What are the differences between Viking River Cruises & Uniworld River Cruises & AmaWaterways & Tauck & CroisiEurope & Riviera & Scenic?

With so many river cruise lines in operation along the waterways of Europe and elsewhere throughout the world, it’s never easy to answer one of the most basic questions travelers are likely to have: How are each of these river cruise companies different from one another?

Compare River Cruise Companies

When you’re planning a river cruise in Europe or Africa or Asia or South America or the United States, you have a dizzying number of choices. To better understand what your choices are, we’ve prepared the table below with some of the features our readers most commonly ask us about, coupled with a brief overview of what makes each line unique in its own right.

This makes it easy for you to compare river cruise companies at a glance and to find out which may work best for your tastes. If you prefer prepaid gratuities, you’ll want to select a river cruise company that includes those. If you like the idea of biking along the river or cycling in the cities where your ship docks, then choose river companies that offer complimentary use of their on-board bicycles. In fact, there are nearly as many variables as there are cruise companies. The chart helps you compare them to choose what’s best for you.

Ready? Let’s go river cruising!

Attributes Of The Top River Cruise Companies

Please note that the table can be scrolled horizontally so that you may view all data on mobile devices or small screens.

AmaWaterways

Defining Feature: Modern, contemporary ships combining elegant style and service, and a focus on health and wellness.

Destinations: Europe, Portugal, Africa, Cambodia & Vietnam, Myanmar

I recommend AmaWaterways for anyone seeking a stylish and personable river cruise experience and also for those who appreciate wellness and activity. Notable is the company’s emphasis on walks, hikes and both guided and independent bicycling excursions along with theme cruises, such as those that focus on wine. Although the company emphasizes active excursions, it caters well to all levels of mobility, even featuring foldable wheelchairs and other assistive devices on its ships.

Founded in 2002 by Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst and the late Jimmy Murphy, AmaWaterways boasts a fleet of more than 20 modern ships that sail the waterways of Europe, plus the AmaDara operating in Vietnam and Cambodia; and the Zambezi Queen in Africa.

Personable service has been a hallmark of the line since day one. It’s a theme that transcends each of AmaWaterways’ stylish river cruise ships and even applies to the company itself. Co-founder Kristin Karst even writes her own blog for the line. Expect to feel not like a number, but like an old friend, when you sail with AmaWaterways.

In recent years, the line has been taking its lauded brand of cruising to other parts of the world. In addition to Europe, AmaWaterways offers luxury voyages to South Africa, Cambodia and Vietnam with a focus on cultural immersion and authentic experiences both onboard and ashore.

AmaWaterways also operates the double-width AmaMagna, representing a game-changing new design elevating modern luxury even further. See 6 Types Of Travelers Who Are Perfect For AmaMagna, Are You One Of Them?

I’ve enjoyed many wonderful cruises through Europe and abroad on AmaWaterways, and those voyages consistently rank as my favorites. See Cruising The Rhone On AmaWaterways: Lyon To Arles, A Cruise Along The Seine With AmaWaterways, and AmaWaterways’ Taste Of Bordeaux

Also check out my Live Voyage Reports, AmaLotus – Vietnam & Cambodia as well as 12 Things To Like About The New AmaPrima.

One of my favorite restaurants resides on AmaWaterways’ vessels, The Chef’s Table. Situated aft, the complimentary, reservations-only dining experience pairs fine wines with multi-course dinners prepared in a show kitchen right in front of you. Ships also offer light lunches, late night snacks and complimentary tapas in the Lounges.

AmaWaterways’ core philosophy is to “under-promise” and “over-deliver.” Thus, you may be surprised by such events as German Fruehschoppen with Beer, German Sausages, Pretzels, Leberkaese and Potato Salad, as well as Austrian Spritzers, and Ice-cream Parties on the Sundeck.

Ships feature complimentary WiFi (probably the best I’ve experienced on the rivers), free movies and music in the staterooms, unlimited complimentary bottled water, complimentary postcards and postage (the only company I know of that does this), 24-hour complimentary specialty coffee & tea station and much more.

Also for an overview of what to expect on AmaWaterways, be sure to check out my Riverside Chat: Q&A AmaWaterways & Magnificent Europe

Read more about AmaWaterways.

Avalon Waterways

Defining Feature: Some of the most uniquely-designed staterooms afloat. 

