The Best River Cruises to Explore Europe

River cruise ships are quite a bit different from their ocean-going counterparts. Fewer passengers (130-150) onboard give the cruise a more intimate atmosphere. The open-air views aren’t overcrowded and there are extras such as fitness areas, spa treatments, pools, and jogging tracks. European rivers are full of historic landmarks and ancient cities, so there are severalcompanies that offer river cruises.While some cruise lines sacrifice quality for budget, the following are known for their consistency in top-tier quality.

• Crystal Cruises

Crystal Cruises launched the first of their luxury river cruise fleet, the Crystal Mozart, in 2016. Since then they have expanded their fleet to include Bach and Mahler, as well as Debussy and Ravel, launched in 2017 and 2018 respectively. Built to the highest standards, Crystal Cruises offers excellent amenities such as butler service for every room, exquisite meals, indoor swimming pools, spacious accommodations, and a variety of others.

• Tauck River Cruises

Tauck River Cruises has been in business for over 90 years, so its standards of excellence are well established. Being that old has its perks! Tauck operates exciting tour programs and has established partnerships with even the most discreetly owned venues and collections, allowing you to visit areas other cruise lines can’t offer. Tauck River Cruises values quality over quantity and has well-trained staff whose outstanding service will ensure you have best cruising experience possible.

• Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

Uniworld is an American company dedicated to excellence and innovation. Each ship is uniquely designed by the Tollman family, who owns TravCorp, to have a boutique feel while maintaining the all-inclusive feature standard of cruises. You won’t be able to help but appreciate the collections of antique oil paintings and faux marble columns found aboard each ship.

• AmaWaterways.

AmaWaterways was created by Kristin Karst from Germany, Jimmy Murphy from Ireland, and President Rudi Schreiner from Vienna. These people shared a love of travel and a unique dream, to bring hospitality to the river cruising industry. Now, with over 20 ships in their fleet, they have succeeded in providing wonderful guest experiences and excellent service. Food preparation gets premium attention onboard, you can even watch your chef prepare your dinner right in front of you!

• Scenic River Cruises

Scenic River Cruises is spectacular in their approach. They have some of the largest suites available on a cruise ship, in addition to exquisite facilities. Five exclusive dining locations and a spacious sun deck are at the top of the list of things to do. The balcony suites are one of the newest available features, enabling you to enjoy the magical views right from your room!

The river cruises listed here are some of the best ways to explore Europe. Any one of them is guaranteed to give you an unforgettable experience.