Tauck moved up two places in T+L's 2021 rankings to grab the No. "The itinerary was. Scenic has five cabin categories on its 85-cabin Space-Ships. Sign up for a private Imperial Evening at a palace in Vienna with dinner and classical performances. Viking ships sail all of Europe's major rivers, including the Rhine, Danube, Rhone, Main, Moselle, Seine, Dordogne, Garonne, Gironde and Dutch waterways. Catching up with Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection - What's it Like On Board Evrima? Cons: Cocktails are pricey and not included; a martini or a Manhattan will set you back about $12 dollars. Many also have balconies and walk-in closets, and all are above the waterline. We have only cruised with Avalon and the modern ships and large cabins were an important factor in our decision. On the Rhne sailing, go spelunking in Viviers to underground caves as part of a wine tasting adventure. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. 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. Adventures by Disney is the best option for families since they curate their onboard and onshore activities with kids and teens in mind. Given the price point, the passengers seem more well-heeled on Tauck. In river cruising, you often get what you pay for. Both Tauck and Scenic are at the high end of river cruises, in terms of price and inclusions. One of the best vacations I've ever taken was a river cruise. We had cabin 308 (cat. The iconic river ships of No. 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. 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. Since Aqua Expeditions ships are so much smaller than the average river cruise liner, they can visit more remote destinations and the excursions reflect that, from watching Amazonian pink dolphins to receiving a blessing from a Buddhist monk while traveling the Mekong. 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. 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. Choose Viking ifyou want a good introduction to a port without a lot of handholding, don't mind paying for special excursions and want the best berthing in town. At 445 square feet, they are among the largest on the rivers with wraparound balconies, a separate bedroom and living room and another French balcony. 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. Cons: TVs are small and the cabin design is basic. 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. The staff was awesome, and the entire experience was great. We can chat later about other destinations. The line reduced capacity on its five older vessels, which are smaller, bringing the passenger counts from 118 to 98. 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. (Most newer river cruise ships in Europe are a standard 443 feet.) 2 spot with an eye-popping score above 96. Dinner is served to the table and, on both lines, staff are very attentive. No other fleet of river cruise ships gives you a view of the world like Avalon. 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. Viking includes at least one shore excursion in every port you visit. Plus, get air rates starting at $599 per person from select gateways. Compare River Cruise Lines: Which Company Fits Where? I need to be able to contact Avalon, Scenic, Uniworld, Tauck directly to arrange terms of the lease of a vesssel, crew, with at least two meals per day provided. AmaWaterways: What Are Its Smallest, Largest and Most Common Stateroom Sizes? I'm not sure you will find Tauck discounted in many places. Go to the Cathdrale Notre-Dame of Strasbourg for a private organ concert. A river cruise is kind of like a floating hotel, except you'll visit a variety of places but only have to unpack once. A river cruise is an all-inclusive journey where you unpack once but visit many destinations. A good mid-tier option is theRoyal Balcony suite, which comes with a great view and perks like daily fruit skewers, canapes, and petit fours. River Cruise Advisor's video reviews take two forms: ship and experience reviews, and Riverside Chats, more of a question and answer style video. The cruise lines are priced to start at $241 per night, depending on the time of year and the cruise line. Started June 21, 2021, By COVID-19 procedures are availablehere. You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here. Drinks are only complimentary during lunch and dinner and gratuities are not included in the price. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. By submitting your contact information, you agree that your email address may be shared with a travel expert who can help me find the perfect cruise for you. 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. Besides stringing words together professionally, Sunny once co-founded a luxury subscription box, curated a whimsical pop-up shop in San Francisco called Treasure Hunters Club, and recently inherited a vinyl-only records store in San Francisco. The beds in the Panorama Suites are also cleverly placed against the opposite wall so guests may view the scenery from bed. We handle our own travel arrangements by choice and prefer to book our own hotels and make our own way to the boat. 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. Viking, Avalon, AmaWaterways, Crystal, Uniworld, U by Uniworld, and Tauck each supplied a ship for the special occasion. 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. It's easy to see the world's sights. Odds are you will not get motion sickness on a river cruise since large waves or currents do not hit the ships. Do they have bicycles? Scenic operates 11 "Space-Ships" sailing on the main rivers ofEurope-- Rhine, Main, Danube, Rhone and Seine, as well as Portugal's Douro. Come face-to-face with the gentle manta rays of Komodo National Park in Indonesia. Learn to paint like Van Gogh at the Ateliers Art Institute in Amsterdam. