Tauck, Avalon, & Viking River Cruises | COMPARISON
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 มิ.ย. 2024
- Tauck, Avalon, & Viking River Cruises comparison. Luxury All Inclusive ,almost all inclusive and Ala carte. Real Travel expert Beth Schulberg, owner of Cruise & Travel Specialists of Lake Oswego Oregon, joins Ken to compare three of her go to river cruise lines: Tauck, Avalon Waterways and Viking River Cruises, with a view to the inclusivity and options available on each river cruise line. Beth and Ken discuss what sets each river cruise line apart from each other and some of their history plus what you need to know when choosing a river cruise line. Such as which river cruise line is classed as luxury which is the most all inclusive and which can be the most economical based on an ala carte menu of options. Find out why despite the fact that the ships are the same size the amount of passengers they carry varies from 130 to 190, an what the river cruise lines do with the extra space. Beth provides valuable river cruise tips on such thing as deposits and the best time of year to consider booking your river cruise. Beth ties everything together with an example price comparison between the three lines when everything is added up post river cruise. The results may surprise potential river cruisers looking for that next vacation.
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Contact Cruise & Travel Specialists: info@cruzholidays.com
Cruise & Travel Specialist website: cruztrav.com/
Image & Video Credits:
Avalon Waterways Clips and Images: Courtesy of Avalon Waterways
Tauck Clips and Images: Courtesy of Tauck Tours & Cruises
Viking River Cruises Clips and Images: Courtesy of Viking
River Cruise Rafting Image: Courtesy Stefan B from Bratislava, Slovakia, via Wikimedia Commons
RTE Travel Talk does not endorse any of their guests' products or services. The opinions of the guests may or may not reflect those of the host and RTE Travel Talk.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction
00:18 Special Guest, Beth Schulberg
01:18 Overview of Tauck Inclusions
03:04 Overview of Avalon Waterways Inclusions
03:37 Overview of Viking and Inclusions
04:48 Ship & stateroom size differences
06:51 Dining Differences
09:16 French Balconies
10:47 Shore Excursion Differences
13:54 Beverage packages
14:53 Formal vs Casual Dress
15:46 Price Comparison
18:47 Entertainment Compared
19:29 Deposits & Booking Differences
21:23 Solo Travelers
23:09 Advice for Booking
23:46 Beth's Future Travels
My wife and I just finished the Danube river cruise ending in Budapest with Tauck. Over the top fantastic experience. The ship was beautiful and our room was spacious with lots of storage space. The bathroom was also top notch. The larger room and fewer number of passengers made for a more intimate experience. This company really knows its clientele and makes sure you are all treated as a first class passenger. There was always a cruise director with us on the exceptional excursions making sure we never paid for anything (not even use of a restroom). Hotels at either end of the trip were 5 star. For a few more dollars we were treated to fabulous tours/events and our every need was attended to by super attentive friendly staff. The food was excellent and top notch local wines were always available. Really everything was always available. Best vacation travel experience we’ve ever had. When docked next to a competitors ship you really can’t see the difference.
You did a great job highlighting the differences between cruise companies!
Thanks for your mini review.
This seemed pretty balanced. Family members over three generations have used Tauck and raved about them, but your presenter doesn’t dismiss the positives of the others. Thanks to you and her.
All the river cruise lines have positives and negatives. It’s Beth’s job as an expert to match clients to the one that best suits them. Tauck is top of the list for most travel advisors based on guest feedback and personal experience.
I have been on a Tauck cruise. Everything she says is totally true.
Great to hear we are looking forward to sailing with them sometime.
Viking was world class service and food. The shore excursions were thoughtful and weighted by your capabilities. Our trip was beyond expectations.
Always like to hear that you had a great experience
I'm looking forward to my Viking River Cruise in July. What she is saying is actually reassuring and your comment is very comforting.
Very helpful. When I was a teenager, I went to France with the French Club from my high school. It was a BLAST and so interesting! However, it was rather exhausting having to pack and unpack virtually every single day as we traveled throughout the country. The thought of being able to tour places while having a “floating hotel” is very enticing.
Thanks for sharing! We did a three day extension in Egypt in 2022 which involved three different hotels and living out of a suitcase. We were so happy to get to our ship.
A few thoughts on Viking and Tauck..We took our first river cruise last year- Viking Rhine with a few days extension in Switzerland. My husband thought cruising would be slow and boring and was so surprised at how active it was that he immediately wanted to sign back up! Viking experience was very good, casual, superb food, friendly staff and fellow cruisers- we loved it. However, Viking wants full $$ way too early, IMO, over a year ahead. It is not fully inclusive and most included excursions are walking tours. We paid extra for interesting outings. We were also never able to dine on Aquavit Terrace, so had every meal at 8-10 person tables in Dining Room. It would’ve been nice to have a break. We had a suite, but were unaware of any room service.
