Beyond Europe, river cruising takes you deep into some of the world’s most fascinating places: the temples of Egypt along the Nile, the floating markets and villages of the Mekong in Vietnam and Cambodia, and the rainforest of the Peruvian Amazon.
Here are the best lines for each river.
You’ll find on this page
- A comparison table of every cruise line in this guide
- The Nile
- The Mekong and Asia
- The Amazon
- 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 | Luxury Nile | All drinks, Daily excursions, Airport transfers |
| Riviera Travel | River cruises | 18+ River ships | UK packages | Flights from regional UK airports, All transfers, All meals + wine/beer with lunch and dinner |
| Emerald Cruises | River and ocean | 10+ River Star Ships | Premium value | All meals + drinks at lunch and dinner, Daily shore excursions, Bicycles and Nordic walking poles |
| Pandaw | River cruises | 15+ Replica colonial steamers | Authentic Asia | All meals, Drinks with meals, Daily excursions |
| AmaWaterways | River cruises | 27 River ships | Active excursions | All meals, Wine, beer and soft drinks, Daily shore excursions |
| Scenic | River and ocean | 17+ Space-Ships | All-inclusive luxury | All meals, All drinks, all day, Daily excursions |
| Avalon Waterways | River cruises | 15 Suite Ships | Panorama views | All meals, Drinks with meals, Daily excursions |
| Aqua Expeditions | Expedition | 6 Luxury small ships | Luxury Amazon | All meals + drinks, All shore excursions, Expert naturalist team |
| National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions | Expedition | 23 Ships in the global fleet | Wildlife expertise | All drinks (polar/sail/river fleet), Crew gratuities (polar/sail/river fleet), All activities + shore excursions |
Fleet sizes and inclusions are from each line’s own information and can change; inclusions often depend on the fare you book.
Quick verdicts
The Nile
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
- River cruises
- 13 Super Ships in the fleet
- 110-160 Guests per ship — boutique scale
Boutique Super Ships on Egypt’s Nile with drinks, excursions and gratuities included.
Best for: Luxury Nile
Riviera Travel
- River cruises
- 18+ River ships
- 169 Max guests / ship
Nile cruises on chartered ships, alongside its European rivers and Mekong programme.
Best for: UK packages
Emerald Cruises
- River and ocean
- 10+ River Star Ships
- 180 Max guests / Star Ship
Star-Ship river vessels on the Nile with drinks at lunch and dinner and daily excursions.
Best for: Premium value
The Mekong and Asia
Pandaw
- River cruises
- 15+ Replica colonial steamers
- 32-56 Max guests / ship
Asia river specialists since 1995, with replica colonial steamers of 32 to 56 guests on the Mekong, Irrawaddy and Brahmaputra.
Best for: Authentic Asia
AmaWaterways
- River cruises
- 27 River ships
- 196 Max guests / ship
The Mekong in Cambodia and Vietnam, plus the Nile and the Chobe in Botswana.
Best for: Active excursions
Scenic
- River and ocean
- 17+ Space-Ships
- 169 Max guests / Space-Ship
Space-Ship luxury on the Mekong, with all drinks and excursions included.
Best for: All-inclusive luxury
Avalon Waterways
- River cruises
- 15 Suite Ships
- 166 Max guests / Suite Ship
The Mekong on AvalonAngkor, plus a Galápagos partnership.
Best for: Panorama views
The Amazon
Aqua Expeditions
- Expedition
- 6 Luxury small ships
- 16-40 Guests per ship
Aria Amazon and Aqua Nera on the Peruvian Amazon, small luxury ships with a near one-to-one crew ratio, naturalist guides and all excursions included.
Best for: Luxury Amazon
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
- Expedition
- 23 Ships in the global fleet
Amazon riverboats with naturalists, as part of a varied expedition fleet.
Best for: Wildlife expertise
When to go
The Nile: October to April, when temperatures are more comfortable. The Mekong: roughly August to April, depending on water levels. The Amazon: all year; high water (December to May) lets boats explore flooded forest, while low water reveals beaches and trails.
How we chose these cruise lines
We featured lines whose own information includes the Nile, the Mekong or the Amazon. Itineraries and seasons change every year, so check the sailings available for your dates, or ask a Travel Designer to compare them for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Nile cruise?
Uniworld for luxury; Riviera Travel and Emerald for value.
What is the best Mekong river cruise?
Pandaw for authenticity, Scenic or Aqua for luxury.
Where do Amazon river cruises sail from?
Iquitos in Peru.
When is the best time for a Nile cruise?
October to April.
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.
