Nile and European river cruises from the UK

The short answer

For a first river cruise, start with the Danube or the Rhine. AmaWaterways' guide for first-timers names both as popular starting points. If wine and food matter most, it points you to Bordeaux or the Douro. Choose by what you want to see, then by month, then by ship.

River Cruise Escapes goes river by river, starting with the Nile. It covers routes, cabins and decks, what a cruise fare includes and what it leaves out, and how to book. Every fact names its source. Our travel team at The JLT Group plans and books your trip.

AmaWaterways comes up often on these pages because its route pages and guides are open to read. That is not a recommendation of the line.

Here's how to use these pages. Read the river you're leaning towards first. Then read what the fare covers, because two fares can leave out different extras. Last, read how booking works, so you know who you're dealing with.

Which river?

Start with the table. Each row says what these pages cover and where to read next.

River	What the sources say	Read next
Nile	A different trip from Europe's rivers. Our Nile pages cover the route, timing, ships, inclusions, the FCDO advice and prices.	Nile cruises
Rhine	AmaWaterways' Rhine page features excursions in Cologne, Amsterdam and Strasbourg; ask which stops your sailing calls at. The Rhine Gorge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.	Choosing a first river cruise
Danube	Seven-night sailings. The line's Danube page features excursions in Vienna, Budapest, Passau, Linz, Melk and Dürnstein; ask which stops your sailing calls at.	Choosing a first river cruise
Douro	Seven nights from Porto, with a day trip to Salamanca, per its Douro page.	Choosing a first river cruise

This site starts with the Nile, and other rivers follow. For now, the first river cruise guide covers the Danube, the Rhine and the Douro.

What are some popular European river cruise routes?

Two rivers lead the AmaWaterways guide for first-timers: the Danube and the Rhine. It names both as popular starting points. For history and culture, it suggests the Seine, the Main or the Moselle. For wine and food, it points to Bordeaux or the Douro.

Here's what each of the big three looks like on the line's own route pages.

The Danube

The featured Danube sailings run for seven nights. The line's page features excursions in Vienna, Budapest, Passau, Linz, Melk and Dürnstein; ask which stops your sailing calls at.

The Rhine

The line's page features excursions in Cologne, Amsterdam and Strasbourg; ask which stops your sailing calls at. The Rhine Gorge on the way is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. That stretch is worth checking on any itinerary you're sent. Ask whether you pass it in daylight.

The Douro

Sailings here run seven nights from Porto, with a day trip to Salamanca. The first-timers guide pairs this river with wine and food.

How long is a river cruise?

Seven to 14 nights, says the first-timers guide. The Danube and Douro sailings above both run seven nights. So a week on board is a fair starting point to plan around.

Then add the travel either side. Your flights, any hotel nights and the transfers sit around the sailing. Ask how many nights of the whole trip are on the ship.

Which river cruise is better, Danube or Rhine?

Neither is better for everyone. Pick the one whose stops you want most.

Pick the Danube if Vienna and Budapest are the draw. Both are on the featured Danube sailings, with Passau, Linz, Melk and Dürnstein in between.

Pick the Rhine if you'd rather see Cologne, Amsterdam and Strasbourg. The Rhine Gorge is on that route too.

Here's a quick way to decide. Write down the three places you most want to see. Then hold your list against each route. The river with more of your three wins.

Once you have two sailings in front of you, compare a few more things:

• the start and end cities, and how you get to and from them
• how many days have a guided visit, and how much walking each one involves
• what the fare includes, from drinks to tips
• which deck your cabin is on, and what sits above and below it

The first river cruise guide goes through each of these. For what the fare leaves out, read what a river cruise costs.

Is the Rhine or Danube too low for cruises?

Ask before you book. Get the cruise line's written terms on itinerary changes, and use the first river cruise guide for the other questions to put alongside.

Is a cruise on the Douro River worth it?

It is if wine and food are high on your list: the first-timers guide points to the Douro for both. Sailings run seven nights from Porto, with a day trip to Salamanca. The first river cruise guide sets it beside the Danube and the Rhine.

Where the Nile fits

The Nile is a different kind of river cruise. It's Egypt, not Europe, so the questions change. You'll want the FCDO's advice, the visa rules and a clear view of what the fare covers.

Our Nile cruises section starts there. It covers the route, how long the trips run and which months run hot. It also compares small boats with larger ships, and sets out what's included, the FCDO advice and prices. If the Nile is your river, start with that page.

What this site covers

Four sections do most of the work.

• Nile cruises: the first river this site covers in depth, question by question.
• Which river cruise is best for first timers?: how rivers and cruise lines differ, plus cabins, tips, dress code, packing and access.
• River cruise cost: what a fare includes, what it leaves out, and how to compare two quotes.
• How to book a river cruise: who plans and books your trip, and what to check before you pay.

Each page carries a "Checked" date with the month and year. Fares, ships and entry rules change, so the date matters.

Who books your trip

Our travel team at The JLT Group plans and books the cruise, and your booking and payment are with them. They'll call you back, or email first if you'd rather. [The exact steps after that are confirmed with The JLT Group before this site launches.]

You won't see a price on this site as an offer. Whoever quotes your trip should price it for your dates and your cabin. Ask for that quote itemised, line by line. Then you can see exactly what the fare covers and what sits outside it.

What to have ready before you enquire

The enquiry form asks a few short questions. Having the answers to hand saves time later.

• The type of trip. Name the river, or say you're still choosing.
• A rough month. Even a season helps narrow the sailings.
• How many nights. Count the whole trip, not only the nights on board.
• Who's going. The number of adults, and the ages of any children.
• Your departure airport. Flying from a different airport can change what a fare includes.
• A budget per person. A range is fine.
• Whether you've done something similar. A first river cruise raises different questions from a fifth.

None of it commits you to anything. It gives our travel team enough to look for sailings that fit.

A river and a month are enough to begin with. When you have a rough idea, send it through the enquiry form.