Looking to sail on a European river cruise and not sure which line is best? Here at rivercruisecomparison.com we've brought you a Uniworld vs AmaWaterways head-to-head matchup. So which line gets your knock out vote? Let us know in the comments below!
Round 1: Pricing & Booking Policies
Cruise fares for Uniworld and AmaWaterways are very similar. Both lines offer limited time sales throughout the year that can drop their pricing to be better than the other. But comparing these two lines solely on their cruise fare rates is deceptive. Uniworld pricing is all-inclusive, while AmaWaterways’ is not. AmaWaterways provides wine and alcohol with lunch and dinner, and includes a one-hour, pre-dinner Sip & Sail cocktail event where guests can choose from a drink menu of select complimentary mixed drinks, wines, and beers. For Uniworld, alcoholic drinks (with some premium brand exceptions) are included in your cruise fare, so you can drink at any time with no added cost. Uniworld’s fares also include gratuities for staff onboard the ship, as well as for tours and drivers. AmaWaterways’ fares do not include gratuities of any type, so they will all come out of pocket to the traveler.
Deposits for both lines are non-refundable. Uniworld typically requires 15% deposit, while AmaWaterways typically requires a deposit of $800 per cabin. The deadline for making final payment with Uniworld is at 120 days prior to your sail date, and with AmaWaterways it is at 90 days prior to your sail date.
Traveling solo? If so, Uniworld offers a reduced 50% single supplement on their intro cabins, with periodic sales dropping the supplement altogether. AmaWaterways offers a reduced 50% (or less) single supplement on many cabins. On some ships they also offer at least a few cabins per sailing with no single supplement at all. Finally, AmaWaterways does have a few ships where special solo cabins (smaller rooms at 140 square feet) are sold at their own rate.
Looking to travel with kids under 18? If so, both Uniworld and AmaWaterways allow children 4 years and older onboard. Those under the age of 18 must be accompanied by, and share a cabin with, a parent, legal guardian or responsible adult over the age of 21.
Both cruise lines offer discounts for returning guests.
Verdict for this round of Uniworld vs AmaWaterways:
For most, Uniworld will narrowly win this round.
Choose Uniworld if you value a more all-inclusive pricing structure, plan to drink outside the window that AmaWaterways provides, and find their cruise fare to be competitive (or even better) than a similar itinerary on AmaWaterways.
Choose AmaWaterways if their cruise fare is coming in lower than a similar itinerary on Uniworld and you don’t plan to drink much outside of the window that AmaWaterways provides. Solo travelers will likely find more opportunities for a reduced (or zero) supplement with AmaWaterways.
Round 2: Cabins & Onboard Amenities
If design aesthetic is important to you, then we do have some differences between both of these cruise lines to consider. Uniworld presents an often over-the-top traditional interior design inspired by the destination each ship sails - with antiques, custom fabrics, and original works of art – making each of their ships uniquely different from each other. AmaWaterways presents a more contemporary interior design with a luxurious, refined European elegance and rich color palette. Their ships are not uniform in layout, but their design aesthetic is common across all of their European ships.
Cabin sizes offered by each line can vary quite a bit, but the most common cabins on each line are very similar in square footage – 196 square feet for Uniworld and between 170 and 235 square feet for AmaWaterways. An outlier for AmaWaterways is the AmaMagna, which is almost double in width to the average river cruise ship. The extra space allows for larger cabins across the board (as well as more generous public spaces and additional bars and restaurants).
Many (not all) of Uniworld’s and AmaWaterways’ ships have elevator access to all cabin floors. Uniworld has at least a few ships where you’ll be able to find connecting rooms, while most of AmaWaterways’ ships will have some limited options for connecting rooms (not to mention, a few ships even have cabins that they state can hold 3 people – a rarity in the world of river cruising).
Onboard amenities are similar for both lines. Both have free Wi-Fi, bicycles, a fitness room, a pool/hot tub/jacuzzi, and massage services. Uniworld even has a few ships that have complimentary self-service laundry rooms for guests, and AmaWaterways has a hair salon. The amenities offered, though, can vary by ship.
Both Uniworld and AmaWaterways have a Wellness Program onboard its ships, where a Wellness Host will lead morning and afternoon yoga, stretches, etc. The host will also lead any hiking and biking excursions.
Verdict for this round of Uniworld vs AmaWaterways:
Another close round, with the winner likely determined by the décor that is most appealing to you. Cabins and onboard amenities will likely be similar, but some of the small differences might be what tips this to one line over the other.
Round 3: Excursions
Both Uniworld and AmaWaterways will tend to offer you several included excursions in each port at no extra charge. You’ll likely have an option for a basic city tour (by foot or bus), a hike or bike option, and a more culturally immersive option such as a visit to a museum or a concert. Both lines pride themselves on unique, one-of-a-kind experiences that you will not likely experience on the more “basic” cruise lines.
Verdict for this round of Uniworld vs AmaWaterways:
This round ends in a draw. Both provide excellent excursion options for guests to pick from.
Round 4: Dining Experience
Food is probably one of the most talked about comparisons when selecting a river cruise. The problem with this is that dining experiences are subjective, and mostly dependent on the execution by onboard staff (both front and back of the house). For every traveler that says they absolutely loved their food on either of these lines, you’ll find another who complains about the experience. So, comparisons are really about an overall impression on the consistency of service across each cruise line’s fleet.
Both offer buffet-style dining for breakfast and lunch, with a few made-to-order options available (typically eggs and omelets), though AmaWaterways also offers additional full-service ordering for both meals. Dinners on both lines are multi-course affairs with at least two or three options to choose from for each course. Special diet requests can be accommodated on either cruise line. Both lines market themselves as offering locally sourced ingredients, with dishes inspired by the places visited during the cruise. If room service is important to you, consider Uniworld who offers some limited options. AmaWaterways does not offer any level of room service.
AmaWaterways also offers a unique dining experience on each sailing – the Chef’s Table. This intimate, gastronomic experience allows guest to observe the chef cooking in an exhibition kitchen, and experience a multi-course tasting menu. It comes at no additional charge but is limited to one dining experience per sailing.
What do critics and travelers say? Uniworld has received culinary awards in the past, but those are more than a few years old at this point. In 2021, AmaWaterways became the first river cruise line to be inducted into Tables et Auberges de France, a French association that celebrates regional flavors and locally sourced ingredients. AmaWaterways has also been a member of La Confrérie de la Chaînedes Rôtisseurs since 2011. In 2024, AmaWaterways came in at number 10 on Food & Wine's Global Tastemakers list (only one other river cruise line made the list - Viking at number 8).
Verdict for this round of Uniworld vs AmaWaterways:
The win for this round goes to AmaWaterways, though odds are still likely you would enjoy a quality dining experience on Uniworld.
The Verdict: Who Wins this Head-to-Head Matchup?
By the narrowest of margins, with most matches nearly a draw, we have to give the overall win to the line that won round 4 (dining experience)...AmaWaterways!
Want to learn more about river cruising? Visit us at rivercruisecomparison.com where you can review our comparisons of the best river cruise lines that sail throughout Europe, learn more about the European rivers you can sail on, and browse our special offers to save a little money on your next sailing. And don't forget to take our one-of-a-kind quiz that will match you to the cruise line best suited to you and your preferences!
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