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Find the latest travel requirements for your trip. Choose Viking ifyou are more a do-it-yourself person on shore and with tips, and don't mind paying for your Happy Hour and after-hours drinks. 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"). I have a few specific questions which I can't seem to find answers for on the websites. Cons: TVs are small and the cabin design is basic. 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. On the Danube sailing, see the Wachau Valley from a canoe and visit a hidden beach. The big differences are between the type of access to the outdoors and butler service. Riviera **: Riviera's beverage package, which includes wine and beer with lunch and dinner, ranges from $99 per person to $299 per person depending on the duration of the cruise. For its upper deck passengers, Scenic offers Table La Rive, a 10-person chef's table in the main dining room. You'll Adore these Ships. Both Tauck and Scenic have fitness centers, complimentary bikes (the ones on Scenic are e-bikes and slightly better) and for-fee spas. Book a signature suite and indulge in larger marble bathrooms, a fully-stocked bar, and fresh cookies and fruit delivered daily. 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. 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. 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. Catching up with Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection - What's it Like On Board Evrima? In other words, if you are used to the added magic that occurs on a Disney Cruise Line, you won't find that here. COVID-19 procedures are availablehere. Viking includes at least one shore excursion in every port you visit. Viking or Avalon? Crystal, Tauck, or Uniworld? - Wallace Pierson Travel Solo travelers are still welcome but may have to pay asupplement fee for booking as a single-occupancy rather than a double. 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. 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. 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. 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. Typical starting price: $4,599 for 7 days (per person based on double occupancy $657 per night, all-inclusive), Specialty cruises: Danube Christmas markets, Oktoberfest, Rhine food and wine, Seine National Geographic photography, Amenities (may vary by ship): High-speed Wi-Fi, gym, sun-deck, walking track, bikes for shore use, pool or whirlpool, fitness classes, salon, massage, Inclusions: All meals, unlimited beverages (local wine, beer, and soft drinks with meals), daily excursions, all gratuities onboard and at restaurants, daily cocktail hour, select meals off the ship during excursions, onboard entertainment. River Cruises Guides | Tauck A river cruise is kind of like a floating hotel, except you'll visit a variety of places but only have to unpack once. We operate independently from our advertising team. The suites, which are about 300 square feet, have floor-to-ceiling windows, King-sized beds, and a lounge area with a daybed. Both offer more inclusions than their competitors and both carry fewer passengers than most river lines, ensuring that service remains at a high standard. Uniworld: What Are Its Smallest, Largest and Most Common Stateroom Sizes? Viking River Cruises: What Are Its Smallest, Largest and Most Common Stateroom Sizes? Pros:Having a butler on call is a big perk. 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. Drinks are only complimentary during lunch and dinner and gratuities are not included in the price. These cruises offer25% off the fare for travelers 4 to 17 years old when traveling with an adult (suites excluded). One step aboard our modern, luxurious SuiteShips with the grandest views in cruising and youll see how the tides they are a-changin. Viking, the world's largest river cruise company, moved up two spots into the lead position. 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. Otherwise, most welcome children but don't offer extra programming for them, and Viking doesn't allow children at all. It lacks the grandeur of the suites, and is small at about 172 square feet, and has small windows peaking above the waterline. Europe River Cruise Company Comparisons 2022-23 River Cruises. In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from CRUISING ELEVATED.Innovative, transformative, original. Read on for our look at Scenic vs. Tauck. 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. Both AmaWaterways and Avalon Waterways sail these rivers and have a wide variety of stops which can vary by cruise theme. Tauck will sell through TA's, but maybe not online ones. 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. When cruising the Nile, ride a camel as you visit the pyramids in Cairo, Egypt. 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. In Europe, the Danube River and the Rhine River are two of the most popular cruises for first-time river cruisers. Cons: Cocktails are pricey and not included; a martini or a Manhattan will set you back about $12 dollars. For us, 120-140 sq ft would just be too small. 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. By The ship's "Design Your Time" concierge service will help personalize your onboard and onshore experiences. 