Top River Cruise Lines

Imagine sailing the Seine on an intimate ship that pays homage to France in all the right ways: think champagne, decadent cheeses from Normandy, and tasteful aquatints that depict 19th-century Paris. Uniworld’s Boutique River Cruise Collection’s Joie de Vivre reflects France in all those ways — and more. It’s one of the many reasons readers love this river cruise line, which took the No. 1 spot this year. Uniworld emphasizes the destination in the décor and programming of its 18 unique vessels. “The Joie de Vivre really carries the flavor of France with its fine artwork, décor, and alternative bistro dining,” said one fan. “The greatest part was arriving back in Paris our last night to watch the lights of the Eiffel Tower come alive. It was truly magical.”

World’s Best Awards Survey

Each year, the iBestTravel World’s Best Awards survey asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated individual cruise ships based on their cabins/facilities, food, service, itineraries/destinations, excursions/activities, and value. These assessments were combined to generate results for the cruise lines in five categories, including river cruising.

Top Contenders

Not far behind at No. 2 was Viking Cruises, boasting an astounding 64 ships in its fleet worldwide. One fan who sailed the Danube with Viking last year loved the experience enough to plan a two-week cruise to Russia for the next season. “I have friends who have sailed as many as ten times with Viking, and they all say it is the absolute best!” said that traveler. Moreover, smaller lines also proved to be popular with our readers. Aqua Expeditions (No. 4) operates only two ships in its fleet, one sailing the Mekong between Vietnam and Cambodia, and the other traversing remote stretches of the Amazon in Peru. “Not the usual cruise line or boat,” said one reader. “Very small, wonderful food and service.”

Crystal River Cruises

Crystal River Cruises (No. 6), which launched its river cruise brand in 2016, now operates five ships, all in Europe. The sleek vessels feel modern, with extra spacious cabins that offer luxury amenities, like double vanities in the bathrooms. “Crystal has taken luxury to a whole new level,” said one fan. “The best of the best,” added another. Read on to see how these lines stacked up this year in the rankings.