Which river cruise lines include gratuities in the fare?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 10 November 2026
These 6 river cruise lines say gratuities or tips are included in their fare 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 include gratuities in the fare?
6 river cruise lines in the Uncompromised Travel table say on their own websites that gratuities or tips are included in their fare; VIVA Cruises, CroisiEurope and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises have the most Google reviews under the line's own name.
Inclusions differ by market and by fare type; each card says which gratuities are covered and which are not. A line missing from this list has not been shown to leave this out: some lines state it only in a summary we could not quote. Ask every line in writing what its fare includes.
Abercrombie & Kent
- Best for
- Guided river journeys and canal barge cruises
- Gratuities
- On its US booking terms, Group Journeys include gratuities throughout except to the Resident Tour Director or Extension guide; Tailormade, Private Journey Sanctuary Stays and Canal Barge Journeys include no gratuities.
- Why choose them
- Founded by Geoffrey Kent, it has sold travel since 1962. Trustpilot (whole company): 4.4 out of 5 from 795 reviews, newest 3 November 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a Canal Barge Cruise, which includes all alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks on board and transfers to and from the vessel.
- Not the fit if
- you travel with children under 12: journeys including a European River Cruise have a minimum age of 12.
- Money protection
- ATOL number 2881, issued by the CAA, for flight-inclusive packages (UK bookings).
- Website
- abercrombiekent.com
CroisiEurope
- Best for
- French family line on European rivers
- Gratuities
- On cruises that include tips, its prices include them, paid in full to local providers in the destination country.
- 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
Grand Circle Cruise Line
- Best for
- Small-group Danube and Seine cruises with airfare
- Gratuities
- On Holland & Belgium in Springtime its fare includes gratuities for local guides and drivers; it says nothing on gratuities for the ship's crew.
- 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
Riverside Luxury Cruises
- Best for
- All-suite European river cruises with butlers
- Gratuities
- Says gratuities are included in its Riverside Luxury Cruises package.
- 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
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
- Best for
- River cruises with drinks and gratuities included
- Gratuities
- On its Asia-Pacific booking terms, a Cruise of 7 nights or more includes onboard gratuities, with onboard meals, premium beverages and scheduled excursions.
- 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.
- Published price
- From $2,969 per person, double occupancy, Delightful Danube, 8 days Budapest to Regensburg, 19 March 2028 (early booking offer; regular $3,299). Read 10 November 2026.
- Money protection
- Travel Industry Compensation Fund, TICO registration number 50018458 (Ontario); California Seller of Travel CST #2075415-20.
- Website
- uniworld.com
VIVA Cruises
- Best for
- All-inclusive river cruises with tips included
- Gratuities
- Says the tip is already included in its cruise price as part of its all-round package on board.
- Why choose them
- Says the Swiss shipping company Scylla AG, which owns a fleet of 40 ships, stands behind the brand. Google: 4.4 out of 5 from 289 reviews; Trustpilot: 3.9 out of 5 from 178 reviews, newest 6 November 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a Culinary Cruise with Falstaff, where all shore excursions are included in the price.
- Not the fit if
- you want a doctor on board: there is none, though first aid can be given on all ships.
- Money protection
- Guarantee certificate handed over before the 20% down payment is due.
- Website
- viva-cruises.com
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.
- Abercrombie & Kent: ATOL number 2881, issued by the CAA, for flight-inclusive packages (UK bookings)
- Uniworld Boutique River Cruises: Travel Industry Compensation Fund, TICO registration number 50018458 (Ontario); California Seller of Travel CST #2075415-20
- VIVA Cruises: Guarantee certificate handed over before the 20% down payment is due
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.
Gratuities on 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 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?
VIVA Cruises, CroisiEurope and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, 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?
5 of the 6: Abercrombie & Kent, CroisiEurope, Grand Circle Cruise Line, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises and VIVA 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?
6 of the 6: Abercrombie & Kent, CroisiEurope, Grand Circle Cruise Line, Riverside Luxury Cruises, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises and VIVA Cruises. 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 gratuities or tips are included in its fare. 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
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.