We found it to be quite inclusive and spent very little extra, except for tips and drinks at the bar. "Free choice" dining allows you . However, Crystal Cruises has some excursions that incur an added cost, and all of the American Queen Steamboat Company excursions are additional (although they do offer hop-on hop-off bus tours). It all boils down to what is important to you. Viking River Cruises: What Are Its Smallest, Largest and Most Common Stateroom Sizes? The suites, which are about 300 square feet, have floor-to-ceiling windows, King-sized beds, and a lounge area with a daybed. Choose Viking ifyou want a good introduction to a port without a lot of handholding, don't mind paying for special excursions and want the best berthing in town. Choose Viking ifyou want what has become the industry standard for river cruising, a semi-inclusive experience with a line that does more sailings on more rivers than anyone else. Onboard amenities (varies by ship): Fully stocked minibar, Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV, L'Occitane bath products, fitness center, free bicycles for use in select ports, whirlpool, library with books, cards, and board games. Comparisons - River Cruise Advisor This cabin is more expensive than anything on Tauck, but if you're a luxury lover who wants to take an itinerary only operated by Viking and not an upscale line, it might be a good substitute. Con: There is a striking difference in style between standard cabins and suites, Knowing these more curated cabins exist might lessen your experience in entry-level rooms. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. River cruising is an efficient way to travel visit a variety of destinations and only unpack once. Most cabins have floor-to-ceiling windows to save space in the cabin, and the most affordable is Category 1, which is about 150 square feet and has small windows and a little bathroom with a shower. Tauck - Nile River Cruise And yes, Sunny is her real name. Standard suites are sparse, small (just 160 square feet) and lack balconies. Take a thrilling alpine toboggan run in Germany's Black Forest. Also check out Avalon rivercruises. The ships also offer complimentary alcoholic beverages. For example, guests staying in suites enjoy exclusive dining, priority reservations, and a private Captain's cocktail party, while those staying in standard rooms will lack many special perks. smalltowner, October 30, 2010 in River Cruising. Ships offer a wide choice of dishes to suit all tastes, including healthy choices and simpler "always available" dishes, although Tauck has more vegan and vegetarian options. For example, European river cruises run fromMarch through December. Unique to riverboats is the two-level theater, the Grand Saloon, found on the American Queen. My husband and I went on the Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles Trip jn October 2022. Tauck recently renovated many of their ships, most of which carry just 84 or 98 guests, while a few larger boats accommodate a max of 130 guests. Tauck River Cruise Experts | Learn About Tauck River Cruises Tauck's alternative restaurant, Arthur's, has evolved into a casual grill, with a menu offering everything from hamburgers and salads to pastas and steaks. Cons: The ships aren't "Imagineered." The main restaurant setup is very similar on the lines, with buffets at breakfast and lunch plus live cooking stations and made-to-order menu items. I'm not sure you will find Tauck discounted in many places. The Aquavit Lounge is glass-enclosed and it can open to the elements in nice weather. These sleek ships generally host less than 200 passengers and go where giant cruise liners cannot, such as the Danube, Rhine, Rhne, Mekong, Mississippi, and Nile Rivers. All rights reserved. The line reduced capacity on its five older vessels, which are smaller, bringing the passenger counts from 118 to 98. The reason why Scenic fans might not know Tauck, and vice versa, stems from the companies' headquarters. I have a few specific questions which I can't seem to find answers for on the websites. It should re-energize and transform. Plan Far, Far Ahead, Viking Kadlin (Photo: Viking River Cruises), Viking Einar (Photo: Viking River Cruises), Tauck ms Emerald (Photo: Tauck River Cruises), Viking Helgrim (Photo: Viking River Cruises), P&O Cruises Reveals Nicole Sherzinger as Godmother of New Ship Arvia, Carnival Miracle Set to Become Fourth Carnival Ship to Sail From Galveston, Life at Sea Cruises Opens Sales for World's First Three-Year Cruise, Oceania Reveals Giada de Laurentiis as Godmother of New Ship Vista. Typical starting price: $3,990 for 7 nights (per person based on double occupancy $570 per night, all-inclusive), Where do they sail:Danube, Douro, Rhine, Rhne, Seine, Specialty Cruises: Oktoberfest, Christmas markets, music, family sailings, Onboard amenities (varies by ship): Putting green, sun deck, minibar with complimentary water and soft drinks, Molton Brown toiletries, TV, Jacuzzi, Included: Meals, beverages (house wine, beer, and premium spirits available all day), gratuities, transfers