This was great, having just taken my 1st river cruise, and ready to book my next. The one thing she didn't mention is the perks your travel agent may be able to give you to offset costs. For example, Viking was offering a free airfare deal when we booked. The travel agent threw in a Silver Spirits Package (unlimited drinks of any kind) plus a shipboard credit that paid for 2 extra shore excursions, our gratuities, and some swag bags from the Viking gift shop. When comparison shopping, I highly recommend asking your travel agent what perks they can include. This could sway your decision on which river cruise company you choose.
Good tip. Travel advisors often have additional perks on select sailings that are not available when you book directly with the ocean or river cruise line.
We are getting $800 check back after sailing from our TA - so we can spend it how we like. This is much more than we get on say Royal Caribbean because Viking charges so much more, so she has more to work with - I won’t complain!!
I have traveled with Beth several times on Uniworld and AmaWaterways. She puts together the best packages. She also is great at trouble shooting, working tirelessly to make sure everyone is accommodated when any problem may arise. On to Egypt with her in December!
We got an very amazing price with viking that included the airfare. My sister and I won’t spend any extra money on tours. We’ll just do whatever they offer that is included or just walk into the town or village and look around. We don’t drink, so now problem there.
I did too! My husband and I are going on Viking cruise with another couple in April, and we are not doing anything extra, just doing the 2 excursions offered per day. We are really low-key people and expect to venture out by ourselves as there are 4 of us.
The excursions included on Viking cruises are sufficient and will take up most of your touring time. The only extra excursion we added to the Viking Grand American cruise was the Sound of Music tour
Great video and review! We did the Danube in 2019 with AMA Waterways, and it was exceptional! We’re going back next Fall with AMA on the Seine Paris to Normandy!
Very interesting video, thanks. I have been on 2 Ama cruises and 1 Uniworld cruise. I have also booked a 2024 Ama cruise. My cruises with both countries were excellent, but I prefer Ama for a couple of reasons. On all 3 cruises I purchased the pre and post cruise extensions. On Ama your cruise manager greats you when we check into the first hotel and bids farewell when you board the bus to the airport after the final hotel. Uniworld uses local guides for the pre and post extensions. They were fine, but the security of having that one person with you for your entire time is comforting. We had a medical emergency in Madrid and our manager was able to go with the passenger to the ER and monitor her during the entire 13 days. We arrived for our post during a huge political demonstration in Lisbon. Our bus was unable to get to the hotel and we had to walk. Our manager along with the local guide we there all the time for assistance. Food was excellent and abundance on both lines. What I do like is the light bistro lunch that Ama serves in the lounge. (I can't eat 3 large meals a day.) There was soup, small sandwiches, cheese and crackers, crudities and desserts. (With a cup of soup and cheese and crackers, I was set.) I really cannot remember what Uniworld served in the lounge, but it was very limited. The local guides for both lines were uniformly excellent as was the shipboard staff. On the Uniworld cruise I was on the lower level and found it just fine. Dimitri was in charge of those rooms, and he attended us like a butler in a fancy suit. It seemed as soon as we used a towel it was replaced.
Great overview. We just took Viking up the Rhine and the one thing that was a turn off for our party of 3 was the dining room seating. There were no tables for 2 or 4 unless you ate upstairs on the terrace, which didn’t have many seats indoors. The dining room’s tables sat 6 people and up and they were very close together, great if you’re an extrovert and want to meet new people every time you dine, not so great for those who don’t. We didn’t have this problem on an AMA Danube cruise a few years ago, so we are cruising on AMA again on the Douro River next year.
One huge advantage of Viking, which we experienced in 2018 (Grand European) during low water levels, was that they have so many ships we could transfer from one to another without our vacation becoming a bus tour. It wasn't very convenient, but I really felt for travelers we met who spent only 1 or 2 nights on the river cruise. Make sure you check your water levels and give yourself a chance to postpone if water levels are low.
Great tip the other river cruise lines will do this as well depending on ship availability but you are right Viking with more ships has the advantage. Water levels are going to become more of a thing as we go forward into the future, spring departures are going to become more popular when water levels are at peak. This is where the advice of an experienced river cruise travel advisor can come in handy.
Viking may have more ships but AmaWaterways have the lowest draft ships out of all the major cruise lines so the chances of you having to get off the ship is very low due to low water conditions. They also know how to work with high water conditions. Again, chances of that affecting your cruise is extremely low with Ama.
