Avalon Waterways vs Viking: which river cruise is better?

No score and no verdict of ours: what Avalon Waterways and Viking each publish on their own websites, read 10 November 2026, topic by topic, each line linked to the page it came from.

Avalon Waterways vs Viking: which river cruise is better?

Neither is better for everyone. Avalon's Panorama Suites in Europe are 200 square feet and its fares include up to 28 excursions; Viking includes one shore excursion in every port and operates Viking Longships of 80 to 200 passengers in Europe; the pages read give no Longship cabin size.

What is each line?

Avalon Waterways runs river cruises on its Avalon Suite Ships; it belongs to the Globus family of brands with Globus and Cosmos and calls itself a Swiss family-owned company, with its office in Denver, Colorado. Source

Viking runs river voyages on ships it operates under its own name, with Viking Longships in Europe and ships on the Nile, the Mississippi, the Mekong and the Brahmaputra. Source

Which ships does each line sail?

Avalon Waterways sails Avalon Suite Ships in Europe, the Avalon Alegria on the Douro (its newest Suite Ship) and the Avalon Saigon on the Mekong; it also sells cruises on the Delfin III on the Amazon and the MS Farah in Egypt; its pages do not say who owns them. Source

Viking sails Viking Longships in Europe, six Douro ships (Viking Gyda, Helgrim, Hemming, Osfrid, Sol and Torgil), Viking Astrild and Beyla on the Elbe, six Seine ships, the Nile ships Viking Amun, Aton and Hathor (with Anubis and Geb due 2027), Viking Mississippi, plus Viking Saigon and Viking Tonle on the Mekong. Source

How many guests are on board?

Avalon Waterways carries 102 passengers on the Avalon Alegria on the Douro and 36 guests in 18 Panorama Suites on the Avalon Saigon on the Mekong; it says its small ships average 150 guests or less. Source

Viking's Viking Longships carry 80 to 200 passengers; its Nile ships host 82 guests each, its Asia ships 80 guests and Viking Mississippi 386 guests in 193 staterooms. Source

Which rivers does each line sail?

Avalon Waterways sails European rivers on its Suite Ships, the Douro on the Avalon Alegria and the Mekong through Vietnam and Cambodia on the Avalon Saigon; it also sells cruises on the Amazon in Peru (Delfin III) and in Egypt (MS Farah). Source

Viking sails named itineraries on the Seine (Paris & the Heart of Normandy, Christmastime in Paris & Normandy), the Rhône (Lyon & Provence) and the Nile (Pharaohs & Pyramids, Grand Nile Journey I and II); it also sails purpose-built ships on the Douro, the Elbe, the Mississippi, the Mekong and the Brahmaputra. The pages read name no Danube or Rhine itinerary. Source

How large are the cabins?

Avalon Waterways' Panorama Suites are 200 square feet in Europe, which it says is an average of 30% larger than others, with Open-Air Balconies whose windows open 7 feet wide; suites on the Avalon Saigon are 245 square feet with wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling Open-Air Balconies. Source

Viking's cabin sizes are given for its Nile ships (a Standard Stateroom of 232 sq ft with a half-height picture window to an Explorer Suite of 677 sq ft including a 195 sq ft veranda) and for Viking Mississippi (336 sq ft Penthouse Veranda to Explorer Suites of 657 to 1,024 sq ft, all with a private veranda); no Longship cabin size is given. Source

What does the fare include?

Avalon Waterways' Europe fares include wine and beer with lunch and dinner, sparkling wine with breakfast, soft drinks all day, Wi-Fi, up to 28 included excursions and gratuities for wait staff at included meals; airfare, guide and crew gratuities, laundry, minibar, optional excursions, travel protection and visas cost extra. Source

Viking's Viking Inclusive Value fare includes one shore excursion in every port and beer, wine and soft drinks with onboard lunch and dinner; pre-paid charges, optional facilities and personal charges are not in the fare. Source

Are shore excursions included?

