RIVER & CANAL CRUISES
Reviewed, compared and ranked by the people aboard.
The 15 most popular food & drink cruises, compared side by side. What you see from the water, how long you are aboard, what it costs and which operator to book, so you can pick your boat in a couple of minutes.
1-hour illuminated Seine cruise from the Eiffel Tower with audio guide and a warm waffle near Trocadéro. Great value for $22.
Most Popular“The views of the city and the Eiffel Tower is beautiful at night time”
Taste Dutch apple pie, fish, Gouda, rotirol and jenever on an Amsterdam food tour with a vintage canal cruise.
“Amazing tour with delicious traditional foods, great information about the history of Amsterdam. BART was very entertaining, the canal cruise was spectacular. Highly recommend”
Short Seine cruise from Port de la Bourdonnais plus a French crepe near the Eiffel Tower, with audio in 14 languages.
“The boat fills up quickly and the prime seats are up on top. We weren’t fortunate enough to sit up top but were able to find seats below beside an open window-which is what we wanted for picture taking. The have a QR code you can scan for audio commentary but were never able to…”
Private 2-hour Douro sail from Gaia for up to 8, with port and rosé tasting and ocean views near Ponte D. Luís.
“What an amazing way to see the city! And we were lucky enough to catch the Portuguese navy bringing their ships in. What a cool day!”
A small-group evening canal cruise in Amsterdam with wine, craft beer, cheese, and a lighting-tuned route through classic sights.
“I'm going to go out on a limb and if my memory recalls, our guide name was Bernie. The guide was lively and very informative. The other passengers were also engaging and I had a great time with my 17 year old son. Not only did I have a great time, but gain some information…”
Swan Valley cruise and wine day trip from Perth: Swan River captain commentary, tastings, winery + brewery stops, and chocolate.
“A fantastic day. Lunch and tastings on the boat were great. Wineries were good with a wide selection to taste and good descriptions of the different grapes and wines. Chocolate stop was good. Bus drivers were great fun and also a source of information about what we were seeing.”
Porto in one smooth sweep: an eco tuk-tuk city loop, an open-ticket Douro rabelo cruise, and a winery Port tasting for $64.
“The Tuk tuk ride was toll but there are a lot of roadworks in porto so it was loud. Our driver was nice and gave us good Information about eating in porto. The boat Trip to the 6 bridges was accompanied by a pre recorded voice guide which was difficult to understand in englisch and…”
A full-day Douro Valley drive from Porto with Amarante sights, a farm wine tasting, lunch, and a 1-hour river cruise.
“Nelson was THE BEST tour guide EVER!! Our 10 hour tour was super informative, fun and was the best part of our weeklong trip to Portugal. The Douro Valley was enchanting and the wines were sublime. Lunch was full of variety and excellent. It rained and Nelson gave me the coat off his own back.…”
Douro Valley day trip from Porto with Rabelo boat cruise, Lamego wine tastings, Road 222 drive, and free time to explore.
“From the private tour of a small vineyard and tasting to the boat cruise and the fabulous lunch, this day exceeded our expectations. Luiz was informant and friendly. Highly recommend”
Porto in a day: car-led landmarks, a 1.5-hour premium Douro sail, and Port wine tasting with snacks, plus optional café and views.
“We saw every part of old town Porto in one day. Alex our guide was excellent with a lot of history and knowledge of Porto. We couldn't have seen so much doing by ourselves.”
Private Douro cruise from Porto’s Marina do Freixo with 6 bridges, a Dom Luís Bridge guide stop, and port wine tasting in 1.5 hours.
“We have never experienced such a high-quality boat cruise! The captain was incredibly warm and patiently explained all the scenic spots along the way. He is truly experienced and highly skilled! During the trip, we were able to enjoy local port wine and snacks, and he even thoughtfully prepared juice for my 6-year-old son. Later,…”
Douro River cruise plus a guided Port tasting at Quevedo Lodge in Vila Nova de Gaia. English tour in 2.5 hours, small group.
“Great introduction to Porto and to the food and wine of Portugal. Luis was excellent and we would highly recommend him.”
Porto to Gaia with Old Town walking, an authentic lunch, a Douro cruise, and a 50-minute Port tasting at Solar dos Dragos.
“I took my foreign girlfriend to visit one of my favorite cities in my Homeland. We were lucky enough to be the only tourists that day, so we got a private tour as an extra bonus. I cannot say how much our brain owes to Zé and his knowledge of, not only, Porto's history, but…”
A 70-minute Motława River cruise in Gdańsk with freshly made pierogi, crispy onions, and a glass of wine, plus great waterfront views.
“A very nice experience (even our teenagers enjoyed it:) ! The boat trip with pierogi tasting was great – both the food and the wine were very good. The cruise was really enjoyable, and our guide Martina and captain Stacho were friendly and kind. Martina’s stories about Gdańsk made it even more special. Highly recommended!”
Hop on a Tiber River boat to Trastevere, then enjoy a 3-course wine pairing at Fabullus in an ancient cistern in Rome.
“The river tour was not great. The app explains that it starts at 5 pm but we went to the boat. You have to read the detail and start at Fabuluus wine cellar. However, the wine and food tasting were sensational! Ginevra was so wonderful and fun, great knowledge and highly personal touch! We loved…”
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