Choosing Between Avalon Waterways and Viking River Cruises for your River Cruise

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Avalon Waterways and Viking River Cruises are two popular river cruise lines. Each offers a range of cruises along the waterways of Europe and Asia. But how do these two companies compare if you’re choosing between them?

At first glance, Viking and Avalon seem to offer a similar experience. However, there are some key differences that are likely to sway your decision.

Read on to find out which is the better choice for your next river cruise…

Ships

River cruising’s biggest difference from ocean cruising is the size of the cruise ships, which usually accommodate fewer than 200 passengers per ship. This allows for more intimate getaways with small groups in the dining venues and lounges, as well as attending shore excursions while in port.

But the different lines have some key differences in the design of their ships. Let’s take a look at how Avalon Waterways’ ships compare to Viking’s river ships.

Avalon Waterways’ Ships

Avalon Waterways has 20 ships to choose from in its portfolio, including 14 owned ‘Suite Ships’ which are based in Europe. There are also two ships that reside in Asia, alongside four ships chartered for use in South America and Africa.

Avalon Artistry II in Germany
Avalon Ship in Germany

Avalon Waterways’ European river cruise ships each have a guest capacity of either 128 or 166. They’re all fairly new, entering service between 2011 through 2019.

The Asia-based ships are much smaller, accommodating just 36 passengers and entering service between 2015 and 2017. The chartered ships vary in capacity, from 32 passengers to 392.

On European cruises, Avalon Waterways’ cabins offer spacious accommodations with 24/7 open-air access and bigger views than most. Beds are configured to be facing the windows for the best views.

Avalon’s ‘Suite Ships’ offer something very special indeed. These have the widest opening windows in river cruising, with the industry’s only ‘Open-Air Balcony’. Opening up to 11 feet (3.4 metres) wide, these huge windows make the room feel like a balcony.

Avalon Waterways Panorama Suite
Avalon Waterways Panorama Suite

Viking River Ships

Viking River Cruises has an incredible fleet of 77 ships in its 2025 portfolio, 55 of which are the iconic Viking Longships that sail in Europe. A further ten ships sail along the Elbe, Douro and Seine rivers, as well as Viking Saigon which sails on the Mekong River.

Six ships are chartered for use in Egypt. There’s also another ship that debuted in 2022 – Viking Mississippi – to sail along the renowned American river.

Viking Longship on the Rhine
Viking Longship on the Rhine

The Viking Longships carry 190 passengers. They include some of the largest suites on Europe’s rivers, as well as the most al fresco dining opportunities. Their patented design maximisises passenger capacity, with redesigned hallways and bow to increase space on board.

During a rapid expansion of this class of ship, Viking christened 16 ships over two days in 2014, making it into the Guinness Book of World Records.

There’s a choice of accommodation on board each Viking ship. These range from Scandinavian-designed staterooms to the luxurious Explorer Suites that afford 270-degree views.

Viking Longship Veranda Stateroom
Viking Longship Veranda Stateroom

Destinations

Avalon Waterways and Viking offer the majority of their river cruises in Europe. The most often cruised rivers include the Rhine, the Danube and the Douro. But both companies offer a wider selection for guests to choose from.

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Avalon Waterways Destinations

Avalon Waterways covers the most popular European rivers such as the Rhine, Main and Danube. There are also sailings along the Mekong (through Cambodia and Vietnam), India’s Ganges River and the Amazon river, as well as the unique Galapagos Islands in Ecuador.

An outside view of Avalon Envision's dining room.

Viking River Cruise Destinations

Although Viking has fewer itineraries, it offers more choices of sailing dates thanks to the sheer size of the fleet, 55 of which are based in Europe alone!

Viking covers all of the most popular rivers, but doesn’t visit South America or India. However, Viking does feature itineraries along the Elbe and Douro rivers.

Viking Vili

Food

Both Viking River Cruises and Avalon Waterways include a wide variety of dining options to cater to all tastes. Wine, soda and beer are included at lunch and dinner with both cruise lines. Avalon also includes the option of complimentary sparkling wine with breakfast!

As well as the main dining room, each line also offers alternative dining venues, so you have a choice of where to eat during your sailing.

Avalon Waterways Food

Avalon Waterways prides itself on offering fresh, local food on its menus. The cruise line has partnered with Austrian brothers Leo and Karl Wrenkh – leading chefs in the healthy-dining movement – to offer a programme named ‘Avalon Fresh’. The selections available on this option include wholesome yet satisfying dishes.

The cruise line also introduced the ‘FlexDining’ approach to onboard dining, removing the need for restrictive seating and limited settings.

Avalon Envision Dining Room
Avalon Envision Dining Room

Dining experiences include welcome and farewell cocktails and canapes, daily a la carte breakfast, and a lunch that includes regional specialities and Avalon Fresh options.

Dining options on Avalon Waterways ships include BBQ-style al fresco dining on the Sky Deck (weather permitting), lunch in the Panorama Lounge, four-course dinners in the Panorama Dining Room and daily afternoon tea. There’s also complimentary room service available for continental breakfast.

Viking Food

Viking focuses on pairing the destinations with the menus, providing an enriching culinary experience. There are two venues to dine on most Viking ships: The Restaurant is the main dining venue, and Aquavit Terrace is the alfresco venue.

Aquavit Terrace
Aquavit Terrace

The Restaurant offers regional cuisine with classic dishes featuring locally sourced ingredients. The Aquavit Terrace is a revolutionary venue that offers the most stunning views while dining al fresco on Europe’s rivers. You can enjoy breakfast or lunch in an inviting space that’s perfect for a sunny day.

