River cruise ships may look similar from the outside, but step on board and you will find big differences when it comes to decor, cabin size, amenities, service, and what is included. And while choosing the right river impacts your vacation, I’d posit that choosing the right cruise line matters even more.
If you are considering taking your first river cruise and don’t want to pick the wrong one, or all you know about river cruising comes from the commercials you have seen on TV, there are some questions you should ask yourself before booking.
My name is Tamara and, in addition to being a travel blogger, I’m also a travel advisor. I’ve taken multiple river cruises, toured over a dozen ships, and I’m certified to sell over half a dozen river cruise lines including: Viking, Amawaterways, Uniworld, Scenic, Emerald, Amadeus, and Avalon. These are the questions I ask clients to help match them with the correct cruise line. Want more insights? I’d love to share.
Questions to Ask Before Booking a River Cruise
- Do you enjoy alcoholic beverages while on vacation?
- Do you like group tours or do you prefer to explore on your own?
- Do you prefer active excursions or require ones designed for slower walkers?
- Do you like to make new friends or prefer spending quality time with your travel partner?
- What do you like to do in the evening when on vacation?
- What kind of daytime downtime do you enjoy?
- What role does food play in your vacation enjoyment?
- How would you describe your preferred decor style?
- Do you like to splurge for a nice room or just use it as a place to sleep?
- Do you want a balcony?
- Do you prefer an all-inclusive price or paying only for what you use?
- Are you bringing kids?
Do you enjoy alcoholic beverages while on vacation? If so, Just with meals or whenever you want one?
River cruise lines typically have three approaches to alcoholic beverages. Sometimes, such as on Riverside, nothing is included but you can either purchase a drink package or purchase a la carte on board. Most cruise lines include beer, wine, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, but you may need to purchase a drinks package or pay as you go if you want cocktails on lines such as Viking. Amawaterways includes a little more, offering a daily “Sip and Sail” happy hour with complimentary cocktails as well.
Since you tend to be out and about in cities and towns for most of the day and entertainment winds down by 10 or 11 pm, these offerings tend to be enough for many river cruisers. However, if you want to enjoy premium cocktails or drinks whenever you please without thinking about the cost, you are better off with a truly all-inclusive experience, such as those offered by Uniworld or Scenic.
Do you like group tours or do you prefer to explore on your own?
One of the benefits of river cruising is that you unpack once and have everything taken care of for you from that point on. You typically have a choice of excursions every day and the Cruise Director will tell you where to be when. It is so easy! And, if you want to explore on your own after the group excursion, you often have time in port, which, depending on which city you are visiting and where you are docked, you may be able to easily walk into town.
However, some travelers prefer a little more flexibility. Maybe you are a late riser and don’t want to board a bus at 9:00 am. Or, you prefer a more personalized experience with a private guide and/or driver. I know when I travel independently, I typically book private or small group tours, so the larger tours on a river cruise excursion can feel a bit overwhelming.
If you crave simplicity and don’t mind larger groups, most river cruises are perfect for you! But, if you are looking for a more economical option and prefer to explore on your own, Amadeus’ “freestyle” approach would be a good fit. Or, if you want the luxury of private guides, a line like Riverside where you can opt out of the excursions package, paired with guides and experiences curated for you by a travel advisor is the way to go.
Do you prefer active excursions or require ones designed for slower walkers?
Another area where river cruise lines differ is in their approach to excursions. Some cruise lines like Emerald and Amawaterways offer bike tours or even hiking tours for active travelers. Most cruise lines will also offer some excursions that are tailored for “easy” or “slow” walkers, for those that don’t want any strenuous activity. Keep in mind, that if you do have mobility challenges, most cruise lines provide walking sticks. However, not every deck is accessible by elevator and going up and down the gangways could be difficult for those with mobility issues.
Do you like to make new friends on vacation and enjoy eating with others or do you prefer spending quality time with your travel partner?
River cruise ships are tiny compared to the newest megaships on the ocean, making it easy to meet new people and make new friends. Even with a cruise line like Viking, which carries about 190 passengers, compared to the 150 or so for others (they do this with smaller cabins), you tend to start to see the same people on your excursions, at meals, and throughout the trip. It really is the ideal vacation for those who like to be social and meet new people.
However, if you are also looking for quality time with your travel companion, you may want to avoid lines like Viking, which only offer group seating at meals, and opt for one like Amawaterways, which has more intimate seating arrangements. Most ships have open seating dining so you can sit wherever you want, with whomever you like, but sometimes, people want a little more intimacy than a table for eight.
What do you like to do in the evening when on vacation?
Do you love nightlife or prefer a nice meal and quiet time? All river cruise ships offer some form of entertainment in the evening from live music from local performers, to trivia and quiz nights, to a DJ dance party. Others also offer lectures or exclusive cultural experiences off the ship. These all tend to wrap up by 10 or 11 pm, so no worries about noise, but if you go to bed early, you should opt for a cabin further away from the lounge.
If you prefer to chill out at night and have some downtime before bed, I’d suggest looking for a ship that offers a secondary lounge or public space. For example, Avalon and Amadeus both have smaller lounges with tea, coffee, and snacks, as well as drinks, but a peaceful setting ideal for working, reading, or quiet conversation. Emerald has an indoor pool area that transforms to a theater in the evening.
