The big differences are between the type of access to the outdoors and butler service. Lower-deck rooms, which have a window, are 150 square feet. Avalon's cabins are bigger than Tauck's but there is much that's not included with them, vs Tauck. They are also one of the most affordable river cruise options. 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). Cons: The ships aren't "Imagineered." It's open for lunch and dinner, and it's free for everyone. There is also destination-themed entertainment; for example, while sailing through Austria a musician is likely to play musical pieces from "The Sound of Music.". The cruise lines are priced to start at $241 per night, depending on the time of year and the cruise line. Viking, the world's largest river cruise company, moved up two spots into the lead position. All-Inclusive River Cruises: How Much Do You Save. In French balcony cabins, the beds generally face the window for better views. Most cabins also have a French balcony, which allows the rooms themselves to be larger while still letting in fresh air. Avalon Waterways has redefined cruising by going against the current and away from the ordinary. Experience the "Wild West" of France in la Camargue with farm-fresh meals, local music, and a horse show. The boats are all relatively new, and can accommodate up to 190 passengers. 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. 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. (Most newer river cruise ships in Europe are a standard 443 feet.) Catching up with Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection - What's it Like On Board Evrima? 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. Read on for our look at Scenic vs. Tauck. 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. Many of the river cruise passengers will have taken land tours with the company. Solo travelers are still welcome but may have to pay asupplement fee for booking as a single-occupancy rather than a double. The entry-level cabin is the Avalon Deluxe Stateroom. Pros: Viking is, by far, the largest river cruise company. 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. Read on for our look at .css-hghiur{transition-property:var(--chakra-transition-property-common);transition-duration:var(--chakra-transition-duration-fast);transition-timing-function:var(--chakra-transition-easing-ease-out);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;outline:2px solid transparent;outline-offset:2px;font-weight:var(--chakra-fontWeights-medium);border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;cursor:pointer;color:var(--chakra-colors-blue-base);border-color:var(--chakra-colors-blue-base);}.css-hghiur:focus-visible,.css-hghiur[data-focus-visible]{box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-outline);}.css-hghiur:hover,.css-hghiur[data-hover]{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;}Viking River Cruises vs. Tauck and some ideas of why you should pick one over the other. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Whats the Best Choice For A RhneRiver Cruise? Cons: There are different levels of service depending on the cabin category you book. It depends on what you are looking for in your vacation. Some ships on both lines have hot tubs or plunge pools on the top deck. We can chat later about other destinations. This was our first riverboat cruise and we loved it! Both offer more inclusions than their competitors and both carry fewer passengers than most river lines, ensuring that service remains at a high standard. QUICK STATS AVALON WATERWAYS 2004 I'm not sure you will find Tauck discounted in many places. It sounds like it will be what we're looking for. Dining is Michelin-inspired and farm-to-table fare. Uniworld has bicycles, and there is an included excursion every day, although there are also optional excursions. AmaWaterways: What Are Its Smallest, Largest and Most Common Stateroom Sizes? Sign up for our newsletter to get honest reviews on top products & services delivered weekly to your inbox. 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. We welcome your feedback. While many cruise lines have a strict dining schedule, these ships offer several different onboard restaurants. Some rooms have balconies. Service was very good, rooms spacious, and I loved the French balcony and the in room internet too. Scenic **: Inclusions are for all guests, regardless of ship or suite. These are all decorated in a modern, contemporary style and feel airy and spacious due to the liberal use of mirrors and reflective panels. Viking also has optional shore excursions that it sells in some ports; these excursions generally are limited to small groups and take you into smaller venues or provide immersive experiences that expose passengers to a port's culture and traditions on a deeper, often hands-on, level. Started June 21, 2021, By 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). Finish with an Inside Passage cruise. At 445 square feet, they are among the largest on the rivers with wraparound balconies, a separate bedroom and living room and another French balcony. Viking has the largest fleet, by far, in Europe, with 55 nearly identical Scandinavian-inspired Longships. Pros: The cabins are large and all have floor-to-ceiling windows. Inclusions: All meals and drinks (regional wine, beer, soft drinks with lunch and dinner; sparkling wine with breakfast), Pros:You get to pick your own firmness of the beds and pillows. The large array of excursions has something for everyone from a cooking class to strenuous hikes, and visiting an ancient castle. All are butler-serviced river ships with a high, almost one-to-one staff-to-guest ratio. 