What are the differences between Viking River Cruises & Uniworld River Cruises & AmaWaterways & Tauck & CroisiEurope & Riviera & Scenic? 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. Standard staterooms, which are the least expensive, hover at the water level, and come in at about 150 square feet. Tauck, the well-known tour and river-ship operator, retained its No. 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. Passengers often get a choice of excursions, both of them included. Choose Viking ifyou want a true balcony and don't mind sacrificing space to do it. Elevate your cruise experience with fewer passengers, more choices, and endless possibilities. 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. Whats the Best Choice for a SeineRiver Cruise? First, about Tauck. Choose Tauck for an all-inclusive river cruise with structured tours and concierge-style service. They are also more likely to offer a hike or a strenuous walk than Tauck. Limited-Time Offers on Avalon Cruises! 1) Avalon's Rhine & Moselle on Affinity (Amsterdam to Basel, 14 days), 2) Tauck's Rhine & Moselle (Amsterdam to Basel, 13 days), 3) AMA's Europe's Rivers & Castles (Trier to Nuremberg, 7 days - cruise only, or with Paris at beginning and Prague at the end to make 12 days, 4) Vikings' Vineyards & Vistas (Trier to Wurzburg, 7 days, or with Paris and Prague, like AMA above, called Cities of Light)- I did read Ruth's recent posting about that one. On the Danube sailing, see the Wachau Valley from a canoe and visit a hidden beach. Activities include educational lectures from visiting professors, and well as local entertainment, and even Broadway-level performances. About Viking - do they have open seating for dinner? These excursions are all included in the price of the cruise and are considered part of the river experience, although they aren't included for the sole domestic option on our list, the American Queen Steamboat Company. Also check out Avalon rivercruises. Uniworld stands out immediately for its impressively designed interiors; each ship is themed to the areas that ships sail through. Take a thrilling alpine toboggan run in Germany's Black Forest. 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. Many of the staterooms have balconies that offer panoramic views and fresh air. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. Because how you see the world matters. Tauck River Cruises: Is Tauck the Best River Cruise Line For You? You can also buy wine along the trip and have it served with your meal at no additional cost. On the Rhne sailing, go spelunking in Viviers to underground caves as part of a wine tasting adventure. Europe River Cruise Company Comparisons 2022-23 River Cruises. 1. Whats the Best Choice For A RhneRiver Cruise? Choose Viking ifyou like dining alfresco. 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. 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. While both lines have bikes onboard, Scenic utilizes them more, offering guided bike rides in most ports. 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). Visit Salzburg, Austria, the town featured in "The Sound of Music.". 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. Given the price point, the passengers seem more well-heeled on Tauck. Excursion from Paris to Louis XIV's opulent . Tauck also carries bicycles onboard so if you want to spend time exploring paths along the rivers instead of taking a tour, you can. Solstice vs. Millennium Class on Celebrity Cruises, Meraviglia Class vs. Seaside Class on MSC Cruises, Virtual Cabin Crawl: Symphony of the Seas Cruise Ship, 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. 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. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. Special diets can be catered for with advance notice, and menus are labeled for people with dietary restrictions. Tauck has nine ships, with its four newer vessels carrying 130 passengers -- the lowest number of passengers for a ship of its size. 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. As part of its company's commitment to making your time in port seamless without having to deal with worrisome currency issues, the line gives each passenger 20 euros to buy a meal when an excursion spans the lunch hour. 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). Viking, Avalon, AmaWaterways, Crystal, Uniworld, U by Uniworld, and Tauck each supplied a ship for the special occasion. Viking is the largest river cruise operator with over 50 Longships in their fleet. Uniworld is also a good choice with an array of added perks for kids of all ages. Some of the shore excursion options are truly special, such as truffle hunting in Bordeaux, visiting Highclere Castle where "Downton Abbey" was shot or cognac blending in Camus. They are comfortable but not luxurious or particularly interesting. In Portugal, visit the Burmester Cellars for a fine dining experience along with a traditional Fado musical accompaniment. 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. The reason why Scenic fans might not know Tauck, and vice versa, stems from the companies' headquarters. Large private bathrooms include full showers and. Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. 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. COVID-19 procedures are available here. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. Unique to riverboats is the two-level theater, the Grand Saloon, found on the American Queen. River cruises are available all over the world in Europe, Egypt, Peru, and South East Asia. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. The only Tauck employees onboard are the four cruise directors. Both lines provide generous pours of wine during lunch and dinner, mostly regional varietals. 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. All of the cruise lines selected offer intriguing and interesting excursions that are included in the price (except for the American Queen Steamboat Company), from a private tour of the Louvre to kayaking down the Mekong. Their National Geographic sailings are particularly of note and include a variety of educational, expert-led travel excursions and talks. Sunny Chanel is a freelance writer based in San Francisco who has written thousands of pieces on topics such as travel, parenting, pop culture, products, and entertainment for a variety of online sites. These state-of-the-art, authentic paddle wheelers can accommodate from 150 to 400 guests, depending on the ship. 