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. As the name implies, the American Queen Steamboat Company uses old-school-style riverboats for their journey. When she's not out shopping, she's plotting her next trip to Disneyland, remodeling her 1920s bungalow, and hanging out with her tween and their new puppy. Tauck will sell through TA's, but maybe not online ones. Choose Tauck ifyou don't want any extra charges at all when you leave the ship, love the convenience of having everything set up for you or want the feeling of a more deluxe experience. Because how you see the world matters. Because the Inspiration ships are the same size as Viking ships with fewer passengers and cabins, the staterooms are larger. 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. Visit Salzburg, Austria, the town featured in "The Sound of Music.". If you have a travel agent, please consider contacting him or her first. Scenic Sundowner events are cocktail parties at an unusual or particularly beautiful locale, while Scenic Enrich immersive activities may include a concert, performance or special dinner offsite. Both upscale river cruise lines were born out of well-established tour operators. Pros: The ships are smaller than most with just over 100 passengers and children are allowed. Prices shown reflect discount. In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from CRUISING ELEVATED.Innovative, transformative, original. Tauck is a family-run company that has shown travelers the world since 1925. Viking River Cruises: What Are Its Smallest, Largest and Most Common Stateroom Sizes? The dishes are paired with a selection of wines from the area that is being explored. Plus, get air rates starting at $599 per person from select gateways. Whats the Best Choice for a Elbe River Cruise? Avalon's vacations are categorized as deluxe on the industry rating scale (budget, first class or deluxe). There are also Christmas market sailings that include tree-trimming, caroling, and a Christmas dinner feast. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics, 17 Cruise Lines That Include Alcohol in Your Fare, 7 Challenging Cruise Ports We Can Help You Navigate. Choose Tauck ifyou're fine with a French balcony and want a larger standard cabin. However, for me probably the highlight was the tours. Indulge in regional cuisine on Viking ships flavored with herbs grown in an on-board garden, though familiar classics are always available. We believe that travel should be easy. They don't seem to be on Cruise Compete's site. A WORLD OF WATERWAYS The Rivers of Avalon Most of the Avalon's cabins are Panorama Suites, which offer a wide view of the rivers on which you are traveling. Given the price point, the passengers seem more well-heeled on Tauck. There is a very low crew to guest ratio. For those with an interest in history, try The Life and Legacy of Abraham Lincoln tour. On Tauck, complimentary hot and cold canapes are passed during happy hour. 3 Viking Cruises also fared well this year, with readers . I could use Scenic's $379.00 per day per . Choose Tauck ifonboard spa, beauty and fitness options are essential to your vacation. For passengers who like convenience, though, the extra money is worth it. The 10 Best River Cruise Lines - Travel + Leisure Tauck carries fewer passengers onboard so its tour groups are, by definition, smaller. Automobile lovers have the chance to visit BMW World to see luxury German-made cars. 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. Travelstride helps you search and compare 50,000+ expert-planned trips from 1,000+ companies. QUICK STATS AVALON WATERWAYS 2004 Visit Schloss Hof in Bratislava for chocolate tasting and learn to waltz in the grand ballroom. Started June 21, 2021, By Any input from people on this forum would be appreciated. Viking vs. Tauck vs. Uniworld vs. Avalon?? - Cruise Critic Community Compare River Cruise Lines: Which Company Fits Where? COVID-19 procedures are availablehere. Scenic also has theTailormade App, which works as an audio guide and offers independent city tours, and an offline navigation system. The cruise lines are priced to start at $241 per night, depending on the time of year and the cruise line. River Cruise Lines: World's Best 2021 - Travel + Leisure Typical starting price: $2,199 for 7 nights (per person based on double occupancy $314 per night, all-inclusive), Where they sail: Mississippi, Ohio/Tennessee/Cumberland, Columbia/Snake Rivers, Specialty Cruises: Music festivals, music of the '50s and '60s, bourbon, Cajun/Creole, wine, Kentucky Derby, Amenities (may vary per ship): Wi-Fi, bicycles for shore, library, fitness center, smoothie and juice bar, pool, sun deck, spa, fitness, hiking sticks, Inclusions: All meals, unlimited beverages (wine, local craft beer, spirits), in-room dining, one-night pre-cruise hotel stay, hop on hop off buses onshore, ground transfers, Wi-Fi, daily entertainment. Whats the Best Choice for a SeineRiver Cruise? 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"). 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. CC Help Jenn It all boils down to what is important to you. The river cruises ships all have comfortable, well-appointed cabins and an array of perks like complimentary in-room dining, pillow menus, and epic views that make the journey feel luxurious. ABC Cruiser, I was leaning towards the Heartland (Rivers and Castles) land and cruise itinerary with AMA before reading your review, and now I'm pretty sure that's what we'll go for. Learn to paint like Van Gogh at the Ateliers Art Institute in Amsterdam. All are reputable river cruises companies with years of experience in river cruising. COVID-19 procedures are availablehere. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Thanks for all the input. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Harmony of the Seas vs. Allure of the Seas. Viking includes at least one shore excursion in every port you visit. All guests must have received their COVID-19 vaccine prior to sailing. I've been researching river cruises for August/September that include the Moselle River, which I think will visit smaller cities than cruises that travel strictly on the Danube. Scenic has five cabin categories on its 85-cabin Space-Ships. 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. The Aquavit Lounge is glass-enclosed and it can open to the elements in nice weather. Uniworld has bicycles, and there is an included excursion every day, although there are also optional excursions. Cabins are located across three decks and available in seven categories; the line claims the ship offers more suites than any other European river vessel. Tauck - Nile River Cruise To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. For its upper deck passengers, Scenic offers Table La Rive, a 10-person chef's table in the main dining room. They are comfortable but not luxurious or particularly interesting. Another thing that sets Tauck's newer ships apart: "loft" design cabins, which have a raised platform seating area that provides extra space in lower-level cabins. A) next door to a junior suite.Being close to the entrance of the staircase, you do hear people going by your room in the morning. One of the Tauck tenets is "lagniappe," or a little something extra, such as a Champagne reception in the Baden-Baden casino or roses to put on the graves of veterans at an American Military Cemetery in Luxembourg. Itineraries balance organized activities with ample leisure time so guests can pursue their own interests. Uniworld requires proof of COVID-19 vaccinations for all their guests, except those under the age of 12, who must have a negative test result within 72 hours of embarkation. The water, especially on European cruises, is very calm. Limited-Time Offers on Avalon Cruises! 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. A good mid-tier option is theRoyal Balcony suite, which comes with a great view and perks like daily fruit skewers, canapes, and petit fours. You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here. All rights reserved. 1. You'll Adore these Ships. Whats the Best Choice for a Sane River Cruise? Both offer more inclusions than their competitors and both carry fewer passengers than most river lines, ensuring that service remains at a high standard. Bike along the Danube River between Drnstein and Melk in Austria's Wachau Valley. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. COVID-19 procedures are availablehere. 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. The boats are all relatively new, and can accommodate up to 190 passengers. TAUCK VALUE INCLUDES. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. 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. Spacious ships carry between 84 and 130 guests, and since the single supplement is waived on select cabins, it's a good choice for solo travelers . It lacks the grandeur of the suites, and is small at about 172 square feet, and has small windows peaking above the waterline. Passengers often get a choice of excursions, both of them included. Both lines offer the type of amenities you'd expect on upscale ships. Europe River Cruise Company Comparisons 2022-23 River Cruises. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. Scenic and Tauck are both lines that carry lower passenger loads than most of their competitors and have put a significant effort into upgrading vessels. River cruises are available all over the world in Europe, Egypt, Peru, and South East Asia. Viking is also an adults-only line, while Tauck was the pioneer of family river cruises through its Tauck Bridges program. Not only are Avalon Panorama Suites 30% larger than the industry standard . Tauck and Scenic include more in their fares than anyone else, with gratuities, all alcohol, transfers, choice of shore excursions, all dining and Wi-Fi included. The only Tauck employees onboard are the four cruise directors. On a similar seven-night June 2023 cruise on the Danube, Tauck is about $1,000 more expensive than Viking for a standard cabin (this can be even more as Viking offers a lot of promotional deals). Adventures by Disney is the best option for families since they curate their onboard and onshore activities with kids and teens in mind. They also use the Quietvox system during excursions, where the tour guide speaks into a headset while passengers listen on receivers. AMA has a modern fleet like Avalon and offers a few things that Avalon does not and that we would enjoy including bicycles, in room free internet and movies, tables for two in the dining room, and an onboard masseuse. Scenic operates custom-made vessels and a variety of cabins types. Do they have bicycles? River Cruise Ships - Avalon Waterways Small Cruise Ships Please choose only one for now. Cons: Entry-level cabins are small, at 150 square feet, and have just two small windows. River cruising is a very different animal than "big ship" cruising - and I would hate to think that you booked 14+ days on a river boat - only to discover that you hated the the experience. Throughout the voyages, they feature special drinking and dining events for guests along with entertainment themed to the country you're visiting such as a string quartet or folk dancing. Love Scandinavian Design? All upgraded suites come with butler service, nightly turndown, and a laundry concierge. These excursions are all included in the price of the cruise and are considered part of the river experience, although they aren't included for the sole domestic option on our list, the American Queen Steamboat Company. Adventures by Disney, the guided, family vacation arm of the Walt Disney Company, offers unique journeys sprinkled with signature Disney magic. The line sails only on the major European rivers: Rhine, Main, Danube, Rhone, Seine and Moselle. You can also buy wine along the trip and have it served with your meal at no additional cost. