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This was our first riverboat cruise and we loved it! It's open for lunch and dinner, and it's free for everyone. The cruise lines are priced to start at $241 per night, depending on the time of year and the cruise line. Another difference is that Tauck ships are actually owned and run by Scylla, a Swiss-owned company. Automobile lovers have the chance to visit BMW World to see luxury German-made cars. Scenic offers all passengers a limited 24-hour room service menu, with full in-suite dining for passengers in Royal and Royal Panorama Suites. (The Longships are the same size, 443 feet, but carry 190). Tauck vs AMA Waterways Compared | Travelstride (Scenic has. We have only cruised with Avalon and the modern ships and large cabins were an important factor in our decision. We enjoyed AMA in May when we took the Danube Cruise. 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. 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. The latter are true suites, with two rooms. She also happens to be a shopaholic whose personal mission is to find the coolest and best new things out there. 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. Tauck does have a few high-end extras onboard, including a fitness center, complimentary bikes and a plunge pool on the top deck. COVID-19 vaccinations are required for all guests and crew. 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. 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. Where they sail:Danube, Main (Rhine-Main-Danube canal), Moselle, Rhine, Specialty Cruises:Christmas market, Jewish heritage, tulip season, Onboard amenities (varies by ship): Spa, gym, 24/7 in-suite dining, pantry snacks, pool, yoga, laundry, flat-screen TV with on-demand movies, Inclusions: All meals, 24-hour butler service, beverages (select wines, champagnes, spirits and coffee), Wi-Fi, ETRO and Caudalie products, a variety of complimentary shore excursions (some cost extra). 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. RIVER CRUISE BRANDS - Harr Travel Travelstride helps you search and compare 50,000+ expert-planned trips from 1,000+ companies. 3 Viking Cruises also fared well this year, with readers . One step aboard our modern, luxurious SuiteShips with the grandest views in cruising and youll see how the tides they are a-changin. Tauck River Cruises: Is Tauck the Best River Cruise Line For You? River cruising is the most relaxing way to experience the joy of Europe's castles, villages and ruins. Typical starting price: Starting at $3,499 for 7 nights (per person based on double occupancy $499 per night, all-inclusive). These are all decorated in a modern, contemporary style and feel airy and spacious due to the liberal use of mirrors and reflective panels. Book a signature suite and indulge in larger marble bathrooms, a fully-stocked bar, and fresh cookies and fruit delivered daily. My husband and I went on the Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles Trip jn October 2022. All Inclusive French River Cruises 2023/2024 | Tauck (I admit that I travelled solo, so I wasn't sharing with anyone else.). As expected, the ships serve American cuisines with options for fresh lobster or USDA Prime Beef. Viking has more weeklong cruises than Tauck and sails in more places and on more dates. If you want flexibility, the line is hard to beat. Avalon Waterways has redefined cruising by going against the current andaway from the ordinary. LauraS All cruise lines have new COVID-19 policies that prioritize the health and safety of guests. Scenic makes sure that its passengers have a variety of things to do in the evening. 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. Pros: Tauck boasts exclusive cultural experiences that are truly unique. 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. 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. 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. Find the latest travel requirements for your trip. Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. Those are also offered all day, not just at mealtimes, which is a nice addition. We were next to one of the Tauck river boats in Wurzburg last year and both my husband and I commented on how luxurious it looked next to ours, which was very nice and brand new at the time. Pro: The boats boast a boutique design and feel with unlimited premium spirits and wines. Choose Viking ifyou like dining alfresco. Which Royal Caribbean Suite Should I Book? We operate independently from our advertising team. Avalon Waterways River Cruises - 2023 & 2024 River Cruises One nice perk: heated floors in the bathroom. River cruising is an efficient way to travel visit a variety of destinations and only unpack once. Because the Inspiration ships are the same size as Viking ships with fewer passengers and cabins, the staterooms are larger. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. 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.". Viking includes at least one shore excursion in every port you visit. Learn to make goulash and feast on it in the Hungarian countryside while listening to a live performance by Hungarian folk musicians. While on the Danube, take a dip in legendary thermal baths in Budapest, Hungry. View travel requirements for countries around the world. Today, the company's assortment of upscale, highly inclusive tours, river cruises and small-ship ocean cruises spans the globe. Scenic is based in Australia, and about half of the passengers on its river cruises are from Down Under (with the rest from other English-speaking countries such as New Zealand, the U.K., Canada and the U.S.). All told, the fleet stands at 70 (excluding ships not currently operating in Russia). In other words, if you are used to the added magic that occurs on a Disney Cruise Line, you won't find that here. (Most newer river cruise ships in Europe are a standard 443 feet.) Tauck has nine ships, with its four newer vessels carrying 130 passengers -- the lowest number of passengers for a ship of its size. They also tend to have more inclusions than a traditional cruise. After experiencing the river cruise lifestyle, I was sold. Compare Avalon River Cruises vs Uniworld - Global Journeys 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. 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. Egypt European River Cruises Europe River Cruise Route Guide Rhine River Cruise Port Guide Request Danube River Cruise Port Guide Request Europe River Cruise Companies Onboard Reviews French River Cruise Port Guide Request . Tauck vs Avalon Waterways Compared | Travelstride Beyond advertising budgets, the lines offer vastly different experiences. At the top end are large well-appointed suites with two full-sized rooms and great views, measuring about 445 square feet. Why Take A Tauck River Cruise. 