Are European Cruises Worth It?

For travelers around the world, Europe is a popular destination. The continent is full of bustling cities, delicious food and drink, important architecture, and over 400 UNESCO world heritage sites. 

Europe is the world’s largest tourist destination, with around 700 million people coming to visit each year. As travel has become more and more the go-to for vacations, European river cruises have also become a popular means of seeing the best the continent has to offer. ​

Viking Rhine River cruise in Koblenz, Germany

​One question we’re frequently asked is: "Are European cruises worth it?" As the premiere European cruise experts, of course we think so. We love river cruising, the cruise ships, and the places they’ll take you. We’re happy to deliver what we think is the best way to see Europe and its cities. Read on to learn more about why we think European river cruises are so worth it compared to independent travel.

Dining with Viking European river cruises

River cruises are cost-effective

While river cruises can seem like a large cost up-front, that couldn’t be further from the truth. If you plan to independently travel Europe -- visiting multiple cities, countries, restaurants, and hotels -- you’ll likely end up spending more than you would on a river cruise.

With a European cruise, you’ll avoid the quickly added-up cost of transportation and overnight stays. Considering that you’ll be staying in the equivalent of a five-star hotel room each night, you’ll also be saving compared to the cost of actual five-star hotels.

European cruises take the stress off of you

One of the greatest features of a pre-planned cruise itinerary is the chance to completely unwind. On these, you’ll choose your port excursion activities beforehand and leave the rest to the cruise line. Essentially, your only responsibility is getting to and from the cruise cities your ship will arrive and depart from. During that time, you won’t have to worry about transportation, hotel rooms, or dining.

Be led by the experts

Whether you take a Danube River cruise, Rhine River cruise, Rhône River Cruises, or cruise any other river in Europe, you’ll be led by area experts. Staff on board each of our river cruise lines are familiar with each area. They’ll be able to point out exciting features along Europe’s rivers, like landmarks, famous wineries, and cities. 

In addition, if you cruise with Uniworld, Scenic, or Viking, you’ll be easily connected with guides once you arrive in each city. City tour guides help you make the most of each visit. Not only can they show you key spots around Europe’s cities, but they can also translate for you if you’re not familiar with a country’s language. 

Uniworld European river cruise ship on the Main River

Experience all-inclusive luxury

A common feature across many of our European river cruises is being all-inclusive. This means you won’t have to think about paying for your next meal, adventure, or even laundry service. All of it comes included in the initial price, and most include unlimited beverages, beer and wine throughout the day too. Several of our cruises include port taxes as well, making the trip even more convenient from the start.

​While the vast majority of our cruises are all-inclusive, it’s important to check with your cruise expert to learn exactly what’s included. Be sure to check with our European cruise experts to learn even more about river cruising.