upon arrival and departure, excursions. The pours at lunch and dinner are generous, so if you're not a liquor drinker -- or don't like alcohol at all -- you might not need all the extras that Tauck provides. The ships on both cruise lines offer a wide choice of dishes to suit all tastes, including healthy choices and simpler "always available" dishes. Catching up with Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection - What's it Like On Board Evrima? In contrast, Tauck-- an upscale tour line that offers river cruises -- is lesser-known; unless you're already familiar with the company's organized land vacations or seen its ships on Europe's rivers. CC Help Jenn Started August 27, 2021, By With an innovative product and rapidly-growing fleet of custom-designed ships, the line enjoys a reputation as the leader in river cruising. Special themes as culinary, bear, wine and Christmas themed itineraries are featured on Avalon Cruises. All-Inclusive River Cruises: How Much Do You Save. And that is the very essence of our France river cruises. The line is mostly known in the United States. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. The Most Popular Tour Operator Comparisons by Travelers - Travelstride Sail through France and visit the picturesque Old Town in Strasbourg. Pros: Viking is, by far, the largest river cruise company. Sign into see which companies give additional savings to Travelstride Members (its free). The entry-level cabin is the Avalon Deluxe Stateroom. I ask because we want to help you avoid single supplements. Avalon River Cruises is recognized for their all suite concept. Uniworld stands out immediately for its impressively designed interiors; each ship is themed to the areas that ships sail through. One step aboard our modern, luxurious SuiteShips with the grandest views in cruising and youll see how the tides they are a-changin. While other river cruise cabins shove your bed against a wall for a view of the other wall, our Comfort Collection Beds SM beds face the widest-opening, wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows in river cruising. Whats the Best Choice for a River Cruise in Bordeaux? Viking has a top suite category that is pricier than anything you'd find on Tauck, however. On Tauck's four Inspiration ships, you'll find 67 cabins, and 49 on its Jewel-class ships. RIVER CRUISE BRANDS - Harr Travel The best river cruises were selected based on the following criteria: Typical starting price: $724 for 3 nights (per person based on double occupancy $241 per night, all-inclusive), Where they sail:Danube, Rhine, Seine, Moselle, Mekong, Nile, Rhne, Ganges, Main, Saone, Amazon (Peru), Specialty cruises: Photography, storytellers, wine, beer, culinary, garden, Christmas market, Jewish heritage. We preferred the top floor. If you are the type of passenger who doesn't want to reach for your wallet at the end of a trip, both lines are great choices. COVID-19 vaccinations are required for all guests and crew. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1224277, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions, C858B0A9-6769-424D-B129-59363EDAC023.jpeg, B5073042-BF8A-4EEC-BD19-0938D8732763.jpeg. You'll pay about $1,000 more than lines such as Viking, AmaWaterways and Avalon. I've always been a fan of traditional cruise line journeys, but a river cruise is much more intimate and in many cases, luxurious. 9 Mistakes to Avoid When Booking Shore Excursions, 12 Things You Don't Need to Take on a Cruise, Virtual Cabin Crawl: Symphony of the Seas Cruise Ship, How To Cope With Cruising's Pause? In addition to food and drink with carefully curated cuisine reflective of the areas being visited many river cruises include land excursions, which is a huge advantage that adds tremendous value. The 10 Best River Cruise Lines - Travel + Leisure Choose Viking ifyou want lots of itinerary choice. Besides stringing words together professionally, Sunny once co-founded a luxury subscription box, curated a whimsical pop-up shop in San Francisco called Treasure Hunters Club, and recently inherited a vinyl-only records store in San Francisco. There are also Christmas market sailings that include tree-trimming, caroling, and a Christmas dinner feast. Back By Popular Demand: Whats Included On River Cruises? By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider (Scenic has. The line claims the ship offers more suites than any other European river vessel and these cabins -- while not true two-room suites -- are 300 square feet. At least one Tauck director comes on each shore excursion so if you want to ask what time the bus leaves for the umpteenth time or your Quietvox battery dies, help is a few steps away. Rockies Icons and Alaska Cruise - APT (15 Days From Calgary to Vancouver) Limited-Time Offers on Avalon Cruises! Book their "Open-Air Balcony" and enjoy wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows that open for fresh air. Due to the size of the boats, the cabins are small, ranging from 80 square feet to about 300 square feet. On its ships in France, Scenic also offers onboard cooking