American Queen Steamboat Company - American Empress

What is Your Preferred River Cruise Ship Size, from Extra Small to Small?

by

River cruise ships offer a more private and intimate ambiance, along with personalized service and the advantage of being able to port almost anywhere. Passengers get a feel for the water and experience destinations in a very up-close and personal way onboard and in the towns and areas visited, according to CruiseCompete.

Overall, cruise ship sizes range from megaships (almost 7,000 passengers) to very small vessels and luxury yachts whose passengers number in mere dozens (as small as 16). Knowing the differences is key to planning your best cruise vacation. CruiseCompete has divided today’s ships into categories and provides information on the benefits each provides, from the very small and intimate, to medium and up to the very large, mega ships.

For River Cruise Ship Size, from Extra Small to Small with guest capacity from just 18 to almost 260, and only a couple over that number, see details below. 

From Avalon Waterways Treasure of Galapagos with 18 guests, to the American Queen Steamboat Company American Queen river ship that sails USA rivers with 417 guests , there is a ship size for everyone.

CRUISE LINE SHIP GUEST CAPACITY SIZE
Avalon Waterways Cruises Treasure of Galapagos 18 XXX Small
AmaWaterways Cruises Zambezi Queen 28 XXX Small
Avalon Waterways Cruises Avalon Saigon 36 XXX Small
Avalon Waterways Cruises Avalon Siem Reap 36 XXX Small
Emerald Waterways Cruises MS Lastavica 36 XXX Small
Emerald Waterways Cruises MS Swallow 36 XXX Small
Avalon Waterways Cruises Delfin III 44 XXX Small
Scenic Cruises Scenic Aura 44 XXX Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Ra 48 XXX Small
Avalon Waterways Cruises Ganges Voyager 56 XX Small
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Cruises Ganges Voyager II 56 XX Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Mekong 60 XX Small
Viking River Cruises Viking MS Antares 62 XX Small
Scenic Cruises Scenic Spirit 68 XX Small
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Cruises Mekong Jewel 68 XX Small
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Cruises River Tosca 82 XX Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Osiris 82 XX Small
Emerald Waterways Cruises Emerald Harmony 84 XX Small
Tauck River Cruising Cruises ms Andorinha 84 XX Small
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Cruises S.S. Sphinx 84 XX Small
Scenic Cruises Scenic Azure 96 XX Small
Tauck River Cruising Cruises ms Emerald 98 XX Small
Tauck River Cruising Cruises ms Esprit 98 XX Small
Tauck River Cruising Cruises ms Sapphire 98 XX Small
Tauck River Cruising Cruises ms Treasures 98 XX Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Astrild 98 XX Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Beyla 98 XX Small
American Cruise Lines Cruises American Spirit 100 x Small
American Cruise Lines Cruises American Star 100 x Small
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Cruises S.S. Sao Gabriel 100 x Small
AmaWaterways Cruises AmaDouro 102 x Small
AmaWaterways Cruises AmaVida 102 x Small
American Cruise Lines Cruises Independence 104 x Small
Crystal Crystal Bach 106 x Small
Crystal Crystal Debussy 106 x Small
Crystal Crystal Mahler 106 x Small
Crystal Crystal Ravel 106 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Helgrim 106 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Hemming 106 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Osfrid 106 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Torgil 106 x Small
Emerald Waterways Cruises Emerald Radiance 112 x Small
Scenic Cruises Scenic Tsar 112 x Small
U by Uniworld Cruises The A 116 x Small
U by Uniworld Cruises The B 116 x Small
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Cruises Queen Isabel 116 x Small
American Cruise Lines Cruises Queen of the West 120 x Small
Avalon Waterways Cruises MS Farah 120 x Small
AmaWaterways Cruises AmaDara 124 x Small
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Cruises Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer 124 x Small
Riviera River Cruises MS Douro Elegance 126 x Small
Riviera River Cruises MS Douro Splendour 126 x Small
Scenic Cruises Scenic Gem 126 x Small
Avalon Waterways Cruises Avalon Artistry II 128 x Small
Avalon Waterways Cruises Avalon Imagery II 128 x Small
Avalon Waterways Cruises Avalon Poetry II 128 x Small
Avalon Waterways Cruises Avalon Tapestry II 128 x Small
Avalon Waterways Cruises Avalon Tranquility II 128 x Small
Avalon Waterways Cruises Avalon Visionary 128 x Small
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Cruises River Queen 128 x Small
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Cruises S.S. Joie de Vivre 128 x Small
Tauck River Cruising Cruises ms Grace 130 x Small
Tauck River Cruising Cruises ms Inspire 130 x Small
Tauck River Cruising Cruises ms Joy 130 x Small