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Pros:Having a butler on call is a big perk. Aqua Expeditions is all about luxury with a modern take. 1) Avalon's Rhine & Moselle on Affinity (Amsterdam to Basel, 14 days), 2) Tauck's Rhine & Moselle (Amsterdam to Basel, 13 days), 3) AMA's Europe's Rivers & Castles (Trier to Nuremberg, 7 days - cruise only, or with Paris at beginning and Prague at the end to make 12 days, 4) Vikings' Vineyards & Vistas (Trier to Wurzburg, 7 days, or with Paris and Prague, like AMA above, called Cities of Light)- I did read Ruth's recent posting about that one. Both Tauck and Scenic boast spacious, contemporary cabins that are among the most comfortable in river cruising. Expires February 28. As expected, the ships serve American cuisines with options for fresh lobster or USDA Prime Beef. With over 50 riverboats, there are many cruises ships, dates, and itineraries to consider. Tauck just looked fabulous but, for us, the premium is not worth it as the additional inclusions are not important to us. COVID-19 procedures are available here. This allows passengers to go at their own pace while still hearing the guide. Thanks for all the input. It sounds like it will be what we're looking for. By Their National Geographic sailings are particularly of note and include a variety of educational, expert-led travel excursions and talks. Both Viking and Tauck have well-thought-out cabins with an understated decor. 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. deluxe tour operator in North America and that title is well justified. For those with an interest in history, try The Life and Legacy of Abraham Lincoln tour. Tauck also makes sure there's at least one special event in the evening per cruise, where passengers are taken to a castle, restaurant or historic venue for a private dinner or concert performance. These are the best river cruise lines, sorted by price from low to high. 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. 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. 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. On Viking, everyone eats at the same time, which can create a "herding" effect that some people dislike. And that is the very essence of our France river cruises. Scenic also offers cruises inRussia,Vietnamand Cambodia and Myanmar (Burma). We believe that travel should be easy. Viking is also an adults-only line, while Tauck was the pioneer of family river cruises through its Tauck Bridges program. Limited-Time Offers on Avalon Cruises! On the Mekong, go on a guided tour of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. 1) Avalon's Rhine & Moselle on Affinity (Amsterdam to Basel, 14 days) 2) Tauck's Rhine & Moselle (Amsterdam to Basel, 13 days) 3) AMA's Europe's Rivers & Castles (Trier to Nuremberg, 7 days -. They don't seem to be on Cruise Compete's site. Tauck does have a few high-end extras onboard, including a fitness center, complimentary bikes and a plunge pool on the top deck. These sleek ships generally host less than 200 passengers and go where giant cruise liners cannot, such as the Danube, Rhine, Rhne, Mekong, Mississippi, and Nile Rivers. While many cruise lines have a strict dining schedule, these ships offer several different onboard restaurants. The only Tauck employees onboard are the four cruise directors. Thanks. Save up to $2,800 per couple off the cruise price of Europe sailings. You'll pay about $1,000 more than lines such as Viking, AmaWaterways and Avalon. While Scenic has casual dining in its River Cafe, it closes at 6 p.m. Arthur's can be a real boon, particularly if you've already snacked at a local cafe and want a simple nosh at night, instead of a full-blown three-course meal. I could use Scenic's $379.00 per day per . Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. I was on the River Queen last year, and although the cabins are a bit small, they were well designed. 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. For example, European river cruises run fromMarch through December. I've come up with 4 that I think might suit us, and I'd appreciate comments from anyone who has experienced any of them. COVID-19 procedures are availablehere. Viking has more weeklong cruises than Tauck and sails in more places and on more dates. Choose Viking ifyou don't need a gym or a lot of extras onboard. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. 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. The latter are true suites, with two rooms. In contrast, Tauck has nine ships, with its four newer Inspiration-class vessels carrying 130 passengers -- the lowest number of passengers for a ship its size. Like most cruises, the food served is reflective of your destination's local cuisine and there is also a light menu and options for vegetarians, vegans, and kids. They are also more likely to offer a hike or a strenuous walk than Tauck. Choose Tauck ifonboard spa, beauty and fitness options are essential to your vacation. They even pay the public restroom fee for you. In 2023, they will launch Seven River Journeys which will cover seven rivers and 14 countries over the course of 45 nights (starting at $24,999 per person, double occupancy). TAUCK VALUE INCLUDES. Love Scandinavian Design? These are the best river cruise lines for comfort, destinations, and irresistible perks and tours. Scenic makes sure that its passengers have a variety of things to do in the evening. As the name implies, the American Queen Steamboat Company uses old-school-style riverboats for their journey. Cons: Entry-level cabins are small, at 150 square feet, and have just two small windows. Book a cruise on American Queen Steamboat Company, Book a cruise on Adventures by Disney River Cruise, Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here. One of the Tauck tenets is "lagniappe," or a little something extra, such as a Champagne reception in the Baden-Baden casino or roses to put on the graves of veterans at an American Military Cemetery in Luxembourg. Activities include educational lectures from visiting professors, and well as local entertainment, and even Broadway-level performances. It all boils down to what is important to you. Back By Popular Demand: Whats Included On River Cruises? Learn more. Tauck Tours and thus Tauck River Cruises may be the most well respected. 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. The ships also offer complimentary alcoholic beverages. 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. They are also one of the most affordable river cruise options. 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. My husband and I went on the Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles Trip jn October 2022. 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. 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.