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 Riverside head-to-head matchup. Does either of these river cruise lines get your knock out vote? Let us know in the comments below.
Round 1: Pricing & Booking Policies
Both Uniworld and Riverside are considered luxury lines, which often means higher pricing. Uniworld, though, offers limited time sales throughout the year that can drop their pricing to be better than many of the other higher end luxury lines. Price comparisons with Riverside are a little harder than most cruise lines due to the options available when booking. First, Riverside operates far fewer ships so there are less direct matches for comparison. Second, Riverside offers four booking “tiers” that range from cruise only fares (no excursions or alcoholic drinks included) to an all-inclusive option. When selecting the Riverside tier that most closely matches to the Uniworld experience, we matched to the all-inclusive tier of Riverside. When looking at comparable sailings at the all-inclusive level it often has Uniworld coming out cheaper, and if you can snag a sale price with Uniworld the pricing difference grows. Riverside’s promotions have been few and far between, other than a 10% early booking incentive. Another distinction to note between these two lines is that Riverside does not offer pre/post land packages or insurance options through the cruise line – though each of these items can be easily arranged through your travel advisor.
While Riverside is still in its first few years of operating European river cruises, we expect their future pricing will increase at a faster rate than Uniworld’s if demand for their product grows and ships are filled closer to capacity.
Both lines’ all-inclusive pricing includes alcoholic drinks (with some premium brand exceptions) included in your cruise fare, so you can drink at any time with no added cost. Both also include gratuities for staff onboard the ship, as well as for tour guides and drivers.
Deposits for both cruise lines have limited refundable timelines, which eventually become fully non-refundable. Uniworld and Riverside typically require a 10% deposit. The deadline for making final payment with Uniworld is at 120 days prior to your sail date, while it is at 90 days with Riverside.
Traveling solo? If so, Uniworld charges a 50% single supplement on their entry level cabins on the bottom deck, though they often run pricing specials where they drop the supplement altogether. Riverside is currently offering no single supplement on any of their entry level cabins on the lowest deck.
Looking to travel with kids under 18? Uniworld allows children 4 years and older onboard. Riverside has no minimum age requirement to sail with them. 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.
Uniworld offers a discount for returning guests, while Riverside currently does not.
Verdict for this round of Uniworld vs Riverside:
We are giving an easy win this round to Uniworld. The fact that Uniworld has a much larger set of itineraries and ships to choose from might make this a knock out win if Riverside has no comparable sailing. Uniworld also appears to come out ahead on overall pricing in most cases. Riverside could get your vote if you are a solo traveler and Uniworld is not offering any specials to waive the single supplement. They might also get the edge if you are traveling with a child under 4 years of age.
Round 2: Cabins & Onboard Amenities
If design aesthetic is important to you, then you have some slight differences between both 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. Riverside presents an opulent, refined elegance with a serene color palette and a blend of traditional and contemporary design elements. Both the Ravel and Debussy ships are identical, with the Mozart having design differences due to the extra wide size of the ship.
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 194 and 215 square feet for Riverside. Riverside has an outlier in the world of European river cruise ships, with the MS Mozart being 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 ships have elevator access to all cabin decks, but for those ships that do not have elevator access to the lowest deck of cabins it will require the use of stairs. All of Riverside’s ships have elevator access to each deck with cabins.
Both Uniworld and Riverside have at least a few options for connecting rooms, though with Uniworld it varies by ship.
Onboard amenities for both cruise lines are similar – both include free Wi-Fi, onboard bicycles, fitness room, a pool, and massage services. All of Riverside’s ships offer complimentary self-service laundry rooms for guests, while Uniworld only offers it on certain ships. Riverside also includes a hair salon on each of their ships.
Uniworld offers a Wellness Program on each of its ships, where a Wellness Host will lead morning and afternoon yoga, stretches, etc. The host will also lead any hiking and biking excursions. While Riverside does not offer an official Wellness Program, their salon, pool, and fitness rooms are larger and more robust than those on Uniworld.
Verdict for this round of Uniworld vs Riverside:
Riverside is going to get the edge in this round. While they do not offer a Wellness Program, their onboard amenities are slightly better than those of Uniworld. For those sailing on Riverside’s MS Mozart, the extra-large ship provides for larger cabins and more generous public space (both quantity and size). For those that place a high priority on a Wellness Program, Uniworld might squeak out a narrow win.
Round 3: Excursions
Uniworld offers several included excursions in each port at no extra charge. You will 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 local landmark, museum, or concert. They will also offer a handful of extra excursions that you can opt to take (for an additional charge). Riverside only includes excursions if you have booked into one of their pricing “tiers” that includes them (though you can book individually on the ship at an extra cost). When comparing the type and quality of excursions, Uniworld offers a few options that are more immersive than what Riverside offers.
Verdict for this round of Uniworld vs Riverside:
The easy winner for this round is Uniworld. Uniworld offers a well-rounded set of excursions to choose from, with a greater emphasis on locally immersive experiences. As a new cruise line, Riverside is still building relationships with vendors. The excursions offered tend to be more basic and less elevated experiences. As time goes on, the quantity and quality of Riverside’s offerings should increase.
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 will 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 cruise lines offer buffet-style dining for breakfast and lunch, as well as some limited full-service ordering during 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. Uniworld provides some limited room service options, while Riverside provides a more robust selection with continental breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Riverside offers a unique dining experience on each sailing. Riverside’s Vintage Room provides guests with a unique, memorable 7-course menu paired with high quality wines. The Vintage Room is only offered on certain nights, must be reserved in advance, and comes with an additional per person charge.
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. While Riverside is new to European river cruising, they have made a splash with their culinary offerings – even earning the top spot for river cruises from a major cruise critic website in 2023. Feedback from clients tends to support this recognition, with their wine selection getting high marks.
Verdict for this round of Uniworld vs Riverside:
The winner for this round is Riverside. Their reviews for food are impressive for being around for such a short time. Riverside’s more robust room service offerings are also an added benefit for those that wish to take advantage of it.
The Verdict: Who Wins this Head-to-Head Matchup?
With a split decision, the more lopsided wins in rounds 1 and 3 are the deciding factor in this cruise line comparison – with the overall match going to...Uniworld!
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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