demonstrations. Kids love the Junior Adventurer dinners or Disney movie nights, and there is also a Just Teens program with dinners and separate tour groups at various destinations. Then, there are the ships inEgypt,China,Vietnam and Cambodia, which the line either owns or charters, and in 2023 Viking launches its first ship on the Mississippi. Only Tauck offers family cruising through its Tauck Bridges program. Lower Danube River Company Routes Comparison Dream Destinations It sounds like it will be what we're looking for. Viking includes at least one shore excursion in every port you visit. Some sailings have Loft Suites, which are two stories with floor-to-ceiling windows and have two full bathrooms, a dining area, a lounge with a Queen sofa-bed, a balcony, and an upstairs bedroom. The perfect combination of icons and lesser-known wonders. Pro: You'll save money as you won't have to pay to fly overseas. Expect to sail with Aussies, Brits and other English-speaking nationalities. For example, on the S.S. BonVoyage in France, the Le Salon Champagne was inspired by Yves Saint Laurent's home, Villa Majorelle. Special diets can be catered for with advance notice, and menus are labeled for people with dietary restrictions. Avalon Waterways has used their 80-plus years of travel expertise to design the very best river cruise experience. Pros: Tauck boasts exclusive cultural experiences that are truly unique. Viking has the largest fleet, by far, in Europe, with 55 nearly identical Scandinavian-inspired Longships. Visit a farm along Normandy's Cider Route to taste the region's elegantly crafted apple ciders and calvados, and see how they're made; in Normandy, cider is an art, like winemaking, centuries old. Today, the company's assortment of upscale, highly inclusive tours, river cruises and small-ship ocean cruises spans the globe. In terms of enrichment, both lines bring on local entertainers, although Scenic is more likely to bring on a band to play classic rock and music you can dance to, as opposed to folk performers. All of the cruise lines selected offer intriguing and interesting excursions that are included in the price (except for the American Queen Steamboat Company), from a private tour of the Louvre to kayaking down the Mekong. Whats Included In All-Inclusive River Cruises? Basically, if you need anything while you're off the ship, they are only a few steps away. The least expensive cabins are interior and have no windows. Another difference is that Tauck ships are actually owned and run by Scylla, a Swiss-owned company. But if you think this a Disney river cruise would be all about the kids, you're wrong. Viking, Avalon, AmaWaterways, Crystal, Uniworld, U by Uniworld, and Tauck each supplied a ship for the special occasion. On Viking, everyone eats at the same time, which can create a "herding" effect that some people dislike. Another thing that sets the Inspiration class of ships apart: "loft" design cabins, which have a raised platform seating area that provides extra space in lower-level cabins. There is a very low crew to guest ratio. During the Nile adventure, take a traditional Egyptian boat ride and have afternoon tea at the Old Cataract Hotel Aswan in Aswan. Tauck is equally non-fussy, but the overall feel is a little more elegant. Tauck vs. Viking River Cruises - Cruise Critic Visit Schloss Hof in Bratislava for chocolate tasting and learn to waltz in the grand ballroom. There are a fair amount of UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the itineraries, which are almost always awe-inspiring. On both ships, there's a "secret cellar," with better vintages available if you ask. Choose Tauck ifyou want an all-inclusive river cruise with more extras and a higher-end feel -- and don't mind paying for it. Without a doubt, the most visible presence in the river cruising world is Viking River Cruises, thanks to effective TV, radio and direct mail advertisements. Cabins with French balconies are 135 square feet and standard cabins with a true balcony are 205 square feet (balcony inclusive). Whats the Best Choice for a SeineRiver Cruise? It's easy to see the world's sights. 1. The cabins and public areas are also beautifully appointed with art, antiques, hand-painted murals, and luxury linens. All-Inclusive River Cruises: How Are They Defined? They are also one of the most affordable river cruise options. Scenic ships have neither facilities for children nor specific family sailings, but kids 12 and older are welcome onboard. Tours & Operators on Travelstride Awarded and Featured by: 2023 Travelstride. