Choose Tauck ifonboard spa, beauty and fitness options are essential to your vacation. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. All guests must have received their COVID-19 vaccine prior to sailing. Site Map|Global Site Map|Terms of Use|Privacy Policy, You can add one more tour operator from the list, Get guided help to find the right trip for you, Travel tips, stories, top 10 lists and more, Get yours before you leave, easier, cheaper. 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. 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. Take a thrilling alpine toboggan run in Germany's Black Forest. Although Scenic does not have walkout verandas, all cabins except those on the lower deck have "sun lounge balconies," an innovation that is an integral part of the room. As for the bed itself, guests can choose their own mattress and pillow firmness from Avalon's Comfort Collection. 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. When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. COVID-19 procedures are available here. The 10 Best River Cruise Lines - Travel + Leisure 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. The shore excursions on the designated family cruises are kid-centric and could include visiting a castle and dressing up as a medieval knight one day, watching Hungarian cowboys perform, going on a treetop climb or visiting a salt mine. 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. 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. Those are also offered all day, not just at mealtimes, which is a nice addition. Scenic also has theTailormade App, which works as an audio guide and offers independent city tours, and an offline navigation system. There is also Uniworld's Legendary Rhine & Moselle, 13 days. Find the latest travel requirements for your trip. Inspired by you, they've taken everything special about river cruising and made it even better. Choose Tauck ifyou want the feeling of five-star service while still having the freedom to explore. 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. Indulge in regional cuisine on Viking ships flavored with herbs grown in an on-board garden, though familiar classics are always available. Tauck - Nile River Cruise Passengers often get a choice of excursions, both of them included. Their line U by Uniworld is curated for the "active" guest. On Viking, everyone eats at the same time, which can create a "herding" effect that some people dislike. 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.). The open dining time is a nice addition since many cruise lines have a set dining schedule. I've come up with 4 that I think might suit us, and I'd appreciate comments from anyone who has experienced any of them. Avalon Waterways has redefined cruising by going against the current and away from the ordinary. 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. 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. For those with an interest in history, try The Life and Legacy of Abraham Lincoln tour. Prices shown reflect discount. Scenic vs. Tauck Cruise Comparison | Cruise Critic River cruises are available all over the world in Europe, Egypt, Peru, and South East Asia. As the name implies, the American Queen Steamboat Company uses old-school-style riverboats for their journey. Viking includes at least one shore excursion in every port you visit. Choose Tauck ifyou want an all-inclusive river cruise with more extras and a higher-end feel -- and don't mind paying for it. Scenic has five cabin categories on its 85-cabin Space-Ships. The perfect combination of icons and lesser-known wonders. Cons: Cocktails are pricey and not included; a martini or a Manhattan will set you back about $12 dollars. Pros: The cabins are large and all have floor-to-ceiling windows. 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. Not as well known locally as APT or Scenic, Avalon Waterways have nevertheless been cruising the rivers of Europe and Asia since 2004. Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on APT's 15 Day Rockies Icons and Alaska Cruise. 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. Limited-Time Offers on Avalon Cruises! Which Royal Caribbean Suite Should I Book? Rockies Icons and Alaska Cruise - APT (15 Days From Calgary to Vancouver) There is no special programming for kids, and children under eight are not allowed to sail. Uniworld has bicycles, and there is an included excursion every day, although there are also optional excursions. It's open for lunch and dinner, and it's free for everyone. They often feature DJs, silent discos, mixology classes, yoga, and rooftop camping (tents are supplied). The dishes are paired with a selection of wines from the area that is being explored. Finish with an Inside Passage cruise. 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. One nice perk: heated floors in the bathroom. It sounds like it will be what we're looking for. The staff was awesome, and the entire experience was great. Odds are you will not get motion sickness on a river cruise since large waves or currents do not hit the ships. Tauck vs. Viking River Cruises - Cruise Critic Window cabins are 150 square feet to Viking's 135, and most of Tauck's cabins have a French balcony and are 225 square feet (while the standard on Viking is 205 square feet). Choose from a wide variety of accommodations from well-appointed suites to small no-frills single staterooms that are a mere 80 square feet. Avalon River Cruises | Avalon Waterways River Cruises in Europe 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. Viking has a top suite category that is pricier than anything you'd find on Tauck, however. 