Avalon Waterways includes up to 28 excursions per cruise in small groups, in three Avalon Choice styles (Classic, Discovery and Active); its Active & Discovery cruises average 22 included excursions and optional excursions are sold from 90 days before departure. Source

Viking includes one guided shore excursion in every port, led by an English-speaking guide; optional excursions such as Local Life, Working World and Privileged Access cost extra, with every excursion rated easy, moderate or demanding. Source

What do solo travellers pay?

Avalon Waterways charges a single room supplement where it applies, with no figure published; single accommodation can be requested and no solo cabins are named. Source

Viking advertises Special Solo Traveler Fares and says single supplement savings are off applicable rates. Source

How much is the deposit?

Avalon Waterways: Under its US terms, takes a non-refundable deposit of $250 (USD) per person on most cruises ($500 on the Delfin III, MS Farah and Botswana trips), with final payment 90 days before departure. Source

Viking offers a $25 deposit as a current offer (US dollars, US residents) on itineraries of 35 days or less departing April 2027 onward, or June 2027 onward for itineraries over 35 days, World Cruise excluded; it states no standard deposit. 2027 departures pay in full by 17 December 2026 or 120 days before departure, whichever comes first. Source

What happens if you cancel?

Avalon Waterways: On 2026 and 2027 cruises, charges 50% of the total price from the final payment date to 30 days before departure, 80% at 29 to 1 days and 100% on the day of departure or later; deposits are non-refundable. Source

Viking publishes no cancellation charge scale in the pages read; its optional Travel Protection Plan includes a Cancel for Any Reason waiver, under which the nonrefundable part of the trip cost comes back in Viking travel vouchers, claimed within 30 days of cancellation and redeemed within 12 months. Source

Is your money protected?

Avalon Waterways gives California Seller of Travel #2017032-20 and Florida Seller of Travel # ST38397 and does not say what they cover. Source

Viking does not publish this on the pages read.

What happens if the water is too high or too low?

Avalon Waterways says it will often move guests to a sister Suite Ship when water level disruptions are unchanged after 48 hours and uses motorcoaches and hotels for changes; its terms treat low or high water as a Force Majeure Event, with future travel credit offered and a refund possible if requested within 21 days. Source

Viking does not publish this on the pages read.

What if your mobility is limited?

Avalon Waterways: Outside the United States, guests must be able to walk up and down steps and ramps without a wheelchair or walker; collapsible wheelchairs up to 1030mm x 555mm are allowed if disclosed, motorised scooters are not permitted outside the US and many small ships have no lift. Source

Viking has lifts throughout Viking Mississippi and a wheelchair-accessible Explorer Suite (#300); on its Nile ships the lift runs from Main Deck to Pool Deck only, with none to the Sun Deck; excursions are rated easy, moderate or demanding. Source

Can children come?

Avalon Waterways sets a minimum age of 8, with no child reductions and no special arrangements or activities for children on its ships. Source

Viking says there are no children on board its river ships. Source

When is each not the fit?

The limits below are published by each line on their own websites.

• Avalon Waterways: not the fit if you use a wheelchair or walker: outside the United States, guests must be able to walk up and down steps and ramps without one. Source
• Viking: not the fit if you live outside the US and want its published fares: it says all prices are in US dollars and for US residents only. Source

How do their reviews compare?

Their figures per platform, read 10 November 2026, each from a listing under the line's own name; a whole-company profile is marked. Figures are never added together.

• Avalon Waterways: Google: 4.2 out of 5 from 22 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.4 out of 5 from 1,905 reviews, newest 25 October 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
• Viking: Trustpilot (whole company): 1.7 out of 5 from 384 reviews, newest 10 November 2026. Read 10 November 2026.

The lines at a glance

One card each, as on every Uncompromised Travel river cruise page: what each sells, why to choose each, what to ask for and the limits each publishes.

Which other lines sail the same rivers?

The lines that sell sailings on the same rivers are compared on What are the best alternatives to Viking River Cruises?

Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 10 November 2026 · updated 10 November 2026