Comparison of River Cruise Staterooms: Scenic •AMA Waterways•Viking

Written By Kimberley OSullivan

Luxury is in the eyes of the beholder, so let’s take a deeper look so you can decide

All River Cruises will have a range of cabin types from grand to simple.  In this comparison, I will try to point out some of the distinctions between three River Cruise companies:1. Scenic is the most inclusive & luxurious including Butler Service for all cabins & top tier beverages offered 24/7; 2. Ama Waterways is top luxury in its elegant design,  spacious accommodations & delectable food but limited to Beer & Wine with meals & a cocktail hour with featured top tier products, and no Butler service.  Viking is the most well known due to its excellence in marketing.  Passengers love the positive energy from the crew and are happy with the offerings.  Over all, the Viking accommodations will be attractive but slightly less spacious and elegant that than the others being compared here.  As we move from one company to the next, the level of details creates a more luxurious experience from start to finish: greater inclusions, finer dining, more interesting excursion guides will distinguish one company from the next. For most companies, there is great consistency from one ship to the next.  The larger ships will have more options for larger suites & common area, but the quality, inclusions  & energy for each line is distinct and consistent among all of their ships , providing predictable  in-person experiences across the fleets regardless of size.

Please note that for comparison reasons the suite types have been combined into categories that take into consideration across brands: separate bed & lounge areas vs. enlarged separate spaces in the same room and balcony vs. French balcony.  So chart comparison below is approximation of similar cabin types.

Royal Suite

  • 510-475 Sq ft.

Junior Suite

  • 250-205 Sq ft.

Balcony Suite

  • 360-205 Sq ft.

Standard Suite

  • 172-160 Sq ft.

SCENIC ROYAL OWNERS SUITE

SCENIC ROYAL OWNERS SUITE

IMAGE OF BALCONY ON THE SCENIC ROYAL OWNERS SUITE RIVER CRUISE

SCENIC ROYAL OWNER’S SUITE

Daily delivery of personalized savory and sweets canapes or fruit

  • Complimentary welcome bottle of champagne

  • Beverage and meal service in your private suite

  • Exclusive invitation to dine at Table La Rive

  • Private Captain’s cocktail party

  • Priority dining reservations

  • Morning delivery of newspapers

  • Packing and unpacking your luggage

  • 200 euro per suite on board credit for use in the Wellness Center

  • Private transfers in Europe*

Suites Outside & French Balcony

  • 510-360 Sq ft. • 710 Sq. ft. AmaMagna

Jr. Suite Outside Balcony

  •  250 Sq ft. • 474-252 Sq ft. AmaMagna

French Balcony

  • 255-205 Sq ft.

Fixed Window

  • 170-160 Sq ft. • 205 Sq ft. AmaMagna

AMA MAGNA SUITE

AMA MAGNA SUITE

AMA MAGNA SUITE

• Most accommodations are suites, ranging from 355 sq. ft. to 710 sq. ft., featuring step-out balconies

• Marble bathrooms, multi-jet showers, soothing bath products, cotton bathrobes, slippers and hair dryer

• Grand Suites (474 sq. ft.) and an Owners Suite (710 sq. ft.) with spacious seating areas, beds facing the river, bathtub, separate shower and double sinks

• Generous closet, storage and shelf space with in-room safe

• Entertainment-On-Demand with high-speed Internet, movies, music and

English-language TV

• Individually controlled air-conditioning

• Connecting staterooms and triple/quad occupancy available (select staterooms)

AMA Magna

Explorer Suites

  • 445-250 Sq Ft.

Veranda Suites

  • 301-275 Sq ft.

Veranda French Balcony

  • 150-135 Sq ft.

Standard Cabin

  • 155-140

IMAGE OF THE VIKING RIVR CRUISE OWNERS SUITE

VIKING EXPLORER’S SUITE

IMAGE OF BEROOM ON THE VIKING RIVER CRUISE SHIP

VIKING EXPLORER SUITE

IMAGE OF LIVING SPACE IN THE SUITE ON THE VIKING RIVER CRUISE

VIKING EXPLORER SUITE

• Stateroom size: 445 sq ft (includes private veranda)

  • River-view suite with private wraparound balcony offering 270-degree views off a spacious, separate sitting room, and French balcony (floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door) in sleeping quarters

  • 12 PM Embarkation

  • 12 PM priority stateroom access

  • Queen-size Viking Explorer Bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows

  • Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)

  • Flat-screen TV with infotainment system featuring a selection of live TV channels, complimentary Movies On Demand and in-house programming

  • Additional flat-screen TV in sitting area

  • 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports

  • Large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer

  • Premium Freyja® toiletries

  • Plush robes & slippers

  • Telephone, safe, refrigerator

  • Individual climate control

  • Bottled water replenished daily

  • Welcome champagne; mini-bar with wine, beer & soft drinks (replenished daily); daily fruit plate

  • Binoculars

  • Personal coffee machine with premium coffee & tea selections

  • Stateroom steward & twice-daily housekeeping

  • Complimentary in-room breakfast service

  • Complimentary laundry & shoe shine services

  • Silver Spirits beverage package included

  • Private arrival/departure transfer in destination

  • Under-bed suitcase storage space

  • Roomy wardrobe with wooden hangers

  • Complimentary Viking Air Plus (US & CA only)

Kimberley OSullivan