The Best All Inclusive River Cruises in Europe — for You
No rankings, just matches: tell us what matters and we point you to the lines that deliver it.
Compare Luxury River Lines FreeThe best all inclusive river cruises in Europe are the ones that include what you care about. Match your priorities below.
If You Care Most About…
| Your priority | Lines to look at first | Why (per the lines) |
|---|---|---|
| Never seeing a bill | Uniworld, Scenic, Tauck | Drinks, excursions and gratuities included |
| A butler | Scenic, Riverside Luxury Cruises, Uniworld suites | Butler for every suite / every guest / suite guests |
| Expert guiding | Tauck | Up to four Tauck Director-level staff; privately guided excursions |
| Excursion choice | Scenic, Avalon, AmaWaterways | Freechoice; Avalon Choice; guided excursions in every port with options |
| Exclusive events | Scenic, Tauck | Scenic Enrich concerts and dinners; Tauck evenings in palaces and châteaux |
| Balcony living | AmaWaterways, Scenic, Avalon | Twin balconies; Sun Lounge; open-air balcony |
| Traveling solo | Tauck | No single supplement in Category 1 cabins |
Matching the River to the Line
Not every line sails every river every year. The Rhine and Danube have the widest choice; the Seine, Rhône, Bordeaux and Douro have fewer luxury ships, so the best ship for those rivers may be decided by availability. Tell us your river first and we will tell you which luxury lines sail it in your month.
For an experienced view of first river cruises, see Riverside Cruising.
Getting the Best Value
- Compare the total trip cost, not the cruise fare — add drinks, tips and tours to less inclusive lines.
- Watch Wave Season and Cruising for Less for promotions; luxury lines often offer air credits or reduced deposits.
- Ask for the suite category above your minimum — the difference is sometimes small.
- Book pre- and post-cruise hotels with the line when transfers depend on it.
Traveling in the USA too? Best of the USA and the Official Travel Directory have ideas. Fancy turning your travel know-how into a business? Be a Travel Agent explains how.
Questions to Ask Before You Choose
- Are drinks included all day, or only at meals?
- Are gratuities for the crew and guides already in the fare?
- How many excursion choices are there in each port, and are any private events included?
- Which cabins have a real balcony, and how many suites are on the ship?
- Are airport transfers included, and on what conditions?
- What happens if water levels change the itinerary?
Bring those answers together and the best all inclusive river cruise for you usually becomes obvious. If not, our advisors will lay two or three options side by side.
Best All Inclusive River Cruise Questions
What are the best all inclusive river cruises in Europe?
The most inclusive fares in Europe come from Uniworld, Scenic and Tauck, which all include drinks, excursions and gratuities. Which is best depends on whether you value a butler, private guiding or ship style most.
Which line is best for a first luxury river cruise?
A line that includes almost everything removes the guesswork, so many first-timers are happiest on Uniworld, Scenic or Tauck. Our sister site riversidecruising.com covers first river cruises in general.
Find Your Best All-Inclusive River Cruise
Tell us your top three priorities. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will shortlist the right lines and send free quotes.
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