On Tauck's four Inspiration ships, you'll find 67 cabins, and 49 on its Jewel-class 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). In France, enjoy a private visit to the Muse du Louvre in Paris. In Europe, the Danube River and the Rhine River are two of the most popular cruises for first-time river cruisers. Why Take A Tauck River Cruise. Which Royal Caribbean Suite Should I Book? Email us at [email protected]. They also tend to have more inclusions than a traditional cruise. 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. Choose Tauck ifyou want the feeling of five-star service while still having the freedom to explore. The ships also offer complimentary alcoholic beverages. All rights reserved. Without a doubt, the most visible presence in the river cruising world is Viking River Cruises, thanks to effective TV, radio and direct mail advertisements. There is also Uniworld's Legendary Rhine & Moselle, 13 days. Site Map|Global Site Map|Terms of Use|Privacy Policy, You can add one more tour operator from the list, Get guided help to find the right trip for you, Travel tips, stories, top 10 lists and more, Get yours before you leave, easier, cheaper. 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. All are butler-serviced river ships with a high, almost one-to-one staff-to-guest ratio. All-Inclusive River Cruises: How Are They Defined? On these cruises, too, the restaurants have kid-friendly menus and casual dining options. Both lines operateChristmas market cruises. All-Inclusive River Cruises: How Much Do You Save. Pros: Tauck boasts exclusive cultural experiences that are truly unique. If they cannot help you, then come back to continue the process. LauraS They are smaller than traditional cruise ships and boast more tailored offerings, such as carefully curated cuisine that is reflective of the areas being visited. Service was very good, rooms spacious, and I loved the French balcony and the in room internet too. Lower-deck rooms, which have a window, are 150 square feet. They are comfortable but not luxurious or particularly interesting. Odds are you will not get motion sickness on a river cruise since large waves or currents do not hit the ships. COVID-19 testing and/or vaccination is required before travel. 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. We can chat later about other destinations. Book their "Open-Air Balcony" and enjoy wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows that open for fresh air. I think they'd maybe be my first choice, and I know everything is included with them, but I like to get a bargain if I can. The line also hands out cash country if the tour takes place over lunchtime and passengers need to buy something to eat. Each day, you'll receive an enamel pin reflecting the day's adventure such as Mickey dressed as Mozart or Donald cooking goulash. Their line U by Uniworld is curated for the "active" guest. 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. Itineraries balance organized activities with ample leisure time so guests can pursue their own interests. as well as other partner offers and accept our. There is a wide variety of cabin categories from a 350 square foot suite that sleeps four with a balcony to Category D, the most affordable cabin, which is about 170 square feet, sleeps two, and features small windows. Last minute changes OK. The entry-level cabin is the Avalon Deluxe Stateroom. Scenic attracts more passengers in their 40s and 50s than you'll find on many vessels and, being Australian-owned, is not dominated by travelers from the United States. Guest lectures and performers also come aboard to highlight the destination, from Viennese opera to Portuguese fado, and local craft and culinary demonstrations are sprinkled throughout voyages as well, such as lace-making and Austrian apple strudel. 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. A river cruise is kind of like a floating hotel, except you'll visit a variety of places but only have to unpack once. 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. Pros: Viking is, by far, the largest river cruise company. In Memphis, opt for The Elvis Experience with a tour of Graceland. Both Tauck and Scenic have fitness centers, complimentary bikes (the ones on Scenic are e-bikes and slightly better) and for-fee spas. 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. Finish with an Inside Passage cruise. The ship's "Design Your Time" concierge service will help personalize your onboard and onshore experiences. 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). River cruises are available all over the world in Europe, Egypt, Peru, and South East Asia. AmaWaterways has a diverse selection of excursions, from low key to active experiences. 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. Most cabins also have a French balcony, which allows the rooms themselves to be larger than full balcony cabins, while still letting in fresh air. Both Tauck and Scenic boast spacious, contemporary cabins that are among the most comfortable in river cruising. 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). You can also buy wine along the trip and have it served with your meal at no additional cost. The ships on both cruise lines offer a wide choice of dishes to suit all tastes, including healthy choices and simpler "always available" dishes. The line is mostly known in the United States. For its upper deck passengers, Scenic offers Table La Rive, a 10-person chef's table in the main dining room. Tauck has its headquarters in the United States, and most of its passengers are American, with a smattering of Brits and other nationalities. Inspired by you, they've taken everything special about river cruising and made it even better. Cruise Critic named Avalon's staterooms the best in the business, and yes, we're blushing a bit. On its refurbished ships in France, Scenic has a salt room and a hair salon. 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 staff was awesome, and the entire experience was great. Pros:The boats have a small number of guests so they feel very intimate. Back By Popular Demand: Whats Included On River Cruises? (Scenic has its own lower-priced counterpart, Emerald Waterways.). Standard suites are sparse, small (just 160 square feet) and lack balconies. Riviera **: Riviera's beverage package, which includes wine and beer with lunch and dinner, ranges from $99 per person to $299 per person depending on the duration of the cruise. Viking also has an alternative restaurant, the Aquavit Lounge, but it's much more limited in its menu and only serves food during certain hours. There is also destination-themed entertainment; for example, while sailing through Austria a musician is likely to play musical pieces from "The Sound of Music.". There are also Christmas market sailings that include tree-trimming, caroling, and a Christmas dinner feast. By Cabins with French balconies are 135 square feet and standard cabins with a true balcony are 205 square feet (balcony inclusive). It should re-energize and transform. As expected, the ships serve American cuisines with options for fresh lobster or USDA Prime Beef. Tauck, the well-known tour and river-ship operator, retained its No. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Harmony of the Seas vs. Allure of the Seas. Cons: Cocktails are pricey and not included; a martini or a Manhattan will set you back about $12 dollars. A river cruise is an all-inclusive journey where you unpack once but visit many destinations. 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. Scenic operates custom-made vessels and a variety of cabins types. Get the real picture with both traveler and expert reviews to ensure the trip you book is the right one for you. Any input from people on this forum would be appreciated. CC Help Jenn Please choose only one for now. 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. (The amount varies from country to country, but it is generous and enough to buy a meal and drink). 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. 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). Scenic makes sure that its passengers have a variety of things to do in the evening. We also considered the added value of all-inclusive perks. In French balcony cabins, the beds generally face the window for better views. Dinner is served to the table and, on both lines, staff are very attentive. If you have a travel agent, please consider contacting him or her first. Choose Tauck ifonboard spa, beauty and fitness options are essential to your vacation. Typical starting price: Starting at $2,299 per person for 7 nights (per person based on double occupancy $328 per night, all-inclusive). The large array of excursions has something for everyone from a cooking class to strenuous hikes, and visiting an ancient castle. 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. I was on the River Queen last year, and although the cabins are a bit small, they were well designed. 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. Scenic offers all passengers a limited 24-hour room service menu, with full in-suite dining for passengers in Royal and Royal Panorama Suites. Both lines offer the type of amenities you'd expect on upscale ships. The Rhine river, Moselle river , Danube river , Rhone river and the Seine River complete the Europe Map served by Avalon River Cruises. River cruising is an efficient way to travel visit a variety of destinations and only unpack once. On the Mekong, go on a guided tour of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. For example, European river cruises run fromMarch through December. AmaWaterways operates the finest fleet and provides all-inclusive river cruise vacations on the great waterways of Europe, Russia, Vietnam and Cambodia.
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