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. Both Tauck and Scenic have fitness centers, complimentary bikes (the ones on Scenic are e-bikes and slightly better) and for-fee spas. In river cruising, you often get what you pay for. There is no special programming for kids, and children under eight are not allowed to sail. Tauck: What Are Its Smallest, Largest and Most Common Stateroom Sizes? Avalon Waterways River Cruises - 2023 & 2024 River Cruises It's open for lunch and dinner, and it's free for everyone. All cruise lines have new COVID-19 policies that prioritize the health and safety of guests. Because most people travel in pairs or a family on a cruise, rates are based on double occupancy. Grownups may enjoy adult-only dinners and wine tastings, and there is actually a nice variety of adult-exclusive sailings (generally when school is in session), which offer more sophisticated offerings. In fact, there are many kid-friend amenities, such as cooking classes, a young travelers' lounge, and a game room complete with PlayStation, games, movies, and local treats. On a Viking river cruise, you receive a fair amount in your fare: a daily shore excursion with more elaborate options available for a fee; Wi-Fi; beer, wine and soda with meals and bottled water; and some entertainment and enrichment. Elevate your cruise experience with fewer passengers, more choices, and endless possibilities. Choose Viking ifyou like dining alfresco. While there are plenty of places to curl up with a book or play a game in the public spaces, a bevy of activities will lure you onshore. On the Rhne sailing, go spelunking in Viviers to underground caves as part of a wine tasting adventure. Onboard enrichment on both lines is based around the destinations visited. Scenic and Tauck have many similarities, even if fans of one haven't heard of the other. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. There is a wide variety of cabin categories from a 350 square foot suite that sleeps four with a balcony to Category D, the most affordable cabin, which is about 170 square feet, sleeps two, and features small windows. One of the best vacations I've ever taken was a river cruise. We operate independently from our advertising team. Scenic also has theTailormade App, which works as an audio guide and offers independent city tours, and an offline navigation system. Large private bathrooms include full showers and. They often feature DJs, silent discos, mixology classes, yoga, and rooftop camping (tents are supplied). Cons: TVs are small and the cabin design is basic. River cruises are available all over the world in Europe, Egypt, Peru, and South East Asia. Most of the Avalon's cabins are Panorama Suites, which offer a wide view of the rivers on which you are traveling. 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Because how you see the world matters. Since Aqua Expeditions ships are so much smaller than the average river cruise liner, they can visit more remote destinations and the excursions reflect that, from watching Amazonian pink dolphins to receiving a blessing from a Buddhist monk while traveling the Mekong. One thing both lines have in common is that they use modern coaches branded with the line's logo and photos of the ships or exotic locations (making them easily identifiable in a crowd of coaches). They are the least expensive, since we'd probably go cruise-only and make up our own land tour before/after, but the cabin seems pretty small, and we'd really like the option of bikes, which is offered on Tauck and AMA, but not on Viking or Avalon, as far as I can make out (please, correct me if I'm wrong). The Adventures by Disney river cruises are designed for families, and their itineraries, both onboard and onshore, have something for every age group. CC Help Jenn Book a cruise on American Queen Steamboat Company, Book a cruise on Adventures by Disney River Cruise, Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here. Both upscale river cruise lines were born out of well-established tour operators. On the Danube sailing, see the Wachau Valley from a canoe and visit a hidden beach. A WORLD OF WATERWAYS The Rivers of Avalon AmaWaterways Vs. Avalon Waterways River Cruises: 8 Key Differences Avalon offers many onboard presentations, including the celebrity-driven Storyteller Series, which is set to include the likes of Candace Bushnell ("Sex and the City"), Gillian Flynn ("Gone Girl"), Cheryl Strayed ("Wild"), and Diana Gabaldon (Outlander"). Viking is the largest river cruise operator with over 50 Longships in their fleet. While on the Danube, take a dip in legendary thermal baths in Budapest, Hungry. Not as well known locally as APT or Scenic, Avalon Waterways have nevertheless been cruising the rivers of Europe and Asia since 2004. Drinks are only complimentary during lunch and dinner and gratuities are not included in the price. Viking Longships carry 190 passengers and have 95 cabins. Featuring modern luxury ships, with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, our clients love Avalon, and some of their river itineraries are our biggest sellers. River Cruise Advisor's video reviews take two forms: ship and experience reviews, and Riverside Chats, more of a question and answer style video. Some rooms have balconies. Both offer more inclusions than their competitors and both carry fewer passengers than most river lines, ensuring that service remains at a high standard. Because the Inspiration ships are the same size as Viking ships with fewer passengers and cabins, the staterooms are larger.
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