Nicko Cruises

Explore Europe’s legendary rivers and beyond with a German cruise line that prizes genuine value and unhurried discovery. Nicko Cruises combines comfortable river and ocean voyaging with a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere – making world-class destinations accessible without the premium price tag.

Or call us at 1-800-444-1560 or email info@smartcruiser.com

German Heritage, Global Horizons

Nicko Cruises is a Stuttgart-based cruise line with deep roots in German river travel, now expanded into ocean cruising and worldwide itineraries. What started as a family-run river cruise operation has grown into a fleet spanning rivers and seas alike – but without losing the approachable, no-fuss character that set it apart in the first place. Their ships carry anywhere from around 80 to 600+ guests depending on the vessel, and the onboard vibe leans comfortable rather than formal. Think of it as exploring at your own pace, with solid food and genuinely warm service, at a rate that doesn’t require a second mortgage.

At a Glance

Cruise Line: Nicko Cruises – River & Ocean Cruises, German-Based

Fleet: A mixed fleet of river cruise ships and ocean vessels, ranging from intimate riverboats carrying around 80 guests to ocean ships accommodating 600+ passengers

Destinations: Europe (Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Elbe, Oder, Seine, Rhône, Douro, Po), Egypt (Nile), Southeast Asia (Mekong), plus ocean voyages to the Mediterranean, Atlantic Islands, Northern Europe, and beyond

Signature Feature: Outstanding value positioning with a relaxed, German-style hospitality approach and an unusually broad destination range for a mid-sized cruise line

Philosophy: Making river and ocean cruising accessible, comfortable, and genuinely enjoyable – without unnecessary pretense

  • Full-board dining with breakfast, lunch, afternoon coffee and cake, and dinner
  • Welcome and farewell cocktails with the captain
  • Entertainment program and onboard activities
  • Port and waterway fees
  • Use of onboard fitness and wellness facilities
  • Destination-themed evenings and cultural programming
  • Multilingual tour guidance on select itineraries
  • Wi-Fi access (availability varies by ship)

  • Exceptional value – genuine quality at rates well below the luxury river cruise segment, and booking through SmartCruiser.com adds group rate pricing and exclusive amenities on top
  • Both river and ocean ships under one brand, offering enormous destination variety
  • Relaxed, informal atmosphere where dress codes stay comfortable and guests feel at ease
  • German operational precision paired with warm, welcoming hospitality
  • Smaller ship sizes allow access to ports that larger vessels simply cannot reach
  • Diverse itinerary options from classic European rivers to exotic Nile and Mekong voyages
  • Full-board meal plans included in the cruise fare as standard

Main Restaurant: Open-seating dining serving international and regional cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Afternoon Coffee & Cake: A beloved German tradition – freshly baked cakes and pastries served each afternoon

Themed Evenings: Regional and destination-inspired menus that reflect the ports and cultures along the route

Beverages: Drink packages available for purchase; select sailings include beverage packages in the fare

The culinary team focuses on hearty, well-prepared meals with regional touches. It’s honest food done well rather than experimental fine dining.

Nicko Cruises offers cabins across a range of categories depending on the vessel. River ships feature standard cabins with panoramic windows, French balcony cabins, and select suites with expanded living space. Ocean vessels offer inside, outside, balcony, and suite categories.

All cabins are designed for comfort with modern furnishings, en-suite bathrooms, climate control, TV, safe, and hair dryer. Higher categories add extras like sitting areas, mini-bars, and upgraded amenities.

The focus is on practical comfort – clean, well-maintained spaces where you can rest well after a full day of exploration.

Cruise Search

A modern river cruise ship with white and red hull, multi-deck passenger accommodations

German river cruises without the luxury price tag

Rivers, Oceans, and Everything Between

Most cruise lines pick a lane. Nicko Cruises picked several. Their river fleet covers the classic European waterways – Danube, Rhine, Elbe, Moselle, Douro, and more – while their ocean ships open up the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Atlantic Islands, and further-flung destinations. The result is a cruise line where you can sail the Danube this year and follow it up with an ocean voyage to Norway the next, all with a company you already know. That kind of range is unusual at this price point, and it’s one of the things that makes Nicko worth paying attention to.

