River Cruise Lines Aren’t All the Same: 8 Things to Check Before You Book

River cruises can look surprisingly similar at first glance. They all sail sleek ships through beautiful scenery, stop in historic towns and promise great food, fascinating excursions and a relaxing week away.

So it’s easy to assume that choosing between them is simply a case of finding the itinerary you like at the best price. That’s exactly what I used to think.

But, after sailing on several river cruises, visiting over 20 ships and chatting to the people who know them inside out, I’ve realised there are some surprisingly big differences between the cruise lines.

Some include far more than others. Some are much more active. Some attract guests from all over the world, while others create a very different onboard atmosphere.

If you’re trying to decide which river cruise line is right for you, there are some things I’d always check before booking…

1. Do They Sail Where You Want To Go?

The first thing I’d check isn’t the ship or what’s included. It’s where the cruise line actually sails. Some people assume this isn’t really a concern with river cruising, but they’re wrong!

Most river cruise lines offer the classic European routes along the Rhine and Danube. If you fancy the Rhône, Seine, Douro, Dutch Waterways, Main or Moselle, you’ll have slightly fewer options.

Then, if you want to cruise on the Elbe, Po, Guadalquivir or some of the smaller rivers in France, you’ll have even fewer options.

But the biggest differences tend to appear once you start looking beyond Europe. If you’re dreaming of somewhere a little more adventurous, such as Vietnam and Cambodia, you’ll find far fewer cruise lines operating there.

It’s also worth thinking about how many itineraries a cruise line offers in the destinations you’re interested in. Some companies have just one or two routes, while others offer several variations, giving you more flexibility over things like cruise length, start and end points, and the places you’ll visit along the way.

2. What’s Actually Included?

This is probably the biggest mistake first-time river cruisers make.

It’s really easy to compare two prices and assume the cheaper cruise is better value. But until you know what’s included, you’re not really comparing like for like.

For example, some river cruise lines include excursions, while others charge extra. Drinks policies vary too, with some including wine, beer and soft drinks at mealtimes, while others offer drinks all day or not at all. Gratuities, WiFi and airport transfers are other things that can make a surprisingly big difference to the final cost of your holiday.

On my recent Emerald river cruise, I loved not having to constantly think about what was costing extra. Excursions, gratuities, WiFi and drinks with lunch and dinner were all covered.

And yes, you can leave the dining room with a full glass of wine and enjoy it on the sun deck!

That doesn’t mean every cruise line should include exactly the same things. Some travellers would rather pay a lower fare and choose which extras to add, paying for drinks and excursions individually, while others prefer to have as much as possible included from the start.

The important thing is to compare the whole package rather than just the number on the booking page. Sometimes the cruise that looks more expensive at first glance can actually work out to be better value in the end.

Suggested read: What You Actually Get on an Emerald River Cruise

3. Who You’ll Be Cruising With

This is something I’d never really thought about before I started river cruising, but it can make a surprisingly big difference to your holiday.

Some river cruise lines attract guests from all over the world, others from just one or two countries. That means announcements, port talks and excursions may be delivered in several different languages.

On my recent Emerald river cruise, everyone onboard spoke English, and there was a really nice mix of guests from the UK, Ireland, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Other cruise lines, such as TUI river cruises, market to only British guests.

In contrast, when I cruised with Viva Cruises, almost all of the other guests were German speakers. Not only did that make socialising very difficult, but we had to sit through a port talk in German for 15 minutes every day, which got a little tiresome.

It’s also worth thinking about the sort of atmosphere you’re looking for. Some river cruise lines feel very traditional, while others have a more contemporary feel. Some attract mainly retired couples, while others appeal to a broader mix of ages, including younger couples and families on selected sailings.

None of these approaches is better than another. It simply comes down to the kind of holiday you enjoy. If you’re someone who loves meeting new people, for example, the guest mix onboard can have just as much impact on your cruise as the itinerary itself.

4. Excursion Choices

Shore excursions are a huge part of any river cruise, so I’d always look beyond the simple question of whether they’re included or not (although, that’s a pretty important question too).

Think about the types of excursions on offer too. Some cruise lines focus mainly on traditional guided walking tours, while others offer a wider choice, including cycling, hiking, food experiences and cultural events.

One thing I really liked about Emerald Cruises was that there was usually more than one way to explore each destination. If you wanted a classic guided tour, that was available. If you’d rather get out on an e-bike or join a guided hike, there were EmeraldACTIVE excursions too.

Then there were EmeraldPLUS experiences, which are designed to give you something a little different. On my Rhine cruise, that included a private classical concert which genuinely felt like it should have cost extra.

It’s also worth checking whether excursions cater for different mobility levels. During my cruise, Emerald Cruises offered both standard and gentle walking groups, which was a huge help while I was recovering from a broken toe. It meant I could still enjoy the destinations without worrying about holding everyone else up with my slower pace!

5. The Ship Itself

It’s easy to assume that all river cruise ships are pretty much the same. After all, they’re all built to fit through the same locks and sail under the same bridges.

But once you step onboard, the differences become much more obvious. These aren’t cookie-cutter vessels.

Some ships feel quite traditional in terms of the decor, while others are much more contemporary.

Cabin layouts vary too, with some offering French balconies, others step-out balconies and some using clever designs that maximise the space inside the room.

