By Melissa Yetter, Cruisin Couple Travel Agency
The short version
Picking a river cruise line by reputation alone is how travelers end up on the wrong ship. I have personally inspected more than 25 river cruise ships across Europe, sailed the Rhine, the Danube, and the Douro, and I have learned that AmaWaterways, Avalon, and Riverside Luxury Cruises each serve a genuinely different kind of traveler. Below is how I actually sort clients into the right one, plus the questions worth asking yourself before you book.
River cruising is not a smaller version of an ocean cruise
Before comparing cruise lines, it helps to know what you are actually comparing them within. A river ship typically carries around 120 guests. A large ocean ship can carry close to 3,000. There is no big theater production after dinner and no 24 hour buffet running in the background. The pace is slower, and the itinerary moves through small towns and villages along the Rhine, the Danube, or the Douro rather than jumping between major cities or islands.
That slower pace is the whole point for most of my clients. They are not chasing a packed schedule. They want time to wander through a village, sit at a cafe, and actually see the country they came for.
Three lines, three different experiences
I am a certified specialist across AmaWaterways, Avalon, and Riverside, and Terry and I were brand ambassadors for Riverside Luxury Cruises in 2023. Here is what stands out about each one after walking these ships in person.
AmaWaterways is my go to recommendation for travelers who want an active, social trip. The excursion menu on a typical sailing day gives you real choice, often a bike tour, a walking tour, and a more relaxed option, so you are not locked into one pace for the whole group. If you like meeting other travelers over dinner and staying busy in port, this is usually the right line.
Avalon Waterways built its identity around the stateroom. The Panorama Suites turn the bed toward floor to ceiling windows, so the scenery is part of the room itself, not something you have to go up to the sun deck to see. I recommend Avalon most often to travelers who want a quieter, more relaxed way to see Europe and who care more about where they sleep than how many excursions they can pack into a day.
Riverside Luxury Cruises moves into full luxury territory. The ships are newer, the staff to guest ratio is tighter, and the dining is a real step up. If you have sailed a luxury ocean line like Regent or Silversea and want that same level of service on the water, Riverside is where I point you.
The questions I ask before I recommend a line
Two couples can call me wanting the same river, on the same dates, with similar budgets, and walk away with two completely different recommendations. The river is only part of the decision. Before I suggest a ship, I want to know:
Do you prefer active excursions or leisurely exploration? Is your stateroom especially important to you? How important is fine dining to how you judge the trip? Do you want a relaxed, quieter luxury, or a more social atmosphere? Are you celebrating something specific? And what does luxury actually mean to you, specifically?
Those answers tell me more than "which line is the best" ever could, because the honest answer to that question is always: it depends on who is asking.
A quick decision guide
If you want built in excursion variety and a social crowd, start with AmaWaterways. If your stateroom is where you will judge the whole trip, start with Avalon. If you want the highest level of service and dining on the water and price is not the deciding factor, start with Riverside.
None of these are wrong choices. They are different choices, built for different travelers, and that is exactly why I ask the questions above before I recommend one over another. If you are still weighing rivers rather than ships, my river cruise guide walks through the lines side by side.
About Melissa Yetter
Melissa Yetter is a River Cruise Specialist and co-founder of Cruisin Couple Travel Agency (CCTA) in Chandler, Arizona. She holds the CLIA Certified Cruise Counsellor (CCC) designation, is a Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE), an ASTA Verified Travel Advisor, and a member of the ASTA Board of Directors. Melissa is a certified specialist across AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Riverside Luxury Cruises, and Viking, and she and her husband and business partner, Terry, were brand ambassadors for Riverside Luxury Cruises in 2023. She has personally inspected more than 25 river cruise ships and sailed the Rhine, the Danube, and the Douro. If you are trying to choose between these three lines, reach out at melissa@ccta.co or www.cruisincouple.com/melissa-yetter, and she will ask you the questions above before recommending a single ship.
