Adventures by Disney River Cruises: Your Questions Answered
What do you do when you're a Disney fan who wants to sail on a small cruise ship? Adventures by Disney River Cruises is the ideal solution when you prefer around 150 passengers rather than thousands of people on a Disney Cruise Line mega-ship. This is the perfect solution that provides the Disney touch with the uniqueness of European river cruising.
Families can enjoy all the wonderful things river cruises offer with the added bonus of the Disney brand behind it. This includes things like access to small port cities and a more favorable guest-to-crew ratio. What's different about the river cruise experience with Adventures by Disney versus if you sailed on AmaWaterways without it, for example, is the programming. Let's dive into it.
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Adventures by Disney River Cruises partners with AmaWaterways
Disney Cruise Line (DCL) has their own line of cruise ships that thousands of passengers can enjoy per sailing. This includes sailing on the Disney Wish, Dream, Fantasy, Treasure, Magic, etc.
But unlike DCL, Adventures by Disney (ABD) River Cruises are on much smaller ships; Disney does not its own fleet for this. Instead, they partner with AmaWaterways to offer Adventures by Disney on river cruises in Europe.
The ships accommodate 140 passengers. (Though the ship has more space, it reserves additional cabins for the Adventures by Disney guides that come aboard for Disney-branded sailings.)
How do ABD river cruises differ from other river cruises?
The ABD river cruises differ from other cruise lines in several ways in terms of their offerings. Many of the ABD activities are geared towards family-friendly programming, whereas other river cruise are mainly geared towards programming that accommodates adults. Adventures by Disney river cruises cater to both.
For example, you may take a cooking class and bake pastries as a family in Vienna, Austria. Or zipline through the Black Forest in Germany together. During a cruise on the Rhine, there's an option to visit Europa-Park, with a Euro-theme that celebrates the best of Europe; that would never be an option on a river cruise geared towards adults but it is with Adventures by Disney.
It's also not an accident that many of the itinerary dates coincide with school breaks, like spring break, summer break, or winter break over December's holidays.
They offer menu items for kids like hot dogs, burgers, and mashed potatoes.
Don't be surprised if your Adventure Guides have some great stories to tell about the places you visit; the Disney brand is synonymous with excellent story-telling, which isn't really a focus for other river cruise lines.
What makes AmaWaterways ships “Disney” for an ABD river cruise? What “Disneyfies” the ships?
The AmaWaterways ships don't magically change to the vibrant colors of Disney Cruise Line ships overnight (red, white, and black with a touch of blue and yellow) or grow an iconic “red” stack synonymous with the Disney Cruise Line mega-ships overnight.
Though, with the magic of Disney we're kind of surprised that Tinkerbell or the Fairy Godmother don't come out to wave their magic wands to make this true. However, there are small changes that take place to signify you're on a Disney sailing.
For instance, an Adventures by Disney mat welcomes guests onboard instead of an AmaWaterways mat.
Absent are hidden Mickeys (though surely, you can find them in everyday design anyhow, right?) and themed restaurants like Animator's Palate, Palo or Enchante as the Disney Cruise Line ships have.
You will find that they accommodated multigenerational itineraries perhaps more than any other cruise line. Some of their cabins can connect with a door between the two, like many hotel rooms (or, again, like Disney Cruise Line, offers), which is unusual for a river cruise ship.
Characters autographing books, like Goofy or Mickey Mouse would at the theme parks or even on Disney Cruise Line, are absent. However, there is a themed night on ABD river cruises, where guests can dress up as their favorite Disney character. It's called “Disneybounding” night.
A small detail that makes us smile is the name tags the Adventure Guides wear. They are the same recognizable shape name tags the cast members wear at Disney Parks and Resorts!
How to book Adventures by Disney River Cruises
The ABD partnership with AmaWaterways may be confusing regarding who you book with. The official word from Adventures by Disney is that you book with Disney or a travel agent.
You can book an Adventures by Disney vacation online at AdventuresbyDisney.com or by calling 1-800-543-0865. However, we highly recommend booking through our preferred travel agents.
Using a travel agent or travel advisor (they are the same thing, just with a different name) is free of extra cost. Yet it comes with all the perks, like not having to sit on the phone with Adventures by Disney and often getting an onboard credit.
What Rivers do ABD River Cruises sail on?
Adventures by Disney currently offers river cruise sailings on rivers in Europe and South America.
Sailings are 8 days and 7 nights in Europe and 5 nights in South America.
Generally speaking, these river cruises are heavily focused on their offerings in June and July. Some are offered in April, September and October. Because Christmas Markets in Western Europe are so popular and such an attraction, there are also a few itineraries available during December.
Rhine River
This river cruise, aboard AmaLucia or AmaSiena, begins in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and ends in Basel, Switzerland.
Sail to these wonderful cities, including Strasbourg, France; Breisach, Rudesheim, Manneim and Cologne, Germany; and Amsterdam in The Netherlands.
