We can chat later about other destinations. Dinner is served to the table and, on both lines, staff are very attentive. But no matter how different the motivation, Tauck river cruising has a way of bringing everyone of every age and generation together to share . While there, the ladies had the opportunity to experience seven ships from the leading River Cruise Companies. 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"). Whats the Best Choice For A Rhine River Cruise? Choose Tauck ifyou're fine with a French balcony and want a larger standard cabin. The boats are all relatively new, and can accommodate up to 190 passengers. 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. Many of the river cruise passengers will have taken land tours with the company. Viking, Avalon, AmaWaterways, Crystal, Uniworld, U by Uniworld, and Tauck each supplied a ship for the special occasion. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider In Memphis, opt for The Elvis Experience with a tour of Graceland. 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. 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. In French balcony cabins, the beds generally face the window for better views. 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. smalltowner, October 30, 2010 in River Cruising. 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. 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. 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. 2 spot. The line sails only on the major European rivers: Rhine, Main, Danube, Rhone, Seine and Moselle. Uniworld is also a good choice with an array of added perks for kids of all ages. Please choose only one for now. One of the best vacations I've ever taken was a river cruise. "The itinerary was. Cabins with French balconies are 135 square feet and standard cabins with a true balcony are 205 square feet (balcony inclusive). Notable Excursions (note, these excursions are not included and involve an extra fee): COVID-19 vaccinations are required for all guests and crew. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended.
Scenic vs. Tauck Cruise Comparison | Cruise Critic Pros:The boats have a small number of guests so they feel very intimate.
The Most Popular Tour Operator Comparisons by Travelers - Travelstride 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. Expires February 28. (The amount varies from country to country, but it is generous and enough to buy a meal and drink). It depends on what you are looking for in your vacation. Scenic ships have neither facilities for children nor specific family sailings, but kids 12 and older are welcome onboard. It should be fun. 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. There is no special programming for kids, and children under eight are not allowed to sail. I'm not sure you will find Tauck discounted in many places. All told, the fleet stands at 70 (excluding ships not currently operating in Russia). Whats Included In All-Inclusive River Cruises? Given the price point, the passengers seem more well-heeled on Tauck. 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. AmaWaterways operates the finest fleet and provides all-inclusive river cruise vacations on the great waterways of Europe, Russia, Vietnam and Cambodia. Scenic: What Are Its Smallest, Largest and Most Common Stateroom Sizes? 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. If you're able to provide your travel agent's contact info, I may be able to work with him or her to recommend a cruise that is best for you. If you have a travel agent, please consider contacting him or her first. The Tauck Suites are large, at over 300 square feet and have a large bed as well as a fold-out sofa. 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. Service was very good, rooms spacious, and I loved the French balcony and the in room internet too. The pours at lunch and dinner are generous, so if you're not a liquor drinker -- or don't like alcohol at all -- you might not need all the extras that Tauck provides. Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. 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. The line's larger ships carry 169 passengers, while smaller vessels in France have 155 passengers.
Compare Avalon River Cruises vs Uniworld - Global Journeys Learn to paint like Van Gogh at the Ateliers Art Institute in Amsterdam. There is a wide variety of cabin categories from a 350 square foot suite that sleeps four with a balcony to Category D, the most affordable cabin, which is about 170 square feet, sleeps two, and features small windows. (Scenic has its own lower-priced counterpart, Emerald Waterways.). 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. 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. I've been researching river cruises for August/September that include the Moselle River, which I think will visit smaller cities than cruises that travel strictly on the Danube. 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. The Rivers They Cruise. 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. Meals come with complimentary beverages, including house wine, beer, and premium spirits. Some rooms have balconies. Uniworld stands out immediately for its impressively designed interiors; each ship is themed to the areas that ships sail through. Tauck is equally non-fussy, but the overall feel is a little more elegant. Scenic also offers cruises inRussia,Vietnamand Cambodia and Myanmar (Burma). Visit Salzburg, Austria, the town featured in "The Sound of Music.". 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. I was on the River Queen last year, and although the cabins are a bit small, they were well designed. They are composed of floor-to-ceiling windows that drop down halfway at the flick of a switch, and the balconies can be shut off from the main cabin area with folding glass doors. Choose Tauck ifyou like a more intimate ship or want a multigenerational cruise. LauraS In France, enjoy a private visit to the Muse du Louvre in Paris. 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. Elevate your cruise experience with fewer passengers, more choices, and endless possibilities. For passengers who like convenience, though, the extra money is worth it. 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. Toiletries are Viking's own,Freya, and they are lovely. In terms of enrichment, both lines bring on local entertainers, although Scenic is more likely to bring on a band to play classic rock and music you can dance to, as opposed to folk performers. 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. Also check out Avalon rivercruises. Book a signature suite and indulge in larger marble bathrooms, a fully-stocked bar, and fresh cookies and fruit delivered daily. Automobile lovers have the chance to visit BMW World to see luxury German-made cars. 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. Both lines operateChristmas market cruises. In Europe, the Danube River and the Rhine River are two of the most popular cruises for first-time river cruisers. On Tauck, complimentary hot and cold canapes are passed during happy hour. There are a limited number of cruise choices and they do not sail in Europe.
Tauck vs AMA Waterways Compared | Travelstride Tauck has outdoor seats at Arthur's but there's no glass buffer, so it's a windier experience. Avalon Waterways My cabin (#312) aboard Avalon Tapestry II on the Seine River in Normandy. We found it to be quite inclusive and spent very little extra, except for tips and drinks at the bar. Tauck moved up two places in T+L's 2021 rankings to grab the No. 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. But since there is so much to do, odds are that the cabin will be only used for sleeping and downtime. 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. I have a few specific questions which I can't seem to find answers for on the websites. Tauck not only has a cruise director onboard its ship, but it has three additional Tauck guides who give the daily briefings, attend the shore excursions (although local experts actually give the tours), hand out spending money or give you a rose to place at the gravesite of a veteran in an American military cemetery. Cons: TVs are small and the cabin design is basic.
6 Best River Cruise Lines (2022) | TravelAwaits You'll Adore these Ships. The least expensive cabins are interior and have no windows. Scenic also has theTailormade App, which works as an audio guide and offers independent city tours, and an offline navigation system. After experiencing the river cruise lifestyle, I was sold. 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. There will be talks by the Tauck directors or lecturers hired by Viking and activities such as awine tasting. We feature savings up to 50% off retail prices on European River and Mekong Cruises on . But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. Book their "Open-Air Balcony" and enjoy wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows that open for fresh air. We have only cruised with Avalon and the modern ships and large cabins were an important factor in our decision. And yes, Sunny is her real name. Choose Scenic for an all-inclusive river cruise that has more options for active and individually minded travelers. Email us at reviews@insider.com. We handle our own travel arrangements by choice and prefer to book our own hotels and make our own way to the boat. 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. Take a thrilling alpine toboggan run in Germany's Black Forest. Get the real picture with both traveler and expert reviews to ensure the trip you book is the right one for you. Wine plays a role on both ships, with regional varietals served at every meal. Adventures by Disney is the best option for families since they curate their onboard and onshore activities with kids and teens in mind. River Cruise Advisor's video reviews take two forms: ship and experience reviews, and Riverside Chats, more of a question and answer style video. 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. 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. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. The open dining time is a nice addition since many cruise lines have a set dining schedule.