Tauck River Cruising Cruises ms Savor 130 x Small
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Cruises River Countess 130 x Small
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Cruises River Duchess 130 x Small
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Cruises River Empress 130 x Small
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Cruises River Princess 130 x Small
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Cruises River Royale 130 x Small
Riviera River Cruises MS George Eliot 132 x Small
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Cruises S.S. La Venezia 132 x Small
Emerald Waterways Cruises Emerald Liberté 138 x Small
Amadeus River Cruises MS Amadeus Provence 140 x Small
Riviera River Cruises MS Charles Dickens 140 x Small
Riviera River Cruises MS Jane Austen 140 x Small
Riviera River Cruises MS Lord Byron 140 x Small
Riviera River Cruises MS William Shakespeare 140 x Small
Emerald Waterways Cruises MS Hamees 142 x Small
AmaWaterways Cruises AmaCello 144 x Small
AmaWaterways Cruises AmaDante 144 x Small
AmaWaterways Cruises AmaDolce 144 x Small
AmaWaterways Cruises AmaLyra 144 x Small
Amadeus River Cruises MS Amadeus Diamond 146 x Small
Scenic Cruises Scenic Diamond 149 x Small
Scenic Cruises Scenic Sapphire 149 x Small
Amadeus River Cruises MS Amadeus Brilliant 150 x Small
American Cruise Lines Cruises American Pride 150 x Small
American Cruise Lines Cruises Queen of the Mississippi 150 x Small
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Cruises S.S. Maria Theresa 150 x Small
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Cruises River Beatrice 152 x Small
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Cruises S.S. Antoinette 154 x Small
AmaWaterways Cruises AmaKristina 156 x Small
AmaWaterways Cruises AmaSiena 156 x Small
AmaWaterways Cruises AmaViola 156 x Small
AmaWaterways Cruises AmaLea 158 x Small
AmaWaterways Cruises AmaLucia 158 x Small
AmaWaterways Cruises AmaMora 158 x Small
AmaWaterways Cruises AmaStella 158 x Small
Scenic Cruises Scenic Pearl 159 x Small
Scenic Cruises Scenic Ruby 159 x Small
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Cruises S.S. Catherine 159 x Small
AmaWaterways Cruises AmaBella 161 x Small
AmaWaterways Cruises AmaVerde 161 x Small
Amadeus River Cruises MS Amadeus Queen 162 x Small
AmaWaterways Cruises AmaCerto 162 x Small
AmaWaterways Cruises AmaPrima 162 x Small
AmaWaterways Cruises AmaSerena 162 x Small
AmaWaterways Cruises AmaSonata 162 x Small
Scenic Cruises Scenic Amber 163 x Small
Scenic Cruises Scenic Crystal 163 x Small
Scenic Cruises Scenic Jade 163 x Small
Scenic Cruises Scenic Jasper 163 x Small
Scenic Cruises Scenic Jewel 163 x Small
Scenic Cruises Scenic Opal 163 x Small
Amadeus River Cruises MS Amadeus Star 164 x Small
Avalon Waterways Cruises Avalon Envision 164 x Small
Avalon Waterways Cruises Avalon Expression 164 x Small
Avalon Waterways Cruises Avalon Impression 164 x Small
Avalon Waterways Cruises Avalon Passion 164 x Small
Avalon Waterways Cruises Avalon View 164 x Small
American Queen Steamboat Company Cruises American Duchess 166 x Small
Avalon Waterways Cruises Avalon Illumination 166 x Small
Avalon Waterways Cruises Avalon Panorama 166 x Small
Avalon Waterways Cruises Avalon Vista 166 x Small
Amadeus River Cruises MS Amadeus Imperial 168 x Small
Amadeus River Cruises MS Amadeus Silver II 168 x Small
Amadeus River Cruises MS Amadeus Silver III 168 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Skaga 168 x Small
Riviera River Cruises MS Emily Bronte 169 x Small
Riviera River Cruises MS Oscar Wilde 169 x Small
Riviera River Cruises MS Robert Burns 169 x Small
Riviera River Cruises MS Thomas Hardy 169 x Small
Riviera River Cruises MS William Wordsworth 169 x Small
American Cruise Lines Cruises American Constellation 170 x Small
American Cruise Lines Cruises American Constitution 175 x Small
Riviera River Cruises MS Geoffrey Chaucer 176 x Small
Emerald Waterways Cruises Emerald Dawn 182 x Small
Emerald Waterways Cruises Emerald Destiny 182 x Small
Emerald Waterways Cruises Emerald Luna 182 x Small
Emerald Waterways Cruises Emerald Sky 182 x Small
Emerald Waterways Cruises Emerald Star 182 x Small
Emerald Waterways Cruises Emerald Sun 182 x Small
American Cruise Lines Cruises American Harmony 184 x Small
American Cruise Lines Cruises American Song 184 x Small
