Which river cruise lines are best for first-time cruisers?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 10 November 2026
These 6 river cruise lines say their sailings suit first-time river cruisers or give advice for a first river cruise 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.
Which river cruise lines are best for first-time cruisers?
6 river cruise lines in the Uncompromised Travel table say on their own websites that their sailings suit first-time river cruisers, or they give advice for a first river cruise; Phoenix Reisen, Thurgau Travel and AmaWaterways have the most Google reviews under the line's own name.
AmaWaterways
- Best for
- Europe, Nile and Mekong river cruises
- First-timers
- Offers a guide for newcomers that explains what a river cruise with AmaWaterways is like.
- 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
Emerald Cruises
- Best for
- Star-Ship river cruises in Europe and Asia
- First-timers
- Publishes a planning guide for guests new to sailing with Emerald, covering choosing a cruise, accommodation, packing and dining.
- 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.
Phoenix Reisen
- Best for
- German-speaking river voyages at published euro fares
- First-timers
- Addresses guests new to cruising as well as seasoned cruisers, with German-speaking cruise management on every ship and full board in the fare.
- 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.
- Published price
- From 1,099 € per person, 2-bed cabin (stern) main deck, Faszination Douro, 7 days on the Douro Cruiser, 07.04.-14.04.2027. Read 10 November 2026.
- Website
- phoenixreisen.com
Riviera Travel
- Best for
- All-inclusive European river cruises with excursions included
- First-timers
- Explains river cruising for newcomers: you unpack once, with all meals, all-inclusive drinks, guided excursions, a Cruise Director and a Cruise Concierge included.
- 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
Thurgau Travel
- Best for
- Swiss river voyages on its own ships
- First-timers
- Answers newcomers' questions on packing, ID papers, on-board payment and booking excursions; its own cruise management team travels on board.
- 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.
- Published price
- from CHF 1'390 per person, Rheinzauber Holland on MS Thurgau Gold, 9 days, departing 17 February 2027. Read 10 November 2026.
- Money protection
- Garantiefonds der Schweizer Reisebranche (Swiss travel industry guarantee fund).
- Website
- thurgautravel.ch
Viking
- Best for
- Europe, Nile and Mekong river voyages
- First-timers
- Runs a New to River Cruising guide and recommends well-known routes such as the Rhine or Danube for first-time guests, with no formal wear needed on board.
- 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 6 cards show a price for a sailing, with its currency and a date or season. AmaWaterways, Emerald Cruises, Riviera Travel 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?
3 of the 6 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.
- AmaWaterways: ATOL 11232 for flight-inclusive UK packages; ABTA bond, membership no. Y6393
- 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 cards whose own line fits your dates and the sailing you want; ask each the same questions 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.
First river cruise: 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?
3 of the 6 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 AmaWaterways, 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?
3 of the 6: AmaWaterways, 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?
3 of the 6: AmaWaterways, Emerald Cruises and Riviera Travel. 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 says its sailings suit first-time river cruisers or gives advice for a first river cruise. 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
- Which river cruise lines are best for travellers with limited mobility?
- Which river cruise lines are best for couples?
- Best Luxury River Cruise Lines in 2026: 6 Ranked, Plus the Most All-Inclusive, the Smallest Ships and the Best for the Amazon, Nile and Mekong
- Which river cruise lines have the best reviews?
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.