Which River Cruise Line Is Right for You? Comparing 6 brands to help support your travels!
Embarking on a luxury river cruise offers an unparalleled way to explore the world's most enchanting waterways. Among the top-tier cruise lines, Uniworld, AmaWaterways, and Scenic each provide distinctive experiences tailored to various traveler preferences. While Viking River Cruises is a prominent name in the industry, it's worth noting that their ships are virtually identical, leading to a uniform experience across their fleet. This "cookie-cutter" approach may not appeal to those seeking unique and personalized journeys.
To determine which cruise line aligns best with your travel aspirations, feel free to reach out to our experts.
Contact us at travel@princeadventures.com to plan your perfect river cruise adventure.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection: Opulence and Artistry
Uniworld is renowned for its lavish, boutique-style ships, each uniquely designed to reflect the regions they traverse. Their vessels exude elegance, with interiors reminiscent of grand European estates, offering guests a truly immersive experience. The cruise line prides itself on exceptional service, gourmet cuisine, and curated excursions that delve deep into local cultures. Uniworld's commitment to luxury and attention to detail make it a top choice for discerning travelers. You won’t find much additional you need to pay for once you’ve booked your Uniworld cruise.
AmaWaterways: Active Exploration Meets Comfort
AmaWaterways strikes a balance between relaxation and active exploration. Their ships are equipped with modern amenities, including fitness centers and wellness programs, catering to health-conscious travelers. Guests can partake in guided biking and hiking tours, offering a more dynamic way to experience destinations. With a reputation for exceptional service and culinary excellence, AmaWaterways appeals to those seeking both adventure and comfort. Their owners designed their ships to handle low and high waters, so they are the least likely to be converted to a bus tour, when river levels cannot accommodate all river cruise ships. Uniquely, AmaWaterways offers Magdalena itineraries in Colombia, which is unique to the industry. AmaWaterways also offers Adventures by Disney options for families, with themed experiences for children, unique to the river cruise market.
Scenic Luxury Cruises: All-Inclusive Excellence
Scenic offers an all-inclusive luxury experience, ensuring guests can indulge without concern for additional costs. From fine dining and premium beverages to exclusive excursions and butler service, every detail is covered. They refer to their vessels as "Space-Ships" as they boast spacious suites with private balconies, providing panoramic views of the passing landscapes. Scenic's commitment to comprehensive luxury makes it ideal for travellers desiring a hassle-free, opulent journey. You can earn loyalty rewards with Scenic and if you’ve sailed with them on the ocean, we can help you translate these loyalty benefits to the rivers too. Scenic is the only river cruise line who also operates in Expedition travel - with their Eclipse and Eclipse II travelling to polar regions including Antarctica.
Choosing the Right Cruise for You is Important!
We are here to support, asking you the right questions to match you with your ideal river cruise line.
Selecting the perfect river cruise depends on your personal preferences:
Uniworld: Ideal for those seeking opulent surroundings and culturally immersive experiences.
AmaWaterways: Perfect for active travelers desiring a blend of adventure and comfort. The lower price often of these three leaders. Ask us about themed sailings like culinary voyages, wine themed and beer themed itineraries!
Scenic: Best suited for guests wanting an all-inclusive, worry-free luxury experience. We may be hosting a Scenic river cruise travel lounge in your area, ask us for upcoming dates.
To determine which cruise line aligns best with your travel aspirations, feel free to reach out to our experts.
Contact us at travel@princeadventures.com to plan your perfect river cruise adventure.
At Prince Adventures we’re always looking for the latest and best offerings for our valued travel clients.
A relatively new player in the river cruise market includes Riverside Luxury Cruises
Are they evolving the New ultra-luxury Standard in River Cruising?
A new entrant that's already raising the bar, Riverside Luxury Cruises offers what many industry experts now call the pinnacle of luxury river cruising. Sailing former Crystal River Cruises ships — some of the most luxurious vessels ever built — Riverside brings unparalleled space, service, and all-inclusive refinement to Europe’s rivers. Think Michelin-level cuisine, palatial suites, and a guest-to-crew ratio that rivals private yachts. For those who demand the best of the best — Riverside is the one to beat.
Best For: Ultra-luxury travelers seeking exclusivity, refinement, and world-class inclusions.
Looking Ahead: Celebrity Cruises Enters the River Cruise Market in 2027
Set to sail in 2027, Celebrity Cruises is launching a brand-new river cruise line, bringing their signature modern luxury from the oceans to the rivers of Europe. Available to book as of 2025 the ships are to be Inspired by the sleek design, outward-facing innovation, and elevated service of their award-winning Edge Class ocean ships. We are wondering if they will immediately become the lowest average age for river cruise lines, with their large brand loyalty built over years on the oceans. This new river cruise product is expected to redefine the category of premium river cruising.. With bold architecture, luxurious accommodations, and a fresh take on river itineraries, Celebrity’s river experience promises to appeal to discerning travelers who want a stylish, contemporary alternative to traditional river cruising. It’s one to watch — and early interest is already high.
Most curious about one line over another? Want to speak about the differences in detail? We’re here to help, our travel agency will schedule a complimentary Discovery Call with you so we can help you choose and ultimately manage your river cruise vacation smoothly and stress free. Email us travel@princeadventures.com to get started. It’s never too early to contact us, we’re reserving river cruises for clients through 2 years from now.
Thanks for reading!
Jakki Prince
CEO Prince Adventures
Award winning travel advisor leading a team of 8 trusted travel advisors. A Canadian travel agency serving travellers worldwide.
