Not as well known locally as APT or Scenic, Avalon Waterways have nevertheless been cruising the rivers of Europe and Asia since 2004. I have a few specific questions which I can't seem to find answers for on the websites. Adventures by Disney, the guided, family vacation arm of the Walt Disney Company, offers unique journeys sprinkled with signature Disney magic. We can chat later about other destinations. Get the real picture with both traveler and expert reviews to ensure the trip you book is the right one for you. Viking is the largest river cruise operator with over 50 Longships in their fleet. Dining is Michelin-inspired and farm-to-table fare. Scenic ships have neither facilities for children nor specific family sailings, but kids 12 and older are welcome onboard. Whats the Best Choice For A Rhine River Cruise? If they cannot help you, then come back to continue the process. Avalon's vacations are categorized as deluxe on the industry rating scale (budget, first class or deluxe). Avalon Waterways has redefined cruising by going against the current and away from the ordinary. Families will appreciate adjoining cabins, which are a rarity for a river cruise line. 3 Viking Cruises also fared well this year, with readers . Do they have bicycles? 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. The open dining time is a nice addition since many cruise lines have a set dining schedule. 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. 1. 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. 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). Typical starting price: $2,309 for 3 nights (per person based on double occupancy $796 per night, all-inclusive), Where they sail:Mekong, Amazon, Indonesia, Amenities (may vary by ship): Pool, Jacuzzi, private or outdoor cinema, sun deck, gym, massage, library/game room, bikes for onshore use, snorkeling equipment and wet suits, scuba diving, laundry, internet (intermittent, depends on location), Inclusions: All meals, beverages (premium selected wines, and beer, non-alcoholic drinks), excursions with local guides, group transfers between the vessel on recommended flights. AmaWaterways: What Are Its Smallest, Largest and Most Common Stateroom Sizes? 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. We believe that travel should be easy. Why Take A Tauck River Cruise. The line is mostly known in the United States. 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. Adventures by Disney is the best option for families since they curate their onboard and onshore activities with kids and teens in mind. Viking ships sail all of Europe's major rivers, including the Rhine, Danube, Rhone, Main, Moselle, Seine, Dordogne, Garonne, Gironde and Dutch waterways. The line's larger ships carry 169 passengers, while smaller vessels in France have 155 passengers. Guest lectures and performers also come aboard to highlight the destination, from Viennese opera to Portuguese fado, and local craft and culinary demonstrations are sprinkled throughout voyages as well, such as lace-making and Austrian apple strudel. COVID-19 vaccinations are required for all guests and crew. The design is sleek and minimal and there are usually five tiers of cabins. View travel requirements for countries around the world. They are comfortable but not luxurious or particularly interesting. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. Excursion from Paris to Louis XIV's opulent . 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. (The Longships are the same size, 443 feet, but carry 190). COVID-19 procedures are available here. 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. And yes, Sunny is her real name. Learn to make goulash and feast on it in the Hungarian countryside while listening to a live performance by Hungarian folk musicians. Click the links in the right column to access current price comparisons among all major river cruise companies and for tips on how to save. Experience the "Wild West" of France in la Camargue with farm-fresh meals, local music, and a horse show. Choose Tauck ifonboard spa, beauty and fitness options are essential to your vacation. The perfect combination of icons and lesser-known wonders. 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. On the Mekong, go on a guided tour of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Both Tauck and Scenic are at the high end of river cruises, in terms of price and inclusions. In late March, Ange and Angela made a trip to Amsterdam to attend the Virtuoso Forum meeting. 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. Every evening, the forward section of the lounge on Scenic ships becomes the Italian restaurant Portabellos (L'Amour on its French ships), and every passenger can dine here at least once during their cruise, at no additional cost. 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. They are smaller than traditional cruise ships and boast more tailored offerings, such as carefully curated cuisine that is reflective of the areas being visited. Yes. The cabins are large with King-sized beds, which is a rarity in river cruising. On Tauck, complimentary hot and cold canapes are passed during happy hour. Scenic also has theTailormade App, which works as an audio guide and offers independent city tours, and an offline navigation system. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. Tauck differs in that the main restaurant is open seating, meaning you can go down and have dinner whenever you like. Thanks. