Luxury river cruising means smaller ships, bigger suites, butlers, fine dining and fares that include almost everything: drinks all day, excursions, gratuities and transfers. Here are the best luxury river lines we sell, in Europe and on exotic rivers like the Amazon and the Mekong.
You’ll find on this page
- A comparison table of every cruise line in this guide
- Six luxury river lines
- How to choose
- Answers to the questions we’re asked most
- How to book or get expert advice at the end of the page
At a glance: compare the cruise lines
| Cruise line | Style | Fleet | Best for | Included highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uniworld Boutique River Cruises | River cruises | 13 Super Ships in the fleet | Design lovers | All drinks, Daily excursions, Airport transfers |
| Scenic | River and ocean | 17+ Space-Ships | All-inclusive luxury | All meals, All drinks, all day, Daily excursions |
| Riverside Luxury Cruises | River cruises | 5 Refurbished six-star ships | Small and exclusive | All-suite, butler-tended, All meals + all drinks anytime, Daily excursions |
| Tauck | River cruises | 11 River ships | Touring depth | All gratuities, All meals, All excursions |
| Aqua Expeditions | Expedition | 6 Luxury small ships | Exotic rivers | All meals + drinks, All shore excursions, Expert naturalist team |
| Saga Cruises | River and ocean | 7 Ships — 2 ocean + 4 river | Over-50s | Chauffeur from home, Travel insurance, All drinks |
Fleet sizes and inclusions are from each line’s own information and can change; inclusions often depend on the fare you book.
Quick verdicts
Six luxury river lines
1. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
- River cruises
- 13 Super Ships in the fleet
- 110-160 Guests per ship — boutique scale
Boutique Super Ships of 110 to 160 guests with statement interiors, sailing Europe, the Nile, the Mekong and the Ganges, with drinks, excursions, gratuities and transfers included.
Best for: Design lovers
2. Scenic
- River and ocean
- 17+ Space-Ships
- 169 Max guests / Space-Ship
Space-Ships with Sun Lounge cabins and butler service, and genuinely all-in fares including all drinks all day, excursions, gratuities, port charges and transfers.
Best for: All-inclusive luxury
3. Riverside Luxury Cruises
- River cruises
- 5 Refurbished six-star ships
- 106 Max guests / ship
Five refurbished six-star ships of around 106 guests, all-suite and butler-tended, with all drinks any time and daily excursions.
Best for: Small and exclusive
4. Tauck
- River cruises
- 11 River ships
- 130 Max guests / ship
100 years of touring expertise, with ships of around 130 guests, exclusive after-hours access to major sites and gratuities, excursions and transfers included.
Best for: Touring depth
5. Aqua Expeditions
- Expedition
- 6 Luxury small ships
- 16-40 Guests per ship
Six luxury ships of 16 to 40 guests on the Amazon, the Mekong and beyond, with a near one-to-one crew ratio and all drinks and excursions included.
Best for: Exotic rivers
6. Saga Cruises
- River and ocean
- 7 Ships — 2 ocean + 4 river
Purpose-built river ships for over-50s with a chauffeur from home, drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi and travel insurance included.
Best for: Over-50s
How to choose
Compare ship size (from 16 to 160 guests), drinks (all day or with meals), butler service, suite size and excursions. For Europe, Uniworld, Scenic and Riverside are the most luxurious; for the Amazon and the Mekong, Aqua Expeditions is in a class of its own.
How we compared them
We compared the luxury river lines we sell by ship size and inclusions. Our comparisons are based on what each line offers as standard: ship size, what’s included, atmosphere and who it suits. Fares and inclusions change and often depend on the fare type, so check the details for your sailing, or ask a Travel Designer to compare them for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most luxurious river cruise line?
Uniworld, Scenic and Riverside Luxury are among the most luxurious in Europe.
Are drinks included on luxury river cruises?
Yes on these lines, usually all day.
Is there butler service on river cruises?
Scenic and Riverside Luxury offer butler service.
What is the best luxury river cruise outside Europe?
Aqua Expeditions on the Amazon or the Mekong.
Find your cruise
Browse every cruise line we sell, or ask a Travel Designer to compare ships, cabins and itineraries for you.
Keep planning
Updated October 2026. Cruises can be booked through Travelisto, with flights and hotels added where you need them.
