The staff was awesome, and the entire experience was great. Viking has the largest fleet, by far, in Europe, with 55 nearly identical Scandinavian-inspired Longships. Its ship have suites with pullout sofas to accommodate third or fourth passengers. 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. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We have only cruised with Avalon and the modern ships and large cabins were an important factor in our decision. Tauck, the well-known tour and river-ship operator, retained its No. As for the bed itself, guests can choose their own mattress and pillow firmness from Avalon's Comfort Collection. Avalon's cabins are bigger than Tauck's but there is much that's not included with them, vs Tauck. Tours & Operators on Travelstride Awarded and Featured by: 2023 Travelstride. Tauck does have a few high-end extras onboard, including a fitness center, complimentary bikes and a plunge pool on the top deck. Cons: This is the most expensive on our list, so it is an investment. 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. Not as well known locally as APT or Scenic, Avalon Waterways have nevertheless been cruising the rivers of Europe and Asia since 2004. Typical starting price: Starting at $3,499 for 7 nights (per person based on double occupancy $499 per night, all-inclusive). This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. However, for me probably the highlight was the tours. Compare Avalon River Cruises vs Uniworld - Global Journeys Pros:Having a butler on call is a big perk. While both lines have bikes onboard, Scenic utilizes them more, offering guided bike rides in most ports. In effect, it feels kind of like a chartered yacht. River Cruises Guides | Tauck This allows passengers to go at their own pace while still hearing the guide. 6 Best River Cruise Lines (2022) | TravelAwaits Tauck differs in that the main restaurant is open seating, meaning you can go down and have dinner whenever you like. Avalon River Cruises is recognized for their all suite concept. A View with a Room. Special themes as culinary, bear, wine and Christmas themed itineraries are featured on Avalon Cruises. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. Expect to sail with Aussies, Brits and other English-speaking nationalities. Avalon Waterways has used their 80-plus years of travel expertise to design the very best river cruise experience. Ships offer a wide choice of dishes to suit all tastes, including healthy choices and simpler "always available" dishes, although Tauck has more vegan and vegetarian options. The water, especially on European cruises, is very calm. These are guided by local experts who know the history and culture; since Viking has so many river cruises going at any one time and provides a more stable stream of employment, the company is often able to scoop up some of the better guides in a town. I have a few specific questions which I can't seem to find answers for on the websites. It's open for lunch and dinner, and it's free for everyone. In Memphis, opt for The Elvis Experience with a tour of Graceland. The Rivers They Cruise. For us, 120-140 sq ft would just be too small. 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). I ask because we want to help you avoid single supplements. 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. 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. "Free choice" dining allows you . Tauck is equally non-fussy, but the overall feel is a little more elegant. Scenic also has theTailormade App, which works as an audio guide and offers independent city tours, and an offline navigation system. Thanks. AmaWaterways: What Are Its Smallest, Largest and Most Common Stateroom Sizes? You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here. 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. And that is the very essence of our France river cruises. 3 Viking Cruises also fared well this year, with readers . 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. This was our third Tauck cruise with Ponnant but our first post covid and the Tour: Treasures of the Mediterranean - Northbound 2019. Special diets can be catered for with advance notice and menus are labeled for people with dietary restrictions. Both Tauck and Scenic are at the high end of river cruises, in terms of price and inclusions. Click here . If you want flexibility, the line is hard to beat. . 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Harmony of the Seas vs. Allure of the Seas. They often feature DJs, silent discos, mixology classes, yoga, and rooftop camping (tents are supplied). Thanks for all the input. The reason why Scenic fans might not know Tauck, and vice versa, stems from the companies' headquarters. The design is sleek and minimal and there are usually five tiers of cabins. 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. Given the price point, the passengers seem more well-heeled on Tauck. While Tauck also has a Lagniappe event, as well as an offsite dinner, it's not as prominently promoted as the Scenic events; it's not even listed in the daily program. Catching up with Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection - What's it Like On Board Evrima? The line is mostly known in the United States. Save up to $2,800 per couple off the cruise price of Europe sailings. 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. Every evening, the forward section of the lounge on Scenic ships becomes the Italian restaurant Portabellos (L'Amour on its French ships), and every passenger can dine here at least once during their cruise, at no additional cost. COVID-19 procedures are available here. Take a thrilling alpine toboggan run in Germany's Black Forest. Prices shown reflect discount. (Scenic has. 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. 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. The cruise lines are priced to start at $241 per night, depending on the time of year and the cruise line. On Viking, you can pay extra for a better bottle of wine, whereas Tauck has a wine cellar with some special bottles that are included in your fare (although they don't exactly volunteer these premier offerings; you have to ask). 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). Their line U by Uniworld is curated for the "active" guest. Cons: Excursions cost extra, starting at around $79. Avalon Waterways has redefined cruising by going against the current and away from the ordinary. On Tauck, complimentary hot and cold canapes are passed during happy hour. Click the links in the right column to access current price comparisons among all major river cruise companies and for tips on how to save. Love Scandinavian Design? On Tauck's four newer ships, you'll find 67 cabins: nine measuring 150 square feet, four measuring 190 square feet, 32 measuring 225 square feet and 22 suites measuring 300 square feet. Do they only sell direct, and not through travel agents? 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. Uniworld requires proof of COVID-19 vaccinations for all their guests, except those under the age of 12, who must have a negative test result within 72 hours of embarkation. These are all decorated in a modern, contemporary style and feel airy and spacious due to the liberal use of mirrors and reflective panels. We operate independently from our advertising team. Uniworld stands out immediately for its impressively designed interiors; each ship is themed to the areas that ships sail through. 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. They are more expensive, but do things first class. Finish with an Inside Passage cruise. Both Tauck and Scenic are at the high end of river cruises, in terms of price and inclusions. 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. Scenic has five cabin categories on its 85-cabin Space-Ships. 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). Another difference is that Tauck ships are actually owned and run by Scylla, a Swiss-owned company. Scenic operates 11 "Space-Ships" sailing on the main rivers ofEurope-- Rhine, Main, Danube, Rhone and Seine, as well as Portugal's Douro. 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. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. River Cruising Along The Rivers of France Whether the Seine, the Sane or the Rhne, on a river cruise with Tauck you'll feel it the moment you step ashore in village and towns - that palpable realization of the true meaning of joie de vivre, enjoyment of life. Where they sail:Danube, Main (Rhine-Main-Danube canal), Moselle, Rhine, Specialty Cruises:Christmas market, Jewish heritage, tulip season, Onboard amenities (varies by ship): Spa, gym, 24/7 in-suite dining, pantry snacks, pool, yoga, laundry, flat-screen TV with on-demand movies, Inclusions: All meals, 24-hour butler service, beverages (select wines, champagnes, spirits and coffee), Wi-Fi, ETRO and Caudalie products, a variety of complimentary shore excursions (some cost extra). COVID-19 procedures are available here. We handle our own travel arrangements by choice and prefer to book our own hotels and make our own way to the boat. 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. Avalon vs Tauck, AMA vs Viking - River Cruising - Cruise Critic The food was delicious, service was excellent. When it's open, there's still a buffer, so your hair and food don't blow around. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. Most cabins have floor-to-ceiling windows to save space in the cabin, and the most affordable is Category 1, which is about 150 square feet and has small windows and a little bathroom with a shower.