What’s included in a river cruise?

When choosing a river cruise, it’s important to think about what’s actually included in the price. When you book with River Voyages,we include flights and transfers in the price of most river cruises (excluding AmaWaterways, Crystal Cruises and CroisiEurope). But what else is included, such as drinks and excursions, can vary depending on the river cruise line that you choose.

Here, we’ve listed what’s usually included in each river cruise. Please note, this is a general guide only, and may vary slightly depending on your itinerary.

Amadeus

With Amadeus, the following benefits are included in your cruise fare:

• All on-board dining;
• Complimentary tea and coffee all day;
• Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on-board;
• Cocktail Reception, Welcome Dinner and Captain’s Gala Dinner;
• Bottled water in every stateroom;
• Use of bicycles to explore on your own;
• Internet access and WiFi;
• All on-board entertainment;
• All port charges and taxes.

AmaWaterways

With AmaWaterways you can enjoy a number of inclusions, such as:

• All dining on-board, including at the speciality restaurant, The Chef’s Table;
• Tapas and snacks available in the Main Lounge between meals;
• Complimentary tea and coffee all day, every day;
• Unlimited fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner;
• Sparkling wine and fresh juice with breakfast;
• Captain’s Welcome Cocktail and Dinner;
• Sip & Sail pre-dinner cocktail hour with complimentary wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks;
• Unlimited bottled water;
• Choice of shore excursions in every port with audio guides;
• Use of bicycles which you can use to explore on your own, as well as guided bike tours;
• Optional premium shore excursions in selected ports of call;
• Internet access and WiFi;
• All on-board entertainment;
• All port charges and taxes.

APT

APT cruises are split between Essential and Luxury, both of which differ in their inclusions which are highlighted below.

APT Cruises – Essential

• Return scheduled flights from the UK;
• Overseas transfers;
• All on-board dining;
• House wine, local beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on-board;
• Complimentary range of guided tours and sightseeing excursions;
• Internet access and WiFi;
• All on-board entertainment;
• Overseas luggage porterage;
• Gratuities on-board;
• Expert services of a Travelmarvel Cruise Director and local guides;
• Insider Experiences offering local insights and memorable meals;
• All port charges and taxes

APT Cruises – Luxury

• All of the above, in addtion to:
• Home-to-airport transfers by private car;
• Unlimited beverages on-board;
• Gratuities on-board and ashore;
• Hand-picked Signature Experiences designed to leave you with lifelong memories;
• Expert services of an APT Cruise Director and local guides;
• Freedom of Choice™ inclusions which you can tailor to your interests;
• Butler service, room service, and complimentary laundry service in selected suites;
• Champagne on arrival in selected suites.

Avalon Waterways

River cruises with Avalon Waterways include a number of luxurious inclusions, as well as dining and drinks, which are highlighted below:

• VIP private home pick-up service – with a personal chauffeur service transferring you between your airport or station and the ship;
• Return flights from the UK;
• Overseas transfers;
• All on-board dining;
• Afternoon tea with cakes;
• Welcome and Farewell dinner;
• Complimentary tea and coffee all day;
• Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on-board;
• Sparkling wine with breakfast;
• Captain’s Welcome Reception with champagne and canapes;
• Choice of shore excursions in every port of call with audio guides;
• Optional premium shore excursion in selected ports of call;
• Internet access and WiFi;
• All on-board entertainment;
• Gratuities on-board;
• All port charges and taxes.

CroisiEurope

On-board CroisiEurope river cruises, you can enjoy a range of amenities and inclusions, such as:

• All on-board dining;
• Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on-board;
• Selected drinks ordered at the bar on-board;
• Internet access and WiFi;
• All port charges and taxes.

Crystal River Cruises

Luxury cruise line Crystal Cruises entered the river cruise market in 2016 with the launch of five all-suite river yachts. As a high-end river cruise line, you’ll find an awful lot included in your cruise, including:

• Overseas transfers;
• All on-board dining;
• Unlimited fine wines, sparkling wines, premium spirits and beers on-board;
• Welcome bottle of sparkling wine and two bottles of wine in-suite;
• Unlimited soft drinks and bottled water in-suite;
• 24-hour self service venue offering tea, coffee, wines and non-alcoholic beverages;
• 24-hour room service;
• Choice of shore excursions in every port of call;
• Exclusive Crystal Signature event on every voyage;
• Use of bicycles to explore on your own (only available on Crystal Mozart);
• Internet access and WiFi;
• All on-board entertainment;
•  Gratuities on-board and ashore;
• Complimentary self-service guest laundry;
• All port charges and taxes.

