Cruise line profile · ★ Top Pick
Viking River Cruises
The thinking person's river cruise.
About the line
About Viking River Cruises
Viking's European river cruises combine Scandinavian-style interiors with destination-focused touring. Fares include one shore excursion per port, onboard meals, beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, Wi-Fi, and port taxes. Enrichment lectures and destination performances add context to the journey. Ships and layouts vary by river; compare the actual vessel and cabin rather than assuming every Longship is identical.
Best for
First-timers, couples, and culture lovers who want a polished, predictable, inclusive experience.
Pros
- One included excursion in every port
- Beer & wine with lunch and dinner
- Consistent, predictably excellent Longship design
- No children under 18 — quiet, adult atmosphere
- Destination-focused enrichment and performances
Cons
- Drinks outside meal times cost extra
- Gratuities and flights not included
- Cabins can feel compact on the lowest deck
Inclusions
What’s included
A quick read on the standard Christmas-sailing package. Partial inclusions are marked with a half-circle.
Drinks
PartialBeer & wine with lunch/dinner
Excursions
PartialIncluded touring; optional extras may apply
Flights
Flights extra
Gratuities
Extra
Wi-Fi
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Bikes
No bike fleet
The fleet
Ships
Viking Longships (Rolf, Eir, Freya, Odin, etc.)
Viking Aegir
Viking Lif
Christmas itineraries
Example Christmas sailings
Published itinerary examples, not live cabin availability. Check the departure for current ships and inclusions.
- 7 nights
Christmas on the Rhine
Rhine River
- 7 nights
Danube Christmas Delights
Danube River
Itineraries we feature
Example cruises on this line
Real, published itineraries — shown as examples. Live availability via a planning expert.
Christmas on the Rhine
Viking's dedicated Christmas itinerary connects Amsterdam and Basel in eight days and seven nights. Cologne, Koblenz, Rüdesheim, and Strasbourg are among the route's stops. Compare the selected departure's daily schedule: an embarkation or disembarkation city is not automatically a full market day.
Example pricing
from $3,499
2026 example · per person · checked Nov 6
Danube Christmas Delights
This seven-night Christmas cruise links Budapest and Passau, with calls in Bratislava, Vienna, Krems, and Linz. It does not visit Nuremberg. Viking's Danube Waltz is a separately named itinerary; use the Christmas Delights schedule when comparing this holiday route.
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Keep exploring
Other cruise lines
See how the rest of the field compares.
AmaWaterways
The heart of the river.
AmaWaterways is a family-owned line known for food-forward dining, several excursion styles, and active choices such as hiking and biking. On European sailings, wine, beer, and soft drinks are included with lunch and dinner, along with a daily Sip & Sail cocktail hour; The Chef's Table is included at no extra charge. Its Christmas-market itineraries combine guided touring with time to explore independently. AmaMagna offers an especially spacious Danube experience, while the wider fleet gives travelers a useful range of ship and cabin styles.
Our score
4.7Request pricing
per person · example
Riverside Luxury Cruises
Luxury, redefined on the river.
Riverside offers several fare packages rather than one universal all-inclusive fare. On Riverside Mozart, full-board options and premium beverage packages can be booked with or without selected excursions. Compare the package and ship alongside the cabin price; some specialty dining and experiences can cost extra.
Our score
4.5Request pricing
per person · example
Tauck River Cruising
All-inclusive, done right.
Tauck's Christmas itineraries combine river cruising with its escorted-tour approach. Scheduled sightseeing, special events, selected onboard drinks, and specified gratuities are included. Its Danube route connects Nuremberg and Vienna; the Rhine trip connects Basel and Düsseldorf. Confirm the exact events, vessel, and departure direction before choosing.
Our score
4.6Request pricing
per person · example
Avalon Waterways
See the world differently.
Avalon's signature Panorama Suites have wall-to-wall windows that open into the room, with the bed positioned toward the passing view. Avalon Choice offers Classic, Active, and Discovery sightseeing on selected days, while FlexDining removes fixed seating and fixed dinner times. Wine and beer are included with lunch and dinner, soft drinks are available throughout the day, and European Suite Ships include Wi-Fi.
Our score
4.3from $3,047
per person · example