Tauck River Cruise or Viking River Cruise - Fodor's A View with a Room. With over 50 riverboats, there are many cruises ships, dates, and itineraries to consider. Passengers often get a choice of excursions, both of them included. However, for me probably the highlight was the tours. Come face-to-face with the gentle manta rays of Komodo National Park in Indonesia. What are the differences between Viking River Cruises & Uniworld River Cruises & AmaWaterways & Tauck & CroisiEurope & Riviera & Scenic? Which Royal Caribbean Suite Should I Book? Avalon Cruises - Avalon River Cruises 2021 2022 - Pavlus Travel But if you think this a Disney river cruise would be all about the kids, you're wrong. Tours & Operators on Travelstride Awarded and Featured by: 2023 Travelstride. 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. Avalon Waterways has used their 80-plus years of travel expertise to design the very best river cruise experience. 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. Choose Tauck ifyou're fine with a French balcony and want a larger standard cabin. Due to the size of the boats, the cabins are small, ranging from 80 square feet to about 300 square feet. 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. River Cruises: Avalon Waterways I ask because we want to help you avoid single supplements. Avalon Waterways has redefined cruising by going against the current and away from the ordinary. 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. River cruising is the most relaxing way to experience the joy of Europe's castles, villages and ruins. Spacious ships carry between 84 and 130 guests, and since the single supplement is waived on select cabins, it's a good choice for solo travelers . 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. River Cruise Ships - Avalon Waterways Small Cruise Ships By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider During the Nile adventure, take a traditional Egyptian boat ride and have afternoon tea at the Old Cataract Hotel Aswan in Aswan. Because how you see the world matters. Its ship have suites with pullout sofas to accommodate third or fourth passengers. These range from shoeshine, concierge service and restocking the mini-bar in Standard Suites, to packing and unpacking, arranging in-room cocktail drinks and even running a bath in the top suites. Raise your sights and set your sails for the rivers of Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa on an Avalon Waterways cruise. Love Scandinavian Design? The Panorama Dining Room serves daily four-course la carte dinners along with complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks, or guests can choose the more casual Panorama Bistro or Sky Grill. 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. 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. 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. Avalon's vacations are categorized as deluxe on the industry rating scale (budget, first class or deluxe). Visit the Amazon Rainforest with Aqua Expeditions' naturalist guides. Large private bathrooms include full showers and. They are owned by Globus and do a fantastic job. 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. Uniworld has bicycles, and there is an included excursion every day, although there are also optional excursions. COVID-19 procedures are available here. Avalon Waterways: What Are Its Smallest, Largest and Most Common Stateroom Sizes? 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. On its refurbished ships in France, Scenic has a salt room and a hair salon. 1. In the Netherlands, explore the windmill village of Zaanse Schans with its houses from the 18th and 19th centuries. The ships also offer complimentary alcoholic beverages. Guests dine on four-course dinners, complemented by regional wines. Choose Tauck for an all-inclusive river cruise with structured tours and concierge-style service. The water, especially on European cruises, is very calm. As for the bed itself, guests can choose their own mattress and pillow firmness from Avalon's Comfort Collection. (Most newer river cruise ships in Europe are a standard 443 feet.) 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. 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. Because most people travel in pairs or a family on a cruise, rates are based on double occupancy. Both Tauck and Scenic are at the high end of river cruises, in terms of price and inclusions. Kids love the Junior Adventurer dinners or Disney movie nights, and there is also a Just Teens program with dinners and separate tour groups at various destinations. Sign up for our newsletter to get honest reviews on top products & services delivered weekly to your inbox. 