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. Catching up with Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection - What's it Like On Board Evrima? Cons: Entry-level cabins are small, at 150 square feet, and have just two small windows. 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. Go to the Cathdrale Notre-Dame of Strasbourg for a private organ concert. Scenic operates 11 "Space-Ships" sailing on the main rivers ofEurope-- Rhine, Main, Danube, Rhone and Seine, as well as Portugal's Douro. But since there is so much to do, odds are that the cabin will be only used for sleeping and downtime. After experiencing the river cruise lifestyle, I was sold. In Italy, go on an after-hours visit to St. Mark's Basilica in Venice and tour the 9th-century church without crowds. 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). During the Nile adventure, take a traditional Egyptian boat ride and have afternoon tea at the Old Cataract Hotel Aswan in Aswan. 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. The open dining time is a nice addition since many cruise lines have a set dining schedule. Tauck - Nile River Cruise The dishes are paired with a selection of wines from the area that is being explored. In French balcony cabins, the beds generally face the window for better views. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. 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. Visit Schloss Hof in Bratislava for chocolate tasting and learn to waltz in the grand ballroom. The summer months will be far warmer, while the December cruises are cold but come with the added bonus of experiencing Christmas festivities. 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. All Inclusive French River Cruises 2023/2024 | Tauck 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. Both Viking and Tauck have well-thought-out cabins with an understated decor. Scenic has five cabin categories on its 85-cabin Space-Ships. Whats the Best Choice for a Sane River Cruise? Given the price point, the passengers seem more well-heeled on Tauck. 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. While in Germany, visit the oldest brewery in Nuremberg for a bratwurst and beer. Aqua Expeditions is all about luxury with a modern take. 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. Adventures by Disney is the best option for families since they curate their onboard and onshore activities with kids and teens in mind. In general, you'll find a less international crowd on Tauck than Viking, simply because the latter is better known. LauraS About Viking - do they have open seating for dinner? Tauck River Cruises: Is Tauck the Best River Cruise Line For You? These state-of-the-art, authentic paddle wheelers can accommodate from 150 to 400 guests, depending on the ship. Notable excursions included in the price: Typical starting price:$1,999 for 7 nights (per person based on double occupancy $285 per night, all-inclusive), Where they sail:Danube, Rhine, France, Douro (Portugal), Elbe (Germany), Russia, Ukraine, Mekong, Egypt, Mississippi, Specialty cruises: Mississippi holiday season, Christmas along the Elbe, Onboard amenities (varies by ship): Library, walking track, sports deck, Wi-Fi, laundry, flat-screen TVs with on-demand movies, outdoor dining, putting green, Inclusions: All meals, drinks (house wines, beers, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner), one free shore excursion per port, onboard entertainment. Which Royal Caribbean Suite Should I Book? Tauck vs Avalon Waterways Compared | Travelstride There's a salon that provides hair and nail services, as well as a small spa for massage treatments. (I admit that I travelled solo, so I wasn't sharing with anyone else.). 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. There is a very low crew to guest ratio. Avalon features wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows with beds facing the views for ultimate enjoyment from their suites and staterooms. Last minute changes OK. As for the bed itself, guests can choose their own mattress and pillow firmness from Avalon's Comfort Collection. Viking vs. Tauck vs. Uniworld vs. Avalon?? - Cruise Critic Community Dinner is served to the table and, on both lines, staff are very attentive. Tauck carries fewer passengers onboard so its tour groups are, by definition, smaller. If you have a travel agent, please consider contacting him or her first. There is a price difference between the first deck and the second deck, with the former being more affordable. CC Help Jenn Avalon Waterways has redefined cruising by going against the current and away from the ordinary. Overall, the crowd is older and more sedate than you'd find on Scenic; the dance floor is rarely used on Tauck ships, while on Scenic, it's not unusual for dancing to occur if the right band is playing. All told, the fleet stands at 70 (excluding ships not currently operating in Russia). Most cabins also have a French balcony, which allows the rooms themselves to be larger than full balcony cabins, while still letting in fresh air. Pros: Tauck boasts exclusive cultural experiences that are truly unique. Scenic attracts more passengers in their 40s and 50s than you'll find on many vessels and, being Australian-owned, is not dominated by travelers from the United States.