Cruise line profiles
8 lines. Two clear favorites.
We usually start with Viking and AmaWaterways, then compare the wider field when another line better fits your dates, budget, cabin, or travel style.
★ Top Picks
Viking & AmaWaterways
These are the two lines we recommend most often for Christmas-market sailings—Viking for consistency and calm, AmaWaterways for dining, choice, and a warmer social atmosphere.
Viking River Cruises
The thinking person's river cruise.
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.
Our score
4.6Request pricing
per person · example
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
Our view
Which one is better?
Neither line is best for everyone. The better choice depends on how you want the trip to feel.
Viking wins when
You want calm and consistency.
Choose Viking for a quiet adults-only atmosphere, a consistent Longship layout, culture-first programming, and one included shore excursion in each port.
See VikingAmaWaterways wins when
Food and choice matter more.
Choose AmaWaterways for food-forward dining, a daily Sip & Sail cocktail hour, active touring, and more excursion styles on many stops.
See AmaWaterwaysIf your dates are flexible, our preferred approach is to price both on the same week before choosing.
The wider field
Other lines worth comparing
Independent advice needs real alternatives. A luxury preference, family need, cabin style, budget, or exact departure date can make another line the smarter choice.
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 $2,947
per person · example
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
No two ships alike.
Uniworld is known for individually designed ships, detailed interiors, and broad inclusions. Many drinks, scheduled excursions, and onboard gratuities are included, while selected Masterpiece Collection experiences cost extra. Check the exact vessel and departure for the current inclusion list.
Our score
4.6Request pricing
per person · example
Scenic Luxury River Cruises
All-inclusive to the finest detail.
Scenic combines included Freechoice touring and Enrich experiences with butler service and selected onboard drinks. Balcony suites offer a Scenic Sun Lounge; Standard Suites do not. Compare the category, itinerary, and departure rather than assuming every cabin has the same features.
Our score
4.7Request pricing
per person · example
Emerald Cruises
The smart way to sail.
Emerald's European river program includes guided excursions, EmeraldPLUS experiences, and gratuities. Wine, beer, and soft drinks accompany lunch and dinner; additional drinks and optional excursions can cost extra. Its current Christmas Danube itinerary links Passau and Budapest, with a Munich transfer.
Our score
4.2Request pricing
per person · example
Methodology
How we compare every line
Many lines visit overlapping rivers and Christmas markets, so the meaningful differences often come down to five things: inclusions, ship style, price tier, vibe, and who it’s best for. Our scores are editorial—not customer-review aggregates—and are based on the published product details explained below.
Inclusions
Compare the total trip, not just the starting fare. Check which drinks, excursions, gratuities, flights, and transfers are included on your departure. A broadly inclusive line may still charge for selected experiences. Riverside offers different fare packages, and Emerald includes gratuities in its published European river program.
Ship style
Viking’s Longships use a recognizable Scandinavian design and share many layout features, though cabins and amenities vary by vessel and river. AmaWaterways 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 offer a more intimate, service-focused experience. Scenic’s Sun Lounge is a feature of its balcony-suite categories, not its Standard Suites or a feature to assume on Emerald ships.
Price tier
We rank price tier from $ (value: Emerald) through $$ (premium-mainstream: Viking, AmaWaterways, Avalon) and $$$ (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.
Vibe & best for
Finally, the unmeasurable: Viking is culture-forward and quiet (no kids, no casinos); AmaWaterways 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
Christmas-market comparison summary
Every line, side by side. Tap a line name to open its full profile.
| Cruise line | Drinks | Excursions | Gratuities | Tier | Our score | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viking River Cruises | Beer & wine with lunch/dinner | Included touring; optional extras may apply | Extra | $$ | 4.6 | Request pricing per person · example |
| AmaWaterways | Lunch/dinner + Sip & Sail | Included touring; optional extras may apply | Extra | $$ | 4.7 | Request pricing per person · example |
| Riverside Luxury Cruises | Depends on fare package | Depends on fare package | Confirm with quoted package | $$$ | 4.5 | Request pricing per person · example |
| Tauck River Cruising | Selected drinks throughout the day | Included touring; optional extras may apply | Included | $$$ | 4.6 | Request pricing per person · example |
| Avalon Waterways | Beer & wine with lunch/dinner | Included touring; optional extras may apply | Extra | $$ | 4.3 | from $2,947 per person · example |
| Uniworld Boutique River Cruises | Selected drinks throughout the day | Included touring; optional extras may apply | Included | $$$$ | 4.6 | Request pricing per person · example |
| Scenic Luxury River Cruises | Selected drinks throughout the day | Included touring; optional extras may apply | Included | $$$$ | 4.7 | Request pricing per person · example |
| Emerald Cruises | Beer & wine with lunch/dinner | Included touring; optional extras may apply | Included | $ | 4.2 | Request pricing per person · example |
Example pricing only. Live availability and current fares via a Vacation Planning Company expert.
Don’t see a line you are considering? Ask us to include it in your comparison.
Still deciding?
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.