What are the best Danube river cruises?

By Richard Jasinski·Updated 10 November 2026

These 19 river cruise lines sell a Danube sailing on their own websites, read 10 November 2026. Each card gives what the line says about it, with the ship, sailing, length, price or number where it names one, then why to choose it, what to ask for and the limits it publishes.

What are the best Danube river cruises?

19 river cruise lines in the Uncompromised Travel table say on their own websites that they sell a Danube sailing; Phoenix Reisen, Travelmarvel and Thurgau Travel have the most Google reviews under the line's own name.

Who is on this page and why. The Uncompromised Travel river cruise lines table holds 48 companies: the river cruise lines ChatGPT names most often when asked about river cruises, plus river lines added by hand from the trade, each kept only if its own website sells river voyages under its own name. Their own websites were read on 10 November 2026, with their Google and Trustpilot listings matched by name. This page carries every line in the table that, on its own website, sells a Danube sailing: 19 lines. Cards are in alphabetical order. Each line on a card gives what the company's own website says, with a link to the page it came from; a second reader checked 288 of the table's rows against the pages. No company paid to be on this page.

A-ROSA

Best for: Drinks-inclusive sailings on Rhine, Danube and Douro
Danube sailing: Sails Danube Classics 2027, 7 nights from Passau to the Wachau, Vienna, Esztergom, Budapest, Bratislava, Krems and Melk.
Why choose them: Began sailing the Danube in 2002 with A-ROSA BELLA and A-ROSA DONNA and now lists 15 river ships. Trustpilot: 2.9 out of 5 from 342 reviews, newest 6 November 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
Ask for: Ask for the Premium All-Inclusive fare, which includes one free change of travel date up to 30 days before departure.
Not the fit if: you use a wheelchair: there are no wheelchair-accessible cabins and no passenger lifts except on A-ROSA ALVA, SENA, ALEA and CLEA.
Money protection: Risk coverage certificate (Sicherungsschein) under Section 651r BGB, issued before the 25% down payment is due.
Enquiry: arosa-cruises.com/company/contact.html

Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: cruises.html, company/history.html, my-a-rosa/faq.html.

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Amadeus River Cruises

Best for: European river cruises with wine at dinner
Danube sailing: Runs New Year's Eve cruises on the Danube, with AMADEUS Active excursions such as cycling in Vienna and hiking in Linz.
Why choose them: Suites on its ships measure 26.4 m2 (284 sq ft) with a walk-out balcony.
Ask for: Ask for excursion Package C, which includes every excursion on the cruise at a reduced price when booked in advance.
Not the fit if: you use a wheelchair or scooter: neither is permitted on board and guests must manage the gangway, stairs and ramps without one.
Money protection: Listed in the Austrian carrier directory under number 2004/0052, with customer money insured under the Austrian travel agency insurance ordinance (RSV).
Enquiry: lueftner-cruises.com/en/company/imprint.html

Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: en/river-cruises/winter-cruises.html, en/why-amadeus/suites-staterooms.html, en/company/terms-conditions/terms-conditions.htm.

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AmaWaterways

Best for: Europe, Nile and Mekong river cruises
Danube sailing: Sails the Danube, including Celebration of Music sailings with live performances and lectures on board.
Why choose them: Offers over 100 river cruises across 35 countries on 12 rivers. 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.
Not the fit if: you need a doctor on board, as medical doctors are not available on any vessel.
Money protection: ATOL 11232 for flight-inclusive UK packages; ABTA bond, membership no. Y6393.
Website: amawaterways.com

Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: home page, terms-conditions/booking-sales, uk/terms-conditions/booking-sales.

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APT

Best for: Fully inclusive Rhine, Danube and Mekong cruises
Danube sailing: Sails Danube Discovery, 9 days from Munich to Budapest, plus Voyage Through the Balkans, 15 days round trip from Budapest, on APT Solara, Ostara and Alara.
Why choose them: Launched two new river ships, APT Solara and APT Ostara, in 2025.
Ask for: Ask for a Luxury River Cruise from the UK, which includes return flights and home-to-airport transfers by private car.
Not the fit if: you may need to change plans late: the one free amendment applies only when you are more than 100 days from departure.
Money protection: ABTA member; air-inclusive packages bonded under the CAA's ATOL scheme; Client Fund Protection in a separate bank account (UK bookings).
Website: aptouring.com

Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: en-gb/discover/europe-cruising-offers, en-us/why-choose-apt/about-apt, en-gb/why-choose-apt/book-with-confidence.