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. Any input from people on this forum would be appreciated. But since there is so much to do, odds are that the cabin will be only used for sleeping and downtime. For example, on the S.S. BonVoyage in France, the Le Salon Champagne was inspired by Yves Saint Laurent's home, Villa Majorelle. Like most cruises, the food served is reflective of your destination's local cuisine and there is also a light menu and options for vegetarians, vegans, and kids. Typical starting price: $,1999 for 7 nights (per person, based on double occupancy $285 per night, all-inclusive), Where they sail: Danube, Rhine, Seine, Moselle, Douro (Portugal), Mekong, Egypt, Africa (river and rails), Columbia, Specialty cruises: Christmas markets, wine, Onboard amenities (may vary by ship): Wellness activities, Wi-Fi, sun deck, pool with swim-up bar, massages, hair salon, flat-screen TVs that also works like a computer with on-demand entertainment, Inclusive: All meals, drinks (unlimited fine wine, beer, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; unlimited sparkling wine and fresh juice with breakfast), tours at every destination, bikes and hikes, onboard entertainment. We operate independently from our advertising team. There's a salon that provides hair and nail services, as well as a small spa for massage treatments. Is there a way of getting a discounted price with them? Tauck not only has a cruise director onboard its ship, but it has three additional Tauck guides who give the daily briefings, attend the shore excursions (although local experts actually give the tours), hand out spending money or give you a rose to place at the gravesite of a veteran in an American military cemetery. Avalon Waterways: What Are Its Smallest, Largest and Most Common Stateroom Sizes? Scenic has five cabin categories on its 85-cabin Space-Ships. Adventures by Disney is the best option for families since they curate their onboard and onshore activities with kids and teens in mind. I ask because we want to help you avoid single supplements. 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. Activities include educational lectures from visiting professors, and well as local entertainment, and even Broadway-level performances. Cabins with French balconies are 135 square feet and standard cabins with a true balcony are 205 square feet (balcony inclusive). It should be worth your time and the price you paid. Save up to $2,800 per couple off the cruise price of Europe sailings. Viking does seem to pay a little more attention to making sure dishes are regional in nature. If you want flexibility, the line is hard to beat. 3 Viking Cruises also fared well this year, with readers . Learn more. Avalon River Cruises is recognized for their all suite concept. Viking has a top suite category that is pricier than anything you'd find on Tauck, however. Compare River Cruise Lines: Which Company Fits Where? Uniworld: What Are Its Smallest, Largest and Most Common Stateroom Sizes? While on the Danube, take a dip in legendary thermal baths in Budapest, Hungry. The iconic river ships of No. As the name implies, the American Queen Steamboat Company uses old-school-style riverboats for their journey. The latter are true suites, with two rooms. By Special diets can be catered for with advance notice and menus are labeled for people with dietary restrictions. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. In Memphis, opt for The Elvis Experience with a tour of Graceland. 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. For passengers who like convenience, though, the extra money is worth it. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. 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). Automobile lovers have the chance to visit BMW World to see luxury German-made cars. Scenic also has special "TailorMade" devices that allow travelers to head out by themselves and follow GPS guided tours that are pre-programed into the personal audio systems. Typical starting price: Starting at $3,499 for 7 nights (per person based on double occupancy $499 per night, all-inclusive). Junior Suites are 240 to 250 square feet, two Royal Panorama Suites are 475 square feet and, on some ships, Royal Owners Suites are more than 500 square feet. You can also buy wine along the trip and have it served with your meal at no additional cost. Basically, if you need anything while you're off the ship, they are only a few steps away. Choose Tauck ifyou're fine with a French balcony and want a larger standard cabin. CC Help Jenn Viking has more weeklong cruises than Tauck and sails in more places and on more dates. Avalon features wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows with beds facing the views for ultimate enjoyment from their suites and staterooms. Tauck has outdoor seats at Arthur's but there's no glass buffer, so it's a windier experience. Rest easy (literally) as you enjoy bigger views, more space and 24/7 access to open-air cruising. The core passengers for both lines are Americans, Canadians, Brits, Australians and passengers from other English-speaking companies, aged 50s to 70s. Cruise Critic named Avalon's staterooms the best in the business, and yes, we're blushing a bit. 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. Visit Schloss Hof in Bratislava for chocolate tasting and learn to waltz in the grand ballroom. 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. Viking provides a shore excursion daily, along with drinks with meals, in a casual environment, while Tauck is all-inclusive, with a fair number of luxurious extras. The cabin window is wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling glass that stretches 11 feet wide and opens up 7 feet wide, thus basically turning your room into a veranda. However, for me probably the highlight was the tours. Crystal Cruises river cruise line features all-suite ships. Today, the company's assortment of upscale, highly inclusive tours, river cruises and small-ship ocean cruises spans the globe. Choose Tauck for an all-inclusive river cruise with structured tours and concierge-style service. 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 ships on both cruise lines offer a wide choice of dishes to suit all tastes, including healthy choices and simpler "always available" dishes. Limited-Time Offers on Avalon Cruises! Odds are you will not get motion sickness on a river cruise since large waves or currents do not hit the ships. Scenic makes sure that its passengers have a variety of things to do in the evening. On its refurbished ships in France, Scenic has a salt room and a hair salon. In 2023, they will launch Seven River Journeys which will cover seven rivers and 14 countries over the course of 45 nights (starting at $24,999 per person, double occupancy). Avalon Waterways has redefined cruising by going against the current andaway from the ordinary. Excursion from Paris to Louis XIV's opulent . Aqua Expeditions is all about luxury with a modern take. The cabins are large with King-sized beds, which is a rarity in river cruising. Avalon's vacations are categorized as deluxe on the industry rating scale (budget, first class or deluxe). All-Inclusive River Cruises: How Are They Defined? 