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. There is one single cabin that is 129 square feet, and one wheelchair-accessible cabin. After experiencing the river cruise lifestyle, I was sold. It should be fun. Both lines offer the type of amenities you'd expect on upscale ships. Pros: Adventures by Disney guides add a wonderful touch to each journey with storytelling, educational information, and goes above and beyond to ensure every guest has a great time. Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on APT's 15 Day Rockies Icons and Alaska Cruise. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. . Viking, the world's largest river cruise company, moved up two spots into the lead position. 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. Viking has built its name on destination immersion, and the company doesn't provide extras such as gyms, spas, bikes or pools on its ships. CC Help Jenn They also tend to have more inclusions than a traditional cruise. The line is mostly known in the United States. Pros: The cabins are large and all have floor-to-ceiling windows. About Viking - do they have open seating for dinner? Avalon Waterways River Cruises - 2023 & 2024 River Cruises Given the price point, the passengers seem more well-heeled on Tauck. Scenic has five cabin categories on its 85-cabin Space-Ships. Go to the Cathdrale Notre-Dame of Strasbourg for a private organ concert. 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. Tauck does have a few high-end extras onboard, including a fitness center, complimentary bikes and a plunge pool on the top deck. While there, the ladies had the opportunity to experience seven ships from the leading River Cruise Companies. The line also hands out cash country if the tour takes place over lunchtime and passengers need to buy something to eat. These cruises offer25% off the fare for travelers 4 to 17 years old when traveling with an adult (suites excluded). Most of the Avalon's cabins are Panorama Suites, which offer a wide view of the rivers on which you are traveling. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. You can also buy wine along the trip and have it served with your meal at no additional cost. Started August 27, 2021, By Avalon River Cruises is recognized for their all suite concept. Their twin-balcony staterooms feature both a French balcony and an outside balcony. The line's revamped older ships have 49 cabins: eight measuring 150 square feet, four measuring 183 square feet, one measuring 182 square feet, 20 measuring 225 square feet and 14 suites measuring 300 square feet. Uniworld is also a good choice with an array of added perks for kids of all ages. COVID-19 testing and/or vaccination is required before travel. The Rhine river, Moselle river , Danube river , Rhone river and the Seine River complete the Europe Map served by Avalon River Cruises. Crystal Cruises river cruise line features all-suite ships. These are the best river cruise lines for comfort, destinations, and irresistible perks and tours. 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. (The Longships are the same size, 443 feet, but carry 190). COVID-19 procedures are availablehere. Tauck just looked fabulous but, for us, the premium is not worth it as the additional inclusions are not important to us. Catching up with Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection - What's it Like On Board Evrima? Avalon's cabins are bigger than Tauck's but there is much that's not included with them, vs Tauck. Scenic operates 11 "Space-Ships" sailing on the main rivers ofEurope-- Rhine, Main, Danube, Rhone and Seine, as well as Portugal's Douro. 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. Viking has the largest fleet, by far, in Europe, with 55 nearly identical Scandinavian-inspired Longships. QUICK STATS AVALON WATERWAYS 2004 Whats the Best Choice for a SeineRiver Cruise? Comparing Stateroom Sizes On River Cruisers, Staterooms: River Cruisers vs. Cruise Ships, Rhne & Sane River Stateroom Size Comparisons, Rhine, Main & Danube River Stateroom Size Comparisons. Excursion from Paris to Louis XIV's opulent . Meals come with complimentary beverages, including house wine, beer, and premium spirits. The least expensive cabins are interior and have no windows. The cuisine served onboard AmaWaterways ships is inspired by regional dishes and made with locally sourced ingredients. Scenic also offers cruises inRussia,Vietnamand Cambodia and Myanmar (Burma). Viking has more weeklong cruises than Tauck and sails in more places and on more dates. While the suites are about 350 square feet, the standard stateroom is about 170 square feet with fixed windows at the waterline. The average is about 156 guests, which is far less than most cruise lines. Viking or Avalon? Crystal, Tauck, or Uniworld? - Wallace Pierson Travel 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. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. While in Germany, visit the oldest brewery in Nuremberg for a bratwurst and beer. A river cruise is an all-inclusive journey where you unpack once but visit many destinations. Choose Tauck ifyou want an all-inclusive river cruise with more extras and a higher-end feel -- and don't mind paying for it. A WORLD OF WATERWAYS The Rivers of Avalon "Free choice" dining allows you . Tauck has nine ships, with its four newer vessels carrying 130 passengers -- the lowest number of passengers for a ship of its size. Viking is also an adults-only line, while Tauck was the pioneer of family river cruises through its Tauck Bridges program. 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. Thanks for all the input. 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. The entry-level cabin is the Avalon Deluxe Stateroom. 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. Tauck also makes sure there's at least one special event in the evening per cruise, where passengers are taken to a castle, restaurant or historic venue for a private dinner or concert performance. Both AmaWaterways and Avalon Waterways sail these rivers and have a wide variety of stops which can vary by cruise theme. Both lines provide generous pours of wine during lunch and dinner, mostly regional varietals. The cabins and public areas are also beautifully appointed with art, antiques, hand-painted murals, and luxury linens. 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. Those are also offered all day, not just at mealtimes, which is a nice addition. 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. Cabins with French balconies are 135 square feet and standard cabins with a true balcony are 205 square feet (balcony inclusive). Visit Salzburg, Austria, the town featured in "The Sound of Music.". In effect, it feels kind of like a chartered yacht. But since there is so much to do, odds are that the cabin will be only used for sleeping and downtime. Tauck also revamped its five older Jewel-class ships, which are smaller than the Inspiration vessels, and reduced the capacity from 118 to 98. When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Automobile lovers have the chance to visit BMW World to see luxury German-made cars. One nice perk: heated floors in the bathroom. In other words, if you are used to the added magic that occurs on a Disney Cruise Line, you won't find that here. Both Tauck and Scenic are at the high end of river cruises, in terms of price and inclusions. On Tauck, complimentary hot and cold canapes are passed during happy hour. This was our third Tauck cruise with Ponnant but our first post covid and the Tour: Treasures of the Mediterranean - Northbound 2019. The suites, which are about 300 square feet, have floor-to-ceiling windows, King-sized beds, and a lounge area with a daybed. 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. Solo travelers are still welcome but may have to pay asupplement fee for booking as a single-occupancy rather than a double. Special diets can be catered for with advance notice, and menus are labeled for people with dietary restrictions. Compare Avalon River Cruises vs Uniworld - Global Journeys There are a fair amount of UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the itineraries, which are almost always awe-inspiring. Read on for our look at Scenic vs. Tauck. The line sails only on the major European rivers: Rhine, Main, Danube, Rhone, Seine and Moselle. With an innovative product and rapidly-growing fleet of custom-designed ships, the line enjoys a reputation as the leader in river cruising. It's a true gourmet experience, with well-thought-out and unusual wine pairings. The boats are all relatively new, and can accommodate up to 190 passengers. Pros:The boats have a small number of guests so they feel very intimate. Sign into see which companies give additional savings to Travelstride Members (its free). Where they sail:Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Italy, France, Portugal and Spain, Egypt, Peru, Mekong, India, Specialty cruises: Gen Z on the U (for families with teens), lectures, Christmas markets, Jewish heritage, Amenities (may vary per ship): Pool, spa, bicycles for land exploration, pillow menu, massage, library, flat-screen TVs, fitness center, wellness classes, airport transfers, laundry, Asprey bath products, Inclusions: All meals, unlimited beverages (including fine wine, beer, spirits, specialty coffee and tea, soft drinks, and mineral water), most excursions, gratuities, Wi-Fi, onboard entertainment. Cons: Entry-level cabins are small, at 150 square feet, and have just two small windows. Tauck has its headquarters in the United States, and most of its passengers are American, with a smattering of Brits and other nationalities. 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. All guests must have received their COVID-19 vaccine prior to sailing. You'll Adore these Ships. The cruise lines are priced to start at $241 per night, depending on the time of year and the cruise line.