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Century Cruises

Best for: Yangtze, Danube and Rhine cruise tours
Danube sailing: Sails Blue Danube, 7 nights from Passau to Budapest.
Why choose them: Century Star will host 174 guests in 87 cabins on the Danube.
Ask for: Ask which cabin categories on its European tours come with complimentary international flights.
Not the fit if: your plans may change: the $500 per person deposit is non-refundable and cancelling within 30 days of departure costs 100% of the full fare.
Website: centurycruises.com

Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: tours, ships/century-star, terms.

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CroisiEurope

Best for: French family line on European rivers
Danube sailing: Sails Les capitales danubiennes, 5 days from Vienna to Budapest and Bratislava and back to Vienna.
Why choose them: Runs a fleet of 50 ships and barges. 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.
Ask for: Ask for a CroisiFamille river cruise, where up to 2 children up to 16 sail free in a paying cabin.
Not the fit if: you may cancel late: from 90 days before a river cruise you lose 20% of the price, rising to 100% from 8 days.
Website: croisieurope.com

Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: home page, information/conditions-generales-ventes-2026.

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Emerald Cruises

Best for: Star-Ship river cruises in Europe and Asia
Danube sailing: Sails Danube Delights, 8 days Budapest to Munich, in the 2027 season; Danube Explorer & Budapest runs 10 days.
Why choose them: Founded in 2013, it now sails eight Star-Ships in Europe and one on the Mekong. Google: 4.1 out of 5 from 37 reviews. Read 10 November 2026.
Ask for: Ask for a Solo Program Preferred Fare, which gives 50% single supplement savings.
Not the fit if: you need time after booking: the deposit on river cruises is due within 48 hours.
Enquiry: emerald.cruises/US/en-US/contact-us

Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: US/en-US/offers, US/en-US/about-us, US/en-US/offers/europe-river-cruises.

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Excellence River Cruises

Best for: German-language river voyages from Switzerland
Danube sailing: Sails Danube summer with Moses Ceylan on the Excellence Empress, 9 days from 5 August 2027 calling at Linz, Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava and Krems, from CHF 2'255 per person in a main deck cabin.
Why choose them: Says its fleet holds the Green Award and the Fair Cruise Award and has twice won the Myclimate Award.
Ask for: Ask for a sailing with a double cabin on the main deck for one person without supplement.
Not the fit if: you do not speak German: German is the language on board, including daily programmes and menus.
Money protection: Stiftung Gesetzlicher Garantiefonds der Schweizer Reisebranche (Garantiefonds).
Website: excellence.ch

Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: flusskreuzfahrten/donau-sommer-moses-kocht-fine-, vorteile/faq.

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Grand Circle Cruise Line

Best for: Small-group Danube and Seine cruises with airfare
Danube sailing: Sails Romantic Blue Danube: Budapest, Vienna & Prague, 15 days with 10 nights on M/S River Adagio or River Aria; Eastern Europe to the Black Sea runs 14 days.
Why choose them: Founded in 1958 by Ethel Andrus to serve Americans over 50. Trustpilot (whole company): 4.0 out of 5 from 20 reviews, newest 7 November 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
Ask for: Ask for a departure with a free or low-cost Single Supplement, or for roommate matching, which carries no single supplement even without a match.
Not the fit if: you use a wheelchair or motorised scooter: most trips are not accessible and guests needing help must travel with an able companion.
Enquiry: gct.com/about-us/contact-us

Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: trips/river-cruises/europe/romantic-blue-danube-, about-us/people-and-culture, terms-and-conditions.

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nicko cruises

Best for: River cruises for German-speaking travellers worldwide
Danube sailing: Sails Advent on the Danube on CELINA, 6 days from 26 November to 1 December 2027, from €599 per person, plus longer 12-, 15- and 19-day Danube cruises.
Why choose them: Sails a fleet of 22 ships and says it has been market leader for river cruises in Germany since 2007. Trustpilot (whole company): 3.2 out of 5 from 387 reviews, newest 5 November 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
Ask for: Ask for a Single-Spezial departure, where the single supplement is cut by 50%.
Not the fit if: you want an English-only ship: most river ships run in German and English; CYRANO DE BERGERAC runs in French and German.
Money protection: Insurance certificate naming the insurer, required before any payment under its package travel terms.
Website: nicko-cruises.de

Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: en/fleet/flussschiffe/celina, en/fleet/river-fleet, en/fleet/flussschiffe/cyrano-de-bergerac.