Destinations: Europe, Asia, Amazon, Galapagos Islands

The first of Avalon’s “Suite Ships,” Avalon Panorama, debuted in May 2011 and pioneered the use of two full decks featuring Panorama Suites with floor-to-ceiling windows that open to create what the line calls Open Air Balconies. And while Avalon states that up to 100 cruisers could fit within the spacious, 200-square-foot Panorama Suite, we wouldn’t recommend it. But let’s not split hairs – these are still some of the most spacious river cruise ships out there.

On two full decks of every Suite Ship, beds face the views. The Open-Air Balcony turns your room into a balcony thanks to an 11-foot wide wall of windows that opens 7-feet wide. The design also functions to preserve room space.

Not all of Avalon’s ships in Europe are Suite Ships. On Avalon Creativity, Avalon Felicity, Avalon Luminary and Avalon Affinity, all staterooms, except for the Royal Suites, measure 172 square feet.

Founded in 2003, Avalon has worked quickly to ensure that all of its new river cruise vessels are now Suite Ships, each offering some unique features like beds positioned to face the balcony windows, and some of the best-designed bathrooms we’ve seen on a river cruise ship. That the line offers itineraries throughout Europe and to farther-flung destinations like Asia, the Amazon and the Galapagos Islands (the latter of which is operated by a ship) is just the icing on the cake.

See A Journey through France aboard Avalon Creativity | From Amsterdam To Paris On An Avalon Waterways |

Read more about Avalon Waterways

CroisiEurope

Defining Feature: Family owned, shallow-draft cruises exploring nearly every corner of Europe.

Destinations: Europe, Asia

Strasbourg-based CroisiEurope has a lot of ships, more than 50. The company’s all-inclusive cruises impress me with their French flair, inventive itineraries and innovative ships, including paddlewheelers that can operate on the Elbe and Loire. CroisiEurope also serves up one of the best values in river cruising. But CroisiEurope is not for everyone. See my story: Is CroisiEurope Right For You?

Founded by Gérard Schmitter in 1976, CroisiEurope River Cruises is still a family run business, responsible for the construction, ownership and day-to-day operations of river cruise vessels that are capable of carrying between 100 and 200 passengers. CroisiEurope is one of the few lines to offer sailings on nearly every  river in Europe.

One of CroisiEurope’s defining features is its shallow-draft river cruise vessels. By reducing the amount of the ship that exists below the waterline, CroisiEurope can sail into the heart of cities – like Strasbourg, where CroisiEurope is headquartered – while other river cruise operators are forced to dock on the other side of the Rhine, in the German town of Kehl, and bus guests in.

The line also offers pseudo river-ocean voyages through the Mediterranean that are wholly unique within the industry.

In 2013, CroisiEurope began actively marketing to North American travelers for the first time. Check out our Live Voyage Reports from onboard CroisiEurope’s sleek vessels:

• Loire Princesse through the Loire Valley
• Barging the South of France aboard Anne-Marie
• Botticelli along the Seine River in France
• Bordeaux On CroisiEurope’s Cyrano de Bergerac
• Elbe Princesse: Summing Up

For special offers, see CroisiEurope’s website: https://www.croisieuroperivercruises.com

You can reach CroisiEurope’s U.S. call centers through email (info-us@croisieurope.com) or by phone (toll free number) 1 800-768-7232.

Read more about CroisiEurope River Cruises

Crystal River Cruises (no longer operating)

Defining Feature: Spacious staterooms; Crystal’s renowned service by Crystal hired, trained and manage crew; Michelin-star-inspired dining.

Destinations: Europe

Crystal River Cruises ceased operations in 2022. Read more about the company’s fate and our sailings at Crystal River Cruises.

Emerald Cruises

Defining Feature: Sister to Scenic, Emerald is a “four-star product operating on five-star ships.”

Destinations: Europe

Founded by travel company, Scenic formerly known as Scenic Tours, Emerald Cruises made its debut in April 2014. Much like its parent company, Emerald Cruises serves travelers who are seeking a luxury river cruise experience. However, river cruise packages are offered at a more budget-friendly price compared to Scenic.

I liked what I saw when I cruised on Emerald Sky in April of 2016. The vessel was modern and sleek, with staterooms and public rooms that were bright, contemporary and inviting. Gratuities are included, and bicycles are on board for those who want to pedal ashore. I also enjoyed the aft pool, which transforms into a cinema at night. And yes, there’s popcorn for those who like movies with salty snacks.

While Scenic’s luxury brand caters to travelers who were seeking upscale river cruise experiences, the company also saw a need to serve the less-affluent (and possibly younger) travelers. Thus, the concept of Emerald Cruises was born. Like the Scenic brand, Emerald Cruises has its own custom-crafted vessels referred to as “Star Ships” that began sailing on a few of the waterways in Europe on April 15, 2014.

