Avalon Waterways has used their 80-plus years of travel expertise to design the very best river cruise experience. On Tauck's four Inspiration ships, you'll find 67 cabins, and 49 on its Jewel-class ships. Viking or Avalon? Crystal, Tauck, or Uniworld? - Wallace Pierson Travel 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. Finish with an Inside Passage cruise. They are smaller than traditional cruise ships and boast more tailored offerings, such as carefully curated cuisine that is reflective of the areas being visited. All-Inclusive River Cruises: How Much Do You Save. Tauck, the well-known tour and river-ship operator, retained its No. Do they have bicycles? Visit Salzburg, Austria, the town featured in "The Sound of Music.". We were next to one of the Tauck river boats in Wurzburg last year and both my husband and I commented on how luxurious it looked next to ours, which was very nice and brand new at the time. 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. 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. In French balcony cabins, the beds generally face the window for better views. Limited-Time Offers on Avalon Cruises! Avalon Waterways has redefined cruising by going against the current andaway from the ordinary. The ships also offer complimentary alcoholic beverages. They will tend to your needs throughout the journey including nightly turndown service and laundry concierge. The line reduced capacity on its five older vessels, which are smaller, bringing the passenger counts from 118 to 98. If you are the type of passenger who doesn't want to reach for your wallet at the end of a trip, both lines are great choices. Uniworld is also a good choice with an array of added perks for kids of all ages. Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $2,788. When it's open, there's still a buffer, so your hair and food don't blow around. 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. Tauck carries fewer passengers onboard so its tour groups are, by definition, smaller. River Cruises Guides | Tauck Thanks. 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. In France, enjoy a private visit to the Muse du Louvre in Paris. For passengers who like convenience, though, the extra money is worth it. 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. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Avalon River Cruises | Avalon Waterways River Cruises in Europe 1. Although Scenic does not have walkout verandas, all cabins except those on the lower deck have "sun lounge balconies," an innovation that is an integral part of the room. Special diets can be catered for with advance notice, and menus are labeled for people with dietary restrictions. Concierges can arrange services while you're in port at various hotels or providers along the way. Read on for our look at Scenic vs. Tauck. Cons: Excursions cost extra, starting at around $79. Please choose only one for now. Do they only sell direct, and not through travel agents? All guests must have received their COVID-19 vaccine prior to sailing. 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. AmaWaterways was founded in 2002 by Rudi Schreiner . Why Take A Tauck River Cruise. During the trip, Guests will be required to complete a self-assessment daily. Although children are allowed, the line does not offer extra amenities or perks for kids. Expect to pay $129 for the drink package on a weeklong cruise. (Most newer river cruise ships in Europe are a standard 443 feet.) Their National Geographic sailings are particularly of note and include a variety of educational, expert-led travel excursions and talks. 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. They did not offer bikes which would have been nice, though not on our particular itinerary. Due to the size of the boats, the cabins are small, ranging from 80 square feet to about 300 square feet. 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. AmaWaterways Vs. Avalon Waterways River Cruises: 8 Key Differences On all these journeys from the Ganges to the Rhne dining is a big part of the adventure. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. We had cabin 308 (cat. 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. They are comfortable but not luxurious or particularly interesting. On select sailings in France, visit the secret apartments in Versailles Palace. Tauck is a family-run company that has shown travelers the world since 1925. Catching up with Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection - What's it Like On Board Evrima? 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. LauraS 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. Both Tauck and Scenic have fitness centers, complimentary bikes (the ones on Scenic are e-bikes and slightly better) and for-fee spas. 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. CC Help Jenn AMA has a modern fleet like Avalon and offers a few things that Avalon does not and that we would enjoy including bicycles, in room free internet and movies, tables for two in the dining room, and an onboard masseuse. 3 Viking Cruises also fared well this year, with readers . 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. Compare River Cruise Lines: Which Company Fits Where? 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. As expected, the ships serve American cuisines with options for fresh lobster or USDA Prime Beef. In contrast, Tauck-- an upscale tour line that offers river cruises -- is lesser-known; unless you're already familiar with the company's organized land vacations or seen its ships on Europe's rivers. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Harmony of the Seas vs. Allure of the Seas. Get the real picture with both traveler and expert reviews to ensure the trip you book is the right one for you. Solo travelers will appreciate that there are dedicated Solo Traveler Suites with no surcharge for a non-double occupancy booking, which is unheard of with cruising. Pros: The cabins are large and all have floor-to-ceiling windows. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. The main restaurant setup is very similar on the lines, with buffets at breakfast and lunch plus live cooking stations and made-to-order menu items. Started August 27, 2021, By smalltowner, October 30, 2010 in River Cruising. Dinner is served to the table (although on Scenic, you'll have a buffet your first night onboard) and, on both lines, staff are attentive. All told, the fleet stands at 70 (excluding ships not currently operating in Russia). 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. Both upscale river cruise lines were born out of well-established tour operators. While there, the ladies had the opportunity to experience seven ships from the leading River Cruise Companies. During the Nile adventure, take a traditional Egyptian boat ride and have afternoon tea at the Old Cataract Hotel Aswan in Aswan. Service was very good, rooms spacious, and I loved the French balcony and the in room internet too. They are also one of the most affordable river cruise options. COVID-19 testing and/or vaccination is required before travel. Cons: The ships aren't "Imagineered." Travelstride helps you search and compare 50,000+ expert-planned trips from 1,000+ companies. If you want flexibility, the line is hard to beat. The iconic river ships of No. It's open for lunch and dinner, and it's free for everyone. Activities include educational lectures from visiting professors, and well as local entertainment, and even Broadway-level performances. The shore excursions on the designated family cruises are kid-centric and could include visiting a castle and dressing up as a medieval knight one day, watching Hungarian cowboys perform, going on a treetop climb or visiting a salt mine. In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from CRUISING ELEVATED.Innovative, transformative, original. Normandy River Cruise 2023 / 2024 | Tauck We handle our own travel arrangements by choice and prefer to book our own hotels and make our own way to the boat. But since there is so much to do, odds are that the cabin will be only used for sleeping and downtime. 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. 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. But no matter how different the motivation, Tauck river cruising has a way of bringing everyone of every age and generation together to share . Typical starting price: $2,309 for 3 nights (per person based on double occupancy $796 per night, all-inclusive), Where they sail:Mekong, Amazon, Indonesia, Amenities (may vary by ship): Pool, Jacuzzi, private or outdoor cinema, sun deck, gym, massage, library/game room, bikes for onshore use, snorkeling equipment and wet suits, scuba diving, laundry, internet (intermittent, depends on location), Inclusions: All meals, beverages (premium selected wines, and beer, non-alcoholic drinks), excursions with local guides, group transfers between the vessel on recommended flights. 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. Both lines offer passengers a choice of included excursions in every port. 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.