@@susanac7733Low draft is of no benefit when the rivers are closed to all large boat traffic, as was the case with the Rhine on our first river cruise.
We have traveled on both Viking, two river cruises and Amawaterways, on 1. They seemed very similar. Cabins, food, excursions, service. We are taking a Viking ocean cruise soon. My only quibble is that Viking air plans involve too many stops, no direct flights to Europe. Also, I just learned that travel agents can get you perks. I have always booked directly with the company.
Thanks for the comment on Viking Air we have an upcoming segment on Viking We will quiz the expert on the air portion. And yes travel advisors will often have access to special amenities and perks. Plus it also handy to have an some knowledgeable in the product especially for complicated itineraries.
We have always booked directly with the cruise company, but will use a highly recommended local TA. She has already done some great stuff for our next AMA cruise that is allowing us to cancel our Viking booking!
Ama’s excursions are far more varied and interesting than Viking’s. Loved my Ama cruise as a single traveler: and the swan-view room was perfectly fine! And I am very picky and claustrophobic. Glad I tried that, because I was barely in my room except to nap or sleep. Choosing the excursions that interest you make the trip.
As a veteran of 8 river cruises and a ninth coming up in a few weeks if the water levels hold, I thought this was a good video for a novice cruiser. I agree with pretty much everything but I thought that there were a couple of things missing. Nothing was said about possible water level problems and nothing was said about solo supplements. I feel that Viking is not as willing to waive single supplements as some of the other cruise lines. I have been on Gate 1, Viking, Avalon and Uniworld and Uniworld is my favorite by far. My upcoming cruise is my fifth with Uniworld and I have paid a solo supplement only once, but it was really worth it.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. And you are correct about possible water level issues especially in the upcoming years. This would make for a good segment about how the various cruise lines handle the situations. Same with solo supplements ( up charge for single occupancy) as some lines have promotions where they waive the up charge. Five river cruises on Uniworld alone would certainly make you an expert. Would you like to come on the show some time?
As a single traveller who has been on APT, Scenic, Riviera x 2 and Amadeus river cruises I can say single supplements are my biggest complaint. Generally the price is doubled minus a couple of hundred quid for the air fare. But I'm not eating two sets of meals in the restaurant, using the pool twice as much as anyone else, etc.
One key fact that was just sort of passed over is that the excursions are optional, you can choose all, some or none depending on your wants. But this is very informative.
This is true. Which is one of the cool things about river cruising in Europe. In most cases you dock at or very near the heart of each town. So you can always venture out on your own if you do choose,
We’ve done both AMA Magna Vilshoffen > Budapest (Danube) & UniWorld MarieAntionette Basel > Amsterdam (Rhien) … yes Uni was all inclusive but AMA was pretty much same, as when grouping with new friends on deck mid afternoon, or late morning a waiter came along and said would you like a … I think a Bloody Mary would go well with that sparkling water or would you like a Prosecco with the juice cocktail. In any case a bucks fizz - or champagne for that matter on during breakfast at AMA too. I think the staff on both of these lines were out of this world compared to some Ocean lines. Lastly, back in them olden days the river was the Highway Freeway Motorway etc. so when you fetch up at the dock of a town or village, you are literally straight into the town square with only a 4 or 5 minute walk … no messing with coaches local. But the coaches fo4 both lines when used are top notch, leather seats, USB outlets in seats air con etc. My advice go for a river hol on Uni or AMA you won’t be disappointed.
When you book a another Viking Cruise when you are on a Viking Cruise you have 6 months to pay for that next cruise. So the whole thing about 30 days goes out the window. They will tell you this on your cruise. Plus they give you onboard credit for the cruise you are on. Plus the more you Cruise with Viking the cheaper it gets because they give you credits for your next cruise. We just finished a Viking Cruise to Australia and New Zealand at the end of February 2023. We booked a River Cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest March 2024 while we were on the Orion. We received an onboard $200 credit, plus money off our River Cruise, plus we do not have to pay for our River Cruise until the middle of September 2023.
I booked a 17 day Viking cruise, and we are only paying extra for 2 excursions. The Silver Spirits package costs $300 pp. We like the short complimentary excursions so we have time to explore the area on our own. We also got free air. $25 deposit held the reservation until 6 months before the cruise. their payment schedule seems to have changed, and my full payment for next year's cruise is due 15 months prior to departure. Will have to look at Uniworld and AMA who seem to require full payment only 3 months before the cruise, unless it is part of a special promotion. Will seek help from a TA!
