While both lines have bikes onboard, Scenic utilizes them more, offering guided bike rides in most ports. There are a fair amount of UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the itineraries, which are almost always awe-inspiring. 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. Viking River Cruises: What Are Its Smallest, Largest and Most Common Stateroom Sizes? 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. While many cruise lines have a strict dining schedule, these ships offer several different onboard restaurants. Scenic offers butler service to passengers in every cabin, with set services according to the cabin category. Viking, the world's largest river cruise company, moved up two spots into the lead position. (The Longships are the same size, 443 feet, but carry 190). While there, the ladies had the opportunity to experience seven ships from the leading River Cruise Companies. We operate independently from our advertising team. They often feature DJs, silent discos, mixology classes, yoga, and rooftop camping (tents are supplied). Tauck and Scenic include more in their fares than anyone else, with gratuities, all alcohol, transfers, choice of shore excursions, all dining and Wi-Fi included. Which Royal Caribbean Suite Should I Book? The open dining time is a nice addition since many cruise lines have a set dining schedule. She also happens to be a shopaholic whose personal mission is to find the coolest and best new things out there. Tauck is equally non-fussy, but the overall feel is a little more elegant. Because most people travel in pairs or a family on a cruise, rates are based on double occupancy. However, Crystal Cruises has some excursions that incur an added cost, and all of the American Queen Steamboat Company excursions are additional (although they do offer hop-on hop-off bus tours). 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. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. And that is the very essence of our France river cruises. Many also have balconies and walk-in closets, and all are above the waterline. They will tend to your needs throughout the journey including nightly turndown service and laundry concierge. Viking includes at least one shore excursion in every port you visit. Come face-to-face with the gentle manta rays of Komodo National Park in Indonesia. The cruise lines are priced to start at $241 per night, depending on the time of year and the cruise line. 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. 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. Although children are allowed, the line does not offer extra amenities or perks for kids. 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. For those with an interest in history, try The Life and Legacy of Abraham Lincoln tour. We also considered the added value of all-inclusive perks. While the suites are about 350 square feet, the standard stateroom is about 170 square feet with fixed windows at the waterline. The boats are all relatively new, and can accommodate up to 190 passengers. Activities include educational lectures from visiting professors, and well as local entertainment, and even Broadway-level performances. Basically, if you need anything while you're off the ship, they are only a few steps away. 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). 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. The line reduced capacity on its five older vessels, which are smaller, bringing the passenger counts from 118 to 98. 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. Visit Schloss Hof in Bratislava for chocolate tasting and learn to waltz in the grand ballroom. Plan Far, Far Ahead, Viking Kadlin (Photo: Viking River Cruises), Viking Einar (Photo: Viking River Cruises), Tauck ms Emerald (Photo: Tauck River Cruises), Viking Helgrim (Photo: Viking River Cruises), 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. As for the bed itself, guests can choose their own mattress and pillow firmness from Avalon's Comfort Collection. 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. Travelstride helps you search and compare 50,000+ expert-planned trips from 1,000+ companies. 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 -. Lower-deck rooms, which have a window, are 150 square feet. Expect to sail with Aussies, Brits and other English-speaking nationalities. Cons: This is the most expensive on our list, so it is an investment. 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. In the Netherlands, explore the windmill village of Zaanse Schans with its houses from the 18th and 19th centuries. If you have a travel agent, please consider contacting him or her first. AmaWaterways has a diverse selection of excursions, from low key to active experiences. 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. For example, European river cruises run fromMarch through December. 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. 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. The cabins and public areas are also beautifully appointed with art, antiques, hand-painted murals, and luxury linens. 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. All rights reserved. And yes, Sunny is her real name. There is one single cabin that is 129 square feet, and one wheelchair-accessible cabin. COVID-19 procedures are availablehere. On Tauck's four Inspiration ships, you'll find 67 cabins, and 49 on its Jewel-class ships. In addition to food and drink with carefully curated cuisine reflective of the areas being visited many river cruises include land excursions, which is a huge advantage that adds tremendous value. Scenic also has special "TailorMade" devices that allow travelers to head out by themselves and follow GPS guided tours that are pre-programed into the personal audio systems. Avalon Waterways My cabin (#312) aboard Avalon Tapestry II on the Seine River in Normandy. On all these journeys from the Ganges to the Rhne dining is a big part of the adventure. 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. 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. All upgraded suites come with butler service, nightly turndown, and a laundry concierge. The Tauck Suites are large, at over 300 square feet and have a large bed as well as a fold-out sofa. (The amount varies from country to country, but it is generous and enough to buy a meal and drink). COVID-19 procedures are availablehere. On its ships in France, Scenic also offers onboard cooking demonstrations. Standard staterooms, which are the least expensive, hover at the water level, and come in at about 150 square feet. Because how you see the world matters. Any input from people on this forum would be appreciated. On the Mekong, go on a guided tour of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. I have a few specific questions which I can't seem to find answers for on the websites. Email us at reviews@insider.com. Unique to riverboats is the two-level theater, the Grand Saloon, found on the American Queen. 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. Tauck also carries bicycles onboard so if you want to spend time exploring paths along the rivers instead of taking a tour, you can. Dinner is served to the table and, on both lines, staff are very attentive. In Portugal, visit the Burmester Cellars for a fine dining experience along with a traditional Fado musical accompaniment. Whats the Best Choice for a SeineRiver Cruise? COVID-19 procedures are available here. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. Choose Viking ifyou want a true balcony and don't mind sacrificing space to do it. Featuring modern luxury ships, with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, our clients love Avalon, and some of their river itineraries are our biggest sellers. 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. There are a limited number of cruise choices and they do not sail in Europe. Powered by Invision Community. All cruise lines have new COVID-19 policies that prioritize the health and safety of guests. The least expensive cabins are interior and have no windows. When cruising the Nile, ride a camel as you visit the pyramids in Cairo, Egypt. At the top end are large well-appointed suites with two full-sized rooms and great views, measuring about 445 square feet. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Their National Geographic sailings are particularly of note and include a variety of educational, expert-led travel excursions and talks. The large array of excursions has something for everyone from a cooking class to strenuous hikes, and visiting an ancient castle. 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 cruise lines sail around Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. deluxe tour operator in North America and that title is well justified. 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). Every cruise line considers dining to be a priority and serves fresh well-balanced meals served alongside regional wines, beers, and beverages. At least one Tauck director comes on each shore excursion so if you want to ask what time the bus leaves for the umpteenth time or your Quietvox battery dies, help is a few steps away. Viking also has six smaller "Baby Longships," which sail theDouro Riverin Portugal and the Elbe River in Germany and the Czech Republic. Avalon River Cruises is recognized for their all suite concept. The Panorama Dining Room serves daily four-course la carte dinners along with complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks, or guests can choose the more casual Panorama Bistro or Sky Grill. 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. (I admit that I travelled solo, so I wasn't sharing with anyone else.). The design is sleek and minimal and there are usually five tiers of cabins. On Viking, Scandinavian design rules the day, with light wood tones and a modern, clean look throughout. Read on for our look at Scenic vs. Tauck. Automobile lovers have the chance to visit BMW World to see luxury German-made cars. Uniworld: What Are Its Smallest, Largest and Most Common Stateroom Sizes? The Rivers They Cruise. They are owned by Globus and do a fantastic job. One thing both lines have in common is that they use modern coaches branded with the line's logo and photos of the ships or exotic locations (making them easily identifiable in a crowd of coaches). They include all excursions, all gratuities to staff, cruise/tour directors (noting that most companies have one onboard but they have three) and even local guides. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. Finish with an Inside Passage cruise.
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