Viking vs Ama vs Riverside | 2026 River Cruise Comparison
Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.
Creator's Key Takeaways
The number one driver to what cruise line somebody ends up on is probably what they're willing to spend.
On Riverside, you're going to have a butler in every suite. Food is by far the best on the rivers.
Viking's not even allowing children on board at all.
For just about $300 more per person per day, you've got the much higher-end experience with Riverside.
Creator's Tips & Advice
🆕New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:
Questions This Creator Answers
Topics Covered
Port Highlights
Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.
About our Bacon Score methodologyYouTube Video Description↓
Trying to decide between Viking, AmaWaterways, and Riverside Luxury Cruises? In this in-depth comparison, we break down cabins, inclusions, itineraries, crew ratios, and real per-night pricing on the Danube. If you’re planning a Danube river cruise and trying to decide between Viking River Cruises, AmaWaterways, and Riverside Luxury Cruises, this episode of RTE-Travel Talk breaks it all down for you. Joined by river cruise specialist Christy Fitzharris of Wheels Up Travel Co., we compare these three popular river cruise lines side-by-side — looking at: • Cabin sizes and ship capacity • Crew-to-guest ratios • Inclusions (excursions, beverages, gratuities) • Onboard amenities and specialty dining • Luxury vs contemporary experience • Real per-person per-night cost comparison • Itinerary differences on the Danube We also explore who each cruise line is best suited for — from first-time river cruisers to travelers seeking a higher-touch luxury experience with butler service. If you're considering a 2026 or 2027 Danube sailing, this breakdown will help you better understand what you're paying for — and which river cruise line might be the best fit for your travel style. 📩 To connect with Christy Fitzharris about a river cruise: Contact Christy at 830-310-0244 or use this link to schedule a personalized travel consult. https://calendly.com/wheelsup-travelcompany/consultation Real Travel Experts: questions@realtravelexperts.com https://realtravelexperts.com/ https://www.facebook.com/RealTravelExperts/ https://www.instagram.com/realtravelexperts/ Image & Video Credits: Images and video clips Courtesy of Viking River Cruises, Celebrity River Cruises, AmaWaterways, Riverside Luxury Cruises, Viva Cruises, Century Cruises, and Lindblad Expeditions. RTE Travel Talk does not endorse any of their guests' products or services. The opinions of the guests may or may not reflect those of the host and RTE Travel Talk. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:38 Special guest, Christy Fitzharris 01:03 What's new in river cruising 03:27 What to consider first with Viking, AmaWaterways & Riverside Luxury 04:07 Side by side factual comparison of the 3 lines 05:00 Does cabin square footage matter? 07:59 Who chooses each line 08:31 Danube itineraries 10:11 First timer "musts" on the Danube 11:10 What's included 12:37 On board amenities 14:29 River cruise luxury vs ocean cruise luxury 15:39 On board experiences compared 17:35 Pricing compared 20:32 How to match with a cruise line 21:26 The one question to consider (other than price) 22:00 Contacting Christy 22:41 Christy's future travels