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Phoenix Reisen

Best for: German-speaking river voyages at published euro fares
Danube sailing: Sails Donauharmonie on the Anna Katharina, 7 days from Passau to Melk, Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava, Weißenkirchen and Linz.
Why choose them: Says it has nearly 40 river ships in its fleet. Google: 4.6 out of 5 from 1,259 reviews. Read 10 November 2026.
Ask for: Ask for a voyage marked Singles sparen, with heavily reduced single cabins.
Not the fit if: you do not speak German: there is only one language on board, German.
Website: phoenixreisen.com

Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: slowakei-kreuzfahrt-ins-land-der-burgen-jetzt-mi, unser-team-in-bonn.html, fjorde-kreuzfahrt-in-norwegen-dem-land-der-troll.

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Plantours Kreuzfahrten

Best for: German-language river cruises with themed events
Danube sailing: Sails Donau Metropolen on MS Rousse Prestige, Passau to Dürnstein, Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava and Melk and back, 8 days; Donau Abenteuer bis zum Delta runs 15 days on 29 April 2027.
Why choose them: Its flagship MS Lady Diletta carries 173 passengers and has 11 single cabins.
Ask for: Ask for the Single Special on selected Christmas voyages, which opens more single cabins for booking.
Not the fit if: you want to book shore excursions by phone, as they are booked only online through the customer portal.
Money protection: Deutscher Reisesicherungsfonds GmbH, with a Sicherungsschein issued with the booking confirmation.
Enquiry: plantours-kreuzfahrten.de/infos-service/das-sind-wir/unser-t

Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: flussreisen/neue-flusskreuzfahrten-2027, infos-service/drucksachen/neu-routenvorschau-ms-, infos-service/drucksachen/landausflugsprogramme-.

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Riverside Luxury Cruises

Best for: All-suite European river cruises with butlers
Danube sailing: Sails Danube Legends on Riverside Mozart, 4 nights via Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna and Tulln; Majestic Waters of Europe runs 7 nights from Budapest to Nuremberg on Debussy and Mahler.
Why choose them: Its suites range from 20 to 82 m² with a crew-to-guest ratio of 1:4.
Ask for: Ask for the Harmony Suite on Riverside Mozart or the Melody Suite on Debussy, Ravel or Mahler, where solo travellers pay no suite surcharge, subject to availability.
Not the fit if: you use a motorised scooter or need full wheelchair access: scooters are not allowed and wheelchair accessibility is limited.
Website: riverside-cruises.com

Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: en, en/about-riverside, en/faq.

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Riviera Travel

Best for: All-inclusive European river cruises with excursions included
Danube sailing: Sails The Blue Danube River Cruise (8 days; Austria, Hungary and Slovakia) and Budapest to the Black Sea (15 days), on ships including MS Geoffrey Chaucer and MS Emily Brontë.
Why choose them: Says it has welcomed more than 1.75 million guests worldwide and launched its river cruises in 2009.
Ask for: Ask for a solo departure with the single supplement waived, or a Cruise & Stay with three nights in a 4-star hotel.
Not the fit if: you use a wheelchair: there are no wheelchair accessible cabins on any of its ships.
Money protection: Says it is fully bonded with the CAA and ABTA, which are UK bodies, so your money is safe in any eventuality; its US booking conditions carry Florida Seller of Travel Ref. No. ST40993.
Enquiry: rivieratravel.com/contact

Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: deals/2028-river-cruises, about-us, company-policies/booking-conditions.

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Scenic

Best for: All-inclusive Europe and Mekong river cruises
Danube sailing: Sails Tastes of the Danube - A Wine Cruise, 8 days, from US$4,627 per person, double occupancy, 2027 season.
Why choose them: Its river fleet is growing from 13 to 16 ships, with new additions planned for 2027 and 2028.
Ask for: Ask for a Solo Program Preferred Fare, which gives 50% single supplement savings, with a free single supplement on select dates.
Not the fit if: you live outside the United States: these fares and offers apply to legal residents of the United States.
Enquiry: scenic.cruises/US/en-US/contact-us

Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: US/en-US/offers/europe-river-cruises, US/en-US/about-us, US/en-US/terms-conditions.

