From the Seine to the Danube, the Mekong to the Chobe, the world’s great rivers have become a hotspot for cruising over the last decade. Riverboats serve as floating hotels, allowing passengers to unpack once and explore an entire region.
The top 10 winners in the Best River Ship category are as follows:
- Viking Hild - Viking River Cruises
- AmaKristina - AmaWaterways
- American Queen - American Queen Steamboat Company
- American Constitution - American Cruise Lines
- Viking Rolf - Viking River Cruises
- S.S. Joie de Vivre - Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
- AmaCerto - AmaWaterways
- Viking Hlin - Viking River Cruises
- AmaSerena - AmaWaterways
- AmaLea - AmaWaterways
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Danielle Fear (Cruise Miss), Sherry Laskin (CruiseMaven.com), Jason Leppert (Popular Cruising), Chris Owen, Doug Parker (Cruise Radio) and Ming Tappin (Your Cruise Coach) were chosen for their knowledge of the cruising industry.
Congratulations to all these winning river ships.
The Experts
Danielle Fear
Danielle Fear is one of the UK’s most recognized... Read More
Danielle Fear is one of the UK’s most recognized and trusted cruise bloggers and is better known to her readers as Cruise Miss. As well as maintaining an award-winning blog, she also works as a freelance writer and social media professional covering all aspects of sea travel. Having embarked on more than 60 sailings, including a 108-night World Cruise and 168-night Grand Voyage, it’s fair to say that Danielle knows a thing or two about cruising.
Danielle Fear

Danielle Fear is one of the UK’s most recognized and trusted cruise bloggers and is better known to her readers as Cruise Miss. As well as maintaining an award-winning blog, she also works as a freelance writer and social media professional covering all aspects of sea travel. Having embarked on more than 60 sailings, including a 108-night World Cruise and 168-night Grand Voyage, it’s fair to say that Danielle knows a thing or two about cruising.
Sherry Laskin
Sherry is editor and creator of CruiseMaven.com... Read More
Sherry is editor and creator of CruiseMaven.com and a solo traveler who refuses to fly. With way too much wanderlust, Sherry explores the world on oceans and rivers. When on land, she’s aboard trains and on road trips, stopping to try local food and visit quirky museums along the way.
Sherry Laskin

Sherry is editor and creator of CruiseMaven.com and a solo traveler who refuses to fly. With way too much wanderlust, Sherry explores the world on oceans and rivers. When on land, she’s aboard trains and on road trips, stopping to try local food and visit quirky museums along the way.
Jason Leppert
Jason Leppert is a San Diego-based cruising expert... Read More
Jason Leppert is a San Diego-based cruising expert with more than 150 sailings under his belt and a fresh, millennial perspective on the industry. He has been cruising since before he was two years old, thanks to his parents’ shared passion for traveling and their desire to experience all journeys together as a family. Now, he regularly sails and writes “he said, she said” cruise columns with his wife Heidi. He is the founding editor of Popular Cruising, producer of the successful Popular Cruising YouTube channel and Cruise Editor for TravelAge West. He also contributes to Cruise Travel, Porthole and Cruise Business Review magazines; USA Today 10Best; Oyster.com; MiceChat.com and the Cruise Radio podcast.
Jason Leppert

Jason Leppert is a San Diego-based cruising expert with more than 150 sailings under his belt and a fresh, millennial perspective on the industry. He has been cruising since before he was two years old, thanks to his parents’ shared passion for traveling and their desire to experience all journeys together as a family. Now, he regularly sails and writes “he said, she said” cruise columns with his wife Heidi. He is the founding editor of Popular Cruising, producer of the successful Popular Cruising YouTube channel and Cruise Editor for TravelAge West. He also contributes to Cruise Travel, Porthole and Cruise Business Review magazines; USA Today 10Best; Oyster.com; MiceChat.com and the Cruise Radio podcast.
Chris Owen
Chris Owen is a photojournalist from Florida... Read More
Chris Owen is a photojournalist from Florida charged with sharing frank, inside information about cruise vacations with travelers. Also certified a Master Cruise Counselor by the Cruise Lines International Association, Chris offers a unique perspective; tapping his behind-the-scenes working knowledge of cruise vacations. Beginning his cruise history as a family vacation option, Chris has written his way through a variety of cruise lines, ships and itineraries. His goal is simple: to never forget that travel has a positive impact on our world, and to introduce cruising to as many people as possible.
Chris Owen

Chris Owen is a photojournalist from Florida charged with sharing frank, inside information about cruise vacations with travelers. Also certified a Master Cruise Counselor by the Cruise Lines International Association, Chris offers a unique perspective; tapping his behind-the-scenes working knowledge of cruise vacations. Beginning his cruise history as a family vacation option, Chris has written his way through a variety of cruise lines, ships and itineraries. His goal is simple: to never forget that travel has a positive impact on our world, and to introduce cruising to as many people as possible.
Doug Parker
Doug Parker is the creator and executive producer... Read More
Doug Parker is the creator and executive producer of Cruise Radio, a weekly podcast that shares cruise reviews and other cruise news.
Doug Parker
Doug Parker is the creator and executive producer of Cruise Radio, a weekly podcast that shares cruise reviews and other cruise news.
Ming Tappin
Residing in Ontario, Canada, Ming has been in the... Read More
Residing in Ontario, Canada, Ming has been in the cruise industry for over 25 years. Ming spent over 20 years in the retail travel sector, working with travel agencies in marketing initiatives, cruise training, and promoting cruise vacations to their clients. In 2015, Ming created Your Cruise Coach and transitioned into travel writing, preaching the merits of cruising via her partnerships with Canadian travel trade publications as well as consumer media outlets. An avid cruiser since 1991, Ming has sailed on over 55 cruises and has experienced over 20 ocean and river cruise lines.
Ming Tappin
Residing in Ontario, Canada, Ming has been in the cruise industry for over 25 years. Ming spent over 20 years in the retail travel sector, working with travel agencies in marketing initiatives, cruise training, and promoting cruise vacations to their clients. In 2015, Ming created Your Cruise Coach and transitioned into travel writing, preaching the merits of cruising via her partnerships with Canadian travel trade publications as well as consumer media outlets. An avid cruiser since 1991, Ming has sailed on over 55 cruises and has experienced over 20 ocean and river cruise lines.