What to Ask before Booking a River Cruise

Cruising a river offers an intimate, immersive way to discover destinations—winding through historic towns, past vineyards and castles, often docking right in the heart of a city. But before you commit, it pays to ask the right questions so you get the experience you—and your budget—really want.

1. What’s Included in Your Fare?

• Meals, beverages and gratuities: Are all meals (including any specialty venues) and soft drinks included? Is wine or beer with lunch and dinner part of the package, or extra? Are crew gratuities automatically added, or left to your discretion?

  • If your cruise includes tours and tour guides, be sure to ask whether their gratuities are included as well as the gratuities for ship staff.

• Shore excursions: How many guided tours are bundled in? Can you mix official excursions with independent exploration?

• Wi-Fi, transfers and port fees: Does basic internet cost extra? Are airport or train-station transfers included? Which port or docking fees are covered?

  
  

2. What’s the Itinerary and Pacing Like?

• Number of ports vs. days sailing: How many “full” days ashore will you have, versus travel days on the river? What will you see on any full-day sailings?

• Overnight stays: Will you ever dock late enough to enjoy evenings ashore?

• Route highlights and side trips: Which destinations are must-sees, and are there optional day-trip add-ons (wine tastings, bike tours, museums, factories, castle visits)?

• How loud is the section of river traveled? It can be surprisingly noisy going through canals on the Rhine, but less so on the Danube, for example.

  
  

3. What’s the Ship and Cabin Layout?

• Vessel size and design: Are you on a small boutique ship (40–80 guests or smaller (like a barge)) or a larger vessel (150+)? How many public areas and outdoor decks are there?

• Cabin categories: All cabins will offer river-views, but you will want to know what type of cabins there are: window (and does the window open), balcony or suite—what’s the square footage and bed configuration?

• Noise and privacy: How close are you to the engine room, elevator or restaurant?

  
  

4. Dining and Dietary Accommodations

• Meal options: Is dining open-seating or set-time, and how many onboard venues are there (main dining room, al fresco, piano bar hors d’oeuvres)? Is room service available (and included)?

• Local flavors: Does the menu feature regional specialties—aperitifs in Provence, goulash in Hungary, bratwurst in Germany?

• Special diets: Can the chef accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or medically prescribed diets if you request in advance?

  
  

5. Excursions: Guided vs. Independent

• Official tours: How many guided tours are included, and what’s the group size? Are there premium or “off-the-beaten-path” options at extra cost?

• Independent exploration: How easy is it to disembark on your own? Will taxis, e-bikes or local shuttles be readily available?

• Private-group options: Can you organize a private guide for your travel party, and how does that pricing compare?

• Are excursions accessible for wheelchairs or for those who have a hard time walking?

  
  

6. Onboard Amenities and Enrichment

• Wellness offerings: Is there a small gym, sauna, yoga classes or spa treatments? Are these included, or billed à la carte?

• Enrichment and entertainment: Are there lectures by local experts, cooking demos, wine tastings or live music? Do you pay extra for special events?

• Outdoor spaces: Is there a place to sip your morning coffee while watching villages slip by?

  
  

7. Atmosphere and Guest Profile

• Passenger demographics: Will you find multi-generational families, solo travelers, retirees or special-interest groups (cycling, wine, educational institution) and are you comfortable being separate from such a group?

• Group size: Are you comfortable mingling with 150 fellow guests, or would you prefer a more intimate crowd of 50 or fewer?

• Dress code and formality: How casual or formal are meals?

• If you are thinking of using a local cruise company, what is the primary language spoken on board?

  
  

8. Accessibility and Mobility

• Cabin and public-area access: Are there step-free cabins, wider doorways and elevators? Is the gangway stable and easy to navigate?

• Shore-visit logistics: How will you disembark? Will you need to walk across other ships before getting to the street? Will there be steps to navigate?

• Medical support: Does the ship carry basic first-aid supplies or have a nurse onboard?

  
  

9. Gratuities, Fees and Hidden Costs

• Auto-added tips (if not included): What’s the daily gratuity per guest? Can you adjust it?

• Service or port fees: Are there any port or government taxes not included in the fare? (It is rare that you would encounter any fees like this, but it can't hurt to make sure.)

• Always check to see what fees/ costs are NOT included.

  
  

10. Sustainability and Local Impact

• Eco-practices: Does the cruise line use shore power, modern wastewater treatment or recycling programs?

• Community engagement: Are excursions run by locally owned operators? Does the line support cultural-heritage or conservation projects?

  
  

Asking these questions upfront helps you compare options, avoid surprise charges and tailor your river cruise to the pace, style and experiences you value most. With clarity on logistics, inclusions and onboard culture, you’ll be free to sit back, relax and watch the world sail by. Bon voyage!