River cruises, from someone who bikes off the ship every day

I've sailed AmaWaterways twice, on the Danube and the Rhine, and it's my favorite river line. We love to ride bikes, and we did it every single day. The staff is some of the best I've seen, and the ships are just the right size.

For a 4 to 4.5-star line, they do an excellent job, and their customer service is great. Many port days give you a walking tour plus an active option like a bike ride or a hike.

When we got home, we found a handwritten note from the president of the company. That's AmaWaterways.

Avalon does a great job and sits in the same category as AmaWaterways. My favorite detail: in most rooms the bed faces the river, so you can lie in bed and watch it go by.

Avalon's Panorama Suites have a wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling window that opens wide, and they make up most of the rooms. Each day you choose your pace: Classic, Discovery or Active excursions.

Viking is the biggest name in river cruising, and their ships are basically all the same, so you know exactly what you're getting. People really like it.

Wine and beer with lunch and dinner, Wi-Fi, and a shore excursion in every port are included.

Uniworld, Tauck and Riverside are at the top of my list for the best food and the best service. Every Uniworld ship is decorated differently, and they go big on design. Drinks and tips are included, and Uniworld's Super Ships carry 150 to 159 guests and have balconies.

Uniworld also runs themed cruises, like culinary trips, which are fun if you love food.

My clients love Tauck. They tell me the service is wonderful and they feel like a king and queen.

Tauck ships carry 98 to 130 guests. Drinks, tips and all excursions are included, Tauck adds little surprises on tour, and it even includes money for meals in port.

Riverside is another one my clients love, and they come home feeling like royalty. Every cabin has a butler you can message on WhatsApp.

The food is a big deal here: bread is baked daily and pasta is made twice a day, with venues from a casual bistro to an 8-course dinner in The Vintage Room. Meals, Wi-Fi and tips are included.

I haven't sailed Scenic, but I put it right up there with Riverside. It's a top 5-star river line.

Scenic includes a butler in every cabin, drinks from the bar, a restocked minibar, excursions and tips. E-bikes and Scenic's own GPS app make it easy to explore on your own.

A barge cruise is tiny, slow and all about food and wine. Friends of mine in the business absolutely love it. It's a little too small for me, but foodies and wine people come home thrilled.

Belmond has 7 barges in France for 4 to 12 guests each, cruising Burgundy, Champagne and Provence from April to October. Expect at least 15 wines and more than 20 cheeses in a week. Bikes are on board, some barges have a pool, and you can book a single cabin or charter the whole barge.

French Country Waterways has 5 barges for 8 to 18 guests in Burgundy, Champagne, Alsace-Lorraine and the Upper Loire. Each morning a crew member picks up fresh bread at the local bakery. Wine, bikes and guided excursions are included.

I've sold about 10 American Cruise Lines trips, and my clients absolutely love them. It sails only in the U.S., on rivers like the Mississippi and the Columbia and Snake.

Ships carry 90 to 180 guests. Drinks, tips, at least one excursion in every port, and a hotel night before you sail are included.

Heritage Line sails boutique riverboats on the Mekong through Vietnam and Cambodia, plus Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay. Think temple visits, village walks and cooking classes. Meals, wine and beer with lunch and dinner, excursions and Wi-Fi are included.