Emerald Waterways

River cruises with Emerald Waterways include a selection of dining options on-board,  from heart breakfast buffets to five-course al la carte menus at dinner. All the inclusions are listed below:

• Return flight from the UK;
• Overseas transfers;
• All on-board dining;
• Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on-board;
• Complimentary tea and coffee all day;
• Bottled water in every stateroom, which is replenished daily;
• Choice of shore excursions in every port of call;
• Use of bicycles to explore on your own;
• Internet access and WiFi;
• All on-board entertainment;
• Gratuities on-board;
• All port charges and taxes.

Riviera Travel

Riviera Travel offers many of the standard inclusions, such as:

• Return flights from the UK;
• Overseas transfers;
• All on-board dining;
• Complimentary tea and coffee all day, and facilities in your cabin;
• Shore excursion in every port of call;
• Optional premium shore excursion in selected ports of call;
• Internet access and WiFi;
• All on-board entertainment;
• All port charges and taxes.

Saga River Cruises

With Saga, there are many inclusions which come with the cruise fare and make for fantastic value when you book. These include:

• Return chauffeur service to the port or free car parking;
• Optional travel insurance;
•  All meals including speciality dining;
• A choice of wines with lunch and dinner;
• All on-board gratuities;
• 24-hour room service
• Free shuttle bus to the nearest town centre;
• Free WiFi internet.

Scenic

River cruises with all-inclusive luxury cruise line Scenic include a great deal of free extras on-board their new ‘Space-Ships’, including:

• Return flights from the UK;
• Overseas transfers;
• All on-board dining;
• Complimentary drinks all day;
• Free in-suite minibar, replenished daily;
• Exclusive cocktail receptions at majestic destinations;
• Choice of shore excursions in every port of call;
• Use of bicycles to explore on your own;
• Internet access and WiFi;
• All on-board entertainment;
• Gratuities on-board;
• Private butler;
• Complimentary laundry concierge in selected suites;
• All port charges and taxes.

Shearings

Shearings offer a small number of inclusions with their cruise fare, including:

• Return flights or coach travel from the UK;
• Overseas transfers;
• All on-board dining;
• All port charges and taxes.

Tauck

River cruises with Tauck come with virtually everything included in the price, such as:

• Return flights from the UK;
• Overseas transfers;
• All on-board dining;
• Complimentary drinks on-board;
• Shore excursions in every port of call;
• Internet access and WiFi;
• All on-board entertainment;
• Gratuities on-board;
• All port charges and taxes.

U by Uniworld

A relatively new cruise line, owned by the luxury boutique line – Uniworld – U by Uniworld is ideal for younger river cruisers looking to explore the rivers of Europe in style. Inclusions are as follows:

• Two meals on-board per day;
• Selected non-alcoholic drinks on-board;
• Complimentary water, tea and coffee all day;
• Complimentary juice during breakfast;
• Shore excursion in every port of call;
• Use of bicycles to explore on your own;
• Local DJ night and Welcome Party;
• Internet access and WiFi;
• All on-board entertainment;
• Gratuities on-board and ashore;
• All port charges and taxes.

Uniworld

Boutique river cruise line Uniworld has taken river cruising to a new level. They believe that guests deserve the absolute best of everything, and it’s all included in the price. See what’s included below:

• Return flights from the UK;
• Overseas transfers;
• All on-board dining;
• Unlimited beverages on-board;
• Choice of shore excursions in every port of call;
• On-board exercise and wellness classes;
• Use of bicycles and Nordic walking sticks which you can use to explore on your own;
• Internet access and WiFi;
• All on-board entertainment;
• Gratuities on-board and ashore;
• In-suite butler service;
• All port charges and taxes.

Viking River Cruises

Viking River Cruises include a number of amenities and benefits, such as:

• Return flights from the UK;
• Overseas transfers;
• All on-board dining;
• Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on-board;
• Complimentary water, tea and coffee all day;
• Welcome Cocktails and Farewell Dinner;
• Shore excursion in every port of call;
• Internet access and WiFi;
• All on-board entertainment;
• All port charges and taxes.

Here at River Voyages, we have a team of dedicated River Cruise Concierge who are available to help you plan every aspect of your river cruise holiday. If you’d like to chat to one of our experts, please don’t hesitate to give us a call on 0800 197 0854.

Post updated: 20/01/2020