What are the best Rhine river cruises?

By Richard Jasinski·Updated 10 November 2026

These 17 river cruise lines sell a Rhine 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 Rhine river cruises?

17 river cruise lines in the Uncompromised Travel table say on their own websites that they sell a Rhine sailing; Travelmarvel, Thurgau Travel and CroisiEurope 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 Rhine sailing: 17 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
Rhine sailing: Sails Southern Rhine City Experience 2027, 7 nights from Frankfurt to Speyer, Strasbourg, Basel, Breisach and Mainz on A-ROSA ALEA, from €1,861 per person in cabin C.
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: river-cruises/rhine/cruise/southern-rhine-city-e, company/history.html, my-a-rosa/faq.html.

Is this your company? See how a listing works

Amadeus River Cruises

Best for: European river cruises with wine at dinner
Rhine sailing: Runs a Rhine Concert Cruise in 2027 with André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra, plus Rhine in Flames fireworks sailings on AMADEUS Star.
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/theme-cruises.html, en/why-amadeus/suites-staterooms.html, en/company/terms-conditions/terms-conditions.htm.

Is this your company? See how a listing works

AmaWaterways

Best for: Europe, Nile and Mekong river cruises
Rhine sailing: Sails City Escapes: Grand Rhine & Dutch Canals, 14 nights through Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
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.

Is this your company? See how a listing works

APT

Best for: Fully inclusive Rhine, Danube and Mekong cruises
Rhine sailing: Sails Highlights of the Rhine and Main, 8 days from Amsterdam to Munich, on APT Solara, Ostara or 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.

Is this your company? See how a listing works

Century Cruises

Best for: Yangtze, Danube and Rhine cruise tours
Rhine sailing: Sails Romantic Rhine, 7 nights from Amsterdam to Basel.
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.

Is this your company? See how a listing works

CroisiEurope

Best for: French family line on European rivers
Rhine sailing: Sails Le Rhin en folie, 5 days from Strasbourg to Koblenz, Rüdesheim and Mannheim and back.
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.

Is this your company? See how a listing works

Emerald Cruises

Best for: Star-Ship river cruises in Europe and Asia
Rhine sailing: Sails Jewels of the Rhine, 8 days Basel to Amsterdam, in the 2027 season.
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.

Is this your company? See how a listing works

Excellence River Cruises

Best for: German-language river voyages from Switzerland
Rhine sailing: Sails Basel to Cologne, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Rüdesheim and back to Basel, 9 days on the Excellence Crown, from CHF 2'495 per person in a main deck cabin on 1 June 2027.
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/der-rhein-fine-dining-mit-hugo, vorteile/faq.

Is this your company? See how a listing works

Grand Circle Cruise Line

Best for: Small-group Danube and Seine cruises with airfare
Rhine sailing: Sails Romance of the Rhine & Mosel, with 2027 departures on 12 March, 26 April and 10 May.
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: special-offers, about-us/people-and-culture, terms-and-conditions.

Is this your company? See how a listing works

Plantours Kreuzfahrten

Best for: German-language river cruises with themed events
Rhine sailing: Sails Rheinzauber bis ins Elsass, Düsseldorf to Koblenz, Speyer, Strasbourg and Breisach and back, 7 days; the 3-Länder Kreuzfahrt from Frankfurt runs 6 days.
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-.

Is this your company? See how a listing works

Riverside Luxury Cruises

Best for: All-suite European river cruises with butlers
Rhine sailing: Sails Romantic Rhine Southbound on Riverside Debussy, 7 nights from Amsterdam to Basel via Cologne, Bonn, Rüdesheim, Mannheim and Strasbourg.
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.

Is this your company? See how a listing works

Riviera Travel

Best for: All-inclusive European river cruises with excursions included
Rhine sailing: Sails the Rhine Cruise to Switzerland (8 days), Rhine, Strasbourg and Heidelberg (8 days) and the Rhine Gorge & Cologne Discovery (4 days), on ships including MS Emily Brontë and MS Oscar Wilde.
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: ships/ms-emily-bronte, about-us, company-policies/booking-conditions.

Is this your company? See how a listing works

Scenic

Best for: All-inclusive Europe and Mekong river cruises
Rhine sailing: Sails Castles & Vineyards of the Rhine & Moselle, 8 days, from US$4,528 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.

Is this your company? See how a listing works

Tauck

Best for: Fully guided European river cruises, excursions included
Rhine sailing: Sails A Week On… the Rhine (8 days, 7-night cruise) and Rhine Connoisseur (10 days with 2 nights in Montreux), among other Rhine itineraries.
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.

Is this your company? See how a listing works

Thurgau Travel

Best for: Swiss river voyages on its own ships
Rhine sailing: Sails Rheinzauber Holland on MS Thurgau Gold, Basel to Amsterdam and Mainz and back to Basel, 9 days from CHF 1'390 per person on 17 February 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: reise/rheinzauber-holland/?id=3917269, pressebereich/thrugau-travel-schuetzt-seine-gaes, vertrags-und-reisebedingungen.

Is this your company? See how a listing works

Travelmarvel

Best for: Rhine, Danube and Douro cruises plus Asia
Rhine sailing: Sails The Rhine and Moselle, an 8-day cruise between Amsterdam and Basel, on its contemporary ships.
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/discover/europe-cruising-offers, en-gb/media/travelmarvel-our-story, en-gb/why-choose-travelmarvel/book-with-confiden.

Is this your company? See how a listing works

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

Best for: River cruises with drinks and gratuities included
Rhine sailing: Sails Rhine, Moselle & Belgium Grand Discovery, 15 days from Basel to Brussels.
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.

Is this your company? See how a listing works

Which of these show a dated price on this page?

4 of the 17 cards show a price for a sailing of this kind, with its currency and a date or season. AmaWaterways, CroisiEurope, Emerald Cruises, 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.

A-ROSA
Excellence River Cruises
Scenic
Thurgau Travel

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

10 of the 17 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)
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 3 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.

A-ROSA
Excellence River Cruises
Scenic

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.

Rhine 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 17 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?

Travelmarvel, Thurgau Travel and CroisiEurope, 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?

7 of the 17: A-ROSA, AmaWaterways, CroisiEurope, Grand Circle Cruise Line, 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?

15 of the 17 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 Rhine 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.