Many experienced deep-ocean cruisers might initially be surprised to learn that not all river cruise ships feature an elevator for passenger use. After all, with most spanning a maximum height of three decks, there’s little need for one – unless you happen to need that elevator.

AmaWaterways' AmaDolce features an elevator that traverses two decks. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

Guests with mobility issues depend on passenger elevators to transport them between decks, narrowing the options for those dependent on scooters or wheelchairs to get around. Fortunately, the vast majority of river cruise lines seem to understand this, and most newly-built river cruise ships feature passenger elevators.

While I was sailing onboard AmaWaterways’ AmaLyra this past December, a reader with mobility issues emailed me to ask how someone who requires a scooter to get around would fare on a river cruise. As it turns out, the necessity of a scooter didn’t seem to be an issue at all for one guest on my sailing. She was able to traverse the ship using the passenger elevator, and was helped ashore with her scooter, where it was loaded into the storage bay of the motorcoach for touring.  It was then removed at every stop by the bus driver, and she scooted off to explore places like Nuremberg, Melk and Vienna with the rest of us.

Now, this lady was able to walk with some assistance, which I would imagine is a necessity in ports with low tides and steep gangway inclines. It is always important to gauge your own level of comfort, particularly in Europe where uneven cobblestone streets can be the norm.

The vast majority of newly-built river cruise ships feature passenger elevators. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

In order to better assist our readers, we’ve put together the following list of river cruise lines and have noted where applicable those ships lacking a passenger elevator.  Thankfully, most do include one, making river cruising a highly accessible and enjoyable mode of exploration for everyone.

AmaWaterways

• Every AmaWaterways ship includes a passenger elevator.

Avalon Waterways

• Avalon Tranquility, Avalon Imagery, and Avalon Tapestry do not have passenger elevators.

Tauck River Cruises

• Every Tauck River Cruises vessel includes a passenger elevator.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

• River Ambassador and River Baroness lack passenger elevators.

Viking River Cruises

•  Viking’s newest vessels, as well as their recently-refitted Russian fleet, offer passenger elevators.

For more information on each of the river cruise lines listed above, be sure to click their name for our full fleet and line overviews!

It may be the Year of the Dragon, but we think 2012 may very well belong to the Vikings. It’s only January, yet you can feel the excitement in the air. In late March, Viking River Cruises will experience the single biggest event in its 15-year history: the simultaneous launch of four of its revolutionary new Viking Longships:Viking Freya, Viking Idun, Viking Njord and Viking Odin. They will be followed in July and August by two additional Longships: Viking Embla and Viking Aegir.

A rendering of the foyer and central staircase aboard the new Viking Longships, set to debut in March. Photo courtesy of Viking River Cruises

Representing an entirely new class of ship for the line, the Viking Longships aren’t just merely new; they are a revolution of the Viking River Cruises product and stand to advance not only the company’s standing as a major player in the industry, but challenge and elevate what is possible in terms of onboard design and amenities.

“Every year I am proud of our company’s milestones, but this is certainly a special anniversary in Viking’s history. Over the last 15 years, we have pioneered a new category in the cruise industry, and we have set the precedent for quality and excellence,” says Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking River Cruises. “We have always been an ambitious company, and as we enter this new chapter, we are looking forward to a groundbreaking year that will set the course for innovation and expansion in years to come.”

Viking River Cruises' beautiful new Viking Longships are due to launch this year. Photo courtesy of Viking River Cruises.

These new launches come as Viking celebrates its 15^th year in business. Founded in 1997, the line was founded with little more than four Russian river cruise ships and a company name honouring the first Vikings to travel by Longship to explore Russia’s waterways.  Today, the line owns and operates one of the largest fleet of river cruise ships.  This year, Viking will also complete the ambitious refurbishment of its Russian-based fleet, bringing those vessels closer in line with the line’s European-based offerings.

At River Cruise Advisor, we know one thing for sure: we’re looking forward to March!

For more information on Viking River Cruises and the brand-new Viking Longships, be sure to check out our complete Viking River Cruise profile and fleet overview right here on River Cruise Advisor!

Viking River Cruises has a fantastic programme of river cruises that explore some of the most fascinating cities and towns along Russia’s Volga river, and the line recently embarked on a massive refurbishment program for its Russian-based fleet that saw decor and amenities refreshed like never before.

Viking Helgi shines brightly along Russia's Volga River at night. Photo courtesy of Viking River Cruises

But Viking wants to help you really experience all that Russia has to offer, and in order to do that, it only makes sense to learn a little Russian!  Don’t worry – there’s no classes or homework involved here; instead, Viking recruited Paulina, one of their receptionists aboard their Russian fleet to give you a brief lesson in this fascinating language:

For more information on Viking River Cruises, their diverse fleet and their Russian voyages, be sure to pay a visit to our complete Viking River Cruises overview here on River Cruise Advisor!