Of course, in the warmer months, you may also enjoy an evening under the stars by relaxing on the sundeck. There are typically lounge chairs and some small tables and chairs, but some lines do a much better job about creating comfortable conversation areas, like Riverside and the newer Amawaterways ships.
What Kind of Daytime Downtime Do You Enjoy?
We talked about night activities, but what about during the day when you aren’t on an excursion? Would you like to hop on a bike (or better yet an e-bike like Scenic offers) and do a self-guided tour of town? Do you want to relax in a hot tub? Enjoy a small swimming pool? What about one with a swim up bar?(Yes, Amawaterways has one of those.)
Would you like to borrow a book and read in the lounge or library space? Do you want a top-notch fitness center for your work out?(Uniworld has a great one) What about a walking track on the sundeck? (Amawaterways has one.) Or would you like to have some fun with outdoor games like a putting green or giant chess or checkers?
While many ship amenities are similar…lounge, sundeck, massage room, fitness classes…there are also subtle differences that can make a big difference, especially depending on the season in which you are traveling.
What role does food play in your vacation enjoyment?
I am a self-proclaimed foodie. Food is incredibly important to me and impacts my enjoyment and vacation experience. It is no wonder that I plan so many of our trips around food and wine. However, I know for many that as long as the food has plentiful options and is of decent quality, they are happy.
If you are a foodie, I’d take a close look at Riverside cruises. Riverside spends five times more on food than any other vendor, sourcing local ingredients and preparing dishes that reflect the local cuisine. If you are somewhere in between foodie and food agnostic, you may want to find a cruise line that offers multiple dining options. For example, some cruise lines, like Amawaterways, have created a second, specialty dining experience beyond the main dining room. It is typically included but reservations are required and guests can only dine there once per trip. It is also nice when the lounge or sundeck offers a more casual option, at least for lunch.
How would you describe your preferred decor style?
One of the things I love getting to know about clients is their style. It makes my job so much easier to find a place to stay that they will absolutely love. So do you like minimalistic, Scandinavian (think IKEA) design? Then you will love Viking’s style. Do you prefer something a bit more opulent? Do you enjoy beautiful artwork? Then Uniworld is a good fit. Sleek, modern, art deco? Take a look at Scenic. The more I know about you, the easier it is to match you with the right cruise line or hotel.
When on vacation, do you like to splurge for a nice room or just look at it as a place to sleep?
We talked about style, now let’s talk about size. I’ll be honest, most river cruise clients come to me wanting Viking because they are the most well known (no surprise given the ad campaign and soon to be over 100 river cruise ships). BUT. Viking packs people in with about 190 passengers on board. How do they do that? Smaller cabins. Yes, they do offer a few suite options but generally the cabins will be smaller than other river cruise lines.
Now river cruise cabins are certainly larger than most barge cruises, but also much smaller than most hotel rooms (at least the room categories that Americans are used to.) Amadeus and Avalon are going to be slightly larger than some of the other lines, with Riverside averaging the largest. The premium and luxury cruise lines like Riverside, Tauck, Uniworld, and Scenic all have a number of suite options and honestly, some of them will blow you away. We are talking soaking tubs, double sinks, separate living rooms, walk-in closets, and more.
Do you want a balcony?
With ocean cruising, everyone wants a balcony to enjoy at sea days, but things are different on river cruise ships. First, you are often traveling from city to city at night. Next, when docked in a city, there is a possibility that you will be right up against another river cruise ship (sometimes you need to walk through one to get to the gangway.) So you really have to ask yourself how much you will be using the balcony.
Some ships offer a small outdoor balcony (Viking), some offer French balconies where the door opens for fresh air but there isn’t anything to step out onto (Amawaterways), and others have more innovative approaches. For example, Scenic has “Sun Lounges” with indoor/outdoor seating where the window slides down for fresh air. Others take a different approach, like Avalon ike Avalon, which features floor-to-ceiling windows and beds that face the view.
Do you prefer an all-inclusive price or paying only for what you use?
Do you prefer an all-inclusive vacation where you pay upfront but then everything is included and you don’t need to reach for your wallet at all (unless you want souvenirs?) If so, some river cruise lines such as Scenic and Uniworld include excursions, drinks, and even gratuities both on and off the ship (so no worrying about having small coins/bills to tip the bus driver or tour guide.)
If you prefer to choose what you spend your money on, then Amadeus is a great choice. The base price is so affordable and you can just pay for what you drink or do.
Are you bringing kids?
One of the questions I’ve gotten frequently is whether or not river cruises are kid friendly. The short answer is that they are not designed for families, but there are some exceptions. Amawaterways partners with Adventures by Disney for select family focused itineraries. Also, Tauck offers some special “Tauck Bridges” sailings that are also geared towards families. Many times, these are ideal for multi-generational travel.
Beyond those examples, some river cruise lines allow children over eight or over twelve. Viking is entirely adult-focused, not allowing anyone under 18, and tends to have the oldest demographic. But before you think that river cruises are only for retirees, note that the average age of a river cruise passenger is 52.
Have I given you enough to think about? When you are ready to plan your next river cruise, I’m here to help.
Tamara Gruber is an award-winning travel writer and the founder of Your Time to Fly. With more than a decade of professional writing experience across two travel publications and hundreds of destination guides, she specializes in crafting practical, detailed itineraries that help travelers explore the world with confidence. Her work reflects years of on-the-ground research across the globe. Tamara is a member of SATW and serves on the Board of Directors of the Family Travel Association.
