Scenic River Cruises

Scenic attracts a well-traveled, somewhat affluent crowd of passengers. The company markets its cruises only in English-speaking countries and about 40 percent of a ship's typical passenger complement is Australian, with the rest predominantly made up of travelers from the U.S., Canada and U.K. Most are 55 or older.

A little. Ships have a stylish but friendly and relaxed vibe. For dinner, smart-casual attire is recommended. Jeans can be worn in the restaurant, but shorts and flip-flops are not appropriate. Many passengers dress up for the captain's welcome dinner and/or farewell dinner, albeit even this tends to be smarter casual, rather than full-on cocktail dresses and suits.

Just about. Scenic cruises are fully all-inclusive trips, with fares covering meals, an open bar throughout the day, restocked mini-bars in cabins, gratuities, butler service, shore excursions and Wi-Fi. Use of e-bikes in select ports is also included in the fare.

Scenic cruisers want to be ashore as much as possible and the daily excursions are always busy; many enjoy the active options such as a 25-mile bike ride. Evening options are also popular, including the once-per-cruise Scenic Sundowners, which offer a cultural experience exclusively for Scenic passengers. More independent-minded cruisers appreciate the line's GPS devices, which offer a variety of suggested walking tours and background info.

Onboard, cruisers prefer to relax and chat with new friends.

Best for: Mature luxury cruisers

Not for: Budget cruisers, families and late-night party animals