River cruise operators are highly competitive, generally offering very similar excursions and onboard amenities. Even the ships are comparable in layout and features, albeit with different decor styles.

Still, every line has its strengths, and the wide variety of destinations and itineraries means there are plenty of river cruise choices for every type of traveler, from adventure lovers to history nerds and wine and food aficionados.

Best for first-timers

If you’re taking your first river cruise, Viking is a good place to start since it’s one of the largest and most experienced river cruise operators. Since its founding in 1997, Viking has focused on classic itineraries to must-see destinations and sites, like the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest, Cologne’s famed cathedral in Germany, the tulip fields in Belgium and the Netherlands, and the antiquities in Egypt. And because Viking has more than 80 river ships sailing the world, it’s easy to find an itinerary to match your interests.

Best for active travelers

In recent years, river lines have been working hard to shed their image as being mostly for older, retired travelers. Most followed suit as part of that effort when AmaWaterways introduced bicycle tours and fitness classes on board nearly 10 years ago.

But Avalon Waterways has really set itself apart with its “Active & Discovery” itineraries in Europe that guarantee three types of excursions every day: Classic, Active and Discovery. The Classic is a coach or walking tour of the key attractions of the day; Active options include hiking, biking, and even kayaking and canoeing; while Discovery can be anything from local cooking and painting classes to early morning walks for breakfast at a local cafe.

Best for travelers looking for a deep dive

The expedition cruise operator National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions promises a new level of immersion in European history when it begins sailing the Rhine River for the first time in 2026.

Lindblad’s ocean voyages focus more on wildlife and active exploration via hiking, kayaking and Zodiac rides, but its European river cruises will emphasize the region’s rich history, culture and cuisine.

For example, you can sip Champagne with the lord of Rheinstein Castle in the Rhine Gorge; learn about Frankfurt’s deep-rooted Jewish history during a private in-home visit; or see the works of masters like Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Vermeer during private after-hours tours at the Kroller-Muller Museum in the Netherlands.

Each voyage’s staff includes an expedition leader, historian, cultural expert, certified photography instructor and National Geographic destination expert. Like an expedition cruise, the sailings will feature onboard lectures and excursions.

Best for adventure seekers 

If you agree with the “If you’ve seen one church, you’ve seen them all” sentiment, a cruise along the Amazon may be your best choice. With Aqua Expeditions, you can hike through the jungle, fish for piranha, and ply the Peruvian Amazon’s dark water on Zodiac rides in search of pink dolphins and the region’s many birds and other wildlife.

One of just a handful of small-ship operators in the region, Aqua Expeditions offers the best luxury and adventure on its 20-suite Aqua Nera and the 16-suite Aria Amazon. But the company has a new competitor in the luxury space: Abercrombie & Kent‘s newly launched Pure Amazon has just 12 cabins with floor-to-ceiling windows and a guaranteed 1-to-1 staff-to-guest ratio.

Best for solo travelers

River cruises are great for solo travelers because their intimate size and nature are perfect for making new friends. Still, like much of the group travel industry, rates are based on double occupancy, meaning the upcharge for traveling alone can be steep.

Most lines now offer a few lower cabins on every itinerary that solo travelers can book without paying the dreaded single supplement. And European operator Riviera River Cruises has entire sailings dedicated to solo travelers without the upcharge, making them ideal for both singles as well as friends who simply want their own space.

Best for families

River cruising has never been particularly family-friendly. Because the ships and their cabins are small, there isn’t space for dedicated kids areas, and the excursions are very adult-focused.

There are a few exceptions. Adventures by Disney has long partnered with AmaWaterways to offer family-oriented river sailings on its ships. These ships have a few connecting cabins and cabins with space for a chair that converts to a single bed.

Other family-friendly river cruise lines include Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, which has select family sailings throughout the year, and CroisiEurope, which has connecting cabins and offers multigenerational sailings in the summer with special excursions for kids.

Best for luxury travelers 

Most river cruise lines catering to North Americans fit squarely in the luxury camp. Where they vary is in their styles. For traditional luxury with impeccable service, locally sourced food and wine, British-trained butlers, and opulent decor unique to each ship and the region it sails, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has long been the leader.

In France, sail the Seine aboard the S.S. Joie de Vivre, which Uniworld decorated with handcrafted furniture, fine antiques, original artwork and accents inspired by 20th-century Parisian design. Uniworld is also the only luxury line sailing the Venetian lagoon with the S.S. La Venezia, where you’ll find Fortuny fabrics and Murano glass on board.

For more casual luxury, AmaWaterways and Avalon Waterways excel with top-notch service, amenities and food, minus some of the more formal decor and more traditional luxury perks.

Best for history lovers 

European river cruises offer many historical excursions by virtue of their location. But for those who want to dig into ancient history, nothing beats a journey down Egypt’s Nile with expert Egyptologists on Abercrombie & Kent’s four luxurious Sanctuary ships, which range in size from six to 38 cabins.

For a truly exclusive experience, sail to the Valley of the Kings, Luxor Temple and other famous landmarks on the six-cabin Zein Nile Chateau, a favorite for private charters by celebrities including Samuel L. Jackson, Salma Hayek, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

While A&K excels with its guides, food and luxurious ships, several other luxury river companies sail the Nile, including Viking, Tauck, AmaWaterways and Uniworld. Most itineraries range from four to seven nights and include pre- and post-sailing tours to see the pyramids and museums in Cairo.

Best for foodies and oenophiles

All the luxury river lines are known for outstanding regional and international cuisine and wine selections across their itineraries, especially in France.

But one of the newest players, Riverside Luxury Cruises, strives to build its reputation as best in class for fine dining, particularly when it comes to special tasting menus. The special private dining experiences offered aren’t cheap (expect upcharges of $320 per person), but are billed as Michelin-quality.

They live up to their promise with menus including roasted yellow capsicum with fresh anchovy and tender pink spring veal. And the wines alone justify the cost. During a recent sailing, we sampled exceptional wine selections from France, Germany, Switzerland and Hungary, including Donatsch Completer Malanserrebe, a white wine from the rare and ancient grapes native to Switzerland’s Graubunden region.