Best and worst river cruise lines

When it comes to choosing a river cruise, our survey proves that paying more doesn't always guarantee you a better experience.

We asked hundreds of customers about their experiences to help you find the best brand for your budget for 2025 and beyond.

Our survey didn't just uncover the companies offering great food and facilities. It also highlighted the cruise lines with lacklustre cabins, unimaginative excursions and overpriced packages. 

We found peak-season Rhine cruises around £1,700 cheaper with Riviera than Uniworld. Yet, passengers were more impressed with Riviera’s cabins, shore excursions and food and drink.

We reveal which cruise lines offer the best value for money – and what customers really think of each brand.

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Best river cruise companies

River cruises get you straight to city centres, so there’s more time for sightseeing and excursions. 

You won’t find the range of on-board facilities of the vast ocean liners, but then you won’t be spending whole days at sea either. 

That said, with nearly all meals taken on board – and usually only one dining option – you’ll want to make sure the food and drink is good quality.

The table below shows the results from our most recent survey. 

Best and worst ocean cruise lines – the results from our latest survey

What makes a Which? Recommended Provider? river cruise line

Which? Recommended Providers (WRPs) are the cream of the crop, and we only consider giving the accolade to river cruise lines with the highest customer scores.

That’s not all. We only make a company a WRP if it provides clear information about gratuities, excursions and drinks at the booking stage. We know price transparency is essential to help customers make informed decisions before parting with their cash.

All our Which? Recommended Providers also scored at least four out of five stars for both customer service and value for money.

Which? is independent. You can be sure that our recommendations are based on survey results and policy analysis only. We're not influenced by third parties and we don't accept freebies from product manufacturers, retailers or providers.

River cruise line reviews

Viking: the best luxury river cruises

The world’s largest river cruise line has a fleet of 80 ships plying Europe’s great waterways as well as the Mississippi, Mekong and the Nile. Its light-filled, 190-capacity ‘longships’ are thoughtfully designed with plenty of balcony cabins (a rarity on river vessels) and space to dine al fresco. 

Expect roomy modern ships, smartly furnished cabins and top-notch food, including local dishes. It was also the only operator to clinch the full five stars for its vast array of itineraries – it has 14 Rhine trips alone. 

Guests were equally impressed by the ‘friendly’ and ‘helpful’ staff for whom ‘nothing was too much trouble’. Drinks with meals, on-board gratuities and an escorted tour in every port are included. 

As one guest put it: ‘You could leave your wallet at home and still enjoy the holiday.’ Its ocean-going vessels are also first-rate, and it’s the only Which? Recommended Provider for both sea and river cruises. 

Should I book with Viking? Yes. Viking’s all-inclusive cruises may be expensive, but they are also exceptional – money well spent according to its loyal customers. 

Browse Viking’s range of river cruises.

Riviera Travel: the best-value river cruises

The UK’s biggest provider has landed one of the top spots in our past five surveys. Riviera charters 14 ships in Europe, carrying 120 to 178 passengers, and it uses local companies for its Egyptian and Vietnamese cruises. Despite being one of the more reasonably priced brands in our survey, it scored full marks for its elegant cabins and meals, buffet-style lunches and four-course dinners. 

Daily guided walks or coach tours are included in the headline price. Many guests were wowed by the knowledgeable local guides and superior customer service. One told us: ‘The staff, from the housekeepers to the managers, were so efficient and made the cruise a lot of fun.’ 

Tips cost extra, but Riviera throws in a premium drinks package with all of its European river cruises. It has more solo traveller and no-fly options than most operators, and you can travel by train to its Belgian, Dutch, French and German boats. 

Should I book with Riviera Travel? Our best mid-price cruise line. Reliable Riviera has classy cruises at a good price, and really looks after its customers.

See Riviera Travel‘s river cruises

Jules Verne: the best for small ship river cruises

Its péniche (barge) tours in France carry 20 or so guests around Provence, Bourgogne and Alsace, while its Danube cruise is on a plush 16-cabin boat that Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip once sailed on. 

Bigger cruises often use French operator CroisiEurope’s ships. Jules Verne earned a solid four stars almost across the board and five for its excursions, which ‘all flowed seamlessly’ and ‘catered for everyone’. 

One satisfied customer summed up the appeal: ‘Very good value from a reliable company with service to match throughout.’ 

Should I book with Jules Verne? A great option if you’re after unusual itineraries, characterful boats and well-organised excursions.

Look for a river cruise with Jules Verne

Avalon Waterways: the best for themed cruises

As well as standard European itineraries, this all-inclusive line has a raft of special-interest cruises catering for music fans, foodies and photographers. 

Included excursions on its Active and Discovery cruises range from caving and kayaking to painting and cooking. It has 14 sleek ships in Europe and one on the Mekong, and charters high-end ships for Nile and Peruvian Amazon cruises. 

One guest said: ‘The customer service is superb.’ It also scored highly for food and drink – sparkling wine with breakfast, beer and wine with meals, and a daily happy hour are included. 

Should I book with Avalon Waterways? It’s pricey, but it has interesting excursions, good food and great service

Browse river cruises with Avalon Waterways

Shearings: the worst river cruise line

It’s not the first time the company – best known for its escorted coach tours – has been at the bottom of our table. Shearings reserves blocks of cabins on European river boats, and it drives customers from across the UK to their embarkation point and back home from their final port of call.

It’s one of the cheapest brands in our table, but guests have to fork out extra for drinks, excursions and tips – perhaps going some way to explain why it scores only two stars for value for money. 

Passengers were unimpressed by the facilities on board, while cabins and meals (described by one guest as ‘a bit school dinners’) tended to be mediocre.

Should I book with Shearings? Don’t be tempted by the relatively low headline price – you’ll have a better time with any other cruise line.

This article uses insights from the Which? Connect panel, collected from research activities with our members. Find out how to get involved