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. QUICK STATS AVALON WATERWAYS 2004 Compare River Cruise Lines: Which Company Fits Where? Tauck provides unlimited complimentary beverages onboard which includes regional wine, beer, soft drinks and premium spirits. 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. Bike along the Danube River between Drnstein and Melk in Austria's Wachau Valley. Guests dine on four-course dinners, complemented by regional wines. Email us at reviews@insider.com. For example, European river cruises run fromMarch through December. It all boils down to what is important to you. 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. Viking is also an adults-only line, while Tauck was the pioneer of family river cruises through its Tauck Bridges program. In Italy, go on an after-hours visit to St. Mark's Basilica in Venice and tour the 9th-century church without crowds. 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. Tauck's alternative restaurant, Arthur's (named after Chairman Arthur Tauck Jr.), is a casual grill, with a menu offering everything from hamburgers and salads to pastas and steaks. 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. 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. 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. Avalon Waterways My cabin (#312) aboard Avalon Tapestry II on the Seine River in Normandy. "Free choice" dining allows you . In Memphis, opt for The Elvis Experience with a tour of Graceland. 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. Their line U by Uniworld is curated for the "active" guest. Finish with an Inside Passage cruise. The only Tauck employees onboard are the four cruise directors. The water, especially on European cruises, is very calm. Started August 27, 2021, By Expect to pay $129 for the drink package on a weeklong cruise. Meals come with complimentary beverages, including house wine, beer, and premium spirits. Choose Viking ifyou want lots of itinerary choice. 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"). Rest easy (literally) as you enjoy bigger views, more space and 24/7 access to open-air cruising. Both upscale river cruise lines were born out of well-established tour operators. These state-of-the-art, authentic paddle wheelers can accommodate from 150 to 400 guests, depending on the ship. By submitting your contact information, you agree that your email address may be shared with a travel expert who can help me find the perfect cruise for you. Which Royal Caribbean Suite Should I Book? 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. For those with an interest in history, try The Life and Legacy of Abraham Lincoln tour. On Viking, everyone eats at the same time, which can create a "herding" effect that some people dislike. 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. COVID-19 procedures are availablehere. Not as well known locally as APT or Scenic, Avalon Waterways have nevertheless been cruising the rivers of Europe and Asia since 2004. Scenic vs. Tauck Cruise Comparison | Cruise Critic Avalon features wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows with beds facing the views for ultimate enjoyment from their suites and staterooms. Whats the Best Choice for a Elbe River Cruise? This allows passengers to go at their own pace while still hearing the guide. AmaWaterways requires COVID-19 vaccinations for all their guests. 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. There is a price difference between the first deck and the second deck, with the former being more affordable. Love Scandinavian Design? Most of the Avalon's cabins are Panorama Suites, which offer a wide view of the rivers on which you are traveling. Tauck also revamped its five older Jewel-class ships, which are smaller than the Inspiration vessels, and reduced the capacity from 118 to 98. deluxe tour operator in North America and that title is well justified. The reason why Scenic fans might not know Tauck, and vice versa, stems from the companies' headquarters. The River Cafe offers light bites from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for everyone, while Table La Rive is an upscale Chef's Table for upper-deck passengers only. As the name implies, the American Queen Steamboat Company uses old-school-style riverboats for their journey. 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). 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. On all these journeys from the Ganges to the Rhne dining is a big part of the adventure. With an innovative product and rapidly-growing fleet of custom-designed ships, the line enjoys a reputation as the leader in river cruising. Rockies Icons and Alaska Cruise - APT (15 Days From Calgary to Vancouver) Choose Scenic for an all-inclusive river cruise that has more options for active and individually minded travelers. Prices shown reflect discount. 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. Cons: The ships aren't "Imagineered." Tauck vs. Viking River Cruises - Cruise Critic Many of the river cruise passengers will have taken land tours with the company. Learn more. Wine plays a role on both ships, with regional varietals served at every meal. The large array of excursions has something for everyone from a cooking class to strenuous hikes, and visiting an ancient castle. Because how you see the world matters. Both Viking and Tauck have well-thought-out cabins with an understated decor. Both lines offer the type of amenities you'd expect on upscale ships. Onboard enrichment on both lines is based around the destinations visited. Scenic also offers cruises inRussia,Vietnamand Cambodia and Myanmar (Burma). On both ships, there's a "secret cellar," with better vintages available if you ask. When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. AmaWaterways operates the finest fleet and provides all-inclusive river cruise vacations on the great waterways of Europe, Russia, Vietnam and Cambodia. We found it to be quite inclusive and spent very little extra, except for tips and drinks at the bar. Also check out Avalon rivercruises. Cons: TVs are small and the cabin design is basic. Viking is the largest river cruise operator with over 50 Longships in their fleet. I'm not sure you will find Tauck discounted in many places. 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.