What are the best alternatives to Viking River Cruises?
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 Viking sails, from each line's own website, read 10 November 2026. Each card names the places it shares with Viking, then what it sells, why to choose it and the limits it publishes.
Where does Viking sail?
Viking sells voyages to the Douro, the Rhône and Saône, the Seine, the Mekong, the Ganges or Brahmaputra and the Mississippi, by its own website; the alternatives below sell voyages to at least 3 of the same places.
Viking also sells European river sailings, but its pages read name no Danube or Rhine itinerary, so those rivers are not counted here; a line that sails only the Danube and the Rhine does not appear on this page. Among the lines below, APT and Travelmarvel are in the same group.
- The Douro: Sails six ships custom built for Portugal's Douro River, Viking Gyda, Helgrim, Hemming, Osfrid, Sol and Torgil, docking in the heart of Porto. Source
- The Rhône and Saône: Sails Lyon & Provence on the Rhône, with a Burgundy's Vineyards land extension available. Source
- The Seine: Sails the Seine on six ships, Viking Fjolvar, Fjorgyn, Kari, Nerthus, Radgrid and Skaga, with itineraries including Christmastime in Paris & Normandy. Source
- The Mekong: Sails the Mekong on Viking Saigon and Viking Tonle, hosting 80 guests, with access to landmarks in Cambodia and Vietnam. Source
- The Ganges or Brahmaputra: Sails India's Brahmaputra River on an 80-guest ship designed for it. Source
- The Mississippi: Sails Viking Mississippi, with 193 all-outside staterooms for 386 guests, to destinations from New Orleans to St. Paul. Source
What are the best alternatives to Viking River Cruises?
8 river cruise lines in the Uncompromised Travel table sell voyages to at least 3 of the places Viking sails, by their own websites; Phoenix Reisen, Thurgau Travel and Tauck have the most Google reviews under the line's own name.
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 Viking
- the Douro, the Rhône and Saône and the Seine
- 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.
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 Viking
- the Douro, the Rhône and Saône 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.
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 Viking
- the Douro, the Rhône and Saône, the Seine, the Mekong and the Mississippi
- 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
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 Viking
- the Douro, the Rhône and Saône 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
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 Viking
- the Douro, the Rhône and Saône and the Seine
- 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
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 Viking
- the Douro, the Rhône and Saône, the Seine 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.
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 Viking
- the Douro, the Rhône and Saône and the Seine
- 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
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 Viking
- the Douro, the Rhône and Saône, the Seine 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
Which of these show a dated price on this page?
5 of the 8 cards show a price for a sailing, with its currency and a date or season. Emerald Cruises, 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?
4 of the 8 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
- nicko cruises: Insurance certificate naming the insurer, required before any payment under its package travel terms
- 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)
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.
Viking River Cruises 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?
3 of the 8 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, Thurgau Travel and Tauck, 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?
4 of the 8: A-ROSA, 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?
6 of the 8: A-ROSA, Emerald Cruises, nicko cruises, Riviera Travel, Scenic and Tauck. 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 Viking 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
Companies are added at each update. Want to be the company this page features?
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.