painting and cooking. It has 14 elegant ships in Europe and one in the Mekong, and Charters High-End ships for the Amazon Nile and Peruvian cruises.

A guest said: “Customer service is excellent.” It also obtained a highly score for food and drink: foamy wine with breakfast, beer and wine with meals is included, and a happy daily hour is included.

Should I reserve with the river routes of Avalon? It is expensive, but it has interesting excursions, good food and excellent service.

Explore the river cruises with standal river routes

Shearings: The worst river cruise lines

It is not the first time that the company, better known for its scheduled coaches tours, has been at the bottom of our table. Shearings reserves cabins blocks in the European boats of the river, and takes customers throughout the United Kingdom to their boarding and returning home from its final port of scale.

It is one of the cheapest brands on our table, but guests have to disburse more for drinks, excursions and tips, perhaps going somehow to explain why only two stars obtain value for money.

The passengers were not impressed by the facilities on board, while the cabins and meals (described by a guest as ‘a little school dinners’) tended to be mediocre.

Should I book with Shearings? Do not be tempted for the relatively low price of the starter: a better time will have a moment with any other line of cruises.