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. You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here. Dinner is served to the table (although on Scenic, you'll have a buffet your first night onboard) and, on both lines, staff are attentive. Cons: Entry-level cabins are small, at 150 square feet, and have just two small windows. On Tauck's four Inspiration ships, you'll find 67 cabins, and 49 on its Jewel-class ships. On Viking, Scandinavian design rules the day, with light wood tones and a modern, clean look throughout. Typical starting price: Starting at $2,299 per person for 7 nights (per person based on double occupancy $328 per night, all-inclusive). Both AmaWaterways and Avalon Waterways sail these rivers and have a wide variety of stops which can vary by cruise theme. Guests dine on four-course dinners, complemented by regional wines. About Viking - do they have open seating for dinner? In contrast, Tauck has nine ships, with its four newer Inspiration-class vessels carrying 130 passengers -- the lowest number of passengers for a ship its size. This was our first riverboat cruise and we loved it! River Cruising Along The Rivers of France Whether the Seine, the Sane or the Rhne, on a river cruise with Tauck you'll feel it the moment you step ashore in village and towns - that palpable realization of the true meaning of joie de vivre, enjoyment of life. I need to be able to contact Avalon, Scenic, Uniworld, Tauck directly to arrange terms of the lease of a vesssel, crew, with at least two meals per day provided. 3 Viking Cruises also fared well this year, with readers . There's a salon that provides hair and nail services, as well as a small spa for massage treatments. In the Netherlands, explore the windmill village of Zaanse Schans with its houses from the 18th and 19th centuries. Expires February 28. Both lines provide generous pours of wine during lunch and dinner, mostly regional varietals. 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. If you have a travel agent, please consider contacting him or her first. Viking, Avalon, AmaWaterways, Crystal, Uniworld, U by Uniworld, and Tauck each supplied a ship for the special occasion. Thanks for all the input. There are a fair amount of UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the itineraries, which are almost always awe-inspiring. In French balcony cabins, the beds generally face the window for better views. Which Royal Caribbean Suite Should I Book? (The Longships are the same size, 443 feet, but carry 190). Avalon Waterways: What Are Its Smallest, Largest and Most Common Stateroom Sizes? Pros:Having a butler on call is a big perk. Learn to paint like Van Gogh at the Ateliers Art Institute in Amsterdam. Tauck differs in that the main restaurant is open seating, meaning you can go down and have dinner whenever you like. Visit Salzburg, Austria, the town featured in "The Sound of Music.". Having fewer people on the same size ship does make a difference in terms of seating, service and overall vibe. Activities include educational lectures from visiting professors, and well as local entertainment, and even Broadway-level performances. These state-of-the-art, authentic paddle wheelers can accommodate from 150 to 400 guests, depending on the ship. There will be talks by the Tauck directors or lecturers hired by Viking and activities such as awine tasting. 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. Tauck also carries bicycles onboard so if you want to spend time exploring paths along the rivers instead of taking a tour, you can. The line also hands out cash country if the tour takes place over lunchtime and passengers need to buy something to eat. This was our third Tauck cruise with Ponnant but our first post covid and the Tour: Treasures of the Mediterranean - Northbound 2019. Most river cruises are all-inclusive with all meals, beverages, and almost all excursions included in the rate. 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. Pro: You'll save money as you won't have to pay to fly overseas. 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. 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. The latter are true suites, with two rooms. Any input from people on this forum would be appreciated. Started August 27, 2021, By In Europe, the Danube River and the Rhine River are two of the most popular cruises for first-time river cruisers. Pros:The boats have a small number of guests so they feel very intimate. 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. No other fleet of river cruise ships gives you a view of the world like Avalon. Whats the Best Choice for a Elbe River Cruise? Standard staterooms, which are the least expensive, hover at the water level, and come in at about 150 square feet. When it's open, there's still a buffer, so your hair and food don't blow around. Many of the staterooms have balconies that offer panoramic views and fresh air. 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. While in Russia, visit the Palace of Prince Vladimir for an exclusive concert and ballet performance inside the last Imperial palace to be built in St Petersburg. AmaWaterways, with over 25 ships, is known for having a smaller amount of passengers on board. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. Please choose only one for now. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Because how you see the world matters. 