Updated for 2027 sailings
AmaWaterways or Viking? It’s the question I get more than any other in my river cruise groups.
I’ve sailed AmaWaterways through Burgundy on the AmaCello. I also book clients on Viking all the time. Both lines are excellent. They’re also different in ways that matter once you’re on board. Those differences don’t always come through in the brochures.
This post contains links to my AmaWaterways and Viking advisor pages. If you book through them, I’m credited as your advisor.
AmaWaterways vs Viking: The Short Answer
Choose AmaWaterways if you want more included in your fare, with excursion choices in every port, a daily cocktail hour and bikes you can take out on your own. Choose Viking if you want the most itineraries and sailing dates, an adults-only atmosphere and the freedom to add optional excursions where they matter to you.
- You want excursions, cocktail hour and active options covered in the fare
- You’d like a choice of tours in each port, including biking and hiking
- A smaller, family-owned feel matters to you
- You want the most itineraries and departure dates to choose from
- An adults-only, polished Scandinavian atmosphere appeals to you
- You’d rather pick and pay for extra excursions only where you want them
What’s Included on AmaWaterways vs Viking
Both lines call themselves inclusive. Here’s where they line up and where they don’t.
| Included | AmaWaterways | Viking |
|---|---|---|
| Meals on board | Included | Included |
| Wine and beer with lunch and dinner | Unlimited | House wine and beer |
| Daily cocktail hour | Sip and Sail, included | With the Silver Spirits package |
| Shore excursions | Several choices in most ports | One included tour in most ports |
| Active excursions | Biking and hiking included | Optional, added cost |
| Bikes for independent use | Included | Not offered on Longships |
| Wi-Fi | Included | Included |
| Airport transfers | With AmaWaterways air | With Viking air |
| Chef’s Table specialty dining | On most ships | Not offered on Longships |
Day to day, the biggest differences are excursion variety and the cocktail hour. On AmaWaterways, one of you can bike through the vineyards while the other takes a guided walk through town. Then you meet back on board for lunch. Viking gives you one well-planned included tour in each port. If you want a cooking class or something more active, you add it and pay for it separately. Some of those optional tours are worth every penny.
What It Was Like on My AmaWaterways Cruise
On our Burgundy sailing, the moments that stuck with me were the ones I never would have planned on my own. Tasting the differences between Burgundy’s wine areas, where the Côte de Nuits became my favorite. The long bike ride into Dijon, with incredible views the whole way. A dinner paired with wines from the guest winemaker who sat with us. Watching a cooper build a barrel by hand, then getting to try it myself.
That’s what the included excursions on AmaWaterways feel like in real life: you get to say yes to more, because it’s already covered.
Ship Size and Atmosphere
AmaWaterways ships in Europe carry roughly 130 to 160 guests on most itineraries. By day two, the crew knew our names. It’s family-owned. You can feel it in how the ship runs and how quickly things get taken care of.
Viking Longships carry 190 guests, which still feels intimate compared to any ocean ship. The design is clean and Scandinavian, with big windows and a polished feel. Viking is strictly 18 and over, so it’s an adult crowd focused on history and the ports. Viking carries more than half of North American river cruisers, so you get more dates and itineraries, with a slightly more corporate feel that comes with that size.
Service on AmaWaterways vs Viking
This isn’t a category where one line wins. My Viking clients come home raving. So do my AmaWaterways clients. The difference is personality. AmaWaterways feels warmer and more personal. Viking feels refined and precise. Both are excellent, so it comes down to which style suits you.
Pre and Post Cruise Stays
AmaWaterways works with host hotels for its pre and post cruise packages. The transfers are handled and the hotel team knows the ship, so it feels like one continuous trip. On my France sailing, the pre-cruise stay was already sorted when we arrived. We showed up and everything was ready.
Viking’s pre and post extensions are well organized too. My clients tend to describe the AmaWaterways hotel stays as a little more personal.
Who Each Line Is Best For
- Couples who want more included and fewer add-ons to think about
- Active travelers who want biking and hiking in the fare
- First-time river cruisers who want it all coordinated
- Groups, since the inclusive fare keeps everyone’s budget simple
- Travelers who want an adults-only, upscale atmosphere
- Anyone who loves clean, modern Scandinavian design
- Travelers who’d rather choose their own extra excursions
- Anyone who needs specific dates or the widest choice of itineraries
My Take
If you ask where I’d go, it’s AmaWaterways. The cocktail hour, the choice of excursions, the bikes and the smaller ship add up to a trip where you don’t have to think about much. That’s what a lot of travelers want from a river cruise.
Viking is a fantastic product and I book it with confidence. The ships are beautiful, the service is excellent and the adults-only atmosphere is exactly right for many of my clients. The best line is the one that fits how you like to travel. That’s what I help you figure out.
Want Help Choosing Your River Cruise?
I’m a luxury travel advisor with Viking Expert and AmaWaterways Specialist certifications. I’ll help you compare lines, itineraries and staterooms, then plan your pre and post cruise stays so it all fits together.
Let’s Chat See My Top Cruises for 2027Already booked with Viking directly? You may still be able to transfer your booking to me. Send me your details and I’ll check if it qualifies. Want to travel with a small group I host in person? Take a look at my hosted trips.
AmaWaterways vs Viking: Frequently Asked Questions
Is AmaWaterways or Viking better?
Neither line is better for everyone. AmaWaterways includes more in the fare, with several excursion choices in most ports, a daily cocktail hour and bikes guests can use on their own. Viking has the most itineraries and departure dates, an adults-only atmosphere and one included excursion in most ports, with optional excursions available for an added cost.
Is AmaWaterways or Viking better for first-time river cruisers?
Both work well for first-timers. AmaWaterways can feel easier because more is included, so there are fewer add-on decisions. Viking offers more sailing dates and a very consistent experience across its fleet of nearly identical Longships.
Do Viking river cruises include excursions?
Yes. Viking includes a guided excursion in most ports. Additional optional excursions, including more active or in-depth tours, can be booked for an added cost.
Does AmaWaterways include excursions?
Yes. AmaWaterways includes excursions with several choices in most ports, typically a cultural tour, an active option such as biking or hiking and a gentle walking option. Bikes are also available for independent exploration.
Does Viking include alcohol?
Viking includes house wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner. Drinks outside of meals require the Silver Spirits beverage package or are purchased individually.
Does AmaWaterways include alcohol?
AmaWaterways includes unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, plus a daily Sip and Sail cocktail hour before dinner.
Are airport transfers included on AmaWaterways and Viking?
On both lines, airport transfers are generally included when flights are booked through the cruise line’s air program and travelers arrive and depart on the standard dates. Travelers who book their own flights usually need to arrange transfers separately.
How many passengers do AmaWaterways and Viking river ships carry?
Viking Longships carry 190 passengers. Most AmaWaterways ships in Europe carry roughly 130 to 160 passengers, with the larger AmaMagna as an exception.
Can I transfer a Viking or AmaWaterways booking to a travel advisor?
Often, yes. Viking generally allows a booking made directly with Viking to be transferred to a travel advisor within 60 days of booking, before final payment. Jess Peterman can check if a specific Viking or AmaWaterways booking qualifies.
Who can help me choose between AmaWaterways and Viking?
Jess Peterman is an independent luxury travel advisor who holds Viking Expert and AmaWaterways Specialist certifications and has sailed AmaWaterways in France. She helps travelers compare lines, itineraries and staterooms and plans pre and post cruise stays.
Packing for your river cruise? Here’s my European river cruise packing list.
Which line are you leaning toward? Tell me in the comments or join my Facebook group to talk river cruises with travelers who’ve sailed both.
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