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. 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. 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. Choose Viking ifyou like dining alfresco. Do they only sell direct, and not through travel agents? Beyond advertising budgets, the lines offer vastly different experiences. (The Longships are the same size, 443 feet, but carry 190). Scenic offers butler service to passengers in every cabin, with set services according to the cabin category. Pro: The boats boast a boutique design and feel with unlimited premium spirits and wines. "The itinerary was. They are composed of floor-to-ceiling windows that drop down halfway at the flick of a switch, and the balconies can be shut off from the main cabin area with folding glass doors. COVID-19 procedures are availablehere. Sign up for a private Imperial Evening at a palace in Vienna with dinner and classical performances. The least expensive cabins are interior and have no windows. On the Danube sailing, see the Wachau Valley from a canoe and visit a hidden beach. In Portugal, visit the Burmester Cellars for a fine dining experience along with a traditional Fado musical accompaniment. A View with a Room. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. Viking is the largest river cruise operator with over 50 Longships in their fleet. Scenic operates 11 "Space-Ships" sailing on the main rivers ofEurope-- Rhine, Main, Danube, Rhone and Seine, as well as Portugal's Douro. These cruises offer25% off the fare for travelers 4 to 17 years old when traveling with an adult (suites excluded). Choose Viking ifyou don't need a gym or a lot of extras onboard. In late March, Ange and Angela made a trip to Amsterdam to attend the Virtuoso Forum meeting. Every cruise line considers dining to be a priority and serves fresh well-balanced meals served alongside regional wines, beers, and beverages. While there, the ladies had the opportunity to experience seven ships from the leading River Cruise Companies. River cruising is the most relaxing way to experience the joy of Europe's castles, villages and ruins. Expect to sail with Aussies, Brits and other English-speaking nationalities. 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. 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. And that is the very essence of our France river cruises. Both have hotel-style amenities, including high-tech TVs with entertainment on-demand and information channels, complimentary Wi-Fi, safes, included mini-bars that are replenished daily, hair dryers and designer bath products (L'Occitane on Scenic, Molton Brown on Tauck). This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. All cruise lines have new COVID-19 policies that prioritize the health and safety of guests. They are owned by Globus and do a fantastic job. The itineraries would be suitable for older teens interested in culture and history, and the option of bike tours and independent exploration with the Scenic TailorMade devices mean they aren't forced into day after day of walking or bus tours. Email us at reviews@insider.com. AmaWaterways requires COVID-19 vaccinations for all their guests. Most river cruises are all-inclusive with all meals, beverages, and almost all excursions included in the rate. Viking also has an alternative restaurant, the Aquavit Lounge, but it's much more limited in its menu and only serves food during certain hours. These state-of-the-art, authentic paddle wheelers can accommodate from 150 to 400 guests, depending on the ship. Tauck features a wide variety of itineraries, including themed river cruises and the Tauck Bridges sailings designed for families and multigenerational groups. Which Royal Caribbean Suite Should I Book? (Scenic has. Adventures by Disney, the guided, family vacation arm of the Walt Disney Company, offers unique journeys sprinkled with signature Disney magic. The staff was awesome, and the entire experience was great. The line sails only on the major European rivers: Rhine, Main, Danube, Rhone, Seine and Moselle. 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. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. The Rhine river, Moselle river , Danube river , Rhone river and the Seine River complete the Europe Map served by Avalon River Cruises. Tauck, the well-known tour and river-ship operator, retained its No. With an innovative product and rapidly-growing fleet of custom-designed ships, the line enjoys a reputation as the leader in river cruising. The Rivers They Cruise. Stay at the 'Castle in the Rockies', and relish a Rocky Mountaineer rail journey. Inspired by you, they've taken everything special about river cruising and made it even better. 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. Avalon Waterways My cabin (#312) aboard Avalon Tapestry II on the Seine River in Normandy. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Tauck also revamped its five older Jewel-class ships, which are smaller than the Inspiration vessels, and reduced the capacity from 118 to 98. The ships also offer complimentary alcoholic beverages. Some of the shore excursion options are truly special, such as truffle hunting in Bordeaux, visiting Highclere Castle where "Downton Abbey" was shot or cognac blending in Camus. When cruising the Nile, ride a camel as you visit the pyramids in Cairo, Egypt. Families will appreciate adjoining cabins, which are a rarity for a river cruise line. First, about Tauck. Meals come with complimentary beverages, including house wine, beer, and premium spirits. Guests dine on four-course dinners, complemented by regional wines. Both lines offer passengers a choice of included excursions in every port. Cons: This is the most expensive on our list, so it is an investment. Tauck provides unlimited complimentary beverages onboard which includes regional wine, beer, soft drinks and premium spirits.

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