River cruise lines compared

Four lines. Know what you're paying for.

AmaWaterways, Viking, Avalon and Scenic: compare the included experiences, the extras and the details that can change the value of your trip.

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What does each fare include?

Standard European river programs for U.S. travelers, checked October 26, 2026. Your exact promotion, itinerary and confirmation take priority.

Included shore tours

AmaWaterways: Several daily choices: guided sightseeing, local interests and active options, depending on the port.
Viking: One included excursion per port, with optional experiences available separately.
Avalon: A choice of Classic, Active and Discovery excursions, depending on the itinerary and port.
Scenic: Included Scenic Freechoice options plus the itinerary's Scenic Enrich cultural experiences.

[2][4][9][13]

Optional paid excursions

AmaWaterways: Some optional experiences can cost extra. Check the selected itinerary.
Viking: Optional excursions add experiences beyond the included tour and generally cost extra.
Avalon: Optional excursions can be extra. Distinguish them from the included daily choices.
Scenic: Published Freechoice and Enrich activities are included. Check separately arranged experiences and extensions.

[3][4][10][13]

Excursion pace

AmaWaterways: Gentle, regular and active choices for many activities; the daily program varies.
Viking: Tours carry easy, moderate or demanding ratings. Check the walking and standing involved.
Avalon: Classic sightseeing, hands-on Discovery and more physical Active options. Check the actual walking and effort.
Scenic: Daily choices cater to different interests and activity levels; check your selected activity's requirements.

[1][4][9][13]

Gratuities in the fare

AmaWaterways: Excluded from the standard published fare unless your specific offer includes them.
Viking: Normally paid separately. A promotion may change what your booking includes.
Avalon: U.S. terms generally exclude crew, Cruise Director and local-guide gratuities unless specifically included in your price.
Scenic: Published European river program includes tipping on board and onshore.

[3][5][10][12]

Prepaying gratuities

AmaWaterways: Ask us to itemize gratuities and confirm payment options for your booking.
Viking: Can be purchased in My Viking Journey; otherwise a discretionary service charge is added onboard. Local guide/driver tips are separate.
Avalon: Ask whether gratuities are included, prepaid as an added charge or still payable on the trip.
Scenic: Included program tipping does not need a separate prepayment. Check anything booked outside the cruise package.

[3][5][10][12]

Drinks

AmaWaterways: Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, plus daily Sip & Sail. Other drinks may cost extra.
Viking: Beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner. A separate beverage package can cover additional drinks.
Avalon: Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, plus Happy Hour except the first night. Other drinks may cost extra.
Scenic: Premium drinks throughout the day and a replenished minibar. A small selection of fine/vintage wines, Champagnes and spirits is excluded.

[1][5][8][14]

Dining

AmaWaterways: Onboard meals and The Chef's Table are included. Other venues depend on the ship.
Viking: All onboard meals are included, with regional dishes and familiar choices. Compare the actual ship's dining spaces.
Avalon: Meals and FlexDining choices are included; venues and schedules depend on the ship and program.
Scenic: Onboard meals and multiple dining experiences included. Some special dining has suite or voyage-length eligibility.

[1][7][8][14]

Ship differences

AmaWaterways: Compare the named ship. AmaMagna offers a notably different Danube experience from the standard fleet.
Viking: Compare the actual vessel and cabin category rather than assuming all river ships or balconies match.
Avalon: Panorama Suites have wide-opening windows and beds facing the view. Deluxe Staterooms are a different category.
Scenic: Butler service in every suite; compare the named ship, suite category and dining access before choosing.

[6][11][12]

Final payment

AmaWaterways: Current U.S. standard terms call for final payment no later than 90 days before travel services begin; verify your confirmation.
Viking: An offer can require payment before the sailing year. Check the actual final-payment date; a low deposit does not mean a late balance.
Avalon: U.S. standard terms specify 90 days before services begin. Confirm the deadline on your reservation.
Scenic: Check the selected fare and offer for the balance deadline and any early-payment conditions.

[3][7][10][15]