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. The Most Popular Tour Operator Comparisons by Travelers - Travelstride The line also offers a "bite to eat" snack menu that can be delivered to your cabin as room service, or to any of the lounges as a small plate. Their National Geographic sailings are particularly of note and include a variety of educational, expert-led travel excursions and talks. There are a fair amount of UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the itineraries, which are almost always awe-inspiring. Started August 27, 2021, By Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals. Yes. Treasures of the Mediterranean - Northbound 2019, See all activities, themes, and interests >, The Romantic Rhine: Amsterdam to Basel featuring Oberammergau - Southbound 2022, Belgium & Holland in Spring - Northbound 2023, Holiday Magic: Danube Family River Cruise - Westbound 2022, The Rhine & Moselle: Canals, Vineyards and Castles, The Danube from the Black Sea to Budapest, Active & Discovery on the Danube (Eastbound), Save $600 off trips to every continent on earth, Redeem anytime before 2023. Pros: Adventures by Disney guides add a wonderful touch to each journey with storytelling, educational information, and goes above and beyond to ensure every guest has a great time. Tauck vs. Viking River Cruises - Cruise Critic There are no pools on the ships except for those sailing the Egypt, Mississippi, and the Mekong lines. Compared to other bigger companies, the selection of river cruises is limited. Both Tauck and Scenic boast spacious, contemporary cabins that are among the most comfortable in river cruising. Keep in mind that the itineraries are still destination-immersive, so you might not have as much time to use these as you think you will. Viking has the largest fleet, by far, in Europe, with 55 nearly identical Scandinavian-inspired Longships. Avalon Waterways River Cruises - 2023 & 2024 River Cruises Meals come with complimentary beverages, including house wine, beer, and premium spirits. Tauck prides itself on offering off-the-beaten-track experiences in each destination, including multigenerational family tours that are curated to include itineraries for both kids and adults. No other fleet of river cruise ships gives you a view of the world like Avalon. Expires February 28. The Adventures by Disney river cruises are designed for families, and their itineraries, both onboard and onshore, have something for every age group. River Cruise Advisor's video reviews take two forms: ship and experience reviews, and Riverside Chats, more of a question and answer style video. Activities include educational lectures from visiting professors, and well as local entertainment, and even Broadway-level performances. Delivering unparalleled experiences and boundless exploration, Avalon puts you inthe captains seat to navigate your journey, fuel your passions and steer clear of the unexpected as you cruisedown the worlds most memorable and mesmerizing waterways. Large private bathrooms include full showers and. Powered by Invision Community. In the Netherlands, explore the windmill village of Zaanse Schans with its houses from the 18th and 19th centuries. We cruised Budapest to Amsterdam 2 years ago with Avalon and it was the best vacation,most relaxing we ever. By Come face-to-face with the gentle manta rays of Komodo National Park in Indonesia. (I admit that I travelled solo, so I wasn't sharing with anyone else.). Learn to make goulash and feast on it in the Hungarian countryside while listening to a live performance by Hungarian folk musicians. The core passengers for both lines are Americans, Canadians, Brits, Australians and passengers from other English-speaking companies, aged 50s to 70s. 15 of the Best European River Cruises - Travel + Leisure It should re-energize and transform. Both Tauck and Scenic have fitness centers, complimentary bikes (the ones on Scenic are e-bikes and slightly better) and for-fee spas. 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. Tauck features a wide variety of itineraries, including themed river cruises and the Tauck Bridges sailings designed for families and multigenerational groups. Another difference is that Tauck ships are actually owned and run by Scylla, a Swiss-owned company. Although children are allowed, the line does not offer extra amenities or perks for kids. They offer a 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio, so guests relish in lavish, five-star treatment and the boats have only about 15 to 20 cabins, meaning, no more than 30 to 40 guests per sailing. Uniworld stands out immediately for its impressively designed interiors; each ship is themed to the areas that ships sail through. On these cruises, too, the restaurants have kid-friendly menus and casual dining options. Find the latest travel requirements for your trip. AmaWaterways: What Are Its Smallest, Largest and Most Common Stateroom Sizes? Typical