What are the best alternatives to AmaWaterways?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 10 November 2026
An alternative here is a line that sells voyages to the same places: at least 3 of the regions AmaWaterways sails, from each line's own website, read 10 November 2026. Each card names the places it shares with AmaWaterways, then what it sells, why to choose it and the limits it publishes.
Where does AmaWaterways sail?
AmaWaterways sells voyages to the Danube, the Rhine, the Douro and the Mekong, by its own website; the alternatives below sell voyages to at least 3 of the same places.
The rivers counted are the ones AmaWaterways' own pages name; it may sail more. Among the lines below, APT and Travelmarvel are in the same group.
- The Danube: Sails the Danube, including Celebration of Music sailings with live performances and lectures on board. Source
- The Rhine: Sails City Escapes: Grand Rhine & Dutch Canals, 14 nights through Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Source
- The Douro: Sails Flavors of Portugal & Spain, 7 nights on the Douro. Source
- The Mekong: Sails a 7-night Mekong cruise in Vietnam and Cambodia; its Mekong 2-for-1 Land offer adds 8 more nights on land, valid through 31 December 2026. Source
What are the best alternatives to AmaWaterways?
12 river cruise lines in the Uncompromised Travel table sell voyages to at least 3 of the places AmaWaterways sails, by their own websites; Phoenix Reisen, Travelmarvel and Thurgau Travel have the most Google reviews under the line's own name.
Who is on this page and why. The Uncompromised Travel river cruise lines table holds 48 companies: the river cruise lines ChatGPT names most often when asked about river cruises, plus river lines added by hand from the trade, each kept only if its own website sells river voyages under its own name. Their own websites were read on 10 November 2026, with their Google and Trustpilot listings matched by name. This page carries every line in the table that, on its own website, sells sailings on at least three of the rivers AmaWaterways sails: 12 lines. Cards are in alphabetical order. Each line on a card gives what the company's own website says, with a link to the page it came from; a second reader checked 288 of the table's rows against the pages. No company paid to be on this page.
A-ROSA
- Best for
- Drinks-inclusive sailings on Rhine, Danube and Douro
- What it sells
- Runs river cruises on 15 ships of its own on the Rhine, Danube, Moselle, Rhône, Seine and Douro, sold on a Premium All-Inclusive fare.
- Also sails, like AmaWaterways
- the Danube, the Rhine and the Douro
- Why choose them
- Began sailing the Danube in 2002 with A-ROSA BELLA and A-ROSA DONNA and now lists 15 river ships. Trustpilot: 2.9 out of 5 from 342 reviews, newest 6 November 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the Premium All-Inclusive fare, which includes one free change of travel date up to 30 days before departure.
- Not the fit if
- you use a wheelchair: there are no wheelchair-accessible cabins and no passenger lifts except on A-ROSA ALVA, SENA, ALEA and CLEA.
- Published price
- from €1,561 per person, Premium All-Inclusive, cabin B with balcony, Rhine & Scheldt Metropolises Experience, 27 March to 3 April 2027. Read 10 November 2026.
- Money protection
- Risk coverage certificate (Sicherungsschein) under Section 651r BGB, issued before the 25% down payment is due.
Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: company/contact.html, company/history.html, my-a-rosa/faq.html.
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APT
- Best for
- Fully inclusive Rhine, Danube and Mekong cruises
- What it sells
- Sells fully inclusive river cruises on APT Solara, Ostara and Alara on the Rhine, Main and Danube, the 88-guest Mekong Serenity in Vietnam and Cambodia, plus Lower Ganges cruises in India.
- Also sails, like AmaWaterways
- the Danube, the Rhine and the Mekong
- Why choose them
- Launched two new river ships, APT Solara and APT Ostara, in 2025.
- Ask for
- Ask for a Luxury River Cruise from the UK, which includes return flights and home-to-airport transfers by private car.
- Not the fit if
- you may need to change plans late: the one free amendment applies only when you are more than 100 days from departure.
- Money protection
- ABTA member; air-inclusive packages bonded under the CAA's ATOL scheme; Client Fund Protection in a separate bank account (UK bookings).
- Website
- aptouring.com
Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: en-gb/why-choose-apt/b-corp-certification, en-us/why-choose-apt/about-apt, en-gb/why-choose-apt/book-with-confidence.
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CroisiEurope
- Best for
- French family line on European rivers
- What it sells
- Sells river and sea cruises on its own fleet of 50 ships and barges, on the Rhine, Danube, Rhône, Saône, Elbe, Po, Dordogne and Garonne, plus Mekong programmes. It is an independent French family company working since 1976.