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Tauck

Best for: Fully guided European river cruises, excursions included
Danube sailing: Sails The Blue Danube, 12 days with a 9-night cruise and 2 nights in Prague, plus Essence of the Danube (6 days, round trip from Budapest) and the 25-day Grand European Cruise from the North Sea to the Black Sea.
Why choose them: Founded in 1925, it now offers nearly 200 itineraries across land tours and river and small ship cruises. Google: 3.4 out of 5 from 41 reviews; Trustpilot (whole company): 2.7 out of 5 from 93 reviews, newest 13 October 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
Ask for: Ask for a Category 1 cabin on a European river cruise, which carries no single supplement.
Not the fit if: you need help walking or use a motorised scooter: Tauck cannot provide individual assistance and cannot take scooters on any trip.
Enquiry: tauck.com/contact-us

Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: river-cruises/why-take-a-river-cruise/a-river-cr, about-tauck, terms-and-conditions.

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Thurgau Travel

Best for: Swiss river voyages on its own ships
Danube sailing: Sails Glanzlichter der Donau on Thurgau Prestige, Linz to Vienna and Budapest and back to Linz, 8 days from CHF 1'690 per person, April to October 2027.
Why choose them: Founded in December 2001, it sails 19 ships on over 50 waterways in more than 25 countries. Google: 4.4 out of 5 from 181 reviews; Trustpilot (whole company): 4.6 out of 5 from 1,004 reviews, newest 8 November 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
Ask for: Ask for the excursion package with audio guide when you book, as most excursions are sold that way.
Not the fit if: you cannot leave the ship on your own in an evacuation, as guests must be able to do so and must tell Thurgau Travel before booking if not.
Money protection: Garantiefonds der Schweizer Reisebranche (Swiss travel industry guarantee fund).
Website: thurgautravel.ch

Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: home page, pressebereich/thrugau-travel-schuetzt-seine-gaes, vertrags-und-reisebedingungen.

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Travelmarvel

Best for: Rhine, Danube and Douro cruises plus Asia
Danube sailing: Sails Highlights of the Danube, 8 days from Munich to Budapest, plus Balkan Adventure, 8 days from Budapest to Bucharest.
Why choose them: It added the Contemporary River Ships Polaris, Capella and Vega to its European fleet in 2022. Google: 4.5 out of 5 from 926 reviews. Read 10 November 2026.
Ask for: Ask for the 2027 Book Early Package on Europe river cruises and the deposit it holds the booking with.
Not the fit if: you may need to change plans late: its one free amendment applies only when you are more than 100 days from departure.
Money protection: ABTA and ATOL (UK packages).
Website: travelmarvel.com

Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: en-gb/experiences/travel-styles/river-cruises, en-gb/media/travelmarvel-our-story, en-gb/why-choose-travelmarvel/book-with-confiden.

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Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

Best for: River cruises with drinks and gratuities included
Danube sailing: Sails Delightful Danube, 8 days from Budapest to Regensburg, from $2,969 per person, double occupancy, on 19 March 2028 (early booking offer; regular $3,299), plus Danube Grandeur, 15 days from Belgrade.
Why choose them: Its cruises of 7 nights or more include onboard meals, premium beverages, onboard gratuities and scheduled excursions. Google: 3.6 out of 5 from 33 reviews; Trustpilot: 2.6 out of 5 from 34 reviews, newest 13 October 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
Ask for: Ask for a Generations programme departure if you are travelling with children.
Not the fit if: you need mobility devices or personal care on board: it provides neither and cannot guarantee full accessibility in all locations.
Money protection: Travel Industry Compensation Fund, TICO registration number 50018458 (Ontario); California Seller of Travel CST #2075415-20.
Website: uniworld.com

Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: home page, ap/terms-and-conditions/2028, ca/terms-and-conditions/2028.

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Which of these show a dated price on this page?

5 of the 19 cards show a price for a sailing of this kind, with its currency and a date or season. A-ROSA, AmaWaterways, CroisiEurope, Emerald Cruises, Phoenix Reisen, Plantours Kreuzfahrten, Riviera Travel and Tauck publish fares on their own websites without a sailing date, a per-person basis or a currency on the pages read, so no figure is shown for them. Ask every line for a written quote with the departure date and what it includes.