Honest Food, Well Made

Nicko Cruises takes a refreshingly straightforward approach to dining. Full-board meals are included in every sailing – breakfast, lunch, afternoon coffee with freshly baked cake, and multi-course dinners. The kitchen draws on regional ingredients and prepares themed menus that reflect wherever you happen to be sailing. A Danube cruise might feature Austrian specialties one evening and Hungarian dishes the next. It’s not trying to be a Michelin-starred experience – it’s trying to feed you well and give you a taste of the places you’re visiting. And it does that consistently. Beverage packages can be added, and select sailings bundle them into the fare. When you book through SmartCruiser.com, your dedicated agent can help you sort out which fare and package combination delivers the best value for your sailing.

The Rhein Symphonie, a modern river cruise ship operated by Nicko Cruises, is moored on the Rhine
A large multi-deck river cruise ship operated by Nicko Cruises, moored on the Nile River in Egypt

Destinations That Reward Curiosity

Nicko Cruises builds itineraries that balance the must-see highlights with quieter stops that most cruise lines skip entirely. On their European river voyages, you might dock in a small Wachau wine village one morning and walk into the center of Vienna the next. Their Nile sailings trace the classic route from Luxor to Aswan with expert-guided excursions to temples and tombs. And their Mekong itineraries bring you into the floating markets and rural communities of Vietnam and Cambodia. On the ocean side, voyages stretch from the Norwegian fjords to the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean, and beyond. Wherever Nicko goes, the focus stays on actually experiencing the place rather than rushing through a checklist.

The Nicko Cruises Difference

Genuine Value

Nicko Cruises consistently delivers one of the best price-to-experience ratios in river and ocean cruising. Full-board meals, quality accommodations, and well-planned itineraries come standard – without the sticker shock you might expect. It’s real cruising at a rate that makes sense.

River & Ocean Fleet

Few cruise lines at this price point offer both river and ocean ships. Whether you’re drawn to the intimacy of a river cruise through Europe’s heartland or the wider horizons of an ocean voyage, Nicko gives you the option to do both under one brand. That flexibility is hard to find.

Relaxed & Welcoming

No formal nights, no stuffy dress codes. Nicko Cruises keeps things comfortable and unpretentious, with an atmosphere where you can be yourself from morning to night. The crew is genuinely friendly, the fellow guests are easy to talk to, and the whole experience feels more like a holiday than a production.

A modern river cruise ship, MS La Belle de Cadix, anchored in turquoise waters near a port facility

Comfortable Cabins, No Surprises

Nicko Cruises cabins are built around practicality and comfort. The spaces feel genuinely livable rather than just functional – you won’t find yourself tripping over your luggage or fighting for counter space. River ships offer everything from cozy standard cabins with panoramic windows up to spacious suites where you can stretch out after a full day ashore. On the ocean vessels, the range extends to include balcony staterooms with proper outdoor seating. What stands out is how well-rested you feel each morning. The beds are good, the soundproofing holds up, and the climate control actually works – which matters more than people think when you’re out exploring all day. Not sure which category fits your trip? Our experienced agents can compare deck plans, cabin placement, and upgrade costs to find the best value for your sailing.

Gallery

The MS Steigenberger Minerva, a multi-deck river cruise ship operated by Nicko Cruises, is moored
A luxurious river cruise vessel RV Mekong Navigator navigates the Mekong River in Southeast Asia
A white multi-deck cruise ship operated by Nicko Cruises is anchored in the clear turquoise waters
A scenic river cruise ship, the Bijou du Rhône, navigates the calm waters of the Rhône River
A scenic river cruise ship operated by Nicko Cruises navigates the blue waters of the Douro River
The Katarina von Bora, a Nicko Cruises river cruise ship, is docked at twilight in front

Our Fleet

Frequently Asked Questions

Nicko Cruises river sailings include full-board dining – breakfast, lunch, afternoon coffee and cake, and a multi-course dinner. Welcome and farewell cocktails with the captain are included, as are port and waterway fees, onboard entertainment, and use of fitness and wellness facilities. Wi-Fi access is available on most ships. Shore excursions and beverage packages are typically offered as optional add-ons, though some promotional fares bundle these in. Ocean cruises follow a similar structure with full-board meals included as standard.

