avalon river cruises vs tauck

Pros: The ships are smaller than most with just over 100 passengers and children are allowed. 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. A WORLD OF WATERWAYS The Rivers of Avalon Why Take A Tauck River Cruise. Viking, Avalon, AmaWaterways, Crystal, Uniworld, U by Uniworld, and Tauck each supplied a ship for the special occasion. Travelstride helps you search and compare 50,000+ expert-planned trips from 1,000+ companies. Aqua Expeditions is all about luxury with a modern take. COVID-19 procedures are available here. 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). 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. 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). I've always been a fan of traditional cruise line journeys, but a river cruise is much more intimate and in many cases, luxurious. Price Comparisons: A Look At Pricing Differentials For European River Cruises, How River Cruising Compares To Luxury Ocean Cruising, River Cruise Reviews, Viking River Cruises, Uniworld River Cruises. Typical starting price: $2,199 for 7 nights (per person based on double occupancy $314 per night, all-inclusive), Where they sail: Mississippi, Ohio/Tennessee/Cumberland, Columbia/Snake Rivers, Specialty Cruises: Music festivals, music of the '50s and '60s, bourbon, Cajun/Creole, wine, Kentucky Derby, Amenities (may vary per ship): Wi-Fi, bicycles for shore, library, fitness center, smoothie and juice bar, pool, sun deck, spa, fitness, hiking sticks, Inclusions: All meals, unlimited beverages (wine, local craft beer, spirits), in-room dining, one-night pre-cruise hotel stay, hop on hop off buses onshore, ground transfers, Wi-Fi, daily entertainment. Whats the Best Choice for a SeineRiver Cruise? In fact, there are many kid-friend amenities, such as cooking classes, a young travelers' lounge, and a game room complete with PlayStation, games, movies, and local treats. Some rooms have balconies. Cruise Critic named Avalon's staterooms the best in the business, and yes, we're blushing a bit. It's easy to see the world's sights. Choose Tauck ifyou like a more intimate ship or want a multigenerational cruise. Avalon Waterways has used their 80-plus years of travel expertise to design the very best river cruise experience. Viking ships sail all of Europe's major rivers, including the Rhine, Danube, Rhone, Main, Moselle, Seine, Dordogne, Garonne, Gironde and Dutch waterways. Limited-Time Offers on Avalon Cruises! It's open for lunch and dinner, and it's free for everyone. 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. 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. Egypt European River Cruises Europe River Cruise Route Guide Rhine River Cruise Port Guide Request Danube River Cruise Port Guide Request Europe River Cruise Companies Onboard Reviews French River Cruise Port Guide Request . It should be fun. Scenic offers butler service to passengers in every cabin, with set services according to the cabin category. . 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. There are a limited number of cruise choices and they do not sail in Europe. Pros: The cabins are large and all have floor-to-ceiling windows. While there, the ladies had the opportunity to experience seven ships from the leading River Cruise Companies. The suites, which are about 300 square feet, have floor-to-ceiling windows, King-sized beds, and a lounge area with a daybed. 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. Powered by Invision Community. River Cruise Advisor | Avid Cruiser | About | Terms & Full Disclosure | Privacy | Contact | Subscribe. Toiletries are Viking's own,Freya, and they are lovely. 9 Mistakes to Avoid When Booking Shore Excursions, 12 Things You Don't Need to Take on a Cruise, Virtual Cabin Crawl: Symphony of the Seas Cruise Ship, How To Cope With Cruising's Pause? What category cabin did you have? 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. We handle our own travel arrangements by choice and prefer to book our own hotels and make our own way to the boat. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Raise your sights and set your sails for the rivers of Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa on an Avalon Waterways cruise. You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here. You'll pay about $1,000 more than lines such as Viking, AmaWaterways and Avalon. My husband and I went on the Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles Trip jn October 2022. This cabin is more expensive than anything on Tauck, but if you're a luxury lover who wants to take an itinerary only operated by Viking and not an upscale line, it might be a good substitute. 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. Both upscale river cruise lines were born out of well-established tour operators. In French balcony cabins, the beds generally face the window for better views. 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. If you have a travel agent, please consider contacting him or her first. As expected, the ships serve American cuisines with options for fresh lobster or USDA Prime Beef. Back By Popular Demand: Whats Included On River Cruises? In general, you'll find a less international crowd on Tauck than Viking, simply because the latter is better known. Lower deck Standard Suites are 160 square feet, and Balcony Suites are between 205 and 250 square feet. All-Inclusive River Cruises: How Are They Defined? Pros:Having a butler on call is a big perk. Viking has more weeklong cruises than Tauck and sails in more places and on more dates. A river cruise is an all-inclusive journey where you unpack once but visit many destinations. 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. Delivering unparalleled experiences and boundless exploration, Avalon puts you inthe captains seat to navigate your journey, fuel your passions and steer clear of the unexpected as you cruisedown the worlds most memorable and mesmerizing waterways. Tauck does have a few high-end extras onboard, including a fitness center, complimentary bikes and a plunge pool on the top deck. The difference comes with a significant impact on your wallet, particularly in the lower categories. There are a fair amount of UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the itineraries, which are almost always awe-inspiring. The line is mostly known in the United States. 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. Avalon Waterways My cabin (#312) aboard Avalon Tapestry II on the Seine River in Normandy. If they cannot help you, then come back to continue the process. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Come face-to-face with the gentle manta rays of Komodo National Park in Indonesia. 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. They also use the Quietvox system during excursions, where the tour guide speaks into a headset while passengers listen on receivers. There is also Uniworld's Legendary Rhine & Moselle, 13 days. 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. The ships also offer complimentary alcoholic beverages. Otherwise, most welcome children but don't offer extra programming for them, and Viking doesn't allow children at all. 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. Read on for our look at Scenic vs. Tauck. There will be talks by the Tauck directors or lecturers hired by Viking and activities such as awine tasting. Choose Viking ifyou want what has become the industry standard for river cruising, a semi-inclusive experience with a line that does more sailings on more rivers than anyone else. Typical starting price: Starting at $3,499 for 7 nights (per person based on double occupancy $499 per night, all-inclusive). Uniworld has bicycles, and there is an included excursion every day, although there are also optional excursions. (Scenic has its own lower-priced counterpart, Emerald Waterways.). Each day, you'll receive an enamel pin reflecting the day's adventure such as Mickey dressed as Mozart or Donald cooking goulash.