It will take you to the Black Forest and a woodworking museum, where you will learn about the medieval timber homes in the Alsace region of France (the set design for the village in Beauty and the Beast came from), and to Heidelberg Castle.
You'll also get to visit world-famous museums in Amsterdam, and if you book the tulip season cruise (there is one offering with ABD each year on the Rhine that takes you to Keukenhof gardens), you'll be in awe of the gorgeous flowers throughout Holland in spring.
An adults-only Rhine River Cruise: Food and Wine itinerary is offered for one sailing in 2025 and one in 2026. This itinerary focuses on tours of breweries, wineries, local pubs, and culinary experiences.
Adventures by Disney river cruises are offered during Christmas for the holiday markets along the Rhine River, too.
Seine River
This trip starts and ends in Paris and AmaLyra is your vessel. There are two departures for 2025; each begins in Paris and sails the coast of Normandy. You'll explore towns like Étretat, Honfleur (absolutely beautiful French cities – we speak from experience!), La Havre and Les Andelys. You'll also explore Vernon and Giverny, made famous by Monet's paintings. We've been to Normandy and it's one of our all-time favorite trips.
You'll also stop at Rouen, famous for its Vikings and Joan of Arc history, and picturesque Conflans.
Danube River Cruise
With this itinerary, travel through four countries as you set sail from Germany to Hungary on AmaLea. Enjoy the iconic Wachau Valley, with its stunning vineyards set amidst hillside towns. Explore castles and charming cities along the “Blue Danube.”
This is the most classic Danube River cruise itinerary. It's an incredibly popular first river cruise first river cruise choice.
The Danube offers a west and an east itinerary, which travel to the same cities. (They simply start and end in opposite cities.) Visit cities including Budapest, Hungary; Bratislava, Slovakia; Melk, Linz, and Vienna, Austria; and Passau, Germany.
One Oktoberfest sailing is offered each year with an adults-only itinerary. The cruise is at the end of September, when the famed German Oktoberfest takes place. The cruise ports only differ slightly from a classic Danube River ABD cruise: it adds Vilshofen, Germany, in Bavaria as its debarkation city. It's a 2-hour drive from Munich.
They also have special Christmas Markets river cruises on the Danube River.
Rhône River
New for 2026 is a Rhone River cruise itinerary. This is another region we've cruised and absolutely loved. In fact, we sailed with AmaWaterways on the Colors of Provence cruise, and the ABD river cruise is on the same ship: AmaKristina.
This itinerary starts in Lyon—a city famous for its culinary delights—and ends in Marseille, a historic city on the sea. In between, you visit Tournon, Viviers, Avignon, and Arles, all in France.
You can kayak beneath the Roman Pont du Gard aqueduct, get a taste of the region's renowned gastronomy with special tastings reminiscent of the Disney and Pixar film “Ratatouille” (Lyon is a culinary capital that inspired the film’s character Chef Auguste Gusteau), and understand the perspective from which Van Gogh painted his famous “The Starry Night” in St. Paul de Mausole as you view the landscape, firsthand.
Napo River (South America)
Sail Ecuador's Napo River in South America's Amazon. These cruises are currently on Anakonda, a riverboat unassociated with AmaWaterways.
During this summer cruise, you'll spend 4-nights and 5-days connecting with nature and learning about the South American landscape through rainforest walks, kayaking, and parrot encounters. You'll get to connect with the local community as well to gain an understand their way of life and culture.
Adventures by Disney River Cruise Trip add-ons
If you wish to visit Paris for a few days before your trip, you can easily extend your vacation for a longer Adventures by Disney experience. This is what ABD calls their “Escapes.”
The “Paris Escape” package adds three days and two nights in the City of Light. Experience things like dinner at the Eiffel Tower, a guided tour of the Louvre art museum, and a Parisian food tour in the St. Germain neighborhood. Prices start at $2,799 per person for this add-on.
Go to Disneyland Paris When You're in Town for an ABD river cruise
Don't forget that Disneyland Paris isn't far from the city center. If you add on days in Paris, whether you do it through ABD or other means, and you're a Disney theme park fan, you'll want to add an additional day to go to the park.
To get to Disneyland Paris from the city center, travel 35 minutes by car or train. If you take the train, all you have to do is take it east from Paris's Gare de Lyon station to the Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy train station. Then you simply walk two minutes from the train station to reach the gate to the theme park. It's very simple, just like it is at Tokyo Disney too!
Minimum age to sail on ABD river cruises
Generally speaking, some river cruise lines have a minimum age requirement of 16 or 18 years old to sail with them. Often, these river cruises are considered “adults-only,” whether officially or unofficially.
As a brand that caters to children of all ages, the minimum age recommendation for Adventures by Disney river cruises is 5 or 7 years old, depending on the itinerary.
The exceptions are the adults-only itineraries.
Even if you're on a child-friendly sailing, there will likely be activities geared towards adults during your family river cruise, like wine tastings and daily cocktail hours.