Please include discussion of how the lines handle times when things don't go according to plan. We have cruised with Viking several times, and have experienced events where things did not go according to script thru no fault of Viking. Viking managed very difficult situations exceptionally well, leaving me with the idea that "When things go according to plan, anybody can look good. When things go off script, Viking looks VERY good!" Also, no kids on Viking.
Our last two Uniworld ships in France and on the Rhine had max 124 people. Viking dining rooms were reported to be excessively noisy by friends who like us having some hearing issues. Maybe it's the # of diners or how the rooms are built to reduce ambient noise but it's important to us.
Oh man , we hear you about the noise factor in some dining rooms. (It's an any restaurant peeve of mine). Not sure if its a Viking structural thing or the number of passenger but 60 plus more folks in a dining room will definitely make a difference.
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.
Ama includes a cocktail hour before dinner. We did 2 excursions a day all included. Gratuities were included. Our bill after a week on the Rhône was $45. 😊 Minor correction. Ama does include transfers even when you don’t book air with them after your second booking.
The Sip and Sail cocktail hour. Great to take advantage of as they include most drinks that you order during that time beyond the the offered cocktail of the day. We just returned from AmaDahlia it was great.
Beth didn’t mention anything about comparing packages when Viking is offering free air…I wonder if they would be substantially less during those promotions.
We were just in a Uniworld and transfers are free only if the service is between 8am and 4pm. We have to pay extra because we arrived at the airport at 6pm ($30 per pax).
I'm your opinion, what's the best month to do a European river cruise? I thought September, but I've heard river levels are decreasing! Is spring too rainy?
We like the shoulder seasons May June and September October. The stops along the way are less crowded and the heat is not too hot. As for water levels that is a moving target but the river cruise lines have ways to deal with that, some are better than others. I would have a conversation with a seasoned river cruise expert advisor to help you select the best itinerary and cruise line if you are concerned about it. We have had conversations with numerous travel experts over the years who have sailed on hundreds of river cruises and in all of those departures I can think of only one who mentioned that their river cruise was impacted by low water and the river cruise line handled it perfectly. Hope this helps.
Have k my been on Viking. One thing we could have done was brought our own alcohol- assuming the same in the other lines?? We normally do ocean cruises and found a river cruise to feel more crowded due to everyone doing everything at the same time. The concept of tracing with only 180 people seems good until you are in a town where there are multiple river boats and soooo many other tour groups as well. I like arranging my own activities, but the schedule doesn’t always allow it. We are trying one more to give it a fare shake. Also was surprised it didn’t feel elegant like their commercials feel. It was very casual and the CD wanted to be your friend by talking gossip about other guests. The piano player/singer was bad etc. So hoping to have a different experience next time
Its worthwhile trying another line such as AmaWaterways or Avalon, Uniworld if you are looking for more upscale, but having said that it sounds like ocean cruising may be a better fit for you.
Thanks for your videos. I just watched 2 of them, each comparing 3 river cruise companies. The biggest criteria my wife and I have is about food. We would want steamed veggies, fresh cooked beans (not canned), whole grains, mushrooms, onions, raw or dry roasted nuts and seeds, root vegetables (sweet potatoes, carrots), fresh fruit for dessert (no pastries, no added sugar), no alcohol, oatmeal (or other cooked whole grain cereals) for breakfast with plant milk and frozen blueberries or similar, and I love garlic and hot spices (but not my wife). We are nutrition-focused vegans. No bread, no pasta, no oil, no salt, no sugar. Obviously, no dairy, no meat, no fish, no eggs, no animal products. No soft drinks, just decaf tea. Is there a cruise IN THE WORLD that would accommodate us? We think we would like active shore excursions, bike rides, classical entertainment, tours, and museums, but we really need the right food. Is cruising possible for picky eaters like us? Thanks for your thoughts!
Hey a fellow lover of garlic and spice, love it. The river cruise lines are fairly accommodating when it comes to special diets, your list is fairly extensive would be best to check with the river cruise lines to see what they can do for you.
Beth was inaccurate on several of her statements regarding Viking cruises. I have sailed with them 5 times and did not have to spend all the "extra" money she kept referring to. They do have a sip and sail party provided complimentary. 0:090:09 The complimentary excursions always included the major sites I would wish to visit. I have never had to pay ANY extra money for my needs. Considering her bias, I wonder if perhaps Viking isn't as generous in the amount paid to travel agents as Ama and Uniworld. And finally--I love the no kids policy!