- Also sails, like AmaWaterways
- the Danube, the Rhine and the Mekong
- Why choose them
- Runs a fleet of 50 ships and barges. Google: 3.6 out of 5 from 134 reviews; Trustpilot: 3.8 out of 5 from 448 reviews, newest 9 November 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a CroisiFamille river cruise, where up to 2 children up to 16 sail free in a paying cabin.
- Not the fit if
- you may cancel late: from 90 days before a river cruise you lose 20% of the price, rising to 100% from 8 days.
- Website
- croisieurope.com
Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: home page, information/conditions-generales-ventes-2026.
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Emerald Cruises
- Best for
- Star-Ship river cruises in Europe and Asia
- What it sells
- Runs river cruises on its own Star-Ships, eight in Europe on the Rhine, Main, Danube, Moselle, Rhône, Saône and Douro and one, Emerald Harmony, on the Mekong, plus luxury yachts.
- Also sails, like AmaWaterways
- the Danube, the Rhine, the Douro and the Mekong
- Why choose them
- Founded in 2013, it now sails eight Star-Ships in Europe and one on the Mekong. Google: 4.1 out of 5 from 37 reviews. Read 10 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a Solo Program Preferred Fare, which gives 50% single supplement savings.
- Not the fit if
- you need time after booking: the deposit on river cruises is due within 48 hours.
Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: US/en-US/about-us, US/en-US/offers/europe-river-cruises.
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nicko cruises
- Best for
- River cruises for German-speaking travellers worldwide
- What it sells
- Runs river cruises on a fleet of 22 ships on the Danube, Rhône, Saône, Seine, Douro, Nile, Mekong and Mississippi, plus the ocean ship VASCO DA GAMA.
- Also sails, like AmaWaterways
- the Danube, the Douro and the Mekong
- Why choose them
- Sails a fleet of 22 ships and says it has been market leader for river cruises in Germany since 2007. Trustpilot (whole company): 3.2 out of 5 from 387 reviews, newest 5 November 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a Single-Spezial departure, where the single supplement is cut by 50%.
- Not the fit if
- you want an English-only ship: most river ships run in German and English; CYRANO DE BERGERAC runs in French and German.
- Published price
- from €5,199 per person including flight, MEKONG NAVIGATOR, 13 days, departing 3 April 2027. Read 10 November 2026.
- Money protection
- Insurance certificate naming the insurer, required before any payment under its package travel terms.
- Website
- nicko-cruises.de
Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: en/fleet/river-fleet, en/fleet/flussschiffe/cyrano-de-bergerac, falstaff-dream-cruises.
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Phoenix Reisen
- Best for
- German-speaking river voyages at published euro fares
- What it sells
- Sells German-language river voyages on nearly 40 river ships, on the Danube, Douro, Rhine, Moselle, Rhône, Saône and Mekong, alongside its ocean ships.
- Also sails, like AmaWaterways
- the Danube, the Douro and the Mekong
- Why choose them
- Says it has nearly 40 river ships in its fleet. Google: 4.6 out of 5 from 1,259 reviews. Read 10 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a voyage marked Singles sparen, with heavily reduced single cabins.
- Not the fit if
- you do not speak German: there is only one language on board, German.
- Published price
- From 1,099 € per person, 2-bed cabin (stern) main deck, Faszination Douro, 7 days on the Douro Cruiser, 07.04.-14.04.2027. Read 10 November 2026.
- Website
- phoenixreisen.com
Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: unser-team-in-bonn.html, fjorde-kreuzfahrt-in-norwegen-dem-land-der-troll, portugal-kreuzfahrt-durch-das-zauberhafte-douro-.
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Plantours Kreuzfahrten
- Best for
- German-language river cruises with themed events
- What it sells
- Sells river cruises on MS Lady Diletta, Lady Cristina, Sans Souci, Elegant Lady, Rousse Prestige and La Marguerite on the Rhine, Main, Moselle, Danube, Elbe, Oder, Dutch and Belgian waterways and the Mekong, plus Nile sailings on MS Monte Carlo.
- Also sails, like AmaWaterways
- the Danube, the Rhine and the Mekong
- Why choose them
- Its flagship MS Lady Diletta carries 173 passengers and has 11 single cabins.
- Ask for
- Ask for the Single Special on selected Christmas voyages, which opens more single cabins for booking.
- Not the fit if
- you want to book shore excursions by phone, as they are booked only online through the customer portal.
- Money protection
- Deutscher Reisesicherungsfonds GmbH, with a Sicherungsschein issued with the booking confirmation.
Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: infos-service/drucksachen/neu-routenvorschau-ms-, infos-service/drucksachen/landausflugsprogramme-, impressum.
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Riviera Travel
- Best for
- All-inclusive European river cruises with excursions included
- What it sells
- Sells river cruises in Europe on its own ships, among them MS Geoffrey Chaucer, MS Emily Brontë and MS Jane Austen, on the Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Seine, Rhône, Saône and Douro, plus yacht cruises carrying up to 40 guests.
