avalon river cruises vs tauck

COVID-19 procedures are availablehere. Experience the "Wild West" of France in la Camargue with farm-fresh meals, local music, and a horse show. The design is sleek and minimal and there are usually five tiers of cabins. Most of the Avalon's cabins are Panorama Suites, which offer a wide view of the rivers on which you are traveling. Tauck recently renovated many of their ships, most of which carry just 84 or 98 guests, while a few larger boats accommodate a max of 130 guests. They are more expensive, but do things first class. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Harmony of the Seas vs. Allure of the Seas. Any input from people on this forum would be appreciated. Both Tauck and Scenic are at the high end of river cruises, in terms of price and inclusions. Read on for our look at Scenic vs. Tauck. The cabins are large with King-sized beds, which is a rarity in river cruising. In Italy, go on an after-hours visit to St. Mark's Basilica in Venice and tour the 9th-century church without crowds. On select sailings in France, visit the secret apartments in Versailles Palace. We feature savings up to 50% off retail prices on European River and Mekong Cruises on . 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. Stay at the 'Castle in the Rockies', and relish a Rocky Mountaineer rail journey. View travel requirements for countries around the world. 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: $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. If you have a travel agent, please consider contacting him or her first. Comparing Stateroom Sizes On River Cruisers, Staterooms: River Cruisers vs. Cruise Ships, Rhne & Sane River Stateroom Size Comparisons, Rhine, Main & Danube River Stateroom Size Comparisons. AmaWaterways has a diverse selection of excursions, from low key to active experiences. My husband and I went on the Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles Trip jn October 2022. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Tauck will sell through TA's, but maybe not online ones. Whats the Best Choice for a Sane River Cruise? 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. One nice perk: heated floors in the bathroom. Sign up for a private Imperial Evening at a palace in Vienna with dinner and classical performances. The line also hands out cash country if the tour takes place over lunchtime and passengers need to buy something to eat. Viking River vs AmaWaterways vs Tauck River Cruises Each day, you'll receive an enamel pin reflecting the day's adventure such as Mickey dressed as Mozart or Donald cooking goulash. Tauck has nine ships, with its four newer vessels carrying 130 passengers -- the lowest number of passengers for a ship of its size. Both lines provide generous pours of wine during lunch and dinner, mostly regional varietals. Typical starting price: $2,195 for 7 nights (per person based on double occupancy $313 per night, all-inclusive), Where do they sail:Danube, Main (Germany), Rhine, Moselle, Rhne, Douro (Portugal), Seine, Bordeaux, Volga (Russia), Mekong (South East Asia), Irrawaddy (Myanmar), Specialty cruises: National Geographic, Christmas markets, Onboard amenities (may vary by ship):Laundry,wellness area, gym, massage services, hair salon, Wi-Fi, e-bikes, L'Occitane products, pillow menu, shoeshine, Inclusive: Meals, butler service, gratuities, transfers, excursions, beverages (with the exception of certain specialty wines and rare spirits), minibar fully restocked daily, chef-prepared picnics, 24-hour in-room dining, entertainment. Scenic has five cabin categories on its 85-cabin Space-Ships. (Most newer river cruise ships in Europe are a standard 443 feet.) 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. Inspired by you, they've taken everything special about river cruising and made it even better. 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. The ships on both cruise lines offer a wide choice of dishes to suit all tastes, including healthy choices and simpler "always available" dishes. Pros: The ships are smaller than most with just over 100 passengers and children are allowed. The ship's "Design Your Time" concierge service will help personalize your onboard and onshore experiences. We enjoyed AMA in May when we took the Danube Cruise. All-Inclusive River Cruises: How Much Do You Save. While other river cruise cabins shove your bed against a wall for a view of the other wall, our Comfort Collection Beds SM beds face the widest-opening, wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows in river cruising. There is no room service on Viking. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. Both AmaWaterways and Avalon Waterways sail these rivers and have a wide variety of stops which can vary by cruise theme. Pros: Tauck boasts exclusive cultural experiences that are truly unique. The itineraries would be suitable for older teens interested in culture and history, and the option of bike tours and independent exploration with the Scenic TailorMade devices mean they aren't forced into day after day of walking or bus tours. Kids love the Junior Adventurer dinners or Disney movie nights, and there is also a Just Teens program with dinners and separate tour groups at various destinations. Viking Longships carry 190 passengers and have 95 cabins. The food was delicious, service was excellent. While on the Danube, take a dip in legendary thermal baths in Budapest, Hungry. