What are the best Rhône and Saône river cruises?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 10 November 2026
These 13 river cruise lines sell a Rhône or Saône 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 Rhône and Saône river cruises?
13 river cruise lines in the Uncompromised Travel table say on their own websites that they sell a Rhône or Saône sailing; Phoenix Reisen, Thurgau Travel and CroisiEurope have the most Google reviews under the line's own name.
A-ROSA
- Best for
- Drinks-inclusive sailings on Rhine, Danube and Douro
- Rhône or Saône sailing
- Sails Rhône Route Méditerranée 2027 on A-ROSA LUNA, 7 nights from Lyon to Viviers, Avignon, Arles and Tournon-sur-Rhône.
- 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.
CroisiEurope
- Best for
- French family line on European rivers
- Rhône or Saône sailing
- Sails Couleurs provençales au fil du Rhône, 6 days from Lyon to Avignon, Arles, Port-Saint-Louis, Martigues, Viviers and Tain l'Hermitage.
- 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
Emerald Cruises
- Best for
- Star-Ship river cruises in Europe and Asia
- Rhône or Saône sailing
- Sails Sensations of Lyon & Provence with Chef Rachel Hargrove, 8 days Lyon to Nice, 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.
Excellence River Cruises
- Best for
- German-language river voyages from Switzerland
- Rhône or Saône sailing
- Sails France's shining south on the Excellence Rhône, 7 days from Lyon to Avignon, Arles, Port St. Louis, Valence and Tournon.
- 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
French Country Waterways
- Best for
- Six-night hotel barge cruises in France
- Rhône or Saône sailing
- Its Burgundy cruise on Adrienne sails the River Saône with the Canal de Bourgogne and Canal du Centre, near the Côte d'Or wine region.
- Why choose them
- Each barge is accompanied by an air-conditioned motorcoach for daily sightseeing and carries her own bicycles. Google: 5.0 out of 5 from 2 reviews. Read 10 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the barge and region that suit you: Burgundy on Adrienne, or Central Burgundy (April to June) or the Upper Loire (July to October) on Nenuphar.
- Not the fit if
- you want the Upper Loire outside July to October: Nenuphar sails it only in those months.
- Website
- fcwl.com
nicko cruises
- Best for
- River cruises for German-speaking travellers worldwide
- Rhône or Saône sailing
- Sails 8-day Rhône cruises on ships such as BIJOU DU RHÔNE (150 passengers), with a Burgundy extension after your cruise.
- 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
Phoenix Reisen
- Best for
- German-speaking river voyages at published euro fares
- Rhône or Saône sailing
- Sails Höhepunkte auf Rhône und Saône on the MS Annabelle, 7 days from Lyon.
- 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
Riverside Luxury Cruises
- Best for
- All-suite European river cruises with butlers
- Rhône or Saône sailing
- Sails French Salut: Lyon, Avignon & Châteauneuf-du-Pape on Riverside Ravel, 4 nights from Lyon with stops at Viviers, Tain-l'Hermitage and Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
- 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
Riviera Travel
- Best for
- All-inclusive European river cruises with excursions included
- Rhône or Saône sailing
- Sails Burgundy, the River Rhône and Provence (8 days, 11 included experiences) and Lyon, Provençal Rhône & the Camargue (11 days) on MS Lord Byron.
- 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
Scenic
- Best for
- All-inclusive Europe and Mekong river cruises
- Rhône or Saône sailing
- Sails Tastes of the Rhone, a culinary cruise of 8 days, from US$7,118 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.
Tauck
- Best for
- Fully guided European river cruises, excursions included
- Rhône or Saône sailing
- Sails A Week On… the Rhône (8 days, 7 nights) and Barcelona, Burgundy & the Rhône (13 days, 9-night cruise).
- 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
Thurgau Travel
- Best for
- Swiss river voyages on its own ships
- Rhône or Saône sailing
- Sails Savoir-vivre auf dem Wasser, Lyon to Avignon and Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône and back, 8 days from CHF 1'790 per person, March to September 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
Viking
- Best for
- Europe, Nile and Mekong river voyages
- Rhône or Saône sailing
- Sails Lyon & Provence on the Rhône, with a Burgundy's Vineyards land extension available.
- Why choose them
- Says it was voted #1 for Rivers in Condé Nast Traveler's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards, the sixth consecutive year. Trustpilot (whole company): 1.7 out of 5 from 384 reviews, newest 10 November 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the Viking Inclusive Value fare, with one shore excursion in every port, or the current Special Solo Traveler Fares.
- Not the fit if
- you are travelling with children: Viking says its river ships have no children on board.
- Website
- vikingrivercruises.com
Which of these show a dated price on this page?
2 of the 13 cards show a price for a sailing of this kind, with its currency and a date or season. A-ROSA, CroisiEurope, Emerald Cruises, Excellence River Cruises, nicko cruises, Phoenix Reisen, Riviera Travel, Tauck and Viking 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.
Which of these lines name a scheme that protects your money?
5 of the 13 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
- 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
- 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)
Who to contact first
Start with the 1 line on this page that publishes 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.
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.
Rhône and Saône 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?
6 of the 13 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, 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?
6 of the 13: A-ROSA, CroisiEurope, nicko cruises, Tauck, Thurgau Travel and Viking. Each card gives the TrustScore, the review count and the newest review date, read 10 November 2026.
Which of these publish their cancellation terms?
9 of the 13: A-ROSA, CroisiEurope, Emerald Cruises, Excellence River Cruises, nicko cruises, Riverside Luxury Cruises, Riviera Travel, Scenic and Tauck. 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 Rhône or Saône 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.
Read next
Companies are added at each update. Want to be the company this page features?
Built to answer the question in the main heading. What is shown: what each line published on its own website, read on 10 November 2026, with links to the pages read, with its Google and Trustpilot figures where the listing carries the line's own name, from the Uncompromised Travel river cruise lines table. Cards are in alphabetical order. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel. How this site earns · How we work.