European River Cruises

A slower, more immersive way to experience Europe.

River cruising has become one of our favorite ways to experience Europe. Instead of sailing from major port to major port, river cruising takes you directly through the heart of a destination.
One morning you might wake up steps from a medieval town. That afternoon you could be biking through vineyards, tasting wine with a local producer or wandering independently through a city you've always wanted to see. Then you return to the ship, unpack once and wake up somewhere new the next morning.

But here's something first-time river cruisers quickly discover:

Choosing a river cruise isn't simply choosing a river.

And the experience on one river cruise line can feel surprisingly different from another.
That's where understanding your travel style becomes important.

Which River Should
You Choose?

Europe's rivers offer very different experiences.

Danube:
Think Vienna, Budapest, charming villages, historic cities and some of Europe's most recognizable river-cruise destinations.

Rhine:
Castles, vineyards, dramatic scenery and storybook towns make the Rhine another favorite for first-time river cruisers.

Douro:
Portugal's Douro offers spectacular landscapes, wine country and a distinctly different pace and experience from Central Europe's rivers.

Rhône & Saône / Burgundy & Provence:
Food, wine, beautiful towns and French culture make this region particularly appealing to travelers who want the destination to be as much about tasting and experiencing as sightseeing.
And river cruising isn't limited to Europe.

Mekong:
The Mekong offers an entirely different style of immersive travel through Southeast Asia.

Which River Cruise Line Is Right for You?

There isn't one best river cruise company.
Viking, AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways and other river cruise lines each approach the experience differently.We've personally experienced multiple river cruise products, and one of the most important parts of our job is helping travelers understand those differences.

Explore our river cruise comparisons:

• Viking vs. AmaWaterways
• AmaWaterways vs. Avalon Waterways
• Best River Cruises for First-Time River Cruisers

European River Cruises

VIKING VS. AMAWATERWAYS:
Which River Cruise
Is Right for You?

If you've started researching a European river cruise, there's a good chance you've heard of Viking. Viking has done an exceptional job of introducing travelers to river cruising, and for many people, “Viking” and “river cruise” have almost become synonymous. But Viking isn't the only choice, and it isn't automatically the right choice for every traveler.

AmaWaterways offers a very different river cruise experience, and we've personally sailed with both. So when someone asks us, “Which is better, Viking or AmaWaterways?” our answer is almost always: It depends on how you like to travel.

Both are excellent river cruise companies. Both can deliver a wonderful European vacation. But after experiencing them ourselves, we think they appeal to somewhat different travelers.

The Overall Feel:
Scandinavian Polish vs. Comfortable Luxury.

One of the first differences we noticed was simply how the ships felt.Viking has a very recognizable Scandinavian aesthetic. Think clean lines, light woods, understated furnishings and a polished, minimalist design. It feels classy and intentional without being overly ornate.AmaWaterways felt completely different to us. Our best description is walking into a really comfortable, upscale neighborhood restaurant or hotel where you immediately feel like you can settle in. There are comfortable places to sit with friends, have a cup of coffee, read a book or strike up a conversation. The atmosphere felt warmer and more residential to us.Viking felt polished and Scandinavian. AmaWaterways felt warm, comfortable and a little more like family.
Neither approach is better. But you may immediately know which one sounds more like you.

The Social Experience.

This was one of the biggest differences for us. We found AmaWaterways particularly social. Part of that came from the way the public spaces were arranged, although on the ship we experienced, some of the larger furniture could make those spaces feel a little crowded.The bigger difference was the interaction. The Ama crew made us feel as though we were being welcomed back as long-lost relatives. There was an informality and warmth to those relationships that contributed to the overall feeling of being part of a community.We had excellent service on Viking as well, but the relationships felt somewhat more formal to us. Viking also seemed to have a rhythm: come together for meals, enrichment, social time and the things happening onboard, but spend much of your destination time ashore.Ama felt a little more like a choose-your-own-adventure environment. If you wanted to participate, participate. If you wanted to sit somewhere with a book and coffee, do that. If you wanted to go explore, go explore. That flexibility really appealed to us.

Excursions:
This May Be the
Biggest Difference.

