A-ROSA vs nicko cruises: which river cruise is better?

No score and no verdict of ours: what A-ROSA and nicko cruises each publish on their own websites, read 10 November 2026, topic by topic, each line linked to the page it came from.

A-ROSA vs nicko cruises: which river cruise is better?

Neither is better for everyone. A-ROSA's Premium All-Inclusive fare includes meals and premium drinks during bar opening hours, with a 25% part payment; nicko cruises includes full board on all its ships except LIBERTY, sells a drinks package and asks a 20% deposit.

What is each line?

A-ROSA is A-ROSA Flussschiff GmbH of Rostock, Germany, whose first cruises sailed the Danube in 2002 on A-ROSA BELLA and A-ROSA DONNA; it sells European river cruises and names the British investment manager Fidera as its new majority shareholder. Source

nicko cruises sells river cruises and says it has been the market leader for river cruises in Germany since 2007; it says Mário Ferreira took over the nicko cruises brand and, as owner of Mystic Cruises, founded nicko cruises Flussreisen GmbH as a subsidiary focused on slow cruising. Source

Which ships does each line sail?

A-ROSA sails A-ROSA ships, among them A-ROSA BELLA and A-ROSA DONNA (its first, on the Danube in 2002), A-ROSA SENA on the northern Rhine since June 2022, A-ROSA ALEA and A-ROSA CLEA on the Rhine since April 2024 and A-ROSA ALVA. Source

nicko cruises says its fleet numbers 22 ships, among them the river ships nickoVISION, nickoSPIRIT, DOURO QUEEN, BELLEJOUR, CELINA, CYRANO DE BERGERAC, AMERICAN SPLENDOR and STEIGENBERGER MINERVA plus the ocean ship VASCO DA GAMA; it does not say which it owns. Source

Which rivers does each line sail?

A-ROSA sells sailings on the Danube (Passau to Wachau, Wien, Esztergom, Budapest, Bratislava, Krems and Melk), the Rhine (Frankfurt to Speyer, Straßburg, Basel, Breisach and Mainz), the Moselle (Köln to Treis-Karden, Bernkastel-Kues, Trier-Mehring, Traben Trarbach and Cochem), the Rhône (Lyon to Viviers, Avignon, Arles and Tournon-sur-Rhône), the Seine (Le Pecq / Paris to Rouen, Caudebec-en-Caux and Vernon) and the Douro (Porto to Régua, Pinhão and Barca d'Alva). Source

nicko cruises sells Danube cruises of 12, 15 and 19 days, Rhône and Seine cruises with post-cruise stays in Burgundy and the Loire Valley and Nile cruises between Aswan and Luxor on the STEIGENBERGER MINERVA. Source

How large are the cabins?

A-ROSA sells 2-bed outside cabins with balcony (Deck 2, Cabin B) or with Juliette balcony (Deck 2, Cabin C) on its Rhine sailings and 2-bed outside cabins on Deck 1; it gives no cabin sizes. Source

nicko cruises' cabins measure approximately 14.5 m² on BELLEJOUR and approximately 12 m² on CYRANO DE BERGERAC, where all are outside cabins; the suites on AMERICAN SPLENDOR are approximately 41 m². Source

What does the fare include?

A-ROSA's Premium All-Inclusive fare includes breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets, embarkation refreshment, daily coffee time and premium drinks during bar opening hours; for €24.50 per night and person it adds tea, coffee and coffee specialities, cocktails, long drinks and spirits. Excursions are booked and paid on board. Source

nicko cruises' fares include full board on all its ships except LIBERTY; the river drinks package costs €32 per person per night in the 2026 season and €33 in 2027. Source

Are shore excursions included?

A-ROSA sells excursions as optional extras: English excursions can be pre-booked online without obligation, with binding booking and payment on board; excursions are subject to a minimum number of participants. Source

nicko cruises' excursion package covers the excursions marked with a dark blue arrow in its catalogue; those marked light blue can only be booked on board; Sennheiser audio systems are free on all excursions. Source

What does a sailing cost?