We are big fans of Tauck land tours and trying our first Tauck River cruise next year. It’ll be interesting to compare the experiences.
It’s true what your guest said about Tauck’s founder wanting a pleasant, low maintenance group of travelers. Our first Tauck correspondence said something similar- basically, try to leave your “issues” at home, bring your cheerful self and be considerate of others - great advice no matter how one travels.
Thanks for the mini review. You are going to enjoy Tauck.
After watching this, very informative video where Bethe provided some very relevant information, we decided to call her office in Portland. We were surprised to find out that to engage them as our travel agent it would cost us $300. We’ve booked Cruises through travel agents in the past, and we were not charged a fee at all. We were under the impression that travel agents work on commission.
Thanks for the comment. Travel agents do earn commissions from suppliers, however what most folks are unaware of is that in recent years they have had to endure reductions in commissions from some suppliers and efforts by others to cut them out all together. Flights are a good example of that, most flights that have the best connections and cost for the client pay no commissions, not to mention the extra time required for flight changes and updates leading up to the travel day. Most top flight luxury travel agents are charging an engagement fee, which covers the hours of research they will put in to researching and curating a vacation for clients that both meets the clients expectations and ultimately provides the best value in addition to the pre travel meetings, during travel monitoring and post travel follow up. Ultimately it is up to the guest if to determine whether an engagement fee is worth it to them for the services of an expert when planning a complex trip that can cost up to 15000 per person or more, but most are not disappointed.
Very informative for newcomers trying to choose a cruise line!
Thanks 😊
Filled with great information !
Glad it was helpful!
Viking still has the best pre-and post extensions.
Viking does a great job with extensions
Perhaps, but Avalon is more active & adventure themed. Bikes onboard and a wellness instructor + gym. Plus, in our panorama suite, the bed faces out towards the river. Over 200 sq ft, and bigger bathroom. Viking caters to an older crowd and it’s a cheaper feel. Amawaterways & Avalon are the best imo and they cater to a younger & more active passenger. Excursions included, as well as wine & beer with lunch & dinner. Great vlog btw👍
We took the first river cruise to Rhine with Viking and are going to Danube in June. We planned on going to more cruises in the coming years before we are too old to travel. Thanks for your channel. Subscribed.
You are most welcome we love what we do and love to travel. You will enjoy the Danube. You are never to old to travel as long as you have your health so enjoy your future adventures.
Never too old to travel! When I was a college student on my way to study abroad in Spain, there was a lady boarding my flight who was in her 80s and in a wheelchair. She was on her way to Turkey-- travelling alone. She loved to travel and said she hadn't been to Turkey yet.💁♀ A lesson I'll never forget: If you have the money and mental acuity, don't let age and physical limitations stop you from exploring and experiencing new places.💓
I was on a Viking River Cruise a year ago. They absolutely have room service. for dining.
Interesting were you in a suite?
We’re looking at a river cruise which would be a first time for us. This was really helpful. Thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Look into Silver seas
I have not seen an expectation of more formal dress for the dinners on tauck. casual slacks and a collared shirt have always sufficed and in my experience that is the most common dress for men. Ladies usually wear a casual dress or skirt for these events Dinners in a castle in Vienna or Prague, or a large venue (university club if my memory is correct) in Budapest. Also for extended pre or post cruise stay, The have excellent hotels, such as the Four Seasons Gresham Palace in Budapest . All of these are gold choices, but, in my opinion,Tauck is head and shoulders above the rest.
Thanks for the input. Tauck is outstanding by all accounts
We've booked three Viking cruises for Thanksgiving of that year during their Labor Day sale. We've paid $199, $99 and $zero (yes, free) airfare and transfers. There's very limited availability of rooms. We've been waterline room (lower deck) two of the three cruises. But that's ok with us. We only shower, change and sleep in the rooms anyway.
Thanks for your input
This was a great interview. I like that you covered solo cruisers. However, you left out information for mobility challenged individuals. I'm using a rollator walker. Do these riverboats have elevators and shore excursions that can accommodate me?
Guests with mobility issues can be accommodated on some river cruise lines. That said your overall experience can be limited depending on the line and the port they are visiting and most importantly your limitations. It’s best to work with a travel advisor that understands the lines and your limitations so as to match you with the best experience. As for elevators there are elevators available on some ships but only they normally only allow for access to the sun deck. Another reason to work with a travel advisor.
Viking has real verandas, which she said were small, and their veranda suites are really two-room suites. Also, they were very accommodating with food requests…allergies, vegetarian, etc. Viking also has all kinds of excursions, just like the others. Avalon is also very nice, although we missed the full veranda a lot. Talk may indeed be good, but she sounds like she gets paid more from Tauk.
