Find My Cruise | FrenchCruises.com

Question one

Which part of France?

The river shapes the trip more than the ship does. Choose one and nothing from another river will appear. If you have not decided, say so and we compare all four regions rather than scoring one.

Choose one

The Seine, Paris and NormandyHistory, Impressionist country and the landing beaches within a day of the ship The Rhone and Saone, Lyon and ProvenceFood, wine, Roman France, Provence and the warmest weather Bordeaux, the Garonne and the GirondeWine-centred travel, with short distances between moorings The Loire, from NantesA specialist choice in our current coverage: one operator and one ship Not sure yetWe compare all four French river regions covered here and say which came out ahead, and why

Five questions, about a minute

Question two

How long do you want to be aboard?

Count only the nights aboard. Operators do not all publish in the same unit: some publish nights and some publish days, and we never convert one into the other. A programme published in days stays in your shortlist, but it cannot be a strong fit for a length we cannot check, and it will tell you what to confirm.

Nights aboard

4 to 6 nightsA short break aboard, on one stretch of one river 7 to 8 nightsA week aboard, with a travel day at each end 10 nights or moreTwo rivers, or a cruise joined to a land segment No strong preferenceLength will not be used to rank the shortlist

Question three

How do you want to spend time ashore?

We match your answer against what each operator publishes about its own programme. Where an operator publishes nothing on this, we say so beside the entry rather than assuming an answer either way.

Choose one

A clear guided programmeArranged tours with a guide, and a week that comes assembled More active choices, such as walking or cyclingCounted only where the operator publishes it. We do not assume it A mix of included structure and choiceSomething arranged most days, with alternatives to choose between No strong preferenceShore style will not be used to rank the shortlist

Question four

How much do you want included?

We match your answer against what each operator publishes about its own inclusions. It is not a judgement about price or value, and we do not publish fares.

Choose one

More included in the fareDrinks, excursions, Wi-Fi and gratuities inside the published price where an operator publishes it I prefer choice even if some things cost extraMore flexibility, with some extras potentially separate No strong preferenceInclusions will not be used to rank the shortlist

Question five

What matters most?

Pick up to three, or none at all. These carry the most weight in the ranking, and each one you choose is named in the reasoning beside every result.

Up to three

History and architectureCathedral towns, fortresses, Roman sites Normandy and the landing beachesAmong the river cruises we compare, the Seine is the natural fit, and the beaches are always reached by road WineVineyard visits and tastings as a main thread Food and marketsRegional cooking, market mornings Active days ashoreCycling and walking rather than coaches An unhurried paceFewer stops, longer in each one This is our first river cruiseFavours programmes that are forgiving of that