It depends on what you are looking for in your vacation. Cons: This is the most expensive on our list, so it is an investment. 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. Do they only sell direct, and not through travel agents? Scenic offers butler service to passengers in every cabin, with set services according to the cabin category. Elevate your cruise experience with fewer passengers, more choices, and endless possibilities. 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. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. After experiencing the river cruise lifestyle, I was sold. 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. 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. We also considered the added value of all-inclusive perks. Both lines offer passengers a choice of included excursions in every port. Otherwise, most welcome children but don't offer extra programming for them, and Viking doesn't allow children at all. The line sails on the major European rivers: Rhine, Main, Danube, Rhone, Seine and Moselle. 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. Solo travelers are still welcome but may have to pay asupplement fee for booking as a single-occupancy rather than a double. Choose Tauck ifyou like a more intimate ship or want a multigenerational cruise. 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. Inspired by you, they've taken everything special about river cruising and made it even better. River Cruise Advisor's video reviews take two forms: ship and experience reviews, and Riverside Chats, more of a question and answer style video. 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. 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; gratuities; money to buy lunch in port; and special events such as dinner at a one- star Michelin restaurant. "The itinerary was. The core passengers for both lines are Americans, Canadians, Brits, Australians and passengers from other English-speaking companies, aged 50s to 70s. There's a salon that provides hair and nail services, as well as a small spa for massage treatments. The suites, which are about 300 square feet, have floor-to-ceiling windows, King-sized beds, and a lounge area with a daybed. Special themes as culinary, bear, wine and Christmas themed itineraries are featured on Avalon Cruises. There are no pools on the ships except for those sailing the Egypt, Mississippi, and the Mekong lines. Both Tauck and Scenic are at the high end of river cruises, in terms of price and inclusions. 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. Viking also has six smaller "Baby Longships," which sail theDouro Riverin Portugal and the Elbe River in Germany and the Czech Republic. Rest easy (literally) as you enjoy bigger views, more space and 24/7 access to open-air cruising. Special diets can be catered for with advance notice, and menus are labeled for people with dietary restrictions. Save up to $2,800 per couple off the cruise price of Europe sailings. 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. The cuisine served onboard AmaWaterways ships is inspired by regional dishes and made with locally sourced ingredients. Cabins with French balconies are 135 square feet and standard cabins with a true balcony are 205 square feet (balcony inclusive). 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. 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. 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. River cruising is an efficient way to travel visit a variety of destinations and only unpack once. 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. Scenic also has theTailormade App, which works as an audio guide and offers independent city tours, and an offline navigation system. Cons: Viking is adults only; passengers must be over the age of 18. Viking, the world's largest river cruise company, moved up two spots into the lead position. 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. With an innovative product and rapidly-growing fleet of custom-designed ships, the line enjoys a reputation as the leader in river cruising. 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. 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. Go to the Cathdrale Notre-Dame of Strasbourg for a private organ concert. The Rivers They Cruise. We operate independently from our advertising team. All cruise lines have new COVID-19 policies that prioritize the health and safety of guests. In Memphis, opt for The Elvis Experience with a tour of Graceland. Another difference is that Tauck ships are actually owned and run by Scylla, a Swiss-owned company. Tauck moved up two places in T+L's 2021 rankings to grab the No. Viking does seem to pay a little more attention to making sure dishes are regional in nature. 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. There are also Christmas market sailings that include tree-trimming, caroling, and a Christmas dinner feast. 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. In effect, it feels kind of like a chartered yacht. 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 Scenic for an all-inclusive river cruise that has more options for active and individually minded travelers. The water, especially on European cruises, is very calm. Tauck differs in that the main restaurant is open seating, meaning you can go down and have dinner whenever you like. On a Viking river cruise, you receive a fair amount in your fare: a daily shore excursion with more elaborate options available for a fee; Wi-Fi; beer, wine and soda with meals and bottled water; and some entertainment and enrichment. When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Choose Viking ifyou like dining alfresco. 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.). Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Avalon Waterways has used their 80-plus years of travel expertise to design the very best river cruise experience. 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. 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. 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. In France, enjoy a private visit to the Muse du Louvre in Paris. Compared to other bigger companies, the selection of river cruises is limited. No other fleet of river cruise ships gives you a view of the world like Avalon. 2 spot. The design is sleek and minimal and there are usually five tiers of cabins. However, for me probably the highlight was the tours. 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. Today, the company's assortment of upscale, highly inclusive tours, river cruises and small-ship ocean cruises spans the globe. All told, the fleet stands at 70 (excluding ships not currently operating in Russia). Families will appreciate adjoining cabins, which are a rarity for a river cruise line. Take a thrilling alpine toboggan run in Germany's Black Forest. Uniworld has bicycles, and there is an included excursion every day, although there are also optional excursions. 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. The difference comes with a significant impact on your wallet, particularly in the lower categories. Every cruise line considers dining to be a priority and serves fresh well-balanced meals served alongside regional wines, beers, and beverages. Tauck's alternative restaurant, Arthur's, has evolved into a casual grill, with a menu offering everything from hamburgers and salads to pastas and steaks. 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 If they cannot help you, then come back to continue the process. All are butler-serviced river ships with a high, almost one-to-one staff-to-guest ratio. Avalon Waterways: What Are Its Smallest, Largest and Most Common Stateroom Sizes? 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. The Tauck Suites are large, at over 300 square feet and have a large bed as well as a fold-out sofa. The big differences are between the type of access to the outdoors and butler service.
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