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Choose Tauck ifyou want the feeling of five-star service while still having the freedom to explore. Another difference is that Tauck ships are actually owned and run by Scylla, a Swiss-owned company. Both Tauck and Scenic boast spacious, contemporary cabins that are among the most comfortable in river cruising. It's open for lunch and dinner, and it's free for everyone. Cons: There are different levels of service depending on the cabin category you book. It should be fun. In the Netherlands, explore the windmill village of Zaanse Schans with its houses from the 18th and 19th centuries. She also happens to be a shopaholic whose personal mission is to find the coolest and best new things out there. Viking is also an adults-only line, while Tauck was the pioneer of family river cruises through its Tauck Bridges program. Cons: The ships aren't "Imagineered." Scenic has five cabin categories on its 85-cabin Space-Ships. Viking, Avalon, AmaWaterways, Crystal, Uniworld, U by Uniworld, and Tauck each supplied a ship for the special occasion. The big differences are between the type of access to the outdoors and butler service. Plus, get air rates starting at $599 per person from select gateways. The cruise lines are priced to start at $241 per night, depending on the time of year and the cruise line. If you have a travel agent, please consider contacting him or her first. Bike along the Danube River between Drnstein and Melk in Austria's Wachau Valley. Choose Tauck ifyou like a more intimate ship or want a multigenerational cruise. These cruises offer25% off the fare for travelers 4 to 17 years old when traveling with an adult (suites excluded). On select sailings in France, visit the secret apartments in Versailles Palace. The least expensive cabins are interior and have no windows. Activities include educational lectures from visiting professors, and well as local entertainment, and even Broadway-level performances. Beyond advertising budgets, the lines offer vastly different experiences. On the Danube sailing, see the Wachau Valley from a canoe and visit a hidden beach. Tauck is a much more deluxe experience, with alcohol and spirits included at all times, plus an in-room mini-bar stocked with bottled waters and sodas; all excursions; Wi-Fi; bikes onboard; gratuities; money to buy lunch in port; and special events such as dinner at a one- star Michelin restaurant. COVID-19 procedures are availablehere. 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. Most cabins have floor-to-ceiling windows to save space in the cabin, and the most affordable is Category 1, which is about 150 square feet and has small windows and a little bathroom with a shower. Uniworld has bicycles, and there is an included excursion every day, although there are also optional excursions. 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. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. 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. Expect to sail with Aussies, Brits and other English-speaking nationalities. 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. For those with an interest in history, try The Life and Legacy of Abraham Lincoln tour. All-Inclusive River Cruises: How Much Do You Save. Choose Tauck ifyou want an all-inclusive river cruise with more extras and a higher-end feel -- and don't mind paying for it. The latter are true suites, with two rooms. One of the best vacations I've ever taken was a river cruise. While in Germany, visit the oldest brewery in Nuremberg for a bratwurst and beer. But no matter how different the motivation, Tauck river cruising has a way of bringing everyone of every age and generation together to share . COVID-19 testing and/or vaccination is required before travel. I'm not sure you will find Tauck discounted in many places. These are the best river cruise lines, sorted by price from low to high. Large private bathrooms include full showers and. Whats the Best Choice for a River Cruise in Bordeaux? Having fewer people on the same size ship does make a difference in terms of seating, service and overall vibe. 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 . deluxe tour operator in North America and that title is well justified. Automobile lovers have the chance to visit BMW World to see luxury German-made cars. Passengers often get a choice of excursions, both of them included. Scenic and Tauck have many similarities, even if fans of one haven't heard of the other. 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. 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. Cons: This is the most expensive on our list, so it is an investment. For example, European river cruises run fromMarch through December. Those are also offered all day, not just at mealtimes, which is a nice addition. 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. River Cruise Advisor | Avid Cruiser | About | Terms & Full Disclosure | Privacy | Contact | Subscribe. Con: There is a striking difference in style between standard cabins and suites, Knowing these more curated cabins exist might lessen your experience in entry-level rooms. Both lines provide generous pours of wine during lunch and dinner, mostly regional varietals. These state-of-the-art, authentic paddle wheelers can accommodate from 150 to 400 guests, depending on the ship. 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. Which Royal Caribbean Suite Should I Book? Both offer more inclusions than their competitors and both carry fewer passengers than most river lines, ensuring that service remains at a high standard. River cruising is an efficient way to travel visit a variety of destinations and only unpack once. Cons: Viking is adults only; passengers must be over the age of 18. We have only cruised with Avalon and the modern ships and large cabins were an important factor in our decision. Delivering unparalleled experiences and boundless exploration, Avalon puts you in the captain's seat to navigate your journey, fuel your passions and steer clear of the unexpected as you cruise down the world's most memorable and mesmerizing waterways. On its ships in France, Scenic also offers onboard cooking demonstrations. 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. Choose Tauck for an all-inclusive river cruise with structured tours and concierge-style service. 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). When cruising the Nile, ride a camel as you visit the pyramids in Cairo, Egypt. The Rhine river, Moselle river , Danube river , Rhone river and the Seine River complete the Europe Map served by Avalon River Cruises.