European and American rivers

River Cruises

Glide along the world's most storied waterways, stepping directly from your ship into the heart of historic towns and European capitals. From the castles of the Rhine to the vineyards of the Douro, evaluate the top river lines side-by-side—comparing the ships, suites, and included excursions—to find your perfect floating boutique hotel.

Step off your ship to enjoy unparalleled access to city centers. Because the vessels tie up directly in town, you can walk straight off the deck into Vienna, Budapest, or New Orleans. Your fare typically includes a guided morning walking tour in each destination, leaving your afternoons completely free. Borrow a ship bicycle to ride through the Wachau Valley, enjoy a local wine tasting, or sit at a local café for a slice of Sachertorte while watching the river flow by.

Request a quote What you can do in port

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On the Danube, the Rhine, the Seine, and the Douro, the usual lines are Viking, AmaWaterways, Avalon, Uniworld, and Scenic. American Cruise Lines does not sail those rivers. It sails in the United States, on the Mississippi, the Ohio, the Columbia and Snake, and the Great Lakes. Viking also sails the Mississippi. Windstar is an ocean line and does not sail any of these.

The Parliament building along the Danube in Budapest — In Budapest the ship ties up on the Danube, with the Parliament along the river.

You step off into the town, which is the pleasure of a river ship. In Budapest you can walk the Danube promenade and order goulash, beef and paprika in a thick sauce. In Vienna you can order schnitzel, a pounded veal cutlet fried in breadcrumbs, or Sachertorte, a chocolate cake with apricot jam, at a café by the river. In the Wachau the river narrows between apricot orchards and Riesling vineyards, and you can take a bicycle off the ship and ride that path. A guided walk in the morning is included on most of these ships, and the afternoon is yours. In New Orleans you can get beignets, fried dough with powdered sugar, and gumbo, a dark roux stew of shrimp or chicken. The landings north of New Orleans are small river towns. Name the river and the season. We put the ships that sail it next to one another.

Vineyards above a river with a village on the bank — On the Danube and the Douro the vineyards come right down to the water.

The classic rivers

The Danube: Sail from Budapest to the Wachau Valley, or from Vienna toward the Black Forest.
The Rhine: Cruise from Cologne to Amsterdam, passing historic cliffside castles.
The Seine and Normandy: Travel through France with stops in Paris, Rouen, and Honfleur.
The Douro: Wind through Portugal's renowned Porto and the surrounding wine country.
The Mississippi: Explore New Orleans, northern historic sites, and classic American river routes.
The Ohio & the Great Lakes — American Cruise Lines
The Moselle has steep Riesling vineyards and towns such as Cochem and Bernkastel. The Mekong is a wide brown river, and it has floating markets. In Vietnam you can order pho, rice noodles in beef broth. In Cambodia you can order fish amok, fish steamed in coconut and lemongrass. Viking and the other river lines sail both rivers
The Nile — Viking, AmaWaterways, and Uniworld
The Amazon — a few small ships out of Manaus, not the European river lines

While the ship is in port

A guided walk is included while the ship is tied up
Cycling or a bike tour on quiet roads
A wine or olive-oil stop the ship arranges
You can sit on deck in the evening and look at the river
Excursions that fit the hours the ship is there, not a whole weekend

A river ship ties up in town, often into the evening. You walk off into Budapest, Vienna, or a village, and people often ride a bike along the river while the ship is there. A Mississippi sailing follows the Mississippi, with New Orleans and the river towns. A Danube sailing follows the Danube, with Budapest and Vienna. Extra nights in Budapest, Paris, Amsterdam, or New Orleans cover the parts of the city the ship only passes.

When to go

The season runs from April through October, and the dates depend on the river. In spring the fruit trees along the Rhine are in blossom. In fall the vineyards change color and the light is better. The ships sail during a set season, so the dates matter as much as the fare.

Bicycles by a vineyard wall, with a river ship on the water below

In port

What to expect in port

The ship ties up in town, often into the evening. You walk off into Budapest, Vienna, or a village.

Time in port: The ship ties up in town, often overnight. The walking tour is in the morning. The afternoon can be a bike ride or a tasting.
Worth the time: Stop in Budapest to see the Parliament and have a bowl of goulash. In Vienna, Steirereck is the Michelin restaurant for Austrian cooking, so book it before the cruise. If the afternoon is short, have Sachertorte in a café instead. To see either city properly, stay before or after the cruise: Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace in Budapest, on the Danube, or Hotel Sacher in Vienna.
Travelers: This suits people who want to step off the ship into the city, and who are happy to stay on one river.
Also: The walking tour is usually in the morning, and it is included.

In port

Where the ship docks, and what you can do there

A river ship ties up in town, often into the evening. You walk off the ship into town.

See the ports

Sample itineraries

These are typical routings and ports. Ships, dates, and fares change.

A castle above a river town — The Rhine castles sit on the banks, close enough to see from the deck.

Danube capitals

7 nights

April–October

Budapest to Passau, or the reverse

Viking, AmaWaterways, Avalon, or Uniworld — compared, not assumed

Budapest
Vienna
Wachau valley
A smaller town on the river

The Ribeira waterfront in Porto — A Douro cruise uses Porto, then follows the river through the wine country.

Rhine castles

7 nights

Spring blossom or fall color

Amsterdam to Basel, or a shorter castle segment

Same comparison: age of ship, cabin size, what is included

Cologne
Koblenz
The castle gorge
Strasbourg or another riverside town

New Orleans along the river — A Mississippi cruise often starts in New Orleans, in the city rather than at a distant pier.

The Seine or the Douro

7 nights

Summer, or harvest on the Douro

Paris to Normandy, or Porto round trip

River line that owns that water, not an ocean ship renamed

Paris or Porto
A vineyard or a cider house the ship includes
A walk in a smaller town, included

Paris along the Seine — A Seine cruise docks in Paris and follows the river toward Normandy.

American rivers

7+ nights

Spring through fall, river by river

New Orleans north, the Ohio, or a Great Lakes loop

American Cruise Lines or Viking Mississippi

Small river towns, not one famous city
An excursion is included on most days

Planning River Cruises?

To truly experience Budapest, Paris, Amsterdam, or New Orleans, add a hotel stay before or after the cruise. The ship ties up in the city, and the extra nights are how you wander the neighborhoods a day on the river only begins.