Nicko Cruises occupies an interesting space in the market. They offer solid quality at a genuinely competitive rate – not the cheapest option out there, but consistently good value for what you get. The German heritage shows up in their operational precision and reliability. And unlike most river cruise lines, they also run ocean ships, giving you access to a much wider range of destinations under one brand. The atmosphere is deliberately relaxed and informal, which suits travelers who prefer to vacation without pretension.

On the river side, Nicko Cruises covers an extensive European network including the Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Elbe, Oder, Seine, Rhône, Douro, and Po. They also sail the Nile in Egypt and the Mekong in Southeast Asia. Their ocean ships extend the range even further – the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Norwegian fjords, Atlantic Islands (Canaries, Azores), and select longer voyages. It’s one of the broadest destination portfolios you’ll find from a single cruise line at this price level.

It depends on the vessel. Nicko Cruises’ river ships range from around 80 guests on their smaller boats to approximately 180 on their larger European river vessels. Ocean ships are larger, carrying roughly 400 to 600+ passengers. Even the ocean vessels are considered small to mid-size by industry standards, which means less crowding, shorter embarkation lines, and a more personal atmosphere onboard.

Nicko Cruises has strong German roots, and many sailings are conducted primarily in German. However, they increasingly offer bilingual (German and English) itineraries and some English-language sailings, especially on popular international routes. It’s worth checking the specific sailing you’re interested in. Our dedicated agents at SmartCruiser.com can confirm the language details for any Nicko voyage before you book.

River ships range from standard cabins to French balcony cabins and full suites, while ocean vessels offer inside, outside, balcony, and suite categories. Standard amenities across all cabins include en-suite bathrooms, climate control, TV, safe, and hair dryer. If you’re considering an upgrade, the higher categories add sitting areas, mini-bars, and upgraded amenities. Our advisors can help you pick the right category for your trip – the difference between cabin types can matter more on some itineraries than others, and we’re happy to walk you through the options.

No formal dress code. Nicko Cruises keeps things casual and comfortable throughout the voyage. Smart casual attire is appropriate for dinners, but you won’t need a tuxedo or evening gown. The captain’s dinner might see guests dressing slightly smarter, but it’s entirely voluntary. Pack comfortably and you’ll fit right in.

Shore excursions are generally offered as optional add-ons with Nicko Cruises and can be booked onboard or in advance. Some promotional fares and special packages do include excursions. The excursion program typically covers guided city tours, cultural visits, and local experiences at each port of call. Our advisors can help you understand what is included in your specific fare and recommend the best excursion options for your itinerary.

Yes. Nicko Cruises operates a growing ocean fleet alongside their river ships. Ocean voyages cover the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Norwegian fjords, Atlantic Islands, and occasionally longer repositioning voyages. The ocean ships are small to mid-sized, which allows them to visit ports that larger cruise ships cannot access. The onboard experience maintains the same relaxed, value-focused approach as their river program.

Gratuity policies vary by itinerary and vessel. On some sailings, tips are included in the fare, while on others they are discretionary. Typical suggested amounts range from around €5 to €10 per guest per day, depending on the sailing. Your booking confirmation will clarify the policy for your specific cruise, and your dedicated agent can walk you through it when you book.

When you book Nicko Cruises through SmartCruiser.com, Division of Oasis Travel Network, you work with a dedicated, experienced agent who knows river and ocean cruising firsthand – not a random reservations agent. We bring over 30 years of experience under the same management, group rate pricing, and exclusive amenities to every sailing, with savings of up to $1500+ depending on the time of year and destination. See a lower price elsewhere? Ask and we’ll do our best to price match. Your agent stays your direct point of contact from the first inquiry through disembarkation, helping with cabin selection, language details, excursions, and everything in between.

Ready to Explore with Nicko Cruises?

Whether you’re drawn to the Rhine, curious about the Nile, or eyeing an ocean voyage to Norway, Nicko Cruises makes it possible at a rate that feels right. Our experienced agents at SmartCruiser.com, Division of Oasis Travel Network are ready to help you find the perfect sailing, secure the best cabin for your needs, and unlock group rates and exclusive amenities you won’t get booking direct. Your dedicated agent stays with you from first question to final port. Call us at 1-800-444-1560 to get started.