CroisiEurope: river cruises, boats and French departures

CroisiEurope is a French company specialising in river cruising, founded in 1976 near Strasbourg. It operates about fifty boats carrying 16 to 200 passengers, on the rivers of France and Europe and further afield (Mekong, Egypt, Lake Kariba, Amazon), with an “all inclusive on board” package that includes drinks.

This guide presents the fleet, the cruises on French rivers, what is included and the points to check before you book. All the information comes from CroisiEurope’s official site, consulted on 14 October 2026. We did not sail on board for this article and do not publish passenger reviews. To compare with ocean cruises, see our comparison of cruise lines.

About the company

CroisiEurope was born in 1976 near Strasbourg as Alsace Croisières, founded by Gérard Schmitter; it took its current name in 1997. Since 1999, his four children have run the business, which describes itself as a family company across three generations. The company reports nearly 200,000 passengers a year. Its boats are rated 4 or 5 anchors on its own scale.

Its offer covers Europe’s great rivers (Rhine, Danube, Elbe, Douro, Po, Guadalquivir), France, canals aboard barges, and more distant cruises: Mekong, Nile, Ganges, Amazon, and safari cruises in southern Africa on Lake Kariba.

The CroisiEurope fleet: a few boats

CroisiEurope does not publish a single fleet table: the site says “50 ships” in its presentation and “55 units” in its history. The table gives the characteristics shown on its pages for each river, for the boats that sail in France and a few others.

Boat	River / area	Decks	Cabins	Passengers
MS Loire Princesse (paddle wheeler)	Loire	2	47	94
MS Botticelli	Seine	2	73	145
MS Renoir	Seine	2	54	105
MS Seine Princess	Seine	2	66	136
MS Camargue	Rhône and Saône	2	54	104
MS Mistral	Rhône and Saône	2	77	152
MS Rhône Princess	Rhône and Saône	2	69	138
MS Van Gogh	Rhône and Saône	2	54	105
MS Cyrano de Bergerac	Gironde, Garonne, Dordogne	3	86	172
MS Infante don Henrique	Douro (Portugal)	3	71	138
MV La Belle de l’Adriatique	Maritime (Adriatic)	4	98	195
MV La Belle des Océans	Maritime	7	65	130

MS Loire Princesse, launched in 2015, is a paddle-wheel boat designed to sail on the Loire; the company says it operates three boats of this type. On the Douro, six boats carrying 131 to 138 passengers share the cruises.

What is included: the “all inclusive on board” package

• Included: full board (buffet breakfast, lunch, dinner), drinks served at meals (water, wine, beer, juice, coffee) and drinks taken at the bar, according to the company’s presentation.
• To check on each cruise: excursions (package or à la carte), transport to the embarkation port, insurance and any cabin supplements.

This package sets CroisiEurope apart from the big ocean lines, where drinks are often sold as a package. See our guide to choosing a cruise to compare what is included from one line to another.

River	Regions crossed	Boats (according to the site)
Seine	Paris, Rouen, Normandy	Botticelli, Renoir, Seine Princess, R.E. Waydelich L.J.
Loire	Loire châteaux, Nantes, Saint-Nazaire, Angers	Loire Princesse
Rhône and Saône	Lyon, Provence, Camargue	Camargue, Mistral, Rhône Princess, Van Gogh
Gironde, Garonne, Dordogne	Bordeaux and the Bordeaux vineyards	Cyrano de Bergerac

These cruises let you embark without flying, from a major French city. The site also offers “regional departures” from many cities (Strasbourg, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Toulouse…): check on each offer whether transport to the boat is included.

Who is it for?

• A short first cruise: river cruises in France avoid flights and big ships.
• Travellers who want to sightsee: the boat often stops in town or near the sights, leaving time for visits.
• Fans of wine and heritage: Bordeaux region, Rhône valley, Douro valley, Loire châteaux.
• Less suitable: for anyone seeking a giant pool, shows and activities on board, or a younger clientele; big ocean ships are better for that.

Strengths and points to watch

• Strengths: French company, drinks included, small boats (fewer than 200 passengers), departures from several French cities, a very wide choice of rivers.
• Points to watch: excursions and transport to the port may be extra; river water levels can change an itinerary; check the boat’s category (anchors) and the location of the cabin (lower or upper deck).

CroisiEurope or Ponant?

Both lines are French and rely on small vessels, but not on the same ground: CroisiEurope is first and foremost a river line, with boats carrying 16 to 200 passengers, whereas Ponant operates small ocean expedition and luxury ships. For an ocean cruise from Marseille, look instead at MSC or Costa.

Frequently asked questions

Our sources

• CroisiEurope, official site croisieurope.com: “company”, “our boats”, “cruises in France” pages and boat pages by river, consulted on 14 October 2026
• Our methodology

Updated October 2026.