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Adventures by Disney is the best option for families since they curate their onboard and onshore activities with kids and teens in mind. Get the real picture with both traveler and expert reviews to ensure the trip you book is the right one for you. In late March, Ange and Angela made a trip to Amsterdam to attend the Virtuoso Forum meeting. A WORLD OF WATERWAYS The Rivers of Avalon 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. Tauck: What Are Its Smallest, Largest and Most Common Stateroom Sizes? Viking is also an adults-only line, while Tauck was the pioneer of family river cruises through its Tauck Bridges program. It should re-energize and transform. There is one single cabin that is 129 square feet, and one wheelchair-accessible cabin. Tauck not only has a cruise director onboard its ship, but it has three additional Tauck guides who give the daily briefings, attend the shore excursions (although local experts actually give the tours), hand out spending money or give you a rose to place at the gravesite of a veteran in an American military cemetery. The line reduced capacity on its five older vessels, which are smaller, bringing the passenger counts from 118 to 98. Many also have balconies and walk-in closets, and all are above the waterline. Tauck Tours and thus Tauck River Cruises may be the most well respected. Pros: Tauck boasts exclusive cultural experiences that are truly unique. I'm not sure you will find Tauck discounted in many places. All told, the fleet stands at 70 (excluding ships not currently operating in Russia). Because the Inspiration ships are the same size as Viking ships with fewer passengers and cabins, the staterooms are larger. Come face-to-face with the gentle manta rays of Komodo National Park in Indonesia. (The Longships are the same size, 443 feet, but carry 190). For those with an interest in history, try The Life and Legacy of Abraham Lincoln tour. 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. Thanks for all the input. As expected, the ships serve American cuisines with options for fresh lobster or USDA Prime Beef. 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. 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. The reason why Scenic fans might not know Tauck, and vice versa, stems from the companies' headquarters. 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 . Having fewer people on the same size ship does make a difference in terms of seating, service and overall vibe. I was on the River Queen last year, and although the cabins are a bit small, they were well designed. 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. These are the best river cruise lines, sorted by price from low to high. 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. 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. The only Tauck employees onboard are the four cruise directors. 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. COVID-19 procedures are available here. Activities include educational lectures from visiting professors, and well as local entertainment, and even Broadway-level performances. The cruise lines are priced to start at $241 per night, depending on the time of year and the cruise line. Visit Schloss Hof in Bratislava for chocolate tasting and learn to waltz in the grand ballroom. The dishes are paired with a selection of wines from the area that is being explored. While both lines have bikes onboard, Scenic utilizes them more, offering guided bike rides in most ports. With over 50 riverboats, there are many cruises ships, dates, and itineraries to consider. 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. Click here . 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. The line's revamped older ships have 49 cabins: eight measuring 150 square feet, four measuring 183 square feet, one measuring 182 square feet, 20 measuring 225 square feet and 14 suites measuring 300 square feet. Crystal Cruises river cruise line features all-suite ships. In effect, it feels kind of like a chartered yacht. 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. 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. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. Overall, the crowd is older and more sedate than you'd find on Scenic; the dance floor is rarely used on Tauck ships, while on Scenic, it's not unusual for dancing to occur if the right band is playing. We cruised Budapest to Amsterdam 2 years ago with Avalon and it was the best vacation,most relaxing we ever. 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. It's open for lunch and dinner, and it's free for everyone. Whats the Best Choice for a MainRiver Cruise? COVID-19 procedures are available here. AmaWaterways was founded in 2002 by Rudi Schreiner . Cons: Entry-level cabins are small, at 150 square feet, and have just two small windows. 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. Scenic and Tauck have many similarities, even if fans of one haven't heard of the other. Scenic offers various excursions, from visiting World Heritage Sites to a round of golf. Uniworld has bicycles, and there is an included excursion every day, although there are also optional excursions. 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. 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. Some ships on both lines have hot tubs or plunge pools on the top deck. One of the best vacations I've ever taken was a river cruise. CC Help Jenn Which Royal Caribbean Suite Should I Book? It lacks the grandeur of the suites, and is small at about 172 square feet, and has small windows peaking above the waterline. Tauck just looked fabulous but, for us, the premium is not worth it as the additional inclusions are not important to us. On the Danube sailing, see the Wachau Valley from a canoe and visit a hidden beach. Compare River Cruise Lines: Which Company Fits Where? A) next door to a junior suite.Being close to the entrance of the staircase, you do hear people going by your room in the morning. The iconic river ships of No. 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. In France, enjoy a private visit to the Muse du Louvre in Paris. These are all decorated in a modern, contemporary style and feel airy and spacious due to the liberal use of mirrors and reflective panels. It's a true gourmet experience, with well-thought-out and unusual wine pairings. 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. 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. With an innovative product and rapidly-growing fleet of custom-designed ships, the line enjoys a reputation as the leader in river cruising. A View with a Room. While on the Danube, take a dip in legendary thermal baths in Budapest, Hungry. Raise your sights and set your sails for the rivers of Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa on an Avalon Waterways cruise. Both AmaWaterways and Avalon Waterways sail these rivers and have a wide variety of stops which can vary by cruise theme. Viking includes at least one shore excursion in every port you visit. Both lines provide generous pours of wine during lunch and dinner, mostly regional varietals. Pros: The ships are smaller than most with just over 100 passengers and children are allowed. 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. In addition to traditional ships, there are also sleek black U by Uniworld boats, which offer a modern take on river cruising with a younger demographic in mind.