Just like Avalon Waterways, Viking offers both welcome and farewell cocktails. Ships also feature an outdoor herb garden and a selection of regional wines.

Activities and Entertainment

As river cruises are generally focused on the destinations you visit, the onboard amenities are nothing compared to ocean cruise ships. However, both Viking and Avalon Waterways do offer a range of things to do on board.

Viking river cruises are strictly for adults only, and all guests must be aged 18 or older. As for Avalon Waterways, children aged eight and over are permitted on board, but there are no dedicated activities or facilities for kids. If you’re planning a river cruise with kids, I suggest you read this guide to the best river cruise lines for families.

Things to do on an Avalon River Cruise

Avalon Waterways includes a few activities on board its ships to enjoy in the daytime. There’s a state-of-the-art Fitness Centre to keep you active while sailing, as well as a Club Lounge Library with books, cards and board games. There’s also complimentary Wi-Fi provided throughout the ship and computer stations.

Yoga on the Sky Deck
Yoga on the Sky Deck

On the Sky Deck, you can find premium lounge chairs, a whirlpool and a game area. The Club Lounge offers 24-hour self-serve beverages including complimentary cappuccinos, lattes, hot chocolates, and a selection of teas and cookies throughout the day.

Draughts on Avalon Waterways ship

In the evenings, the Panorama Lounge offers cosy seating, panoramic windows and a dance floor. There’s also the Observation Lounge where you can enjoy premium spirits in an upscale bar setting.

Things to do on a Viking River Cruise

Viking also offers a selection of onboard activities to keep guests entertained while sailing or docked. There’s a walking track and sports deck, alongside a curated library featuring destination-focused reading.

Putting green on a Viking Longship.
Viking Longship putting green

There is a series of short films about each destination, which can be viewed in your stateroom at any time to suit you. There are also guest lectures and port talks, designed to shed light on the region’s culture and history. These provide information on must-sees and highlights for each port.

Viking invites local artisans onboard to demonstrate their crafts, such as glass-blowing or lace-making. There are also culinary demonstrations that present a collection of treats and drinks.

In the evenings, each Viking itinerary includes one or more Destination Performances, featuring cultural arts, local ensembles and acclaimed choirs from the region.

Price

Both Avalon Waterways and Viking river cruises are similar in terms of price and value, although this can depend on unique offers and sailing dates.

However, there is one important distinction: the price of Viking river cruises usually includes flights, transfers, taxes and fees. So while a Viking river cruise can look more expensive, the overall price once everything’s included may be lower than with Avalon Waterways.

The Price of Avalon Waterways River Cruises

An eight-day Rhine cruise sailing from Amsterdam to Basel with Avalon Waterways starts at £1,435pp, based on an Avalon Deluxe Stateroom at double occupancy.

Avalon river cruises include:

  • Accommodation
  • All meals
  • Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
  • Excursions
  • Wifi
  • Shore excursions
  • Bicycles to use in selected ports
  • Onboard gratuities

Not included:

  • Flights
  • Overseas transfers
  • Taxes and fees

The Price of Viking River Cruises

An eight-day Rhine cruise sailing from Amsterdam to Basel with Viking starts at £1,845pp, based on Standard Stateroom at double occupancy.

Viking river cruises include:

  • Return flights from regional UK airports
  • Overseas transfers
  • Accommodation
  • All meals
  • Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
  • Wifi
  • Shore excursions
  • Onboard gratuities
  • Taxes and fees

Not included:

  • Bicycles (can hire locally)

You can see how the price of Viking and Avalon Waterways river cruises compare to other river cruise lines in this guide: How Much Are River Cruises?

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Avalon Waterways Reviews Vs Viking River Cruises Reviews

One more thing to consider when looking at Avalon and Viking is the reviews from past guests. Although both companies are listed on Tripadvisor, the number of reviews is very low, so it’s hard to get an accurate reading of how good they are.

Instead, visit the Cruise Critic website to read through the Avalon Waterways reviews and Viking River Cruises reviews. Each cruise line has thousands of reviews on that site, and both have very good scores.

But which is better, Viking or Avalon river cruises?

As of January 2025, Viking River Cruises has a score of 4.5 out of 5, while Avalon Waterways just edges it with a score of 4.7 out of 5.

This might change by the time you read this! But at least you know both are considered excellent.

The Verdict

Although the differences between the two cruise lines aren’t huge, Avalon Waterways and Viking River Cruises do offer slightly different experiences.

Viking River Cruises is the most famous of all river cruise brands, with the most ships. You’re sure to pass a Viking Longship or two whenever you take a cruise on one of Europe’s waterways. While Avalon isn’t as well-known, the company has been in existence since 2004 and offers a good alternative for luxury travel lovers.

Avalon offers a wider range of destinations outside of Europe than Viking. It’s also a better choice for those with special diets. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, something you may struggle with on a Viking river cruise.

Avalon Waterway’s ships are also more innovative, with floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that open wide to give the feeling of a private balcony.

Before you get swayed by the luxury of Avalon Waterways, be sure to consider the price of the extras you’ll need. Flights and transfers aren’t included, so your cruise price will surely rise once you add these on.

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Cruise Mummy

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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4 thoughts on “Choosing Between Avalon Waterways and Viking River Cruises for your River Cruise”

  1. Most river cruises sail all night and tie up during the day for shore visits so having picture windows in staterooms is really uninspiring

  2. looking for single people over 60 cruises

  3. One thing you did not mention- Viking has you pay the full amount upfront and Avalon has you pay the balance 2 months before departure. With the pandemic that meant some customers paid in full 2 years before they could take the tour. That aside. I feel Avalon excursions and rooms – better. Viking no slouch . But requiring the payment that far in advance isn’t an advantage.

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