Viking final payment date is completely different if you book in the UK. They want 25% deposit (which is very high for the UK market, we're used to a few hundred pounds each deposit on Scenic, Riviera etc), and then final payment is a few months (I forget how many) before departure.
Viking is asking for a $25 deposit this year and wants full payment a month from the booking date no matter how far in advance. For example, I booked Jan 17th and full payment is due Feb 28th although the cruise isn't until November
Helpful video, thank you! I’ve taken many ocean cruises, but never a river cruise. I mentioned to my travel agent/friend that I was interested in doing one. I specifically said the Viking Romantic Danube cruise. She suggested I also look at Amawaterways. So, I’ve been looking… I don’t like the AMA website. With Viking I can build my trip (including the pre-cruise), but in AMA, unless I’m missing it, they want you to provide info so they can email a quote. I don’t like that. It’s hard to decide which line to pick! I love the idea to have a pool, but would I use it? Believe it or not, on my last two ocean cruises, we didn’t swim on the ship at all! We were too busy doing other things. I like the idea of extra excursions to choose from, but would we have time to do them? Aren’t the included excursions worth it? I’m not a food snob, but I do like good food! So that does matter to me. Last but not least, I like to have quiet time on my balcony. I don’t care if it’s a full walk-out balcony or just a door I can open. Decisions, decisions…
Hello Penelope Like you we have been on many ocean cruises but the cruise that was most memorable was our Rhine river cruise with AmaWaterways you will enjoy your time whether it be Ama or Viking. The AmaWaterways website is a little more tricky to navigate but you should be able find all the info you need by navigating among the tabs int the gold bar " WHATS INCLUDED - ITINERARY - SHIPS. etc etc. For extensions pre or post tic the radio button. Or simply discuss all the options with your trusted travel agent. The pool is a nice option but trust me this should not be a deciding factor as you will very likely not be in it much if at all. When it comes to excursions we did two in one day in a lot of cases to take everything in and its nice to have the choice of several options. I am sure the Viking included excursions are great but one thing to remember is these might tend to be a bit more crowded as opposed to Ama who offer multiple free excursions per port. Ama's food is excellent and they have won awards for it. Viking does not portend to be food connoisseurs so their dining experience is just ok, not bad by any stretch, but not memorable either. You definitely want a balcony be it a french balcony (sliding door or window) or a full walk out. We did not spend that much time in our stateroom during our river cruise for two reasons. The size of our french balcony room was a bit confining and the weather, we did the Rhine in November. So the time of year should be a consideration for you as well. Hope this helps. I would rely heavily on travel agent that has been on several river cruise lines and itineraries to help you with choices. Best wishes to you and drop us a note when you sail.
Thanks for The informative videos of your viking cruise. It helps a lot. I can see a lot of walking in this video, which I Love it. However, I am so curious if the cruise offer an electric scoter ? My family been wanting to do a viking cruise, but my Main problem, is my husband has a parkingson disease and cannot able to walk for 1 minute, so I dont know How we can manage to do this kind of trips? We were planning to go on summer, hopefully I can get an answer from you. Thank you!
Hi Jamish so sorry to hear about your husbands Parkinson's my Dad had the same affliction. Unfortunately none of the river cruise lines have motorized scooters available. It's a storage issue mainly. That being said it would be worth having a heart to heart talk with an expert river cruise advisor. You can explain your husbands limitations and see if perhaps a particular itinerary or river cruise line would be a good fit. Sometimes there are excursions for what is known as slow walkers. Hope this helps
@@askarealtravelexpert Thanks a lot of your reply. Yeah, Its a terrible desease and we have to dealt with it everyday. So I actually was planning for it to talk to them, so that we know what we gonna do. Coz mainly that’s the only problem we were dealing with right now. We’ve been to cruises before, and we enjoyed so much. But then after he was diagnose with these disease we kinda stuck roaming around. So hopefully, I can get a further information from them. Again thank you for your ideas. God Bless!
