Experience the "Wild West" of France in la Camargue with farm-fresh meals, local music, and a horse show. The Aquavit Lounge is glass-enclosed and it can open to the elements in nice weather. This cabin is more expensive than anything on Tauck, but if you're a luxury lover who wants to take an itinerary only operated by Viking and not an upscale line, it might be a good substitute. 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. (The amount varies from country to country, but it is generous and enough to buy a meal and drink). The entry-level cabin, the Petit Suite, is about 188 square feet is larger than most standard rooms, while the Deluxe Suite has French balconies, and opulent Explorer Suites boast large windows. Learn to make goulash and feast on it in the Hungarian countryside while listening to a live performance by Hungarian folk musicians. Tauck, the well-known tour and river-ship operator, retained its No. What are the differences between Viking River Cruises & Uniworld River Cruises & AmaWaterways & Tauck & CroisiEurope & Riviera & Scenic? 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. As expected, the ships serve American cuisines with options for fresh lobster or USDA Prime Beef. For its upper deck passengers, Scenic offers Table La Rive, a 10-person chef's table in the main dining room. All cruise lines have new COVID-19 policies that prioritize the health and safety of guests. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. Tauck will sell through TA's, but maybe not online ones. As for the bed itself, guests can choose their own mattress and pillow firmness from Avalon's Comfort Collection. In France, enjoy a private visit to the Muse du Louvre in Paris. For example, European river cruises run fromMarch through December. Whats the Best Choice for a River Cruise in Bordeaux? Local entertainers will also come aboard to perform music, song and dance from the region. While in Germany, visit the oldest brewery in Nuremberg for a bratwurst and beer. Tauck River Cruises: Is Tauck the Best River Cruise Line For You? Service was very good, rooms spacious, and I loved the French balcony and the in room internet too. They are also more likely to offer a hike or a strenuous walk than Tauck. Scenic also offers cruises inRussia,Vietnamand Cambodia and Myanmar (Burma). The suites, which are about 300 square feet, have floor-to-ceiling windows, King-sized beds, and a lounge area with a daybed. However, Crystal Cruises has some excursions that incur an added cost, and all of the American Queen Steamboat Company excursions are additional (although they do offer hop-on hop-off bus tours). In French balcony cabins, the beds generally face the window for better views. Scenic **: Inclusions are for all guests, regardless of ship or suite. 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. Visit Salzburg, Austria, the town featured in "The Sound of Music.". We enjoyed AMA in May when we took the Danube Cruise. Yes. Viking has more weeklong cruises than Tauck and sails in more places and on more dates. Solo travelers are still welcome but may have to pay asupplement fee for booking as a single-occupancy rather than a double. If you want flexibility, the line is hard to beat. Whats the Best Choice for a SeineRiver Cruise? The cabins are large with King-sized beds, which is a rarity in river cruising. Tauck moved up two places in T+L's 2021 rankings to grab the No. 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. Tours & Operators on Travelstride Awarded and Featured by: 2023 Travelstride. 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. Cons: This is the most expensive on our list, so it is an investment. It all boils down to what is important to you. 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. In other words, if you are used to the added magic that occurs on a Disney Cruise Line, you won't find that here. They don't seem to be on Cruise Compete's site. There will be talks by the Tauck directors or lecturers hired by Viking and activities such as awine tasting. Scenic offers all passengers a limited 24-hour room service menu, with full in-suite dining for passengers in Royal and Royal Panorama Suites. The beds in the Panorama Suites are also cleverly placed against the opposite wall so guests may view the scenery from bed. They are owned by Globus and do a fantastic job. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Which Royal Caribbean Suite Should I Book? 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). (Scenic has. Take a thrilling alpine toboggan run in Germany's Black Forest. 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. While both lines have bikes onboard, Scenic utilizes them more, offering guided bike rides in most ports. Cons: The ships aren't "Imagineered." 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. And that is the very essence of our France river cruises. Typical starting price: $3,990 for 7 nights (per person based on double occupancy $570 per night, all-inclusive), Where do they sail:Danube, Douro, Rhine, Rhne, Seine, Specialty Cruises: Oktoberfest, Christmas markets, music, family sailings, Onboard amenities (varies by ship): Putting green, sun deck, minibar with complimentary water and soft drinks, Molton Brown toiletries, TV, Jacuzzi, Included: Meals, beverages (house wine, beer, and premium spirits available all day), gratuities, transfers upon arrival and departure, excursions. For us, 120-140 sq ft would just be too small. This was our third Tauck cruise with Ponnant but our first post covid and the Tour: Treasures of the Mediterranean - Northbound 2019. During the Nile adventure, take a traditional Egyptian boat ride and have afternoon tea at the Old Cataract Hotel Aswan in Aswan. 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). 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). Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $2,788. The line sails only on the major European rivers: Rhine, Main, Danube, Rhone, Seine and Moselle. Both upscale river cruise lines were born out of well-established tour operators. Given the price point, the passengers seem more well-heeled on Tauck. On these cruises, too, the restaurants have kid-friendly menus and casual dining options. However, for me probably the highlight was the tours. While Scenic has casual dining in its River Cafe, it closes at 6 p.m. Arthur's can be a real boon, particularly if you've already snacked at a local cafe and want a simple nosh at night, instead of a full-blown three-course meal. Tauck carries fewer passengers onboard so its tour groups are, by definition, smaller. 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. Because the Inspiration ships are the same size as Viking ships with fewer passengers and cabins, the staterooms are larger. "Free choice" dining allows you . 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. A) next door to a junior suite.Being close to the entrance of the staircase, you do hear people going by your room in the morning. 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. Uniworld is also a good choice with an array of added perks for kids of all ages. 