If excursions and the way you experience a destination are important to you, pay particular attention here.Viking includes a complimentary shore excursion in each port, with additional optional excursions available for travelers who want to go deeper. The included excursion is often a traditional destination overview, frequently a walking tour or motorcoach experience with a local guide. And Viking does this very well. If you're fascinated by history, architecture and understanding what happened in the places you're visiting, Viking can be an excellent fit. There are also some fascinating optional experiences available depending on the itinerary.But AmaWaterways approaches excursions differently.
Ama generally offers multiple included choices, allowing travelers to experience the same destination in very different ways. Depending on the itinerary and port, you might choose a traditional sightseeing tour, a gentler-paced option, a hike, a guided bike ride, a food or wine experience, or another more immersive activity.That difference matters.Imagine two couples traveling together. One couple wants to bicycle through the countryside. The other would much rather take a panoramic tour and enjoy the scenery without breaking a sweat. They can potentially have completely different days and meet back on the ship afterward for drinks.For us, AmaWaterways wins when flexibility and activity choices are priorities.

Who Is More Active?

AmaWaterways would be our stronger recommendation for someone who tells us, “We don't want to just look at Europe. We want to get out and do things.”Ama incorporates hiking and biking opportunities along with more traditional sightseeing, and its included excursion choices allow travelers with different activity levels to select experiences that suit them. That's particularly useful when couples or friends don't have identical definitions of a perfect vacation.Viking does offer active experiences on certain itineraries, but we don't consider an active, choose-your-own-pace excursion program to be the defining feature of the Viking experience. For the traveler who prioritizes traditional sightseeing, cultural enrichment and history, we'd give Viking serious consideration.For someone whose priorities include activity, variety and choosing how they experience each destination, we'd lean toward Ama.

Food: Our Experience
Gives Ama the Edge.

Food is subjective, so this is very much our personal experience.We ate well on both cruise lines. But AmaWaterways was the stronger food experience for us. Food felt like a particularly important part of the Ama experience, with an emphasis on cuisine connected to the destinations through which we were traveling. We found the meals fantastic.Viking also incorporates regional specialties alongside familiar favorites, and we enjoyed our meals onboard.
But if a client came to us and said, “Food is a really important part of how we travel,” between these two lines, we'd start the conversation with AmaWaterways.

What About the Cabins?

Cabin size is one of those areas where you have to be careful with broad comparisons because both companies operate different ships and cabin categories. So we wouldn't say, “Ama cabins are bigger than Viking cabins” as a universal rule. What we can tell you is how they felt to us.Our AmaWaterways cabin felt generous and very comfortable. Our Viking cabin felt somewhat more compact and minimalist. That doesn't mean everyone should spend more money on a larger river cruise cabin.In fact, one of the questions we ask clients is: How much time are you actually going to spend in your room? For some travelers, the cabin is extremely important. Others shower, sleep and change clothes there, and spend practically every waking minute somewhere else.
Know which traveler you are before paying for space you may not value.

Adults Only:
A Genuine Viking Difference.

There is one very clear distinction that could immediately make Viking the right choice for some travelers.Viking does not allow guests under age 18.For travelers specifically looking for an adults-only river cruise environment, that's significant. AmaWaterways can be a good option for multigenerational travel on appropriate itineraries, while Viking is intentionally designed exclusively for adults.So if you tell us, “I absolutely want an adults-only experience,” Viking moves up the list quickly.

Is One More Luxurious?

We don't think “Which is more luxurious?” is actually the most useful question. Both can feel upscale.Viking's version of upscale is clean, understated and Scandinavian. Ama's feels warmer, softer and somewhat more relaxed.We personally found Ama more casual and Viking a little more traditional. Someone else might interpret those exact characteristics differently. That's why we prefer talking about vibe and fit
instead of assigning an arbitrary luxury ranking.

Who Do We Think
Viking Is Best For?

We'd look closely at Viking for a traveler who appreciates:

Viking can be particularly appealing to travelers who appreciate something tried, true and consistent. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Sometimes knowing what to expect is exactly what someone wants from a vacation.

Who Do We Think
AmaWaterways Is Best For?

We'd look closely at AmaWaterways for someone who says, “I want choices.” Ama is particularly compelling to us for travelers who value:

We especially like Ama for travelers who are young, or simply young at heart, and want to actively experience the destinations they're visiting.