A-ROSA sells Rhine & Scheldt Metropolises Experience 2027, 7 nights, 2-bed outside cabin with balcony, Deck 2 Cabin B, from €1,561 pp (per person). Source

nicko cruises does not publish a dated price on the pages read.

What do solo travellers pay?

A-ROSA charges a single cabin supplement as per the catalogue, with no figure given; its Singles' Day offer gives solo travellers a reduced single-occupancy surcharge of just 20% on select 4-night cruises. Source

nicko cruises marks some departures as Single-Spezial dates, on which the supplement for sole use of a double cabin is reduced by 50%. Source

How much is the deposit?

A-ROSA asks a part payment of 25% of the travel price once the contract is concluded and the risk coverage certificate issued; the final payment is due 30 days before departure. Source

nicko cruises asks a deposit of 20% of the cruise fare once the contract is concluded, in exchange for the insurance certificate; the balance is due 30 days before the trip and bookings made less than 30 days before are payable in full at once. Source

What happens if you cancel?

A-ROSA lists a first cancellation charge of 40% for 'up to 31 days before departure' in its general terms, with higher charges at later steps that the pages read do not set out in a quotable sentence; on the Premium all inclusive fare the travel date may be changed once free of charge up to 30 days before departure; substituting a passenger costs €50 per person. Source

nicko cruises: On its conditions of travel charges 10% of the agreed cruise fare up to 120 days before departure, 20% from 119 to 60 days, 40% from 59 to 30 days, 60% from 29 to 15 days, 80% from 14 days to 1 day and 90% on the day of departure or for a no-show; rebooking costs €200 per person up to 150 days before the trip. Source

Is your money protected?

A-ROSA: Issues a risk coverage certificate under Section 651r BGB in conjunction with Article 252 EGBGB before the 25% down payment is due; the insurer behind it is not named. Source

nicko cruises' conditions of travel say it and travel agents may only ask for payment before the end of the trip if a valid insurance contract exists and the traveller has been given the insurance certificate with the insurer's name and contact details. Source

What if your mobility is limited?

A-ROSA carries mobility aids only after prior notification and confirmation by the A-ROSA Service Centre; wheelchairs cannot be hired on board. Source

nicko cruises has lifts on nickoVISION, nickoSPIRIT and DOURO QUEEN, running only from the main deck to the upper deck; its terms say its cruises are in general not suitable for travellers with impaired mobility unless it has expressly confirmed acceptance in writing for that cruise. Source

Can children come?

A-ROSA runs a Kids Club for children between the ages of 4 and 11; children aged 12 to 15 inclusive, when accompanied by an adult, pay a fixed child fare on Deck 1. Source

nicko cruises says the style of its river cruises is as a rule little suited to children. Source

When is each not the fit?

The limits below are published by each line on their own websites.

• A-ROSA: not the fit if you want excursions in the fare: excursions are booked and paid on board and are subject to a minimum number of participants. Source
• nicko cruises: not the fit if you want an English contract to govern your booking: its terms say only the German language is legally authoritative. Source

How do their reviews compare?

Their figures per platform, read 10 November 2026, each from a listing under the line's own name; a whole-company profile is marked. Figures are never added together.

• A-ROSA: Trustpilot: 2.9 out of 5 from 342 reviews, newest 6 November 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
• nicko cruises: Trustpilot (whole company): 3.2 out of 5 from 387 reviews, newest 5 November 2026. Read 10 November 2026.

The lines at a glance

One card each, as on every Uncompromised Travel river cruise page: what each sells, why to choose each, what to ask for and the limits each publishes.

Which other lines sail the same rivers?

The lines that sell sailings on the same rivers are compared on What are the best alternatives to A-ROSA?

Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 10 November 2026 · updated 10 November 2026