American Cruise Lines Cruises America 185 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Prestige 188 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Legend 189 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Rurik 189 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Alruna 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Alsvin 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Atla 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Baldur 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Bragi 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Buri 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Delling 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Egil 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Einar 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Eir 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Fjorgyn 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Forseti 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Gefjon 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Gersemi 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Gullveig 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Heimdal 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Herja 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Hermod 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Hervor 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Hild 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Hlin 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Idi 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Ingvi 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Jarl 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Kadlin 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Kara 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Kari 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Kvasir 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Lif 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Lofn 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Magni 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Mani 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Mimir 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Modi 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Radgrid 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Rinda 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Rolf 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Sigrun 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Sigyn 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Skadi 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Skirnir 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Tialfi 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Tir 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Tor 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises River 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Vali 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Var 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Ve 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Vidar 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Vilhjalm 190 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Vili 190 x Small
Imperial River Cruises m/s Shevchenko 192 x Small
AmaWaterways Cruises AmaMagna 196 x Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Sineus 196 x Small
Imperial River Cruises m/s Kandinsky Prestige 200 Small
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Cruises River Victoria 202 Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Akun 204 Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Helgi 204 Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Ingvar 204 Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Truvor 204 Small
Imperial River Cruises m/s Rachmaninoff 208 Small
Imperial River Cruises m/s Tikhi Don 220 Small
American Queen Steamboat Company Cruises American Empress 223 Small
Emerald Waterways Cruises MS Rossia 224 Small
Imperial River Cruises m/s Ivan Bunin 232 Small
American Queen Steamboat Company Cruises American Countess 245 Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Emerald 256 Small
Imperial River Cruises m/s Dnieper Princess 260 Small
Viking River Cruises Viking Mississippi 386 Small
American Queen Steamboat Company Cruises American Queen 417 Small

Cover photo: American Queen Steamboat

3 thoughts on “What is Your Preferred River Cruise Ship Size, from Extra Small to Small?”

  1. This is great information but I think we’ll wait for a vaccine before making the plunge! Thank you! We love to cruise and Love to get this type of info.

    Reply

  2. About 10 to 12 years ago we took a Danube cruise(Budapest to Regensburg) offered by GATE ONE. It was quite reasonable about $1100 each.
    Could it have been on the Amadeus or AMA Waterways?

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Trusted by over 1 million cruisers since 2003.
Get FREE access to members-only pricing.
There is a highly acclaimed way to receive multiple quotes from a site called CruiseCompete, where cruise specialists compete to offer you the best deal. The media sums it up for CruiseCompete:
“Score Luxury Cruises at Bargain Prices” (The Street)
“Best site for cruise deals” (The Wall Street Journal)
“28 Best Travel Sites” (Kiplinger's) Multiple annual mentions
“36 Web Addresses You Should Know” (The Washington Post)