The Thing Travelers Often
Get Wrong About Viking!

Viking is everywhere. Its marketing is extraordinarily effective, so travelers sometimes come to us having already concluded, “We're taking a river cruise, so we're taking Viking.”
Maybe you should. Viking is a fantastic product. But its marketing reach doesn't mean its particular style of river cruising is automatically the best match for you.AmaWaterways has its own traveler. Avalon has its own traveler. Other river cruise companies do too. And sometimes one cruise line has a particular itinerary or experience that makes the decision incredibly easy. If one company is offering the itinerary you've dreamed about and the others aren't, that can matter far more than which brand usually fits you best.

If the Price and Itinerary
Were Identical,
Which Would We Choose?

For us personally? AmaWaterways.
The reason isn't that we think AmaWaterways is universally “better” than Viking. It's because Ama's flexibility makes it easier for us to create the kind of days we enjoy. We like having choices. We like being active. We love food. We enjoy connecting with local culture. And we like an environment where we can be social when we want to be and independent when we don't.Those are our boxes. Ama checks more of them.
Your boxes may be completely different.

Viking vs. AmaWaterways:
The Bottom Line.

Don't choose Viking because you've seen the commercials.Don't choose AmaWaterways because we personally love it.Choose the river cruise line where you're most likely to find your people and your kind of vacation.Start with the itinerary. Is one cruise line taking you somewhere the others aren't? That may make your decision.If the itineraries are comparable, then start looking deeper. How active do you want to be? How important is food? Do you want lots of excursion choices or would you rather have someone narrow them down? How social do you want the ship to feel? How important is an adults-only environment? Do you love history?What do you want your days to feel like?Those answers tell us far more than a cruise-line logo ever could.
Because we don't believe there's one “best” river cruise line. There's the one that's the best fit for you.

• Let's Talk About Your River Cruise
• AmaWaterways vs. Avalon Waterways
• Best River Cruises for First-Time River Cruisers

European River Cruises

AMAWATERWAYS VS. AVALON:
Which Fits Your Travel Style?

Once travelers discover there are river cruise lines beyond the name they've seen most often on television, another question frequently comes up: “What about AmaWaterways versus Avalon?”This is an interesting comparison because we think these two cruise lines have more in common with each other than either one does with some of the more traditional river cruise experiences.We've sailed both. We enjoyed both. We'd happily put clients on both.
So this isn't an article about declaring a winner. It's about identifying the relatively small differences that might make a big difference to you.

First Impressions:
Two Different Versions of
an Elevated River Cruise.

Stepping onboard Avalon felt contemporary to us.If Viking represents Scandinavian minimalism and AmaWaterways feels more like comfortable luxury, Avalon landed somewhere in between, but with its own personality.Avalon reminded us of a modern luxury hotel. The design felt elevated and contemporary without feeling stark. AmaWaterways also feels upscale, but to us it has a warmer, more residential feeling. Ama feels a little more like you've walked into a beautiful place where people already know you and expect you to stay awhile. Avalon feels more like checking into a really nice modern hotel.Those are subtle differences. And they're exactly the kind of differences that photographs and lists of amenities don't necessarily communicate.

The Overall Vibe.

AmaWaterways gave us a particularly strong part-of-the-family feeling. Avalon felt slightly more elevated. But we wouldn't call one substantially more luxurious than the other. Both delivered excellent service. Both were social. Both could be relaxing.The difference for us was much more about decor, atmosphere and personality than about quality. And because our Avalon and Ama experiences both involved groups of travel advisors, we're careful about drawing sweeping conclusions about which normally has the more social passenger mix. Travel advisors tend to be pretty social people. Our sailings certainly were.

Let's Talk About
Avalon's Panorama Suites.