- Also sails, like AmaWaterways
- the Danube, the Rhine and the Douro
- Why choose them
- Says it has welcomed more than 1.75 million guests worldwide and launched its river cruises in 2009.
- Ask for
- Ask for a solo departure with the single supplement waived, or a Cruise & Stay with three nights in a 4-star hotel.
- Not the fit if
- you use a wheelchair: there are no wheelchair accessible cabins on any of its ships.
- Money protection
- Says it is fully bonded with the CAA and ABTA, which are UK bodies, so your money is safe in any eventuality; its US booking conditions carry Florida Seller of Travel Ref. No. ST40993.
- Enquiry
- rivieratravel.com/contact
Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: ships/river-cruise-ships, about-us, company-policies/booking-conditions.
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Scenic
- Best for
- All-inclusive Europe and Mekong river cruises
- What it sells
- Sails 13 river ships: Scenic Space-Ships of up to 163 guests in Europe and the 68-guest Scenic Spirit on the Mekong.
- Also sails, like AmaWaterways
- the Danube, the Rhine, the Douro and the Mekong
- Why choose them
- Its river fleet is growing from 13 to 16 ships, with new additions planned for 2027 and 2028.
- Ask for
- Ask for a Solo Program Preferred Fare, which gives 50% single supplement savings, with a free single supplement on select dates.
- Not the fit if
- you live outside the United States: these fares and offers apply to legal residents of the United States.
- Published price
- from US$4,528 per person, double occupancy, Castles & Vineyards of the Rhine & Moselle, 8 days, 2027 season. Read 10 November 2026.
Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: US/en-US/river/river-experience, US/en-US/about-us, US/en-US/terms-conditions.
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Tauck
- Best for
- Fully guided European river cruises, excursions included
- What it sells
- Runs fully guided river cruises in Europe on riverboats that average 110 guests (none above 130), on the Rhine, Moselle, Danube, Rhône, Saône, Seine, Douro and the waterways of Belgium and the Netherlands.
- Also sails, like AmaWaterways
- the Danube, the Rhine and the Douro
- Why choose them
- Founded in 1925, it now offers nearly 200 itineraries across land tours and river and small ship cruises. Google: 3.4 out of 5 from 41 reviews; Trustpilot (whole company): 2.7 out of 5 from 93 reviews, newest 13 October 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a Category 1 cabin on a European river cruise, which carries no single supplement.
- Not the fit if
- you need help walking or use a motorised scooter: Tauck cannot provide individual assistance and cannot take scooters on any trip.
- Enquiry
- tauck.com/contact-us
Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: river-cruises/why-take-a-river-cruise/small-is-b, about-tauck, terms-and-conditions.
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Thurgau Travel
- Best for
- Swiss river voyages on its own ships
- What it sells
- Sells river voyages on 19 ships across more than 25 countries, on rivers including the Rhine, Danube, Moselle, Rhône, Saône, Seine, Douro, Elbe, Mekong and Ganges.
- Also sails, like AmaWaterways
- the Danube, the Rhine, the Douro and the Mekong
- Why choose them
- Founded in December 2001, it sails 19 ships on over 50 waterways in more than 25 countries. Google: 4.4 out of 5 from 181 reviews; Trustpilot (whole company): 4.6 out of 5 from 1,004 reviews, newest 8 November 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the excursion package with audio guide when you book, as most excursions are sold that way.
- Not the fit if
- you cannot leave the ship on your own in an evacuation, as guests must be able to do so and must tell Thurgau Travel before booking if not.
- Published price
- from CHF 1'390 per person, Rheinzauber Holland on MS Thurgau Gold, 9 days, departing 17 February 2027. Read 10 November 2026.
- Money protection
- Garantiefonds der Schweizer Reisebranche (Swiss travel industry guarantee fund).
- Website
- thurgautravel.ch
Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: pressebereich/thrugau-travel-schuetzt-seine-gaes, vertrags-und-reisebedingungen, reise/rheinzauber-holland/?id=3917269.
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Travelmarvel
- Best for
- Rhine, Danube and Douro cruises plus Asia
- What it sells
- Sells river cruises; its fleet list names the Polaris, Capella, Vega and Rigel in Europe, the MS Estrela on the Douro, the Travelmarvel RV Lotus in Asia and the Travelmarvel Sirius on the Nile.
- Also sails, like AmaWaterways
- the Danube, the Rhine, the Douro and the Mekong
- Why choose them
- It added the Contemporary River Ships Polaris, Capella and Vega to its European fleet in 2022. Google: 4.5 out of 5 from 926 reviews. Read 10 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the 2027 Book Early Package on Europe river cruises and the deposit it holds the booking with.