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. 9 Mistakes to Avoid When Booking Shore Excursions, 12 Things You Don't Need to Take on a Cruise, Virtual Cabin Crawl: Symphony of the Seas Cruise Ship, How To Cope With Cruising's Pause? Aqua Expeditions is all about luxury with a modern take. 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. Each day, you'll receive an enamel pin reflecting the day's adventure such as Mickey dressed as Mozart or Donald cooking goulash. 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. 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. All cruise lines have new COVID-19 policies that prioritize the health and safety of guests. Most river cruises are all-inclusive with all meals, beverages, and almost all excursions included in the rate. 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). View travel requirements for countries around the world. For those with an interest in history, try The Life and Legacy of Abraham Lincoln tour. 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. 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. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. Choose Tauck ifyou like open seating and want the choice of having room service and a true alternative dining venue where you can get casual, hot food. Any input from people on this forum would be appreciated. Sign into see which companies give additional savings to Travelstride Members (its free). While other river cruise cabins shove your bed against a wall for a view of the other wall, our Comfort Collection Beds SM beds face the widest-opening, wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows in river cruising. Tauck's shore excursion program is a little more comprehensive (although oddly, the guides themselves and the berths where the ships dock aren't necessarily better. Scenic operates 11 "Space-Ships" sailing on the main rivers ofEurope-- Rhine, Main, Danube, Rhone and Seine, as well as Portugal's Douro. The water, especially on European cruises, is very calm. 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. And that is the very essence of our France river cruises. River cruising is an efficient way to travel visit a variety of destinations and only unpack once. Tours & Operators on Travelstride Awarded and Featured by: 2023 Travelstride. 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. On select sailings in France, visit the secret apartments in Versailles Palace. It should be fun. 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 . Scenic Sundowner events are cocktail parties at an unusual or particularly beautiful locale, while Scenic Enrich immersive activities may include a concert, performance or special dinner offsite. Service was very good, rooms spacious, and I loved the French balcony and the in room internet too. The Tauck Suites are large, at over 300 square feet and have a large bed as well as a fold-out sofa. Tauck is a family-run company that has shown travelers the world since 1925. We handle our own travel arrangements by choice and prefer to book our own hotels and make our own way to the boat. For its upper deck passengers, Scenic offers Table La Rive, a 10-person chef's table in the main dining room. 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. Today, the company's assortment of upscale, highly inclusive tours, river cruises and small-ship ocean cruises spans the globe. Book their "Open-Air Balcony" and enjoy wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows that open for fresh air. Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $2,788. We have done 2 cruises - Paris/Normandy with Uniworld - and Blue Danube Discovery with AMA. The large array of excursions has something for everyone from a cooking class to strenuous hikes, and visiting an ancient castle. By Toiletries are Viking's own,Freya, and they are lovely. In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from CRUISING ELEVATED.Innovative, transformative, original. Both Tauck and Scenic have fitness centers, complimentary bikes (the ones on Scenic are e-bikes and slightly better) and for-fee spas. It's open for lunch and dinner, and it's free for everyone. One nice perk: heated floors in the bathroom. Choose Tauck ifyou want an all-inclusive river cruise with more extras and a higher-end feel -- and don't mind paying for it. When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Adventures by Disney, the guided, family vacation arm of the Walt Disney Company, offers unique journeys sprinkled with signature Disney magic. Choose from a wide variety of accommodations from well-appointed suites to small no-frills single staterooms that are a mere 80 square feet. You'll Adore these Ships. Here are the most popular tour operator comparisons that travelers make when planning for their next adventure: Top Tour Companies for Seniors Compared: Road Scholar vs Smithsonian Journeys Go Ahead Tours vs Trafalgar Tauck vs Odysseys Unlimited Trafalgar vs Globus Tauck vs Senior Discovery Tours Collette vs Trafalgar Tauck vs Alexander + Roberts 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. Scenic also offers cruises inRussia,Vietnamand Cambodia and Myanmar (Burma). Whats the Best Choice for a River Cruise in Bordeaux? Tauck also revamped its five older Jewel-class ships, which are smaller than the Inspiration vessels, and reduced the capacity from 118 to 98. Both lines operateChristmas market cruises. These are the best river cruise lines, sorted by price from low to high. They are the least expensive, since we'd probably go cruise-only and make up our own land tour before/after, but the cabin seems pretty small, and we'd really like the option of bikes, which is offered on Tauck and AMA, but not on Viking or Avalon, as far as I can make out (please, correct me if I'm wrong). We preferred the top floor. 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;. AmaWaterways requires COVID-19 vaccinations for all their guests. Avalon Waterways has redefined cruising by going against the current and away from the ordinary. Avalon Waterways has redefined cruising by going against the current andaway from the ordinary. 2 spot with an eye-popping score above 96. . 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.