The Best Cheap River Cruises
The kinds of sailing that give the most for the money.
Get My ShortlistThe Best Cheap River Cruises: Our Criteria
We do not rank individual sailings, because prices and offers change too quickly for any list to stay honest. Instead, here are the kinds of cruise that reliably give the most for the money, and how to judge any cheap river cruise against them.
- It visits places you genuinely want to see.
- The fare still includes meals, guided touring and, ideally, drinks with meals.
- It is easy and affordable to reach.
- The season gives you a good chance of normal water levels and pleasant weather.
Kinds of Cruise That Tend to Be Good Value
A short Rhine or Moselle sailing
Castles, vineyards and half-timbered towns packed into a few days on one of the busiest rivers.
A shoulder-season Danube week
Vienna, the Wachau and Budapest in March, April, late October or November.
A lower-deck cabin on a premium line
The premium line’s inclusions and touring at its lowest price point.
A value line with drinks included
CroisiEurope, a French family-owned line based in Strasbourg, describes drinks as included on its main-season cruises.
A Christmas market sailing
Short and festive, outside the summer peak; check inclusions and book early.
A U.S. river trip you can drive to
No transatlantic flight; see US River Cruising for routes.
How to Test a Cheap Fare
Ask four questions of any cheap fare. What is included? What will I pay on top for flights, hotels, transfers, tips and drinks? What happens if I need to cancel? And would I still choose this trip if it cost the same as the alternatives? If the answers hold up, you have found one of the best cheap river cruises for you.
Line-by-line inclusions are compared on Discount River Cruises; the step-by-step method for getting the best deal is on Great River Cruise Deals.
Where Bargains Are Harder to Find
Be realistic about a few kinds of trip. Rivers with only a handful of ships, such as the Douro, sell their best dates early and rarely need to discount them. Peak spring and early-fall sailings on any river are in high demand. Exotic rivers far from home add expensive flights. None of these is a bad choice; they are simply where patience pays less, and booking early pays more.
Solo and Group Bargains
Friends sharing a cabin split the fare and often the drinks bill too, which is one of the simplest ways to make a premium line affordable. Solo travelers usually pay a single supplement, but some sailings reduce or waive it; Singles River Cruises explains the options. Friends and families booking several cabins together should ask about group terms. Both are worth checking before you settle on a cabin.
Show Me the Best Cheap Options
Tell us your dates and the rivers you like. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will shortlist the best cheap river cruises for you and send free quotes.
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