CroisiEurope Review:
CroisiEurope is Europe's #1 river cruise operator a French, family-owned company that has been running river cruises since 1976. But what is it actually like to cruise with them? This comprehensive review covers everything Australian travellers need to know: the ships, the food, the service, the excursions, the inclusions, and the few honest criticisms.
Who Is CroisiEurope?
CroisiEurope was founded in Strasbourg, Alsace, in 1976 by the Schmitter family. It began as a small French cruise company and has grown to become Europe's largest river cruise operator by fleet size and passenger volume 50 ships, 170 itineraries, 38 countries, and more than 200,000 passengers per year. It remains a private, family-owned company.
The company's home port and headquarters is Strasbourg which sits on the Rhine and is the centre of Alsatian culture, cuisine, and wine. That heritage runs through everything CroisiEurope does.
The Ships
CroisiEurope operates both river ships and canal barges. River ships are long and narrow designed for European waterways and carry between 100 and 180 passengers across three passenger decks plus a sun deck. Cabins are comfortable, well-designed, and practical. They're not cavernous (the nature of river ships imposes limits on cabin width), but they're well-appointed: en-suite bathroom, twin or double bed configuration, storage, and panoramic windows.
The sun deck is the social heart of every CroisiEurope ship passengers gather here to watch the scenery, have a drink, and talk. The lounge bar is the evening gathering point. Dining is communal a single restaurant with set breakfast, lunch, and dinner times, though seating is flexible.
Canal barges are smaller and more intimate 22 passengers, slower pace, sun deck with a jacuzzi, bicycles on board, and a chef preparing meals from locally sourced produce.
Food & Wine CroisiEurope's Strongest Suit
This is where CroisiEurope clearly differentiates from competitors. The food is genuinely French in approach proper three-course dinners, not buffet-style mass catering. Regional specialties appear on the menu as the ship moves through different cultural zones: Alsatian choucroute on the Rhine, Hungarian goulash on the Danube, bacalhau (salt cod) dishes on the Douro.
Wine and beer with lunch and dinner are included. This is not a nominal glass of house wine it's a proper wine service, poured by the glass throughout the meal, with the selection reflecting the region. On the Douro, you're drinking port-country wines. On the Rhine, Riesling is on the menu. This is a genuine differentiator from most competitors, where wine is an extra.
Shore Excursions
CroisiEurope includes at least one guided shore excursion per port of call. These are professionally led by local guides typically a walking tour of the old town, a guided visit to the main monument, or a coach excursion to a nearby site (such as the Abbey of Melk on a Danube cruise, or Versailles on a Seine cruise).
Optional premium excursion packages are available at additional cost these include activities like wine tastings at a Riesling estate, cooking classes, vineyard walks, or a private visit to a château. These are optional and well-organised, not pushed aggressively.
Service
On a 100 180 passenger ship, the crew knows you by name within a day or two. The restaurant staff remember your wine preference. The reception team knows your cabin number before you say it. This intimacy is one of the most consistent things passengers report positively about CroisiEurope the service feels personal rather than transactional.
Honest Criticisms
No review should be entirely positive. CroisiEurope is not the right product for everyone:
• The ships are not as design-forward as Viking or as luxurious as Scenic or Uniworld. If a cutting-edge aesthetic or five-star pampering is your priority, CroisiEurope may feel modest by comparison.
• Wi-Fi is not always included this is a genuine limitation compared to Viking and some other lines.
• The schedule can feel busy a new port every day means you need to be comfortable with the pace. It suits active, curious travellers, not those who want to sit by the pool.
• Canal barge cruises appeal to a specific traveller those who love slow travel, cycling, and rural France. Those expecting a bigger ship experience may be surprised by the barge's compact scale.
Booking from Australia
CroisiEurope is exclusively represented in Australia by CroisiEurope Australia (Tweet World Travel, Adelaide). Book in AUD, get local support, and pay no credit card surcharges on Visa or Mastercard. The team can advise on the best itinerary for your travel style, available departures, and current 2027 pricing.
Book Your 2027 River Cruise with CroisiEurope Australia
CroisiEurope Australia handles all bookings for Australian travellers local support, AUD pricing, no credit card surcharges on Visa or Mastercard.
Phone: 1300 739 652 | Email: contact@croisicruises.com
Website: www.croisieuroperivercruises.com.au | Office: Tweet World Travel, 544 Magill Road, Magill SA 5072
2027 Early Booking is open now. Enquire today.