- Not the fit if
- you may need to change plans late: its one free amendment applies only when you are more than 100 days from departure.
- Money protection
- ABTA and ATOL (UK packages).
- Website
- travelmarvel.com
Read on its own website, 10 November 2026: en-gb/experiences/travel-styles/river-cruises, en-gb/media/travelmarvel-our-story, en-gb/why-choose-travelmarvel/book-with-confiden.
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Which of these show a dated price on this page?
5 of the 12 cards show a price for a sailing, with its currency and a date or season. CroisiEurope, Emerald Cruises, Plantours Kreuzfahrten, Riviera Travel and Tauck publish fares on their own websites without a sailing date, a per-person basis or a currency on the pages read, so no figure is shown for them. Ask every line for a written quote with the departure date and what it includes.
Which of these lines name a scheme that protects your money?
7 of the 12 lines name a scheme, bond, licence or account that protects payments for some or all bookings; check the number with the scheme before you pay.
- A-ROSA: Risk coverage certificate (Sicherungsschein) under Section 651r BGB, issued before the 25% down payment is due
- APT: ABTA member; air-inclusive packages bonded under the CAA's ATOL scheme; Client Fund Protection in a separate bank account (UK bookings)
- nicko cruises: Insurance certificate naming the insurer, required before any payment under its package travel terms
- Plantours Kreuzfahrten: Deutscher Reisesicherungsfonds GmbH, with a Sicherungsschein issued with the booking confirmation
- Riviera Travel: Says it is fully bonded with the CAA and ABTA, which are UK bodies, so your money is safe in any eventuality; its US booking conditions carry Florida Seller of Travel Ref. No. ST40993
- Thurgau Travel: Garantiefonds der Schweizer Reisebranche (Swiss travel industry guarantee fund)
- Travelmarvel: ABTA and ATOL (UK packages)
Who to contact first
Start with the 3 lines on this page that publish both a sailing price and their cancellation terms on their own websites, then add any other card that fits your dates and the sailing you want.
What to ask each one to set out in writing:
- What the fare includes, line by line: excursions, drinks, gratuities, wifi, flights, transfers and hotel nights before and after.
- The ship: how many guests it carries, the cabin size and whether it has a French balcony, a full balcony or a window.
- The deposit, when the balance is due, what you lose if you cancel and what the line does if low or high water changes the route.
- Which scheme or licence protects your money and what you need to walk on the excursions if mobility matters to you.
AmaWaterways alternatives: the questions people ask
What should I ask a river cruise line before booking?
What the fare includes, line by line; how many guests the ship carries and the size of the cabin; the deposit and what you lose if you cancel; what happens if low or high water changes the route; and which scheme protects your money.
Can I book with these lines directly?
Yes. Each card links the line's own website or enquiry page; ask for a written quote that lists what the fare includes and the cancellation scale.
Do these lines all sell the same kind of river cruise?
No. Each card names the sailing, ship or offer the line's own website gives; ship sizes, lengths, rivers and prices differ, so compare the cards before you ask for quotes.
What happens if the river is too low or too high to sail?
4 of the 12 lines set out on their own websites what they do when water levels change a sailing, such as a ship swap, a coach transfer or a refund. Ask each line in writing before you book.
Which of these have the most Google reviews?
Phoenix Reisen, Travelmarvel and Thurgau Travel, in that order. A count says how many people reviewed a line, not whether it fits your sailing; each card gives the rating and count, read 10 November 2026.
Which of these have Trustpilot profiles?
5 of the 12: A-ROSA, CroisiEurope, nicko cruises, Tauck and Thurgau Travel. Each card gives the TrustScore, the review count and the newest review date, read 10 November 2026.
Which of these publish their cancellation terms?
9 of the 12: A-ROSA, APT, CroisiEurope, Emerald Cruises, nicko cruises, Riviera Travel, Scenic, Tauck and Travelmarvel. Ask each for the full scale in writing before you pay a deposit.
Where can I check these facts myself?
Each card links the pages of the line's own website its lines were read from, with the date they were read.
How were these lines chosen?
Each one is in the Uncompromised Travel river cruise lines table, built from the river cruise lines ChatGPT names most often. On its own website it sells sailings on at least three of the rivers AmaWaterways sails. A line is on the page because its published facts fit the question, never because it paid.
Is any company on this page paying to be here?
No. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel; none paid to be on it.
Read next
Built to answer the question in the main heading. What is shown: what each line published on its own website, read on 10 November 2026, with links to the pages read, with its Google and Trustpilot figures where the listing carries the line's own name, from the Uncompromised Travel river cruise lines table. Cards are in alphabetical order. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel. How this site earns · How we work.