This is probably the Avalon feature you've seen if you've done any research at all.
Avalon's Panorama Suites feature wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows that open wide to create what Avalon calls an Open-Air Balcony. Even more distinctive: The bed faces the river.
It's a fantastic design. We thought the cabin was beautiful. But here's where our answer may differ from the marketing: It wouldn't automatically make us choose Avalon.Why? We weren't in our cabin very much. We were off the ship exploring, eating, spending time in the public spaces and doing the things we came to Europe to do.So while facing the scenery from bed sounds fabulous, and it is, we wouldn't personally choose an entire river cruise based on that feature. But that's us.For another traveler, it could absolutely matter.Imagine a cold-weather sailing when you'd rather enjoy the scenery from your warm cabin. Or a very hot afternoon when enjoying the view while remaining comfortably inside sounds much more appealing than sitting on the upper deck.
Or maybe you're simply someone who loves spending downtime in your room. For that traveler, Avalon's Panorama Suite deserves serious consideration.

Which Had the
Better Cabin Experience?

For us personally: AmaWaterways.
That surprised us a little because Avalon's Panorama Suite is such a compelling concept. But the cabin experience is more than one feature.We found our AmaWaterways accommodations particularly
comfortable and generous. That's a personal preference rather than a declaration that Ama has “better cabins.”Cabin sizes and configurations vary by ship and category, so this is an area where we would compare the actual ships and categories you're considering rather than making a blanket judgment.

Food vs. Wine:
This Is Where It Gets Interesting.

If you're a food and wine traveler, here's one of our most useful firsthand observations:We preferred the food on AmaWaterways.
We preferred the wine on Avalon.The wines served on our Avalon sailing were a genuine surprise.
We're not talking about a special bottle we purchased separately. We're talking about the wines being poured with meals.
They were really, really good.
For a traveler who really cares about wine, that experience gives Avalon an edge in our personal comparison.But when it came to the overall food experience, AmaWaterways won for us. So if someone came to us and said, “Food is one of the most important parts of this trip,” we'd lean toward Ama.If someone said, “We really appreciate good wine,”
we'd want Avalon in the conversation.

And Don't Miss
the Chef's Table!

One of our standout Avalon dining experiences was the Chef's Table.It was fantastic.Experiences like that are why we don't like reducing river cruise comparisons to spreadsheets. You can compare cabin square footage and lists of inclusions all day long. But sometimes what you remember after the trip is a fantastic dinner, a wine you weren't expecting to love or a conversation with people you just met.Those experiences matter too.

Excursions:
Both Are Excellent!

This is an area where we don't think you need to compromise with either company. We thought the excursion choices were fantastic on both AmaWaterways and Avalon.Both offer travelers different ways to experience destinations rather than assuming everyone wants to move at the same pace.AmaWaterways offers included choices that can range from traditional sightseeing to hiking and biking and other immersive experiences. Avalon organizes its included Avalon Choice excursions around Classic, Active and Discovery experiences.That means on either line, someone who wants a more energetic day doesn't necessarily have to travel exactly like someone who wants a slower one.We love that. It's particularly useful for couples and groups whose activity levels don't perfectly match.

And Yes, Avalon Has E-Bikes!

Avalon offers bicycles and e-bikes on many European sailings, subject to ship, itinerary and availability.That may sound like a small detail. For the right traveler, it isn't.An e-bike can make independent exploration accessible to someone who loves the idea of biking through Europe but doesn't necessarily want to turn vacation into the Tour de France.

Which One Is Better
for Active Travelers?

This one is almost a tie for us.
We think both AmaWaterways and Avalon are excellent choices for active or young-at-heart travelers.Both recognize that today's river cruiser doesn't necessarily want to sit on a motorcoach every day.
You may want to hike. Bike. Taste. Cook. Explore. Or do something completely different tomorrow.Both lines give travelers meaningful flexibility.
That's one reason we'd be comfortable recommending either to someone who says, “We're not sit-on-the-bus people.”

Service?

Excellent on both.We had fantastic crew and service experiences with AmaWaterways and Avalon. We wouldn't use service as the deciding factor between these two based on our experiences.Likewise, we wouldn't tell someone one is substantially more luxurious than the other.They're different versions of an elevated river cruise.
Avalon felt a little more like a contemporary luxury hotel. Ama felt a little warmer and more family-like.Which sounds better? That's personal.

Who Do We Think
Avalon Is Best For?