Public areas can be just as different, from cosy lounges designed for quiet evenings to ships with much more emphasis on wellness and onboard facilities.

It’s also worth looking beyond the cabin. If you’re planning to spend time onboard between ports, think about how you’ll actually use the ship. Is there somewhere comfortable to sit with a book? A sun deck with plenty of loungers? A fitness area? Bikes to borrow if you fancy exploring independently?

Most river cruise ships have a hot tub on the top deck. This isn’t always ideal in the summer. You would think they would have them set to be a cold plunge pool, but in my experience, they always seem to be hot!

I do prefer when a river ship has a proper pool. The family-friendly ship A-Rosa Sena has two pools – one for adults and one for kids (complete with water guns!).

But my favourite type of pool on a river ship has to be the one on Emerald Cruises’ Star-Ships. These pools have a current you can swim against, a retractable roof, and thanks to the clever raising floor, they transform into a cinema in the evening and an exercise studio in the early morning!

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Before you book, I’d spend as much time looking at the ship as you do looking at the itinerary. After all, it’s going to be your hotel for the week.

6. Keeping Active

Not everyone wants the same kind of river cruise. For some people, the perfect day is a gentle stroll around a pretty town followed by a leisurely lunch and an afternoon watching the scenery drift by. Others would much rather get their walking boots on, head out on a bike or fit in a yoga class before breakfast.

That’s why it’s worth looking at what each cruise line offers beyond the standard sightseeing tours.

Some put a much bigger emphasis on wellness and active travel than others, with things like guided hikes, cycling excursions, fitness classes and onboard gyms. If that’s the sort of holiday you enjoy, those extras can make a much bigger difference than you might expect.

I hadn’t really thought much about this until I started river cruising. Now I’d always look to see what’s available, even if I don’t end up using everything. It’s nice to have the choice.

Emerald Cruises is a good example of this. Alongside traditional excursions, there are EmeraldACTIVE experiences for guests who’d rather explore on foot or by bike, and the ships also carry e-bikes that can often be borrowed independently.

It’s a nice option to have, particularly on European rivers where many of the cycle paths are flat and run alongside the water.

7. Food and Drink

Food is a big part of any river cruise, but it’s worth looking beyond the menu photos in the brochure.

It’s also worth looking at the style of dining. Most river ships have a single main restaurant, but the menus, service and overall atmosphere can vary from one cruise line to another. Some put a big emphasis on regional dishes, while others stick to more familiar international favourites.

If you have dietary requirements, don’t be afraid to ask how they’re handled. On my recent river cruise, guests had the chance to speak to the head chef at the start of the sailing, and I received the following day’s menu each evening so I could request any changes in advance if I needed them. It’s one of the best systems I’ve come across, and it made the whole experience feel really relaxed.

Finally, don’t forget that food isn’t just about what’s on your plate. For me, some of the best conversations of the week happened over dinner, chatting with other guests about where we’d been that day and what we’d discovered ashore. However, some people prefer a table for two. Each river cruise line can be quite different in terms of seating arrangements.

One of the biggest differences between cruise lines is what’s included to drink. Some include wine, beer and soft drinks only with lunch and dinner, while others include drinks throughout the day.

If you enjoy a cocktail before dinner or a glass of wine in the lounge each evening, it’s worth checking exactly what’s covered before you book.

8. Dress Code and Atmosphere

If you’ve never been on a river cruise before, it’s easy to imagine everyone dressed up for dinner every evening. I get it – river cruises tend to be a little more expensive than ocean cruises, and people often assume that more expensive also means more formal.

The reality depends very much on the cruise line. Some have a more traditional feel, where guests tend to dress smartly in the evenings and the atmosphere is a little more formal. Others are much more relaxed, with smart-casual clothing being perfectly acceptable and no expectation that you’ll pack a suit or cocktail dress.

It’s also worth thinking about the overall atmosphere onboard. Some river cruises are very quiet, with guests heading to bed soon after dinner ready for the next day’s excursion. Others put more emphasis on evening entertainment, whether that’s live music, local performers or simply creating a lively place to enjoy a drink after a day ashore.

I liked Emerald Cruises’ approach because it felt relaxed without being too casual. People made an effort in the evenings, but nobody looked out of place in a polo shirt, shorts or a simple summer dress. There was usually some entertainment after dinner too, but it never felt like there was pressure to stay up late if you’d rather have an early night.

There’s no right or wrong here. It’s simply about finding a cruise line whose atmosphere matches the sort of holiday you want.

Don’t Just Compare Prices!

It’s tempting to choose a river cruise the same way many people choose a hotel – by finding the itinerary they like at the lowest price.

But after experiencing a few different river cruises, I don’t think that’s the best approach.

Take a few minutes to look at what’s included, the style of excursions, the facilities onboard, the atmosphere and the sort of guests the cruise line attracts. Those things can have just as much impact on your holiday as the destinations themselves.

For me, Emerald Cruises strikes a really nice balance. It feels modern without being flashy, includes the things that matter most and gives you plenty of choice, whether you’d rather spend your day exploring a historic city, cycling along the river or simply relaxing on deck with a drink.

Ultimately, there isn’t one river cruise line that’s right for everyone. But once you know what to look for, you’ll have a much better chance of finding the one that’s right for you.

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