Riverside Luxury Cruises vs Viking: which is better?

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

Riverside Luxury Cruises vs Viking: which is better?

Neither is better for everyone. Riverside Luxury Cruises includes gratuities, Starlink Wi-Fi and butler service on its all-suite ships; Viking includes one shore excursion in every port with beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, on Viking Longships of 80 to 200 passengers in Europe.

What is each line?

Riverside Luxury Cruises sells luxury river cruises in Europe on its own all-suite river ships, a young brand launched in 2022, with butler service for every guest; it names no owner or group. 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?

Riverside Luxury Cruises' fleet of all-suite river ships includes Riverside Mozart, the first ship in its fleet, plus Riverside Debussy, Riverside Ravel and Riverside Mahler. 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?

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

Riverside Luxury Cruises does not publish this on the pages read.

Which rivers does each line sail?

Riverside Luxury Cruises sails the Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Rhône and Saône on 3 to 14 day itineraries, including Delightful Danube Christmas on Riverside Mozart, a Rhine sailing from Amsterdam via Cologne, Bonn, Rüdesheim and Mannheim, Holland at the Heart of Tulip Blossom on Riverside Debussy and a Rhône and Saône sailing from Lyon. 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?

Riverside Luxury Cruises' suites measure 20 to 82 m² with panoramic windows; suite types include the Harmony Suite on Riverside Mozart, the Melody Suite on Debussy, Ravel and Mahler, plus Penthouse and Owner Suites. 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?

Riverside Luxury Cruises' package includes gratuities, complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi, butler service and complimentary transfers between the ship and selected airports on embarkation and disembarkation days; RIVERSIDE CHOICE shore excursions are in the Excursion Package and CONNOISSEUR COLLECTION private activities 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?

Riverside Luxury Cruises offers RIVERSIDE CHOICE shore excursions in each port, included in the Excursion Package, with entry fees, transport and refreshments (where applicable) covered and an audio-guide device for each participant; CONNOISSEUR COLLECTION private activities in select locations cost extra. 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?

Riverside Luxury Cruises publishes no single supplement figure; the solo offer on the pages read carried dates that have now passed, so no current solo term is shown. Source

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

How much is the deposit?

Riverside Luxury Cruises does not publish its standard deposit or balance due date; a current offer gives an extended deposit deadline of 14 days. 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?

Riverside Luxury Cruises does not publish its standard cancellation scale; a current offer gives free cancellation up to 90 days (FIT) or 120 days (groups) before departure, with rebooking to 2027 possible up to 60 days before departure. 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

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

Riverside Luxury Cruises says unusually high or low water levels may affect your itinerary and that its response may include alternative arrangements for the duration of the trip; it names no refund or compensation. Source

Viking does not publish this on the pages read.

What if your mobility is limited?

Riverside Luxury Cruises says wheelchair accessibility is limited on its ships and that motorised scooters are not allowed. 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?

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

Riverside Luxury Cruises does not publish this on the pages read.

When is each not the fit?

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

• Riverside Luxury Cruises: not the fit if you need medical care on board: there are no medical facilities or doctors aboard its ships. 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.

• Viking: Trustpilot (whole company): 1.7 out of 5 from 384 reviews, newest 10 November 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
• Riverside Luxury Cruises: no Google or Trustpilot listing under Riverside Luxury Cruises's own name was found.

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