We'd give Avalon particularly serious consideration if you tell us, “The cabin really matters to me.”
The Panorama Suite design is genuinely special, especially for someone who enjoys spending downtime in their cabin watching the scenery.We'd also put Avalon high on the list for:

And we'd absolutely consider Avalon for someone younger or young at heart.

Who Do We Think
AmaWaterways Is Best For?

We'd lean toward AmaWaterways for travelers who particularly value:

Ama remains one of our favorite recommendations for travelers who are young, or young at heart, and want to participate in the destination rather than simply observe it.

Is There Anyone We
Wouldn't Put on Either?

Not really.
And that's an important difference from some cruise-line comparisons.There are travelers for whom we can fairly quickly say, “I don't think that particular cruise line is your best match.”We don't feel that way broadly about either Avalon or AmaWaterways.They're both products we'd be very comfortable recommending.
Instead, we'd dig deeper into the specific itinerary, ship and traveler.

If the Price and Itinerary
Were Identical,
Which Would We Choose?

This is where our answer gets interesting. We wouldn't automatically choose Ama. And we wouldn't automatically choose Avalon.We'd look at the actual ships.One of the things we'd compare is passenger capacity.
River ships operate within physical limitations imposed by the rivers and locks they navigate. That means two ships with similar dimensions can sometimes carry different numbers of passengers.If two itineraries were essentially identical and the prices were comparable, we'd look at which ship carried fewer guests, along with cabin category, excursion details and the things our particular client values. For us, that could be enough to break the tie.That's also why we don't love broad statements like,
“Avalon is better than Ama.”
Better on which ship? Better on which itinerary?
Better for which traveler?Those questions matter.

AmaWaterways vs. Avalon:
Our Bottom Line.

This is a much closer comparison for us than Viking versus AmaWaterways.If you care deeply about food and love a warm, family-like onboard atmosphere, AmaWaterways may have the edge.If wine is particularly important to you, you love contemporary hotel-style design or the idea of watching Europe pass by from a bed facing your Panorama Suite windows makes you ridiculously happy, Avalon may have the edge.If you want active excursions, we'd happily consider either.
If you want excellent service, we'd happily consider either.
If you want an elevated river cruise without feeling overly formal,
again, we'd happily consider either!And if the price and itinerary were virtually identical, that's when we'd start comparing the individual ships, passenger capacity, cabin categories and the tiny details that actually matter to you.
Because choosing between two excellent river cruise lines isn't about finding the one that wins the most categories.It's about finding the one whose strengths line up
with the things you care about.And sometimes that's exactly where a travel advisor who has actually experienced both can make the decision a whole lot easier.

• Let's Talk About Your River Cruise
• VIKING VS. AMAWATERWAYS
• Best River Cruises for First-Time River Cruisers

European River Cruises

Planning Your First River Cruise?
Here's What Actually Matters.

River cruising looks wonderfully simple. Choose Europe. Pick a river. Pick a date. Book a cabin. Except that's usually when the questions begin.

We've helped travelers work through these questions, and we've also experienced river cruising ourselves.
Here's where we recommend starting:

1. Choose the experience before the cruise line.
Think about how you like to travel before choosing a brand.

2. Choose your river carefully.
Danube, Rhine, Douro and Rhône/Saône itineraries aren't simply different versions of the same vacation.

3. Understand the excursion style.
Some travelers want maximum activity. Others want a morning tour followed by three hours wandering independently. Neither is wrong.

4. Don't automatically buy the most expensive cabin.
Think about how much time you'll actually spend there and what features matter to you.

5. Look beyond the cruise fare.
Airfare, hotels, transfers, gratuities, optional excursions, travel protection and pre/post travel all affect total vacation cost.

6. Consider arriving early.
We strongly prefer having breathing room before an international cruise rather than building a
vacation around a same-day international arrival.

7. Understand river levels—but don't panic about them.
High and low water are realities of river travel. Cruise lines have contingency plans, and the effect varies significantly by river, location and conditions.

8. Give yourself permission not to do everything.
Your vacation isn't a scavenger hunt. Sometimes the best afternoon is the one where you skip something and sit at a café. The best first river cruise is the one that makes you want to take a second.

• LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR RIVER CRUISE
• VIKING VS. AMAWATERWAYS
• AMAWATERWAYS VS. AVALON WATERWAYS