Questions to ask before booking a river cruise
Checked October 2026
Ask for the exact ship and cabin, what the fare includes, and what happens if the river is too low to sail. Ask who holds the ATOL and whether you will get a certificate. Ask about lifts, gangways and excursion walking if stairs matter. Get the answers in writing.
Each question below has a one-line reason, drawn from AmaWaterways' pages and the FCDO's Egypt advice, read on 15 October 2026. Ask for every answer in writing.
What should I ask before booking a river cruise?
Start with the plain facts of the trip, then the awkward ones.
- Which exact ship, and which cabin number?
- What does the fare include, and what is extra?
- What is the full day-by-day programme?
A name on a brochure and a cabin on a deck plan are different things. Written answers give you something to check against later.
What should I ask about low water?
Rivers rise and fall. AmaWaterways' FAQ says it monitors river conditions and has contingency plans. Those can include alternate docking locations, modified excursions or ship swaps.
So put the same question to any seller.
- What do you do if the river is too low to sail?
- What would I be offered instead?
- What do I get back, and when?
Get the answer before you pay. The answer on refunds is the seller's to give.
What should I ask about the ship and cabin?
- Which cabin type, and where on the deck plan?
- Which decks does the lift serve?
- How many guests are on board?
Cabin names do not tell you where a cabin sits. Our page on river cruise cabins covers what to ask about the cabin itself.
What should I ask about protection and insurance?
Ask who holds the ATOL for your holiday. Ask whether you will get an ATOL Certificate, and whether every part of your trip is listed on it. Our page on the ATOL Certificate and what it lists explains why.
Then ask about insurance. The FCDO's Egypt warnings and insurance page says appropriate travel insurance should cover "your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency". It also says travelling against FCDO advice could invalidate your insurance. Put that on any list of questions about Egypt.
On the Nile, the line's Egypt guidance says its Nile ships carry no doctor or nurse. It strongly recommends travel protection insurance, and prescription medicines in their original containers, in hand luggage. That applies to that operator only.
What should I ask if stairs matter?
- Is there a lift, and which decks does it serve?
- What are the gangways like at each stop?
- What are the transfer vehicles?
- What walking level is each excursion?
The line's first-time cruiser FAQ raises these same points: gangways, transfer vehicles and walking levels. The answer varies by ship. Our page on mobility and access has the fuller list.
Keep your questions in one place
Write the questions down, with the answers beside them. Ask for the same answers by email as well.
Then compare two sellers on the same sheet. Our guide to river cruise cost shows what else belongs on it.
Our travel team at The JLT Group plans and books the cruise. They'll call you back, or email first if you'd rather. Use the form below to tell us the trip you have in mind.