River cruising is probably best if you are ambulatory. The locations where the ship docks are typically in cities or towns that date back several hundreds of years and were not designed to be friendly to those with mobility issues. I could see electric scooters having difficulties with cobbled streets, curbs with no cut-outs, uneven steps into the points of interest. On the three AMA boats I've been on (Rhine, Danube, Rhone), there are elevators between floors but not to the top deck. To get to the top deck you must ascend stairs. The floors served by the elevator are the dining level, the main deck, and the levels with state rooms. There is no elevator service above that top level of state-rooms. The main deck is spacious and has great views forwards and to the sides should you decide to stay on board. The furniture is spaced out enough for a scooter to navigate. You will have to travel across other boats to get to shore - some crossings have you ascending and descending stairs and some you may be able to traverse the lobby of the boat(s) between you and the shore. You will have to go up and down a gangway and the transition between the gangway and the land and/or the deck might involve some steps. I don't recall having to cross over ship thresholds. At each port of call, AMA has several "levels" of walking tours and in some locations (all?) they have a bus or shuttle tour. It seems like there were usually three different levels of guided walking tours depending on how fast you wanted to go and how much ground you wanted to cover before returning to the boat. There are also guided bike tours on every stop on AMA. So, lots of options, but old European cities are not ADA compliant, getting on and off the boats might be challenging, and access to the full ship might be problematic. I did see a video that compared river cruising to ocean cruising and they pointed out that there was a huge variety of things to do on board ocean going ships. There's also lots of entertainment options and different dining options on an ocean going cruise - to the point you really don't have to get off the ship to really enjoy yourself. Entertainment on a river boat is small-scale, quaint, and usually consists of one to 4 performers who come on board for a relatively short, stand-up, performance in the main lounge. I like to think of it as a nice way to socialize on board and perhaps see a bit of the local culture. It's not Cirque-du-Soleil, Broadway, big-name blues, folk, pop.. So if you are staying onboard, and start to crave some entertainment, the number and level of productions on a ocean cruise is probably far superior.
Hi John Ama does have sales on periodically and yes some of them include air. At the moment they have a sale on their land programs as well as reduced rates on air on select sailings.
I have river cruised on AmaWaterways twice and loved the experience. I especially loved the Christmas Market cruise. The one river cruise line to avoid is Avalon. Worst experience I have ever had on any cruise..ocean or river. Only when we were aboard, on the first night, were we informed that the 2nd week of the river cruise was canceled due to Rhine/Danube river drought conditions. Instead, we were bused and housed in 3rd rate hotels, which offered us at best prison food buffet. At the same time, Viking could move their passengers to another ship. Horrible experience albeit we were reimbursed for 6 days. Had I known, I would have canceled. Given this review, I will be exploring Uniworld in the future. I always prefer all-inclusive if possible.
Thanks for the comment. It’s to bad to hear about Avalon nobody wants their river cruise to turn into a bus tour! I know sometimes the river conditions and water levels can change within 24 hours making it difficult to provide passengers with a lot of options. We actually have a segment on this coming soon stay tuned.
Thanks great question on solo cruising. AmaWaterways as a rule usually has the most offers for Solo Cruisers with reduced single and even zero single supplement at certain times of the year on select cruises. Right now they have an offer on for 25% single supplement, meaning you only pay for 25% of the second person in what would normally be a double occupancy cabin. Viking runs their single supplements at 50% to 100 % depending on the time of year. Another option to look at is Emerald Waterways and Scenic as they both have some actual solo occupancy cabins check out Laura's video about them ruclips.net/video/wcJUL2VIDTU/видео.html
My mom and I booked under Uniworld's Solo Traveler Offer with NO single supplement and will be on the Danube this month traveling together in separate rooms. Our travel agent got a super deal in addition to the solo offer. Can't wait to see the 2024 offers!
They were excellent, great cruise director, everything well organised, good food drinks etc, the excursions were very interesting, would highly recommend
The absolute worst nightmare for river cruisers would be people bringing their damned kids. It's not a kid's holiday, it's a parent's holiday and they bring the kids along. Unfortunately, their kids ruin everyone else's holiday with their crying and screaming and running about. 1000's of dollars down the drain because you cant just sit and relax because some kid is throwing a damned fit. Take them to Disney.
99% of river cruises are not kid friendly (the only exception we can think of is AmaWaterways which partners with Disney on select sailings) there is simply not enough facilities or activities to keep younger kids entertained. Nor do the onboard accommodations allow for more than double occupancy on most ships. It’s for that reason that most river cruise lines have an age limit or in the case of Viking a no kids policy. So long story short you are not going to see a lot of kids on a river cruise.
Hi Susan April May June is a good time frame. July August and September you may encounter low water levels meaning they may have to transfer you to a bus to finish the itinerary. Best thing to speak with a travel advisor with lots of river cruise experience to guide you.