Glen Moroney, the owner of Scenic, told us that Emerald is a “four-star product operating on five-star hardware.” That’s a pretty good description in our minds.

Check out My Take On Emerald Sky: Five Favorite Things and my voyage through Eastern Europe with Emerald Cruises: An Incredible Journey: Enchantment Of Eastern Europe On Emerald Sky

Read more about Emerald Cruises.

Riviera River Cruises

Defining Feature: Premium river cruise experiences for a fraction of the cost

Destinations: Europe

Founded over thirty years ago in the UK as Riviera Travel, Riviera River Cruises has recently started targeting English-speaking guests from the United States and Canada for its value-priced river cruise offerings in Europe.

The company has a fleet of 11 vessels on the rivers of Europe, with more on the way. Unlike other river cruise lines, Riviera offers a price-point that is substantially lower than most of its competitors. It does this by “unbundling” some features, like inclusive drinks. You’ll pay extra for things like bottled water and beer, wine and spirits, but Riviera believes the overall cost savings justify the add-on charges by making river cruising accessible to a wider swath of people who might be put off by the multi-thousand-dollar-fares charged by other lines.

What Riviera has going for it is its three decades worth of experience as a tour operator, and the rave accolades its UK-based guests have given its river cruise product. Ships carry between 126 and 169 guests apiece, and are elegantly decorated, with plenty of fine woodworking, brass fixtures, and modern décor.

Read more about Riviera River Cruises.

Scenic

Defining Feature: With its new ships, Scenic strives to be the most inclusive of all river cruise lines.

Destinations: Europe, Asia

I last cruised on Scenic in 2015 and enjoyed the product quite a bit. The ships are modern and inviting, but it is all of the luxury trappings that make Scenic stand apart. Scenic strives to be the most inclusive of all river cruise companies. So naturally gratuities and 24/7 bar is included, but also laundry service and nearly everything else you can think of. The ships are beautiful with gorgeous staterooms. There are also multiple dining venues. I wrote extensively about Scenic in this post: Scenic Jasper, End Of Cruise, Summing Up

In 1987, Australian entrepreneur Glen Moroney founded Scenic Tours, a company that got its start offering coach trips to the Australian coast. Initially, Scenic Tours marketed its product to residents of Melbourne but soon realized that its guests would travel further with them.

During the next two decades, Scenic Tours continued to grow and expand, earning accolades from travelers around the world for quality and service, not to mention Scenic’s rapidly diversifying array of tour packages.

In 2008, Scenic Tours expanded once again, this time jumping into the river cruise market with the launch of the trademark Scenic “Space Ships.” On April 13, 2015, Scenic Tours officially changed its name to Scenic.

Read more about Scenic.

Tauck

Defining Feature: All-inclusive river cruise tours that include overland journeys chocked full of exclusive experiences.

Destinations: Europe

Founded in 1925 by Arthur Tauck Sr., the long-standing American tour company has been slowly but surely expanding into the European river cruise market, offering up its unique brand of inclusive luxury river cruises coupled with full-guided overland journeys.

One of Tauck’s defining features is what the company offers ashore. The line offers exclusive events like private lunches, dinners and concerts, and in some cases, even private after-hours tours of museums like the In Flanders Fields museum in Ieper, Belgium, and the Lobkowicz Palace in Prague.

The line is also starting to innovate on the waterways of Europe, introducing new Loft-style staterooms aboard their two newest vessels, ms Inspire and ms Savor that are quickly becoming some of the most talked-about staterooms. The line is also noteworthy for its restraint: instead of carrying 190 guests, these new vessels take just 130.

Aaron recently cruised on Tauck’s ms Inspire through Belgium and Holland on the centenary of World War I. See his Live Voyage Report, Tauck’s MS Inspire – Belgium & Holland.

Ralph recently sailed aboard ms Savor along the Danube. Read his complete Voyage Report here.

Read more about Tauck.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

Defining Feature: All-inclusive, boutique river cruises accented with classic “old world” European design.

Destinations: Europe (including Italy), Russia, Portugal, Egypt, China, India, Cambodia & Vietnam

Uniworld’s full name might be a mouthful, but the company has been providing river cruises in its own inimitable style longer than any company on this list, save for CroisiEurope. And during the past three decades, Uniworld has learned a thing or two about how to run a successful river cruise line.

One of Uniworld’s defining features is its intrinsic style. The interiors of each of Uniworld’s European-based ships are entirely unique, reflecting a style that could best be described as Versailles-meets-Ritz Carlton. It’s this style, coupled with the line’s varied itineraries that include less-visited waterways like Italy’s Po River, that keep guests coming back time and time again.