AmaWaterways, Viking, Avalon and Scenic: standard European river-cruise inclusions for U.S. travelers.
Compare	AmaWaterways	Viking	Avalon	Scenic
Included shore tours[2][4][9][13]	Several daily choices: guided sightseeing, local interests and active options, depending on the port.	One included excursion per port, with optional experiences available separately.	A choice of Classic, Active and Discovery excursions, depending on the itinerary and port.	Included Scenic Freechoice options plus the itinerary's Scenic Enrich cultural experiences.
Optional paid excursions[3][4][10][13]	Some optional experiences can cost extra. Check the selected itinerary.	Optional excursions add experiences beyond the included tour and generally cost extra.	Optional excursions can be extra. Distinguish them from the included daily choices.	Published Freechoice and Enrich activities are included. Check separately arranged experiences and extensions.
Excursion pace[1][4][9][13]	Gentle, regular and active choices for many activities; the daily program varies.	Tours carry easy, moderate or demanding ratings. Check the walking and standing involved.	Classic sightseeing, hands-on Discovery and more physical Active options. Check the actual walking and effort.	Daily choices cater to different interests and activity levels; check your selected activity's requirements.
Gratuities in the fare[3][5][10][12]	Excluded from the standard published fare unless your specific offer includes them.	Normally paid separately. A promotion may change what your booking includes.	U.S. terms generally exclude crew, Cruise Director and local-guide gratuities unless specifically included in your price.	Published European river program includes tipping on board and onshore.
Prepaying gratuities[3][5][10][12]	Ask us to itemize gratuities and confirm payment options for your booking.	Can be purchased in My Viking Journey; otherwise a discretionary service charge is added onboard. Local guide/driver tips are separate.	Ask whether gratuities are included, prepaid as an added charge or still payable on the trip.	Included program tipping does not need a separate prepayment. Check anything booked outside the cruise package.
Drinks[1][5][8][14]	Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, plus daily Sip & Sail. Other drinks may cost extra.	Beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner. A separate beverage package can cover additional drinks.	Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, plus Happy Hour except the first night. Other drinks may cost extra.	Premium drinks throughout the day and a replenished minibar. A small selection of fine/vintage wines, Champagnes and spirits is excluded.
Dining[1][7][8][14]	Onboard meals and The Chef's Table are included. Other venues depend on the ship.	All onboard meals are included, with regional dishes and familiar choices. Compare the actual ship's dining spaces.	Meals and FlexDining choices are included; venues and schedules depend on the ship and program.	Onboard meals and multiple dining experiences included. Some special dining has suite or voyage-length eligibility.
Ship differences[6][11][12]	Compare the named ship. AmaMagna offers a notably different Danube experience from the standard fleet.	Compare the actual vessel and cabin category rather than assuming all river ships or balconies match.	Panorama Suites have wide-opening windows and beds facing the view. Deluxe Staterooms are a different category.	Butler service in every suite; compare the named ship, suite category and dining access before choosing.
Final payment[3][7][10][15]	Current U.S. standard terms call for final payment no later than 90 days before travel services begin; verify your confirmation.	An offer can require payment before the sailing year. Check the actual final-payment date; a low deposit does not mean a late balance.	U.S. standard terms specify 90 days before services begin. Confirm the deadline on your reservation.	Check the selected fare and offer for the balance deadline and any early-payment conditions.

Prepaid and included mean different things.

Prepaid gratuities can still be an added charge. Included gratuities are already covered by the quoted fare. Compare the cruise, tips, optional tours, drinks, flights, transfers and hotel nights together.

Country matters too: a U.K. or Australian offer can include benefits that the U.S. fare does not. We use U.S. sources here so you can compare like with like.

Official references and scope

This compares standard European river programs, not ocean cruises, every region or every charter. Ship features, seasonal activity choices and promotion terms can differ. We confirm the selected departure before quoting.

Our planning advice

Choose the trip before choosing a winner.

Start with the cities and dates you want, then compare equivalent cabins and the full cost. These are four useful starting points for that conversation.

AmaWaterways

Start here for excursion choice.

Ask us to match the actual daily tour choices to your pace and interests. Compare the ship as carefully as the itinerary, especially when AmaMagna is an option.

Read the AmaWaterways profile →

Viking

Start with the included tour, then add your priorities.

List any optional experiences you would want and compare their cost before booking. Put the final-payment date beside the quoted fare so you understand the commitment.

Read the Viking profile →

Avalon

Put the cabin view and daily choices on your shortlist.

Compare a Panorama Suite with the alternatives you would actually book, rather than comparing it with a lower-deck starting fare. Check which included excursion style suits each traveler.

Read the Avalon profile →

Scenic

Compare the broader package against your likely extras.

A more inclusive fare may make sense if its drinks, tipping and experiences match what you want. Compare the actual total rather than assuming either the lowest or highest starting fare offers the best value.

Read the Scenic profile →

For Christmas markets, compare the time ashore.

The right cruise also needs to reach the places you care about while their markets are open. Look at arrival and departure times, coach transfers, evening visits and free time. A similar river route does not guarantee the same market experience.

Rhine market guide →Danube market guide →More on Ama vs. Viking →Tulip, summer and wine cruises →

Let's compare your actual options.

Tell our Vacation Planning Company team your preferred year, dates and must-see places. We'll compare the cabin, inclusions, current offer and full trip cost.

Ask an advisor to compare See 2026 Christmas options →

Reviewed October 26, 2026. AmaWaterways, Viking, Avalon, Scenic are compared using their published U.S. materials. No live cabin availability or fare is implied.