Gourmet dining is an important part of the river cruise experience and most river cruise lines are well-known for providing guests not only with a selection of delicious international dishes, but also a range of traditional cuisine inspired by the destinations on their itinerary. This blog will take a look at some of the tempting options available for guests on a river cruise holiday with some of the finest river cruise lines in the industry, so you’ll know who to cruise with for a delectable dining experience on-board.

Viking River Cruises

A range of wonderful dining experiences are available aboard Viking’s river cruise ships. You can enjoy a casual buffet breakfast in the mornings, choose from an array of lunchtime dishes and tuck into a scrumptious five-course meal in the evenings. On top of this, Viking’s signature ‘Taste of…’ events offer the opportunity for guests to sample food inspired by their surroundings. These social gatherings provide guests with time to get to know one another while trying local cuisine, including pretzels and Leberwurst for “A Taste of Germany”.

Uniworld

Uniworld’s culinary options change depending on your location across the world, and the line’s skilled chefs create a host of local and seasonal dishes. River cruises through Europe will offer a range of signature dishes paired with exceptional wines from local wineries, whilst on a voyage along China’s Yangtze River, guests can sample both Western favourites and local meals, including dim sum lunches as well as steamed pork dumplings. Mekong cruises also offer local delicacies from Vietnam and Cambodia, such as baked fish amok in banana leaves and green mango salad with smoked fish.

Avalon Waterways

Avalon’s philosophy when it comes to cuisine is that every meal is part of the journey. A plethora of meals are available at various times of the day aboard the line’s fleet of ships, including Early-riser Coffee, Breakfast Buffet, Late-riser Buffet, Lunch Buffet, Afternoon Tea, Dinner and Night Fare. Avalon’s expert chefs use only the finest hand-picked ingredients, lovingly prepared fresh for you on-board. At dinnertime, guests will also have the option of a speciality dish from their current destination, paired beautifully with a local wine.

Emerald Waterways

Emerald Waterways offers guests an abundance of European-inspired cuisine across its fleet of ships, served in several wonderful dining venues. From the informal atmosphere and excellent cuisine available in the main Reflections Restaurant to alfresco dining at The Terrace, guests will be delighted with their culinary experiences on-board. Alongside the range of delicious dishes available, Emerald also provides a complimentary selection of European red and white wines, locally produced beers and a choice of soft drinks to accompany your meal.

AmaWaterways

AmaWaterways’ Executive Chef Primus Perchtold was the winner of three gold medals at the European Championship of Culinary Art in Nuremburg – and this is reflected in the line’s wonderful cuisine. AmaWaterways is also the only line that has been invited to join La Chaine des Rotisseurs – one of the world’s most renowned gastronomic organisations. On-board the line’s ships, guests will find a wealth of dining options throughout the day, as well as the chance to participate in guided culinary tours to visit cooking schools, bistros, chocolatiers and more. On top of this, free-flowing wines are available with lunch and dinner, alongside complimentary soft drinks and beers.

If you would like to experience the culinary delights available on a river cruise, take a look through the deals and itineraries at RiverVoyages.com, or call our River Cruise Concierge team free on 0800 197 0854 for information, advice and to book your place on-board.