Excellence River Cruises
nicko cruises
Scenic
Thurgau Travel
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

Which of these lines name a scheme that protects your money?

11 of the 19 lines name a scheme, bond, licence or account that protects payments for some or all bookings; check the number with the scheme before you pay.

A-ROSA: Risk coverage certificate (Sicherungsschein) under Section 651r BGB, issued before the 25% down payment is due
Amadeus River Cruises: Listed in the Austrian carrier directory under number 2004/0052, with customer money insured under the Austrian travel agency insurance ordinance (RSV)
AmaWaterways: ATOL 11232 for flight-inclusive UK packages; ABTA bond, membership no. Y6393
APT: ABTA member; air-inclusive packages bonded under the CAA's ATOL scheme; Client Fund Protection in a separate bank account (UK bookings)
Excellence River Cruises: Stiftung Gesetzlicher Garantiefonds der Schweizer Reisebranche (Garantiefonds)
nicko cruises: Insurance certificate naming the insurer, required before any payment under its package travel terms
Plantours Kreuzfahrten: Deutscher Reisesicherungsfonds GmbH, with a Sicherungsschein issued with the booking confirmation
Riviera Travel: Says it is fully bonded with the CAA and ABTA, which are UK bodies, so your money is safe in any eventuality; its US booking conditions carry Florida Seller of Travel Ref. No. ST40993
Thurgau Travel: Garantiefonds der Schweizer Reisebranche (Swiss travel industry guarantee fund)
Travelmarvel: ABTA and ATOL (UK packages)
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises: Travel Industry Compensation Fund, TICO registration number 50018458 (Ontario); California Seller of Travel CST #2075415-20

Who to contact first

Start with the 4 lines on this page that publish both a sailing price and their cancellation terms on their own websites, then add any other card that fits your dates and the sailing you want.

Excellence River Cruises
nicko cruises
Scenic
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

What to ask each one to set out in writing:

What the fare includes, line by line: excursions, drinks, gratuities, wifi, flights, transfers and hotel nights before and after.
The ship: how many guests it carries, the cabin size and whether it has a French balcony, a full balcony or a window.
The deposit, when the balance is due, what you lose if you cancel and what the line does if low or high water changes the route.
Which scheme or licence protects your money and what you need to walk on the excursions if mobility matters to you.

Danube river cruises: the questions people ask

What should I ask a river cruise line before booking?

What the fare includes, line by line; how many guests the ship carries and the size of the cabin; the deposit and what you lose if you cancel; what happens if low or high water changes the route; and which scheme protects your money.

Can I book with these lines directly?

Yes. Each card links the line's own website or enquiry page; ask for a written quote that lists what the fare includes and the cancellation scale.

Do these lines all sell the same kind of river cruise?

No. Each card names the sailing, ship or offer the line's own website gives; ship sizes, lengths, rivers and prices differ, so compare the cards before you ask for quotes.

What happens if the river is too low or too high to sail?

10 of the 19 lines set out on their own websites what they do when water levels change a sailing, such as a ship swap, a coach transfer or a refund. Ask each line in writing before you book.

Which of these have the most Google reviews?

Phoenix Reisen, Travelmarvel and Thurgau Travel, in that order. A count says how many people reviewed a line, not whether it fits your sailing; each card gives the rating and count, read 10 November 2026.

Which of these have Trustpilot profiles?

8 of the 19: A-ROSA, AmaWaterways, CroisiEurope, Grand Circle Cruise Line, nicko cruises, Tauck, Thurgau Travel and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises. Each card gives the TrustScore, the review count and the newest review date, read 10 November 2026.

Which of these publish their cancellation terms?

16 of the 19 publish a cancellation scale on their own websites. Ask each for the full scale in writing before you pay a deposit.

Where can I check these facts myself?

Each card links the pages of the line's own website its lines were read from, with the date they were read.

How were these lines chosen?

Each one is in the Uncompromised Travel river cruise lines table, built from the river cruise lines ChatGPT names most often. On its own website it sells a Danube sailing. A line is on the page because its published facts fit the question, never because it paid.

Is any company on this page paying to be here?

No. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel; none paid to be on it.