Celebrity River Cruises vs. The Competition
How does Celebrity’s new river cruise line stack up against Viking, AmaWaterways, and Avalon Waterways? We break down everything from ship design to what’s included so you can choose your perfect European river cruise.
Why This Comparison Matters
Celebrity Cruises is entering the European river cruise market in August 2027 with purpose-built ships designed to challenge the established players. With 10 ships planned for 2027-2028, Celebrity is making a bold statement. But Viking has decades of river cruise experience, AmaWaterways is known for culinary excellence, and Avalon pioneered the wall-to-wall Panorama Suite concept. Here’s how they all compare.
At a Glance: Quick Comparison
Deep Dive: Celebrity River vs. Viking
Viking is the undisputed giant of European river cruising with 80+ ships and decades of experience. Celebrity is the ambitious newcomer backed by the resources of Royal Caribbean Group. Here’s how they differ where it matters most.
Ship Design & Innovation
Celebrity’s new ships are being built from the ground up with patent-pending designs. The standout feature is the Magic Edge — cantilevered dining pods that extend beyond the ship’s hull, letting guests dine while literally floating above the river. Add to that an exterior infinity pool at the stern (a first for European river ships of this size) and the Skylight Infinite Balcony Suites with ceiling windows that flood the room with natural light.
Viking’s Longships are elegant and proven. Their clean Scandinavian design aesthetic has won countless awards. The asymmetric corridor layout on newer ships creates more spacious staterooms, and the Aquavit Terrace — an indoor/outdoor restaurant at the bow — remains one of river cruising’s best dining concepts. Viking’s advantage is consistency: you know exactly what you’re getting on any ship in the fleet.
Dining
This is where Celebrity makes a major statement. With 8 restaurants and bars — including Martini Bar, Sunset Bar, Cafe Al Bacio, the Magic Edge dining pods, and complimentary room service — Celebrity is bringing its acclaimed ocean cruise dining culture to the rivers. That’s 4x more dining options than any competitor on European rivers.
Viking offers two dining venues: the main Restaurant and the popular Aquavit Terrace. While more limited in variety, Viking’s culinary program features excellent regionally-inspired cuisine and consistently high ratings from guests.
What’s Included in the Fare
Celebrity’s pricing is truly all-inclusive: all meals, all beverages (including premium cocktails and spirits), Wi-Fi, entertainment, and one shore excursion per day. Suite guests also get butler service, priority excursion booking, exclusive dining, and complimentary laundry.
Viking includes meals, Wi-Fi, one shore excursion per port, and beer/wine at lunch and dinner. Cocktails, premium spirits, and specialty coffee require the optional Silver Spirits beverage package (approximately $250 per person for a 7-night cruise).
Deep Dive: Celebrity River vs. AmaWaterways
AmaWaterways is beloved by foodies, active travelers, and those who appreciate a warm, intimate onboard atmosphere. Here’s how AmaWaterways stacks up against Celebrity’s new offering.
Culinary Experience
AmaWaterways has earned a stellar reputation for dining. Their exclusive Chef’s Table restaurant (on most ships) offers a multi-course tasting menu experience, and the line partners with renowned culinary figures. AmaWaterways also hosts cooking classes and wine tastings that connect guests to regional cuisine.
Celebrity counters with sheer variety — 8 venues versus AmaWaterways’ 2-3. Celebrity also brings proven ocean-cruise favorites like Cafe Al Bacio and the Martini Bar to the river. Both lines include meals; Celebrity also includes all premium drinks.
Active & Wellness Options
AmaWaterways is the most active-friendly river cruise line. Complimentary bikes are available in every port, guided hiking and biking excursions are regularly offered, and many ships have a swim-up pool bar. Their onboard wellness programming emphasizes staying active throughout the cruise.
Celebrity’s infinity pool and modern fitness facilities signal a commitment to wellness, though the full scope of active excursion programming hasn’t been detailed yet. With Celebrity’s ocean cruise heritage of Canyon Ranch spas and fitness partnerships, expect strong wellness offerings.
Fleet & Itinerary Range
AmaWaterways sails 25 ships across the Rhine, Danube, Rhône, Seine, Douro, and more. They also offer Mekong and African river cruises. This means more departure dates, more itineraries, and more flexibility.
Celebrity launches with 2 ships in 2027 (Danube and Rhine only), expanding to 10 ships by 2028. Initially, options will be more limited but are expected to grow rapidly.
How Does Avalon Waterways Compare?
Avalon Waterways (part of the Globus family of brands) takes a different approach to river cruising. Known for their Panorama Suites — with wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows and beds facing the river — Avalon emphasizes spacious staterooms and an active, destination-focused experience.
Stateroom Design
Avalon’s Panorama Suites are approximately 200 sq ft — about 30% larger than the industry average. The signature feature is beds that face the river and enormous opening windows that transform the room into an open-air balcony. About 80% of staterooms on their Suite Ships are this category.
Celebrity’s Skylight Infinite Balcony Suites run approximately 300 sq ft with ceiling skylight windows and a dedicated living area, making them among the largest standard suites in European river cruising. Celebrity also offers butler service in suites, which Avalon does not.
Excursion Style
Avalon excels at active experiences — guided cycling tours, vineyard hikes, hands-on cooking workshops, and cultural immersions. Their “Active & Discovery” program gives guests more ways to experience each port beyond traditional walking tours.
Celebrity includes one excursion per port daily. The full excursion program details for 2027 are still being finalized, but expect the Celebrity standard of well-curated, culturally rich shore experiences.
Pricing & Value
Avalon’s entry-level fares tend to be competitive, typically starting below AmaWaterways and Viking for similar itineraries. Their inclusions cover meals, regional wines/beer at lunch and dinner, one shore excursion per port, complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi, and use of onboard bikes.
Celebrity’s pricing hasn’t been widely compared yet since 2027 priority bookings are just opening up. However, Celebrity’s all-inclusive package (covering premium spirits and cocktails) could represent strong value compared to adding drink packages on other lines.
Who Should Choose Which Line?
Ready to Book Your European River Cruise?
Whether you’re leaning toward Celebrity’s exciting new ships or one of the established lines, our travel advisors at Pixie Vacations can help you compare options, find the best value, and book with confidence — at no extra cost to you.
This comparison is based on publicly available information as of April 2026. Celebrity River Cruises launches in August 2027 — details may evolve as the launch approaches. This is an independent fan blog and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Celebrity Cruises, Viking, AmaWaterways, or Avalon Waterways. See our disclaimer for details.