AmaWaterways vs CroisiEurope: which river cruise is better?

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

AmaWaterways vs CroisiEurope: which river cruise is better?

Neither is better for everyone. AmaWaterways includes a choice of daily onshore experiences and asks a $400 deposit per person for Europe on US bookings; CroisiEurope, an independent French family company with 50 ships and barges, asks a 30% deposit on its 2026 French sales terms.

What is each line?

AmaWaterways sells river cruises; its US booking terms say AmaWaterways, LLC acts solely as sales and marketing agent for separate carriers, among them AmaWaterways GmbH for Swiss-flag ships, DouroAzul in Portugal and a partnership with Wings Tours & Nile Cruises in Egypt; the same terms say it does not own or operate any ship. Source

CroisiEurope is an independent French family company, named Alsace Croisières CroisiEurope in its sales terms, with know-how it dates to 1976; it sells river and sea cruises on the CroisiEurope fleet of 50 ships and barges, plus trips under its Visages et Fleuves du Monde production. Source

Which ships does each line sail?

AmaWaterways sells sailings on ships including AmaRudi, which it calls the newest ship to join its fleet, AmaPrima and AmaMagna, plus AmaNubia arriving on the Nile in November 2026. Source

CroisiEurope lists 50 ships and barges (bateaux et péniches) in the CroisiEurope fleet; for Mekong trips its terms name the Toum Tiou I and Toum Tiou II, without saying who owns them. Source

Which rivers does each line sail?

AmaWaterways sells named sailings on the Rhine and the Dutch & Belgian Waterways (City Escapes: Grand Rhine & Dutch Canals), the Danube (Celebration of Music), the Main (Europe's Rivers & Castles), the Douro (Flavors of Portugal & Spain), the Nile (Secrets of Egypt & the Nile) and the Mekong (Riches of the Mekong, Charms of the Mekong). Source

CroisiEurope sells Rhine cruises from Strasbourg (Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Mannheim, Oberwesel, Heidelberg), a Danube cruise from Vienna to Budapest and Bratislava, Couleurs provençales au fil du Rhône from Lyon to Avignon, Arles and Martigues plus a Dordogne and Garonne cruise to the Gironde estuary; its Visages et Fleuves du Monde production goes to Southern Africa, the Amazon and the Mekong. Source

What does the fare include?

AmaWaterways' fares include daily onshore experiences, regional cuisine and personalised service; its US terms say airfare, fuel surcharges, visas, travel protection, laundry, additional food and drinks, optional excursions and gratuities cost extra. Source

CroisiEurope's prices, per person on the basis of a double cabin, cover the services described in each programme, excluding anything booked and paid on board; on cruises that include tips, the price includes tips passed in full to local providers. Source

Are shore excursions included?

AmaWaterways includes daily onshore experiences, with a choice each day from guided walking tours, culinary tastings, bike rides and vineyard hikes; optional excursions cost extra. Source

CroisiEurope does not publish this on the pages read.

What do solo travellers pay?

AmaWaterways charges a single supplement when a stateroom's occupancy is reduced. Source

CroisiEurope: On its CroisiEurope river and sea cruises, allows single cabins up to 10% of the allocation and no more than 12 on the whole ship (Visages et Fleuves du Monde excepted from the cap); it waives the single supplement on a selection of departures (Supplément Solo Offert) and for single parents travelling with two children on CroisiFamille offers; it publishes no supplement figure. Source

How much is the deposit?

AmaWaterways asks US bookings for a deposit of $400 per person for Europe, Colombia and Asia, $1,200 for Egypt or $2,400 for Africa, with final payment no later than 90 days before travel; Canadian bookings pay $500, $1,500 or $3,000 per person in CAD and UK bookings from £270 to £570. Source

CroisiEurope: On its 2026 French sales terms, asks for a deposit of 30% of the trip price at booking on its CroisiEurope production. Source

What happens if you cancel?

AmaWaterways' US scale per person for Europe, Colombia and Asia: $200 at 121 days or more before departure, $400 at 120 to 90 days, 35% of the cruise and land price at 89 to 60 days, 50% at 59 to 31 days and 100% from 30 days; Egypt and Africa start at $600 and $1,200, while date or name changes count as cancellations. Source

CroisiEurope: On its 2026 French sales terms for river cruises, charges €150 before tax (H.T.) per person in file fees if you cancel more than 90 days before departure (theme weekends and Christmas market cruises excepted) and 100% of the cruise package from 8 days before departure, with percentage steps between those two points; its optional flexibility offer, €125 per person including tax, allows a date change up to 30 days before departure on CroisiEurope river cruises of 3 days / 2 nights or more. Source

Is your money protected?

AmaWaterways' UK flight-inclusive packages are protected under ATOL number 11232 and UK packages without flights by an ABTA bond (membership no. Y6393); in the US it is a California seller of travel (CST 2065452-20) with the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund where applicable. Source

CroisiEurope does not publish this on the pages read.

What happens if the water is too high or too low?

AmaWaterways says the carrier may alter itineraries for high or low water, keeping guests on the docked ship, substituting ground arrangements or moving them by coach or another vessel; such changes bring no credit or refund except as the Passenger Ticket Contract provides. Source

CroisiEurope says its prices exclude any expense caused by an unforeseen event such as strikes, weather conditions or water levels (niveaux des eaux); the pages read do not set out what it does when water levels change a sailing. Source

What if your mobility is limited?

AmaWaterways says accessible facilities may not be available on board or in many places visited; guests with mobility needs should tell it in writing at booking. Source

CroisiEurope does not publish this on the pages read.

Can children come?

AmaWaterways sets a minimum age of 4 (children under 5 not recommended) or 12 on Africa (including Egypt) and Southeast Asia programmes; it provides no child-specific programmes or child-minding. Source

CroisiEurope: On its CroisiEurope production, board and lodging are free for children under 2 and children aged 2 to 9 get 20% off the cruise price (excursions, transfers, flights, taxes, options and file fees excluded); on Visages et Fleuves du Monde trips to Southern Africa, the Amazon and the Mekong on CroisiEurope fleet ships, children under 15 sharing with 1 or 2 adults get 15% off. Source

When is each not the fit?

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

• AmaWaterways: not the fit if you need a doctor on board: it says medical doctors are not available on any vessel. Source
• CroisiEurope: not the fit if you want a single cabin on a busy departure: its terms cap single cabins at 10% of the allocation and 12 per ship. 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.

• AmaWaterways: Google: 4.1 out of 5 from 67 reviews; Trustpilot: 1.7 out of 5 from 109 reviews, newest 24 October 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
• CroisiEurope: Google: 3.6 out of 5 from 134 reviews; Trustpilot: 3.8 out of 5 from 448 reviews, newest 9 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 AmaWaterways?

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