Save up to $2,800 per couple off the cruise price of Europe sailings. Passengers often get a choice of excursions, both of them included. "The itinerary was. Many of the staterooms have balconies that offer panoramic views and fresh air. We preferred the top floor. Otherwise, most welcome children but don't offer extra programming for them, and Viking doesn't allow children at all. 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. Notable excursions included in the price: Typical starting price:$1,999 for 7 nights (per person based on double occupancy $285 per night, all-inclusive), Where they sail:Danube, Rhine, France, Douro (Portugal), Elbe (Germany), Russia, Ukraine, Mekong, Egypt, Mississippi, Specialty cruises: Mississippi holiday season, Christmas along the Elbe, Onboard amenities (varies by ship): Library, walking track, sports deck, Wi-Fi, laundry, flat-screen TVs with on-demand movies, outdoor dining, putting green, Inclusions: All meals, drinks (house wines, beers, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner), one free shore excursion per port, onboard entertainment. Catching up with Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection - What's it Like On Board Evrima? Tauck has its headquarters in the United States, and most of its passengers are American, with a smattering of Brits and other nationalities. As the name implies, the American Queen Steamboat Company uses old-school-style riverboats for their journey. Today, the company's assortment of upscale, highly inclusive tours, river cruises and small-ship ocean cruises spans the globe. 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 and Tauck are both lines that carry lower passenger loads than most of their competitors and have put a significant effort into upgrading vessels. Another difference is that Tauck ships are actually owned and run by Scylla, a Swiss-owned company. There are a limited number of cruise choices and they do not sail in Europe. 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. Email us at reviews@insider.com. These cruises offer25% off the fare for travelers 4 to 17 years old when traveling with an adult (suites excluded). 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). Sail through France and visit the picturesque Old Town in Strasbourg. Also check out Avalon rivercruises. Tauck carries fewer passengers onboard so its tour groups are, by definition, smaller. On the Rhne sailing, go spelunking in Viviers to underground caves as part of a wine tasting adventure. 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. Tauck will sell through TA's, but maybe not online ones. 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. 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. The cruise lines are priced to start at $241 per night, depending on the time of year and the cruise line. The line sails only on the major European rivers: Rhine, Main, Danube, Rhone, Seine and Moselle. The suites, which are about 300 square feet, have floor-to-ceiling windows, King-sized beds, and a lounge area with a daybed. A river cruise is an all-inclusive journey where you unpack once but visit many destinations. Tauck has nine ships, with its four newer vessels carrying 130 passengers -- the lowest number of passengers for a ship of its size. They are more expensive, but do things first class. Tauck River Cruises: Is Tauck the Best River Cruise Line For You? Special diets can be catered for with advance notice and menus are labeled for people with dietary restrictions. Without a doubt, the most visible presence in the river cruising world is Viking River Cruises, thanks to effective TV, radio and direct mail advertisements. 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). 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. The water, especially on European cruises, is very calm. We feature savings up to 50% off retail prices on European River and Mekong Cruises on . Choose Tauck ifyou're fine with a French balcony and want a larger standard cabin. 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. In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from CRUISING ELEVATED.Innovative, transformative, original. It sounds like it will be what we're looking for. In Europe, the Danube River and the Rhine River are two of the most popular cruises for first-time river cruisers. Their twin-balcony staterooms feature both a French balcony and an outside balcony. COVID-19 vaccinations are required for all guests and crew. Love Scandinavian Design? On its ships in France, Scenic also offers onboard cooking demonstrations. Avalon features wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows with beds facing the views for ultimate enjoyment from their suites and staterooms. Choose Viking ifyou don't need a gym or a lot of extras onboard. Both lines operateChristmas market cruises. River cruise ships dock near city centers, enabling visitors to explore on their own or take advantage of the array of excursions organized by the cruise line, from going on a strenuous hike to touring a castle, or sipping wine at a vineyard. The only Tauck employees onboard are the four cruise directors. 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. While the suites are about 350 square feet, the standard stateroom is about 170 square feet with fixed windows at the waterline. Some sailings have Loft Suites, which are two stories with floor-to-ceiling windows and have two full bathrooms, a dining area, a lounge with a Queen sofa-bed, a balcony, and an upstairs bedroom. 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. Most of the Avalon's cabins are Panorama Suites, which offer a wide view of the rivers on which you are traveling. We have only cruised with Avalon and the modern ships and large cabins were an important factor in our decision. But it's only because we've taken such pride in bringing you river cruising's only Open-Air Balcony stateroom design, featuring beds with a view. Is there a way of getting a discounted price with them? Both AmaWaterways and Avalon Waterways sail these rivers and have a wide variety of stops which can vary by cruise theme. There are also Christmas market sailings that include tree-trimming, caroling, and a Christmas dinner feast. The Tauck Suites are large, at over 300 square feet and have a large bed as well as a fold-out sofa. Their National Geographic sailings are particularly of note and include a variety of educational, expert-led travel excursions and talks. Pro: You'll save money as you won't have to pay to fly overseas. Cons: This is the most expensive on our list, so it is an investment. Tauck does have a few high-end extras onboard, including a fitness center, complimentary bikes and a plunge pool on the top deck. Guests dine on four-course dinners, complemented by regional wines. 