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. It was a fascinating trip down the Danube River in Europe with Disney Cruises, focused on Christmas markets. Tauck Tours and thus Tauck River Cruises may be the most well respected. One place where Viking shines, however, is with its Explorer Suites. Aqua Expeditions is all about luxury with a modern take. The water, especially on European cruises, is very calm. They include all excursions, all gratuities to staff, cruise/tour directors (noting that most companies have one onboard but they have three) and even local guides. COVID-19 procedures are availablehere. Special diets can be catered for with advance notice and menus are labeled for people with dietary restrictions. Because most people travel in pairs or a family on a cruise, rates are based on double occupancy. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. COVID-19 testing and/or vaccination is required before travel. You can also buy wine along the trip and have it served with your meal at no additional cost. These are all decorated in a modern, contemporary style and feel airy and spacious due to the liberal use of mirrors and reflective panels. Avalon Waterways River Cruises - 2023 & 2024 River Cruises We cruised Budapest to Amsterdam 2 years ago with Avalon and it was the best vacation,most relaxing we ever. We have done 2 cruises - Paris/Normandy with Uniworld - and Blue Danube Discovery with AMA. The Adventures by Disney river cruises are designed for families, and their itineraries, both onboard and onshore, have something for every age group. Love Scandinavian Design? We welcome your feedback. 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. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Both Tauck and Scenic have fitness centers, complimentary bikes (the ones on Scenic are e-bikes and slightly better) and for-fee spas. There is one single cabin that is 129 square feet, and one wheelchair-accessible cabin. Both Tauck and Scenic are at the high end of river cruises, in terms of price and inclusions. The cabins and public areas are also beautifully appointed with art, antiques, hand-painted murals, and luxury linens. Whats the Best Choice for a Sane River Cruise? It should be worth your time and the price you paid. 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. On both lines, the main restaurant setup is very similar, with buffets at breakfast and lunch plus live cooking stations and made-to-order menu items. All are butler-serviced river ships with a high, almost one-to-one staff-to-guest ratio. River Cruise Reviews, Viking River Cruises, Uniworld River Cruises But no matter how different the motivation, Tauck river cruising has a way of bringing everyone of every age and generation together to share . Avalon's cabins are bigger than Tauck's but there is much that's not included with them, vs Tauck. Service was very good, rooms spacious, and I loved the French balcony and the in room internet too. 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. Avalon Waterways My cabin (#312) aboard Avalon Tapestry II on the Seine River in Normandy. 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). 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. Cons: While most river cruises include excursions, on Crystal, not all of the onshore adventures are free and may require an extra fee. A WORLD OF WATERWAYS The Rivers of Avalon smalltowner, October 30, 2010 in River Cruising. Best River Cruises: Viking, Avalon, Tauck, UniWorld - Insider Every cruise line considers dining to be a priority and serves fresh well-balanced meals served alongside regional wines, beers, and beverages. During the trip, Guests will be required to complete a self-assessment daily. We had cabin 308 (cat. Experience the "Wild West" of France in la Camargue with farm-fresh meals, local music, and a horse show. Special themes as culinary, bear, wine and Christmas themed itineraries are featured on Avalon Cruises. Tauck also revamped its five older Jewel-class ships, which are smaller than the Inspiration vessels, and reduced the capacity from 118 to 98. While the suites are about 350 square feet, the standard stateroom is about 170 square feet with fixed windows at the waterline. 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.". Is there a way of getting a discounted price with them? 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. 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. In late March, Ange and Angela made a trip to Amsterdam to attend the Virtuoso Forum meeting. 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. There are a limited number of cruise choices and they do not sail in Europe. Standard suites are sparse, small (just 160 square feet) and lack balconies. Only Tauck offers family cruising through its Tauck Bridges program. Whats the Best Choice for a SeineRiver Cruise? Started June 21, 2021, By If you want flexibility, the line is hard to beat. Tauck does have a few high-end extras onboard, including a fitness center, complimentary bikes and a plunge pool on the top deck. The Tauck Suites are large, at over 300 square feet and have a large bed as well as a fold-out sofa. Plus, get air rates starting at $599 per person from select gateways. Choose Scenic for an all-inclusive river cruise that has more options for active and individually minded travelers. A river cruise is kind of like a floating hotel, except you'll visit a variety of places but only have to unpack once. 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).
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