Cruise line profiles
Viking and AMA Waterways are our Top Picks — but we profile every Christmas-market river-cruise line fairly. Compare inclusions, ship style, pricing, and the vibe that sets each one apart.
★ Top Picks
These are the two lines we recommend most often for Christmas-market sailings — Viking for polish and predictability, AMA for generosity and a social, food-forward atmosphere.
The thinking person's river cruise.
Viking revolutionized European river cruising with its fleet of identical, award-winning Longships. The Christmas-market season is one of their signatures: a daily excursion is included at every port, beer and wine flow free at lunch and dinner, and the Aquavit Terrace turns into a cozy winter lounge. The itinerary is packed but unhurried, with a resident historian and an included excursion in every stop.
from $2,499
per person · example
The heart of the river.
AMA Waterways is a family-run line known for generosity: a complimentary Sip & Sail cocktail hour before dinner every night, premium wine and beer throughout the day, and a chef's table restaurant included at no extra charge. Their Christmas sailings lean into the festive — gingerbread decorating, Glühwein tastings, and a special holiday menu. The AmaMagna on the Danube is nearly double the width of a standard river ship, with more lounge and dining space.
from $2,799
per person · example
The other six
From true all-inclusive luxury (Riverside, Tauck, Uniworld, Scenic) to panoramic value (Avalon, Emerald) — every line has a sweet spot. Here's the rest of the field.
Luxury, redefined on the river.
Riverside took over the former Crystal river ships and re-launched them as a genuinely all-inclusive luxury product. Nearly every excursion is included, drinks flow all day, gratuities are covered, and the service ratio is among the highest on the rivers. Christmas sailings feel intimate and refined — fewer passengers, more space, and a butler-style cabin service on the top suites.
Request pricing
per person · example
All-inclusive, done right.
Tauck brings its land-tour pedigree to the rivers with a genuinely all-inclusive model: all excursions, all drinks, all gratuities, and a Tauck Director on every departure. Ships are among the newest and lowest-density on the rivers, with a scarcity of suites relative to standard cabins. Christmas sailings emphasize behind-the-scenes access — private evening market visits, exclusive concerts in Vienna.
Request pricing
per person · example
See the world differently.
Avalon's signature is the Suite Ship: cabins with floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall panoramic windows that slide open to turn your whole stateroom into a balcony. They pioneered the 'choose your excursion' model — classic, active, and discovery options at most ports. Christmas sailings often bundle a hotel night in Prague or Budapest, which adds value.
from $2,399
per person · example
No two ships alike.
Uniworld is the design house of river cruising — every ship is bespoke, from hand-carved Venetian headboards to curated art collections. The product is genuinely all-inclusive: premium spirits, every excursion, gratuities, even a complimentary bike and walking-stick fleet. Christmas sailings are sumptuous — themed dinners, a vegan menu, and Masterpiece Collection optional experiences.
Request pricing
per person · example
All-inclusive to the finest detail.
Scenic's calling card is the 'Scenic Sun Lounge' — a balcony that, at the push of a button, transforms into an enclosed, climate-controlled sunroom, so you can enjoy the river in any December weather. Every guest gets butler service, every excursion and meal is included, and the line carries an e-bike fleet. Christmas sailings feature a festive chef's table and Scenic Freechoice excursions at every port.
Request pricing
per person · example
The smart way to sail.
Emerald is Scenic's value brand, sharing the same ship engineering — including the indoor 'pool' that converts to a cinema by night — at a lower price point. Inclusions are lighter (drinks at dinner, some excursions), so it's a good fit for travelers who want a modern ship and plan to explore markets independently. Christmas sailings have a relaxed, casual feel.
from $2,199
per person · example
Methodology
Every line on this site sails the same rivers and stops at many of the same Christmas markets — so the real differences come down to five things: inclusions, ship style, price tier, vibe, and who it’s best for. We score each line on those five axes, not on marketing copy or commission rates.
This is the single biggest swing. A “from $2,499” fare on one line can include dinner drinks only; the same headline number on another line includes all drinks, every excursion, and gratuities. We break out drinks (all / dinner / some / none), excursions (all / some / none), flights, gratuities, Wi-Fi, and bikes separately so you can compare apples to apples. The lines that look most expensive on the headline (Uniworld, Scenic, Tauck, Riverside) are often the most inclusive — and the lines that look cheapest (Emerald, Avalon) bill extra for most excursions and after-dinner drinks.
Viking’s Longships are the modern standard — long, narrow, and identical across the fleet, which means a predictably good experience no matter which ship you’re on. AMA and Avalon run contemporary ships with more layout variety (and Avalon’s panoramic suite windows that open). Uniworld designs each ship individually, boutique-hotel style, so no two feel alike. Riverside and Tauck run low-density boutique ships — fewer passengers, more space. Scenic and Emerald share engineering DNA (Scenic is the luxury parent, Emerald the value sister), including Scenic’s signature Sun Lounge balcony.
We rank price tier from $ (value: Emerald) through $$ (premium-mainstream: Viking, AMA, Avalon) and $$$ (premium-inclusive: Riverside, Tauck) up to $$$$(ultra-luxury: Uniworld, Scenic). Tier tracks inclusiveness more than quality — a $$ Viking sailing is excellent, just with fewer things bundled in. Pricing shown on this site is always an example “from” per person in USD, or “request pricing” when the line does not publish a fare. We never invent prices or display fake urgency.
Finally, the unmeasurable: Viking is culture-forward and quiet (no kids, no casinos); AMA is warmer, more social, and more food-forward; Uniworld is design-forward and maximalist; Scenic is formal-butler-luxury; Emerald is relaxed and value-driven. The “Best for” callout on each profile page names the traveler each line suits best — because the right Christmas cruise depends on you, not on us.
At a glance
Every line, side by side. Tap a line name to open its full profile.
| Cruise line | Drinks | Excursions | Gratuities | Tier | Rating | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viking River Cruises | At dinner | Some | Extra | $$ | 4.6 | from $2,499 per person · example |
| AMA Waterways | All drinks | Some | Extra | $$ | 4.7 | from $2,799 per person · example |
| Riverside Luxury Cruises | All drinks | All | Included | $$$ | 4.5 | Request pricing per person · example |
| Tauck River Cruising | All drinks | All | Included | $$$ | 4.6 | Request pricing per person · example |
| Avalon Waterways | At dinner | Some | Extra | $$ | 4.3 | from $2,399 per person · example |
| Uniworld Boutique River Cruises | All drinks | All | Included | $$$$ | 4.6 | Request pricing per person · example |
| Scenic Luxury River Cruises | All drinks | All | Included | $$$$ | 4.7 | Request pricing per person · example |
| Emerald Cruises | At dinner | Some | Extra | $ | 4.2 | from $2,199 per person · example |
Example pricing only. Live availability and current fares via a Vacation Planning Company expert.
Take the five-question Find-My-Voyage quiz for a personalized shortlist — or skip straight to a no-fee planning call with a Christmas-market specialist.