River cruising is the easiest market in travel to comparison-shop: the same rivers, the same locks, the same towns, and eight lines charging between $2,799 and $11,790 for a summer week. The 2027 season is on sale now, and the spread itself is the deal story.
The essentials
One comparison defines 2027 river pricing. Tracking summer 2027 Danube sailings across eight lines shows Viking from $2,799 per person (Egil, June 19), Avalon from $4,751 (Illumination, June 8), Riviera from $4,784 (Geoffrey Chaucer, June 14), Uniworld from $4,899 (S.S. Maria Theresa, June 13), AmaWaterways from $4,979 (AmaVerde, June 21), Tauck from $5,490 (Savor, July 15), Emerald from $9,390 (June 12) and Scenic from $11,790 (June 16). Same river, same week-ish, a $9,000 spread - which is why reading the inclusions matters more than reading the headline. Beverages are included across the board in that comparison, but gratuities run about $25 per person per day extra on most lines, while Emerald and Riviera fold them in. Viking's own 2027 Danube Waltz sailings between Passau and Budapest are on sale now, with the line's regular wave-season incentives.
The deals worth watching right now
- Viking: Danube sailings from $2,799 per person in summer 2027 tracking - the consistent value benchmark; 7-night Romantic Danube departures run through the season, including May 1, 2027.
- Riviera: from $4,784 with gratuities included - the mid-price tier that behaves like an inclusive one.
- Avalon and AmaWaterways: $4,751 and $4,979 respectively - the active-ship and food-forward options in the same band.
- Emerald and Scenic: $9,390 and $11,790 - the premium tier; Scenic's fare bundles nearly everything, which is the only honest way to justify the gap.
How to read these prices
All prices are per person, based on double occupancy. River fares look expensive next to ocean cruises until you price what they include: a guided excursion in every port, wine and beer at meals, and a ship that docks in the town center. The real comparison is fare plus excursions, drinks and gratuities - a $2,799 Viking fare plus tips can land near a $4,784 Riviera fare that includes them. Shoulder months price lowest: April and October Danube departures run hundreds below June. Cabins are small and similar across lines, so pay for inclusions and itinerary, not square footage. For what a week on the river looks like, see our Danube itinerary guide, and the Voyageworthy fare database tracks live prices across lines.
The five-minute version
- River 2027 is on sale now; summer Danube runs $2,799 to $11,790 across eight lines.
- Value benchmark: Viking from $2,799; mid-tier with tips included: Riviera from $4,784.
- Premium tier: Emerald $9,390, Scenic $11,790 - justified only by what is bundled.
- Compare fare plus excursions, drinks and gratuities, not the headline.
- Prices per person double occupancy, verified September 2026.