What\u2019s included in a river cruise?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When you compare different river cruises, the prices can differ enormously (you can compare the prices here<\/a>). Whilst this is in some part reflects the quality of the accommodation and the level of service, much of the price difference is due to what\u2019s included in the cruise \u2013 things like flights, shore excursions and port taxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, when looking for a river cruise to suit your budget, it\u2019s imperative that you don\u2019t just book the cheapest deal. You\u2019ll probably find that there\u2019s not a lot included in a cheap deal and you\u2019ll end up spending much more on-board the ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, look carefully at everything that\u2019s included in each river cruise and pick one that offers you good value for money. You want to find a river cruise with a relatively low price tag that also has a lot included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s what river cruises include<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a few budget-friendly river cruise lines to consider if you don\u2019t have a huge amount of money to spend on your river cruise. The three main ones to look at are CroisiEurope, Riviera Travel and Shearings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The cheapest river cruise line is often CroisiEurope<\/a>. However, this is because CroisiEurope is one of the few river cruise lines which don\u2019t always include flights in their pricing. So, if you see a cheap deal, be careful to check if flights are included or not, as this could make a huge difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n CroisiEurope river cruises offer great value for money because they include wine, beer, fruit juice, water, tea and coffee with every meal. Some CroisiEurope cruises also include drinks at the bar, which can save you a fortune. CroisiEurope cruises also include WiFi and all port taxes and charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most of the passengers on CroisiEurope cruises will be European so you might not hear a lot of English spoken on-board. And food and entertainment may not be as good as on some more expensive ships. But if you want something cheap and cheerful, give them a try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another good-value river cruise line is Riviera Travel. Prices include flights and transfers and shore excursions in every port of call. If you prefer to join organised excursions rather than doing your own thing ashore, than Riviera Travel may be the best value choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The food on Riviera Travel river cruises is outstanding. Dinner is always a four-course event and menus are crafted to reflect each port of call, using only the finest locally-sourced ingredients. Bar prices are very reasonable too at around \u20ac2.75 for a small glass of wine and \u20ac4 for a pint of local beer. If you prefer a drinks package, there\u2019s one available to purchase. Also included is tea and coffee, both in public areas and in your cabin, WiFi and all port taxes and charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you enjoy a drink and like organised excursions, Riviera Travel may offer the best value for money. However, if you\u2019re teetotal and prefer to do your own thing, you\u2019ll still be paying for the beer, wine and excursions so you won\u2019t be getting your money\u2019s worth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shearings river cruises are popular with British retirees. One of the great things about Shearings holidays is that the prices include a choice of flights or coach travel from a local pick-up point or sometimes from your doorstep. Travelling by coach can be a much cheaper option than flying to start your river cruise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shearings exclusively charter some ships and have partnerships with river cruise lines such as A-ROSA, so exactly what\u2019s included varies depending on the cruise. Some Shearings river cruises include drinks and excursions and others don\u2019t, so be sure to check when comparing prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As well as choosing the best-value river cruise line, it\u2019s important to know that some destinations will be more affordable than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you live in the UK or Europe<\/strong>, then choosing a European river cruise will be the cheapest as any flights required will be shorter. As an alternative to flying, you may also consider taking the Eurostar<\/a> from London to Paris, Amsterdam or Brussels to meet your river cruise ship. A coach bus<\/a> can also be a cheaper way to travel compared to flights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For U.S. cruisers<\/strong>, the transatlantic flight can be a considerable expense, so a river cruise closer to home on the Mississippi might be a more affordable option. However, if you’re headed to Europe, it can be best to research flights<\/a> into major cities such as Amsterdam, London, Prague, Budapest, or Bern which are close to the starting areas of the cruises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nile river cruises have fallen out of favour in recent years due to the unrest in Egypt. However, for the most part, Egypt is safe<\/strong> to visit so it may be a great time to consider booking<\/a> a Nile cruise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mini river cruises last between three and six nights. A short river cruise can be the perfect way to try a river cruise for the first time before committing to a longer holiday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re taking a short river cruise, it\u2019s important not to waste too much time (and money) travelling, so you should look to choose a departure port that\u2019s relatively quick to fly to from your local airport. Alternatively, you could look to combine your river cruise with a city break somewhere like Amsterdam, Paris or Budapest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re based in the UK, the best rivers from short cruises are the Rhine, the Danube and the Dutch Waterways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For those travelling with children, child prices can be a big factor in the overall price of your river cruise. Most river cruise lines are exclusively for adults. However, families can choose from the following family-friendly river cruise lines:<\/p>\n\n\n\n AmaWaterways and Tauck charge the full adult fare for children, on top of their already steep prices. Uniworld offer a 25% discount for children but again, it is very much a luxury line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/venice-1506296_1920-850x535.jpg\")
Budget river cruise lines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
CroisiEurope<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Riviera Travel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Shearings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Budget river cruise destinations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Short river cruises<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Family river cruises<\/h2>\n\n\n\n