Cruise line comparison
Viking vs AmaWaterways: which should you choose?
For a European river cruise, choose Viking if you want the biggest, most consistent fleet, an adults-only atmosphere, a guided tour in every port and a polished, Scandinavian-designed Longship experience. Choose AmaWaterways if you want more choice and activity: excursions at gentle, regular or active pace, bikes on board, a wellness host, twin balconies on many ships, a daily cocktail hour and family-friendly departures. Both include wine and beer with meals and Wi-Fi; AmaWaterways includes a little more and feels more personal.
- Viking
- AmaWaterways
Photo: Rodhullandemu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Our verdict
Viking is the dependable, adults-only choice: a guided tour in every port, a consistent Longship experience and a brand many travelers already know from its ocean ships. AmaWaterways offers more ways to explore, more activity and slightly more included extras, plus family departures Viking doesn’t allow. Active couples and wine lovers often lean AmaWaterways; first-time river cruisers who want a calm, predictable trip often lean Viking. On the same river and dates, either line will deliver a very good week.
Viking and AmaWaterways are two of the most popular river cruise lines for North Americans, and their ships often tie up side by side in Budapest, Vienna and along the Rhine. Viking is the giant, with a fleet of near-identical Longships carrying about 190 guests each, plus river ships on the Nile, the Mekong and the Mississippi. Viking also runs ocean and expedition cruises, which helps explain why its name is so familiar.
AmaWaterways is a smaller, family-founded company known for its hands-on owners, wine-focused sailings and active options. Many of its European ships have twin balconies, a French balcony plus a full step-out balcony, and its AmaMagna on the Danube is about twice the width of a standard river ship. Both lines sail the Rhine, Danube, Seine, Rhône, Douro and beyond, so the choice usually comes down to style, inclusions and who’s traveling.
Viking vs AmaWaterways: head to head
| Feature | Viking | AmaWaterways |
|---|---|---|
| Vibe | Polished and calm, with Scandinavian design and a consistent, well-drilled routine. | Warm and personal, with a lively social feel and more emphasis on activity and wine. |
| Typical guest | Couples 55 and older, many first-time river cruisers; adults only, 18 and over. | Couples 50 and older, active travelers, wine lovers and multigenerational families on select sailings. |
| Ships | Viking Longships of about 190 guests with the indoor-outdoor Aquavit Terrace at the bow. | Ships of roughly 150 to 200 guests, including the double-width AmaMagna on the Danube. |
| Cabins | French-balcony and veranda staterooms, plus two-room Explorer Suites at the stern. | Twin balconies on many ships, combining a French balcony with a full outside balcony. |
| Included excursions | One guided tour in every port, with optional paid tours for more depth. | Excursions in every port, often offered at gentle, regular and active paces, plus guided bike tours. |
| Drinks | Beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; Silver Spirits package for more. | Beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, plus a daily Sip & Sail cocktail hour. |
| Dining | The Restaurant and Aquavit Terrace, with regional dishes and Viking classics. | Main restaurant plus The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant, included with reservations. |
| Wellness and active options | Fitness room on most Longships; walking tours dominate. | A wellness host leading yoga and stretching, onboard bikes and active hiking tours. |
| Kids | None; 18 and over only. | Family-friendly departures and Adventures by Disney charters on select dates. |
| Rivers | Rhine, Danube, Main, Moselle, Seine, Rhône, Douro, Elbe, plus the Nile, Mekong and Mississippi. | Rhine, Danube, Main, Moselle, Seine, Rhône, Douro, plus the Mekong, Nile and Africa’s Chobe River. |
| Price positioning | Premium; fares are frequently discounted, so compare carefully. | Premium, broadly similar to Viking, with a few more inclusions. |
| Loyalty | Viking Explorer Society, with savings and perks for returning guests. | A past-guest Loyalty Benefits program with savings and special appreciation sailings. |
Which should you choose?
Choose Viking if…
- You want a guaranteed adults-only river cruise with no children aboard.
- You value a consistent, familiar product, since almost every Longship is laid out the same way.
- You want to mix river, ocean and expedition cruises with one company and one loyalty program.
- You want to cruise the Mississippi, or pair a Nile cruise with a well-known brand.
Choose AmaWaterways if…
- You want to cycle, hike or join faster-paced tours instead of only walking tours.
- You like the idea of a daily Sip & Sail cocktail hour already in the fare.
- You want a twin-balcony cabin or a sailing on the double-width AmaMagna.
- You’re traveling with children or grandchildren, or want an Adventures by Disney sailing.
Viking vs AmaWaterways: FAQs
Is Viking or AmaWaterways better for a river cruise?
Viking is better for consistency and an adults-only atmosphere; AmaWaterways is better for active options and slightly more inclusions. Both include a tour in every port, wine and beer with meals and Wi-Fi, so either is a strong choice.
Does AmaWaterways allow children?
Yes. AmaWaterways welcomes children on many sailings and offers family-focused departures, including Adventures by Disney charters on the Rhine and Danube. Viking requires all guests to be 18 or older.
Which includes more, Viking or AmaWaterways?
AmaWaterways, slightly. Both include excursions, wine and beer with meals and Wi-Fi. AmaWaterways adds a daily Sip & Sail cocktail hour, onboard bikes, a wellness host and its Chef’s Table restaurant at no extra charge.
Which has better cabins, Viking or AmaWaterways?
AmaWaterways has the edge on standard cabins thanks to twin balconies on many ships. Viking’s veranda staterooms and two-room Explorer Suites are excellent, but its French-balcony cabins are more compact.
Read the full reviews
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: Viking official site, AmaWaterways official site.