Uniworld is all-inclusive and is one of only a handful of lines to offer a truly inclusive experience along the waterways of Europe.

In March of 2014, Ralph attended the S.S. Catherine Christening. He calls Uniworld the “Seabourn of the Rivers.” See his report from the south of France on S.S. Catherine.

In March of 2015, Aaron looked on in Amsterdam as the new S.S. Maria Theresa was christened. Click here for the full multi-day report.

Also see our Live Voyage Reports from sailing on S.S. Maria Theresa: Day 1, Boarding Maria Theresa | Day 2, Biking Bamberg, Making The Case For River Cruising As An Active Experience | Day 3, Step Into Stateroom 425, Crossing Europe’s Continental Divide | Day 4, Open-Air Balconies Make All The Difference | Day 5, This Is River Cruising? Fine Dining On Uniworld | Day 6, Cruising & Cycling The Wachau Valley

Read more about Uniworld Boutique River Cruises.

Viking River Cruises

Defining Feature: Scandinavian design, Nordic sensibility and the most river cruise ships on the waterways of Europe – by far.

Destinations: Europe, Russia, Portugal, Egypt, China, Cambodia & Vietnam, Myanmar, Ukraine

It’s hard to not know about Viking River Cruises. Chances are that you’ve seen the company’s ads during Downton Abbey and other programs, or you’ve simply heard about Viking because of the prodigious expansion of the new Viking Longship fleet. Everywhere you look, from print advertising to docking spaces in Europe, Viking is there.

Founded in 1997 by cruise industry veteran Torstein Hagen, one of Viking’s defining features has always been providing guests with a good river cruise at a reasonable price. When the first of its new Viking Longships set sail in March of 2012, the company became a driving force for innovation within the industry, pioneering firsts like the indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace and the introduction of the first true suites on the waterways of Europe.

Viking doesn’t feature gyms, or hot tubs, or bicycles aboard its ships for the simple reason that, as Hagen puts it, all of Europe is a natural gym. In many of the towns and cities Viking stops in, walking tours are offered and bicycle rentals from private vendors are plentiful. Those are amenities that Hagen believes are under-used on other vessels, and space that could be better put toward the line’s wide array of staterooms and suites.

As active travelers who enjoy cycling and some time in the gym, we don’t always agree with Hagen but we do love his ships. Viking’s big, bright ships are the company’s defining feature, along with crews that are increasingly polished as some of the best and brightest stars are coming to work for Viking from other lines. By the time the line took delivery of another 12 Viking Longships in March of 2015, Viking had launched a total of 42 new  vessels since 2012 – more than any other river cruise line afloat. The line will launch additional Longships next year, along with a new vessel on the Douro, Viking Osfrid.

In 2015, Viking also took delivery of their first oceangoing cruise ship – Viking Star. She will be joined in 2016 by a sister-ship, Viking Sea, and in 2017 by two additional vessels: Viking Sky and Viking Sun.

Click here for our multi-day voyage report from onboard Viking Star in London and her christening in Bergen, Norway.

For the Viking Longships, see Ralph’s Six Points Of Differentiation: Viking Odin Review

We’ve each sailed Viking several times now, and have Live Voyage Reports from all three Danube Christmas Markets runs, all four Viking Longsships christening ceremonies, and France’s Bordeaux region. Read about our past and upcoming sailings on our Live Voyage Reports page.

Read more about Viking River Cruises

Check out our Price Comparisons for cruises on the Douro, Seine, Rhine, Danube, and for cruises Between Amsterdam & Budapest.

Meantime, In America

American Queen Steamboat Company River Cruise Reviews

Review from our sister site, The Avid Cruiser.

Even if you’re an avid cruiser like us, you’ll find there’s little to compare to the American Queen. It can’t be compared to a river cruise vessel in Europe. The largest paddlewheeler ever built, the six-deck American Queen is nearly 2.5 times wider than those river cruisers. Spanning 90 feet across, she offers multiple restaurants, including a gorgeous two-story main restaurant, lots of public rooms, a variety of staterooms and suites, a small pool, gym and, of course, a giant paddlewheel to propel the riverboat.

Click play to check out the Avid Cruiser’s video review featuring The American Queen.

For optimal viewing, toggle the full-screen icon. Troubling viewing the video? Click here. Or subscribe to the Avid Cruiser video podcasts to download the videos to your iDevice.

Check out all of our articles and videos featuring the American Queen.