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Ship comparison

AmaMelodia vs Scenic Spirit

The verdict

Which should you choose?

AmaMelodia is an intimate AmaWaterways ship carrying 64 passengers, in service since 2025. Scenic Spirit is an intimate Scenic ship carrying 68 passengers, in service since 2016. AmaMelodia has no specs yet, so the verdict rests on the figures we do hold. Scenic Spirit has no specs yet, so the verdict rests on the figures we do hold.

Choose AmaMelodia if you want a newer ship, more of a party or a lower starting fare: it outscores Scenic Spirit for party (4.5 vs 3.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores, its maiden voyage was in 2025 (vs 2016) and its cruises start from $3,299 (vs $4,366).

Choose Scenic Spirit if you want more crew per passenger, better-rated entertainment or a more family-friendly ship: it outscores AmaMelodia for entertainment (7.0 vs 5.0) and family friendly (4.0 vs 3.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and it has a crew member for every 1.4 passengers (vs 2.1).

Side by side

Specifications

marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.

AmaMelodiaScenic Spirit
Cruise line AmaWaterways Scenic
Ship size Intimate Intimate
Maiden voyagenewer highlighted 2025 (better) 2016
Passengers 64 68
Crew 30 50
Passengers per crew memberfewer is better 2.1 1.4 (better)
Decks 3 5
Length 223 ft 279 ft
Beam 43 ft —
Speed 10 mph —
Cruiseable ratingout of 10 — 10 / 10
Cruises on sale 8 23
Upcoming sailings 93 131
Cruise lengths 7 nights 10 to 27 nights
Fares fromlower highlighted $3,299 (better) $4,366

Bliss scores

How they rate, out of 10

Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. AmaMelodia leads on 4 of the ten, Scenic Spirit on 4, with 2 level.

  • Active AmaMelodia: 7.5 Scenic Spirit: 7.0
  • Adventure & nature AmaMelodia: 7.5 Scenic Spirit: 7.0
  • Cultural AmaMelodia: 9.0 Scenic Spirit: 10.0
  • Dining AmaMelodia: 8.0 Scenic Spirit: 8.0
  • Entertainment AmaMelodia: 5.0 Scenic Spirit: 7.0
  • Family friendly AmaMelodia: 3.0 Scenic Spirit: 4.0
  • Party AmaMelodia: 4.5 Scenic Spirit: 3.0
  • Romantic AmaMelodia: 9.0 Scenic Spirit: 9.0
  • Spa & fitness AmaMelodia: 6.5 Scenic Spirit: 7.0
  • Staterooms AmaMelodia: 8.5 Scenic Spirit: 8.0

Scenic

Scenic Spirit

Scenic's luxury river cruise ship Scenic Spirit features upscale cruising in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos along the Mekong River as well as to Halong Bay, Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) and other exotic locations.

Sailing now

23 cruises on sale, from $4,366.

Questions

AmaMelodia or Scenic Spirit?

Which ship is newer, AmaMelodia or Scenic Spirit?

AmaMelodia is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2025 against 2016 for Scenic Spirit.

Which has more crew per passenger?

Scenic Spirit, with one crew member for every 1.4 passengers against one for every 2.1 on AmaMelodia.

Which is better for families?

Scenic Spirit scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 4.0 out of 10, against 3.0 for AmaMelodia.

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