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. I have a few specific questions which I can't seem to find answers for on the websites. When cruising the Nile, ride a camel as you visit the pyramids in Cairo, Egypt. For example, guests staying in suites enjoy exclusive dining, priority reservations, and a private Captain's cocktail party, while those staying in standard rooms will lack many special perks. Thanks for all the input. The ship's "Design Your Time" concierge service will help personalize your onboard and onshore experiences. Their line U by Uniworld is curated for the "active" guest. TAUCK VALUE INCLUDES. Adventures by Disney, the guided, family vacation arm of the Walt Disney Company, offers unique journeys sprinkled with signature Disney magic. It's a true gourmet experience, with well-thought-out and unusual wine pairings. Pro: You'll save money as you won't have to pay to fly overseas. Those are also offered all day, not just at mealtimes, which is a nice addition. 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. Started June 21, 2021, By Whats the Best Choice for a MainRiver Cruise? 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 The cruise lines are priced to start at $241 per night, depending on the time of year and the cruise line. 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. The ships on both cruise lines offer a wide choice of dishes to suit all tastes, including healthy choices and simpler "always available" dishes. One step aboard our modern, luxurious SuiteShips with the grandest views in cruising and youll see how the tides they are a-changin. AmaWaterways has a diverse selection of excursions, from low key to active experiences. Sail through France and visit the picturesque Old Town in Strasbourg. 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. Due to the size of the boats, the cabins are small, ranging from 80 square feet to about 300 square feet. (The Longships are the same size, 443 feet, but carry 190). 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. 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. The staff was awesome, and the entire experience was great. 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. All rights reserved. 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. You can also buy wine along the trip and have it served with your meal at no additional cost. Standard staterooms, which are the least expensive, hover at the water level, and come in at about 150 square feet. It's open for lunch and dinner, and it's free for everyone. Tauck is equally non-fussy, but the overall feel is a little more elegant. The line also hands out cash country if the tour takes place over lunchtime and passengers need to buy something to eat. Expect to sail with Aussies, Brits and other English-speaking nationalities. Scenic operates custom-made vessels and a variety of cabins types. 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. Families will appreciate adjoining cabins, which are a rarity for a river cruise line. Both Tauck and Scenic have fitness centers, complimentary bikes (the ones on Scenic are e-bikes and slightly better) and for-fee spas. Powered by Invision Community. In Memphis, opt for The Elvis Experience with a tour of Graceland. The large array of excursions has something for everyone from a cooking class to strenuous hikes, and visiting an ancient castle. We feature savings up to 50% off retail prices on European River and Mekong Cruises on . Viking ships sail all of Europe's major rivers, including the Rhine, Danube, Rhone, Main, Moselle, Seine, Dordogne, Garonne, Gironde and Dutch waterways. I ask because we want to help you avoid single supplements. What category cabin did you have? 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Harmony of the Seas vs. Allure of the Seas. Love Scandinavian Design? 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. It depends on what you are looking for in your vacation. 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. We preferred the top floor. 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. In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from CRUISING ELEVATED.Innovative, transformative, original. The river cruise division of Tauck is a relatively new component of the brand established in 1925 by Arthur Tauck, a true pioneer in the travel industry. Book a signature suite and indulge in larger marble bathrooms, a fully-stocked bar, and fresh cookies and fruit delivered daily. COVID-19 procedures are availablehere. No other fleet of river cruise ships gives you a view of the world like Avalon. In 2023, they will launch Seven River Journeys which will cover seven rivers and 14 countries over the course of 45 nights (starting at $24,999 per person, double occupancy). The entry-level cabin is the Avalon Deluxe Stateroom. 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. Both lines offer passengers a choice of included excursions in every port. 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 . Viking Longships carry 190 passengers and have 95 cabins. 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. AmaWaterways was founded in 2002 by Rudi Schreiner . Cabins are located across three decks and available in seven categories; the line claims the ship offers more suites than any other European river vessel. 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"). Scenic makes sure that its passengers have a variety of things to do in the evening. For passengers who like convenience, though, the extra money is worth it. 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. Wine plays a role on both ships, with regional varietals served at every meal. 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.). Cons: TVs are small and the cabin design is basic. 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. If you have a travel agent, please consider contacting him or her first. Viking has the largest fleet, by far, in Europe, with 55 nearly identical Scandinavian-inspired Longships. They are more expensive, but do things first class. These are all decorated in a modern, contemporary style and feel airy and spacious due to the liberal use of mirrors and reflective panels. Choose Tauck ifyou want an all-inclusive river cruise with more extras and a higher-end feel -- and don't mind paying for it. For each, passengers are divided into groups (around the same size on both lines) and have individual audio headsets that make it easy to hear the commentary without having to cluster around the guide. Uniworld has bicycles, and there is an included excursion every day, although there are also optional excursions. Read on for our look at Scenic vs. Tauck. 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. Each day, you'll receive an enamel pin reflecting the day's adventure such as Mickey dressed as Mozart or Donald cooking goulash. (Scenic has its own lower-priced counterpart, Emerald Waterways.). Tauck has its headquarters in the United States, and most of its passengers are American, with a smattering of Brits and other nationalities. Avalon Waterways has redefined cruising by going against the current andaway from the ordinary. In effect, it feels kind of like a chartered yacht. Large private bathrooms include full showers and. The latter are true suites, with two rooms. They are comfortable but not luxurious or particularly interesting.
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