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. The difference comes with a significant impact on your wallet, particularly in the lower categories. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics, 17 Cruise Lines That Include Alcohol in Your Fare, 7 Challenging Cruise Ports We Can Help You Navigate. 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. When cruising the Nile, ride a camel as you visit the pyramids in Cairo, Egypt. 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. All rights reserved. The least expensive cabins are interior and have no windows. Odds are you will not get motion sickness on a river cruise since large waves or currents do not hit the ships. Get the real picture with both traveler and expert reviews to ensure the trip you book is the right one for you. 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. 2 spot with an eye-popping score above 96. AmaWaterways was founded in 2002 by Rudi Schreiner . Started August 27, 2021, By It should be fun. They also use the Quietvox system during excursions, where the tour guide speaks into a headset while passengers listen on receivers. Raise your sights and set your sails for the rivers of Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa on an Avalon Waterways cruise. 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. (Most newer river cruise ships in Europe are a standard 443 feet.) This allows passengers to go at their own pace while still hearing the guide. 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. CC Help Jenn In Memphis, opt for The Elvis Experience with a tour of Graceland. But since there is so much to do, odds are that the cabin will be only used for sleeping and downtime. While on the Danube, take a dip in legendary thermal baths in Budapest, Hungry. In general, you'll find a less international crowd on Tauck than Viking, simply because the latter is better known. Special diets can be catered for with advance notice, and menus are labeled for people with dietary restrictions. As expected, the ships serve American cuisines with options for fresh lobster or USDA Prime Beef. Which Royal Caribbean Suite Should I Book? 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. During the Nile adventure, take a traditional Egyptian boat ride and have afternoon tea at the Old Cataract Hotel Aswan in Aswan. Tauck: What Are Its Smallest, Largest and Most Common Stateroom Sizes? 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. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. Tauck, the well-known tour and river-ship operator, retained its No. It's a true gourmet experience, with well-thought-out and unusual wine pairings. No other fleet of river cruise ships gives you a view of the world like Avalon. We enjoyed AMA in May when we took the Danube Cruise. 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"). AmaWaterways operates the finest fleet and provides all-inclusive river cruise vacations on the great waterways of Europe, Russia, Vietnam and Cambodia. 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. 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. Cruise Critic named Avalon's staterooms the best in the business, and yes, we're blushing a bit. Viking ships sail all of Europe's major rivers, including the Rhine, Danube, Rhone, Main, Moselle, Seine, Dordogne, Garonne, Gironde and Dutch waterways. The average is about 156 guests, which is far less than most cruise lines. Scenic also has theTailormade App, which works as an audio guide and offers independent city tours, and an offline navigation system. Europe River Cruise Company Comparisons 2022-23 River Cruises. 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. In effect, it feels kind of like a chartered yacht. CC Help Jenn Find the latest travel requirements for your trip. Pros:The boats have a small number of guests so they feel very intimate. The beds in the Panorama Suites are also cleverly placed against the opposite wall so guests may view the scenery from bed. "Free choice" dining allows you . 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.). On the Danube sailing, see the Wachau Valley from a canoe and visit a hidden beach. 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. 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). 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. There are no pools on the ships except for those sailing the Egypt, Mississippi, and the Mekong lines. Finish with an Inside Passage cruise. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Viking also has an alternative restaurant, the Aquavit Lounge, but it's much more limited in its menu and only serves food during certain hours. The large array of excursions has something for everyone from a cooking class to strenuous hikes, and visiting an ancient castle. Price Comparisons: A Look At Pricing Differentials For European River Cruises, How River Cruising Compares To Luxury Ocean Cruising, River Cruise Reviews, Viking River Cruises, Uniworld River Cruises. Sign up for our newsletter to get honest reviews on top products & services delivered weekly to your inbox. We had cabin 308 (cat. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Come face-to-face with the gentle manta rays of Komodo National Park in Indonesia. All are butler-serviced river ships with a high, almost one-to-one staff-to-guest ratio. 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. Go to the Cathdrale Notre-Dame of Strasbourg for a private organ concert. I was on the River Queen last year, and although the cabins are a bit small, they were well designed. You'll pay about $1,000 more than lines such as Viking, AmaWaterways and Avalon. Click here . While many cruise lines have a strict dining schedule, these ships offer several different onboard restaurants.

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