Is there daycare or childcare onboard Adventures by Disney River Cruises?
A lot of what parents love about Disney Cruise Line ocean cruises is that they have an exceptional child care program. That is not the case on Adventures by Disney River Cruises, even though the staff they specifically bring on board to be the Adventure Guides is great with kids.
While they don't have daycare for parents (and kids) to enjoy onboard, the ships are very different from Disney Cruise Line ocean ships. There is not an abundance of pools, multiple restaurants, and activities galore for kids to engage in the same way ocean cruise ships offer. (Though there is one pool onboard AmaWaterways ships for kids to enjoy with ABD river cruises.)
Although, there are times when parents get a break from their children, thanks to the Adventure Guides.
For instance, kids are taken to a different area for dinner to eat together with Adventure Guides, while teens eat in another area of the ship. Then the parents are left to enjoy adults-only dinners, just them and other 18+ aged cruisers.
Another example is on some excursions. In Vienna, for example, adults can tour the inside of Schonbrunn Palace while their kids are outside with the Adventure Guides, navigating a garden maze.
However, you cannot hire an Adventure Guide to babysit your child outside of these designated times.
Kids programming aboard ABD river cruises
You won't find an Oceaneer Club for kids onboard ABD river cruises like you would on a DCL ocean ship. Yet there is some special programming geared towards kids, some of which we mentioned above. One example of both the Adventures by Disney River Cruises and Adventures by Disney Expedition Cruises is the Junior Adventurers night.
This is an evening specifically designed for younger “adventurers” onboard, hosted by the Adventure Guides. Adults can relax elsewhere on the river cruise ship while their children enjoy a separate themed evening.
Teen Programming on ABD River Cruises
Teens are unique cruise guests because they're not kids but not yet adults. They aren't old enough for things like wine tastings, for example.
Disney is sensitive to this! Thus, they created programming on Adventures by Disney river cruises specifically for teens.
For example, a special welcome party for teens helps them get acquainted with each other quickly. There's also a Chef’s Table dinner event for them, as well as separate teen tour groups at various port destinations.
Adults-only Adventures by Disney River Cruises
We love that Disney Cruise Line is great for kids, but we really appreciate that they've also considered what Disney Cruise Line is like for adults, sailing without kids, too.
The brand has considered this for their Adventures by Disney river cruises, just in a different way than their DCL sailings since the ship situation is drastically different.
Certain Adventures by Disney river cruises are adults-only, meaning that they are exclusive to guests 18 years or older.
These include the following itineraries:
- Certain spring dates for their Seine River Cruise
- Danube River: Oktoberfest sailings
- Rhine River Cruise: Food and Wine sailings
During these cruises, tailored enhancements are designed just for adults. Disney has stated that “These dedicated sailings meet the increased demand among adult travelers for Adventures by Disney’s unique blend of sophistication, variety, and adventure in a fun, comfortable setting.”
ABD river cruise cost Compared to Other River Cruise Lines
On average, ABD river cruise rates start at $6,000, per adult (based on double occupancy), and children are priced at around $500 less. So in this case, expect a child's cruise fare to be around $5,500. These prices fluctuate and differ depending on the exact itinerary you book.
As per Adventures by Disney, “The child rate applies to Guests under 12 at the time of travel when accompanied by an adult in the same room.”
If you're a family of two children and two adults, for example, an ABD river cruise can easily cost close to $23,000, before airfare. An ABD river cruise cost is all-inclusive of many things, but the price does not include airfare.
Gratuities, beer/wine/soft drinks with lunch and dinner, a daily Sip & Sail Cocktail Hour, Wi-Fi, and access to an Onboard Wellness Coach are included. But bear in mind that these things are typically included no matter what river cruise line you choose. The difference is your kids will feel catered to with ABD, whereas they likely will not with another river cruise line.
Who are Adventure by Disney river cruises for?
This is a unique vacation. In our opinion, it's great for guests who have:
- A family…
- Want to sail on a historic river to small towns and villages in Europe as well as some of the popular cities, but don't want to switch hotels every night and figure out logistics…
- A sizable budget for a river cruise…
- Children who are old enough to appreciate the destinations and sites you'll be visiting in Europe…
- Appreciate the Disney brand beyond the characters and graphics. An appreciation for Disney's attention to detail in planning and storytelling is best in this case (this is especially true for the adults-only cruises)…
- Don't mind a small ship with a good amount of children…
If you're adults without kids who want to experience an ABD river cruise and you don't enjoy the company of children, you may want to consider booking one of the adults-only itineraries, mentioned above.
Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post, which means we may earn a small commission if you click the link and proceed with a purchase, at no cost to you. We only recommend products and services we personally use.
Going on a river cruise? Also check out:
- River Cruise vs Ocean Cruise: What’s the Difference?
- Why are River Cruises So Expensive? Or are They the Best Cruise Value Out There?
- 22 Helpful Things to Know your First Time on a River Cruise