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. River Cruises: Avalon Waterways River cruises are available all over the world in Europe, Egypt, Peru, and South East Asia. Then, there are the ships inEgypt,China,Vietnam and Cambodia, which the line either owns or charters, and in 2023 Viking launches its first ship on the Mississippi. Also check out Avalon rivercruises. Onboard enrichment on both lines is based around the destinations visited. Scenic ships have neither facilities for children nor specific family sailings, but kids 12 and older are welcome onboard. They are also more likely to offer a hike or a strenuous walk than Tauck. Learn to paint like Van Gogh at the Ateliers Art Institute in Amsterdam. Go to the Cathdrale Notre-Dame of Strasbourg for a private organ concert. In French balcony cabins, the beds generally face the window for better views. Viking, the world's largest river cruise company, moved up two spots into the lead position. Many of the staterooms have balconies that offer panoramic views and fresh air. Standard staterooms, which are the least expensive, hover at the water level, and come in at about 150 square feet. The big differences are between the type of access to the outdoors and butler service. If you want flexibility, the line is hard to beat. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. Tauck just looked fabulous but, for us, the premium is not worth it as the additional inclusions are not important to us. 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. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. There is a very low crew to guest ratio. AmaWaterways Vs. Avalon Waterways River Cruises: 8 Key Differences Notable Excursions (note, these excursions are not included and involve an extra fee): COVID-19 vaccinations are required for all guests and crew. River Cruise Advisor | Avid Cruiser | About | Terms & Full Disclosure | Privacy | Contact | Subscribe. Viking has the largest fleet, by far, in Europe, with 55 nearly identical Scandinavian-inspired Longships. Having fewer people on the same size ship does make a difference in terms of seating, service and overall vibe. Cons: This is the most expensive on our list, so it is an investment. Tauck River Cruise Experts | Learn About Tauck River Cruises Today, the company's assortment of upscale, highly inclusive tours, river cruises and small-ship ocean cruises spans the globe. 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. 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. 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. 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. I've always been a fan of traditional cruise line journeys, but a river cruise is much more intimate and in many cases, luxurious. 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 -. Choose Tauck ifyou don't want any extra charges at all when you leave the ship, love the convenience of having everything set up for you or want the feeling of a more deluxe experience. A river cruise is an all-inclusive journey where you unpack once but visit many destinations. In French balcony cabins, the beds generally face the window for better views. 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. About Viking - do they have open seating for dinner? Pros: Viking is, by far, the largest river cruise company. I could use Scenic's $379.00 per day per . Avalon Waterways My cabin (#312) aboard Avalon Tapestry II on the Seine River in Normandy. Tauck is equally non-fussy, but the overall feel is a little more elegant. They are owned by Globus and do a fantastic job. There's a salon that provides hair and nail services, as well as a small spa for massage treatments. Choose Tauck ifyou want the feeling of five-star service while still having the freedom to explore. Cons: Viking is adults only; passengers must be over the age of 18. Avalon offers many onboard presentations, including the celebrity-driven Storyteller Series, which is set to include the likes of Candace Bushnell ("Sex and the City"), Gillian Flynn ("Gone Girl"), Cheryl Strayed ("Wild"), and Diana Gabaldon (Outlander"). Tauck is a family-run company that has shown travelers the world since 1925. We found it to be quite inclusive and spent very little extra, except for tips and drinks at the bar. And that is the very essence of our France river cruises. Dinner is served to the table and, on both lines, staff are very attentive. Lower-deck rooms, which have a window, are 150 square feet. Viking ships sail all of Europe's major rivers, including the Rhine, Danube, Rhone, Main, Moselle, Seine, Dordogne, Garonne, Gironde and Dutch waterways. Choose Viking ifyou want lots of itinerary choice. On its refurbished ships in France, Scenic has a salt room and a hair salon. Many also have balconies and walk-in closets, and all are above the waterline. 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 . 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. Cruise Critic named Avalon's staterooms the best in the business, and yes, we're blushing a bit. On a similar seven-night June 2023 cruise on the Danube, Tauck is about $1,000 more expensive than Viking for a standard cabin (this can be even more as Viking offers a lot of promotional deals). 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. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. The large array of excursions has something for everyone from a cooking class to strenuous hikes, and visiting an ancient castle. 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). 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. The line's larger ships carry 169 passengers, while smaller vessels in France have 155 passengers. These cruises offer25% off the fare for travelers 4 to 17 years old when traveling with an adult (suites excluded). By After experiencing the river cruise lifestyle, I was sold. It depends on what you are looking for in your vacation. Tauck moved up two places in T+L's 2021 rankings to grab the No. The latter are true suites, with two rooms. All rights reserved. Book their "Open-Air Balcony" and enjoy wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows that open for fresh air. Which Royal Caribbean Suite Should I Book? Finish with an Inside Passage cruise. 15 of the Best European River Cruises - Travel + Leisure Whats the Best Choice For A RhneRiver Cruise? 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. Raise your sights and set your sails for the rivers of Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa on an Avalon Waterways cruise. QUICK STATS AVALON WATERWAYS 2004 COVID-19 testing and/or vaccination is required before travel. 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.

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