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Nope, we have done Tauck multiple times and they are truly a step above. ALL inclusive not like Viking where we pick one excursion and that’s it.
My Son-in-law has been going on river cruises bi-annually with his family since he was young. He likes Viking but he says Tauck is definitely the best. I didn't think she was over-promoting Tauck.
She is very misleading about Viking. I am finding this information to be very skewed. The info on the shore excursions is very misleading.
Great comparison. Thank you.
Which of the river cruise lines offer coffee machines in the room and tables for two in the dining room? I heard that Viking does not offer tables for two. That might work for couples or families traveling together sitting at a four or more persons table, but that doesn't work for me.
We’ve never seen a coffee machine in the room on a river cruise. In all river cruises there is a 24 hour coffee station set up in the lounge area. When it comes to tables for two, they are available in limited quantities on most of the lines in the main dining room but due to space limitations you are still seated very close together kind of defeating the purpose. Some of the specialty dining venues on some lines such as Viking's Aquavit Terrace will have seating for two.
You are correct that Viking does not offer tables for 2, or even 4, in their dining rooms. They want you to meet your fellow travelers. As, usually, a solo traveler, this is one reason why I like Viking. I get to join others at tables of 6, 8, or ten, and not be made to feel uncomfortable to join them. The last thing I want to do on vacation is to eat by myself every night. This type of seating allows you to meet different people every night and it leads to a wide variety of conversations. Expand you view on this open seating - you will enjoy it.
What about when then promo offers airfare , do you have choice other than economy? How does it work and what’s the fine print?
Normally when they offer free economy air you do have the option to upgrade to business class for a fee, depending on if they have availability in their air contract with the air provider. Airfare can be tricky so it is best to work with an experienced travel advisor to ensure you understand what you are signing up for.
very informative but what about SENIC and RIVERSIDE why where they not in the comparison ????
It’s difficult to cram in all the great cruise lines in one interview did you see these ones on Riverside and Scenic River Cruise Lines Comparison Viking, Emerald & Scenic River Cruises CHOOSING THE BEST ONE
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@@askarealtravelexpert thank you so much for your reply and links that helped a LOT !!!
When is the best time of year to cruise? Have heard of high or low rivers, busing, also rainy and cold months.. Looking for information on the preceding. Thanks.
We like the May June period.
Trafalgar bus tour is great also
We must reach out to them for an interview.
Aghhh we have been with them , Trafalgar, many times with mixed results. Hotels are often far away from city center so if you don’t do the optional there is nothing to do. they push shopping . We now use Tauck for river and Insight for land.
I have never paid more than $4000 for a Viking cruise, some with extra excursions, and all with airfare included.
Good deal
If you are an older person who may have an unexpected medical event, can you get a refund or possibly buy trip insurance?
Have a look at this interview Lola does a great job of explaining travel insurance it’s for Canada but the information is much the same if you are from the US. Travel Insurance Canada ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
th-cam.com/video/jNPUhk9jfkQ/w-d-xo.html
We loved Viking unfortunately my husband died before we could go on our next 2, both had been canceled for Covid. Having extreme difficulty getting money back.
😔 So sorry to hear that about your husband. What difficulty are you having with refunds.
Elliot Confidential, consumer online travel newsletter, may be able to help. They have lists of corporate executives with telephone and email contacts so you can go directly up the ladder. If that fails, they may get directly involved. Keep a paper trail of all transactions, names, dates, and what was said to you. Once The Elliot group gets involved companies know they’re now in the hook to do the right thing or suffer the wrong public relations exposure. Getting refunds should never be that difficult
Of course Avalon is going to be 40-50% more than Viking and Tauck is going to be 100% (double) Viking, for a similar itinerary/dates/state room.
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Do all three lines give the same commission percentage? Do they get commissions on drink packages? Shore excursions? Gratuities? Salespeople will always try to steer you to the choice that gives them the highest commissions. Why would someone NOT take the provided transfers?
Thanks for video. Forget all these. Silver Seas is WONDERFUl. Tauck is very expensive. Viking you have to pay almost a year in advance. The cheapest but not the best.
Silversea is wonderful but they are ocean going not river cruising, tough to make a comparison.
My God...is this woman employed by Tauck? Seriously I know she get's commissions like my Travel Agent does but this was so blatant it makes me question anything she says. FYI I took a Viking Danube Cruise in 20`16 and thought it was fantastic.
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I'm not hearing that. She is basically saying you get what you pay for.
Tauck is worth every penny! Class Act! We have gone with Tauck since 2003. Beth is just stating the facts