starting price: Starting at $2,299 per person for 7 nights (per person based on double occupancy $328 per night, all-inclusive). Scenic offers various excursions, from visiting World Heritage Sites to a round of golf. Those are also offered all day, not just at mealtimes, which is a nice addition. Drinks are only complimentary during lunch and dinner and gratuities are not included in the price. These state-of-the-art, authentic paddle wheelers can accommodate from 150 to 400 guests, depending on the ship. Typical starting price: $2,195 for 7 nights (per person based on double occupancy $313 per night, all-inclusive), Where do they sail:Danube, Main (Germany), Rhine, Moselle, Rhne, Douro (Portugal), Seine, Bordeaux, Volga (Russia), Mekong (South East Asia), Irrawaddy (Myanmar), Specialty cruises: National Geographic, Christmas markets, Onboard amenities (may vary by ship):Laundry,wellness area, gym, massage services, hair salon, Wi-Fi, e-bikes, L'Occitane products, pillow menu, shoeshine, Inclusive: Meals, butler service, gratuities, transfers, excursions, beverages (with the exception of certain specialty wines and rare spirits), minibar fully restocked daily, chef-prepared picnics, 24-hour in-room dining, entertainment. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. AmaWaterways, with over 25 ships, is known for having a smaller amount of passengers on board. During the Nile adventure, take a traditional Egyptian boat ride and have afternoon tea at the Old Cataract Hotel Aswan in Aswan. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. The big differences are between the type of access to the outdoors and butler service. The reason why Scenic fans might not know Tauck, and vice versa, stems from the companies' headquarters. Raise your sights and set your sails for the rivers of Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa on an Avalon Waterways cruise. Venturing off the beaten path away from well-traveled highways is part of the appeal, as are the opportunities to savor a real taste of daily life along Europe's rivers. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. "Free choice" dining allows you . 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. Visit the Amazon Rainforest with Aqua Expeditions' naturalist guides. They often feature DJs, silent discos, mixology classes, yoga, and rooftop camping (tents are supplied). In addition to traditional ships, there are also sleek black U by Uniworld boats, which offer a modern take on river cruising with a younger demographic in mind. 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. Scenic offers all passengers a limited 24-hour room service menu, with full in-suite dining for passengers in Royal and Royal Panorama Suites. COVID-19 vaccinations are required for all guests and crew. While Tauck also has a Lagniappe event, as well as an offsite dinner, it's not as prominently promoted as the Scenic events; it's not even listed in the daily program. Pros: The cabins are large and all have floor-to-ceiling windows. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Pros: Viking is, by far, the largest river cruise company. COVID-19 procedures are availablehere. The cruise lines are priced to start at $241 per night, depending on the time of year and the cruise line. For us, 120-140 sq ft would just be too small. Tauck's shore excursion program is a little more comprehensive (although oddly, the guides themselves and the berths where the ships dock aren't necessarily better. Compare Avalon River Cruises vs Uniworld - Global Journeys Beyond advertising budgets, the lines offer vastly different experiences. Comparisons - River Cruise Advisor These are the best river cruise lines for comfort, destinations, and irresistible perks and tours. Solo travelers will appreciate that there are dedicated Solo Traveler Suites with no surcharge for a non-double occupancy booking, which is unheard of with cruising. I think they'd maybe be my first choice, and I know everything is included with them, but I like to get a bargain if I can. Tauck just looked fabulous but, for us, the premium is not worth it as the additional inclusions are not important to us. Learn more. 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. 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. 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. These are guided by local experts who know the history and culture; since Viking has so many river cruises going at any one time and provides a more stable stream of employment, the company is often able to scoop up some of the better guides in a town. 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. Choose Viking ifyou like dining alfresco. There is a price difference between the first deck and the second deck, with the former being more affordable. We have done 2 cruises - Paris/Normandy with Uniworld - and Blue Danube Discovery with AMA. Choose from a wide variety of accommodations from well-appointed suites to small no-frills single staterooms that are a mere 80 square feet. On both lines, the excursions will include walking and coach tours of local towns and villages, visits to castles and historic monuments, and experiences such as wine tasting. 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. You'll pay about $1,000 more than lines such as Viking, AmaWaterways and Avalon. If you're able to provide your travel agent's contact info, I may be able to work with him or her to recommend a cruise that is best for you. On all these journeys from the Ganges to the Rhne dining is a big part of the adventure.
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