I would have liked to have heard some input about Vikings free airfare. I have heard that it could be a nightmare and that it's better to book your own? This was certainly affect its price. I have never taken a river Cruise and I'm still confused
We have an upcoming segment on Viking that deals with just your question but by way of preview our experts recommend purchasing the Air Plus option when booking your cruise. With Air Plus it allows for your travel advisor to work directly with the Viking air department to get the best options for you. It’s 100 per person but the experts say it is really worth for the extra flexibility.
We have an upcoming segment on Viking that deals with just your question but by way of preview our experts recommend purchasing the Air Plus option when booking your cruise. With Air Plus it allows for your travel advisor to work directly with the Viking air department to get the best options for you. It’s 100 per person but the experts say it is really worth for the extra flexibility.
Just wanted to say that with Viking, the final payment deadline at the end of the month that you book is not set in stone. I have booked 2 cruises directly with Viking in 2022 for 2024 and don't have to make the final payment until 2023. Yes, they did request payment at the end of the booking month, like you say in the video but, I said sorry I can't do it then, so they made arrangements to accommodate me. They also discount the cruise fare if you have sailed with them before in either rivers or oceans, you just have to remind them.
Thanks for the update. So if you push back a bit they will accommodate. That’s a good tip it a shame Viking would not be more forthcoming about that. Same goes for loyalty discounts on cruise fares. That said though Viking is likely struggling a bit with new call centre staff training post Covid line most other cruise lines.
My sister and I are going on a cruise on the Viking in November 2023 and they want the final payment at the end of September this year, 2022. I am just hoping that I don’t have to get a vaccine that is the next hurdle.
Didn’t work for me. I tried to book a cruise with Viking and I had gone up to the point of deposit and when final payment was due. When I found out the ridiculously short turn around, I said can’t do it that soon and they told me “sorry to hear that”. That was it
You are right! with 70 ships in Europe there is a lot of choice for itineraries. And it always makes good sense to do either a pre or post stay if you are going all that way. Check out the Viking interview we did with the Kaplans they are big Viking fans ruclips.net/video/MPk4VNRSmUg/видео.html
So much misinformation. We did not have to pay when we booked Viking. Includes one morning excursion in each port and then you can explore on your own. Large variety of optional excursions. 190 passengers because no pool. If you are just using your room to shower and sleep as Beth said then size is adequate.
Where would you rank Scenic among these three lines? I've heard this comparison made among the three lines in this video 1. Uniworld is the Ritz 2. AMA is the Four Seasons 3. Viking is the Hilton
Great question and also a hard one. Scenic would rank ahead of all three of these lines for being the most all inclusive including butler service for all and unique excursions. To use a cruise ship analogy; 1. Scenic is Silversea (Luxury) 2. Uniworld is Seabourn 3. AMA is Celebrity Cruises 4. Viking is Royal Caribbean Accordingly they also tend to be top of the mark for price so it comes down to what type of experience you are looking for, for your hard earned dollar. We have an upcoming segment comparing Scenic River to Tauck so stay tuned.
@@askarealtravelexpert Thank you for that extremely prompt reply and counsel! I will watch for that Tauck vs. Scenic comparison . . . very interested to see how those two rank based on your (& your guest's?) assessment. We traveled on Viking, Uniworld & Scenic last year, and agree with your ranking of the three. The agreement is in part based on our view that Silversea & Seabourn are pretty close in what they have to offer with Silversea just a modest cut above - i.e., our Scenic experience on the Rhone & Saone was almost a "too close to call" comparison to our Uniworld experience in Bordeaux. With that in mind . . . and equally curious about ocean cruising . . . where do you place Regent among Silversea, Seabourn (and, presumably, with ultra upscale A&K now in charge, Crystal)? We sailed Silversea twice in 2021 (Iceland & Antarctica) and Regent three times in 2022 (north Atlantic, Med & Miami to LA via Panama Canal) . . . admittedly limited experience, all of which is post COVID; so, your insights would be most welcome! Thanks again for your counsel and insights.
Wow John that is a lot of travel. I am envious. It’s another tough call. All three lines are excellent. We are doing a Seabourn segment in February . I will let you know when it is up and will pose your question to one of our experts.
@@askarealtravelexpert What does that emoji mean? I love the idea that there are no kids running around, screaming, crying, whining, and knocking things over. I want to be able to see the sites without someone' yardmonkey ruining it.
There are very few river cruise ships with single occupancy rooms. AmaWaterways has a few on some of their older ships in Europe. What most of the lines do is periodically the offer a reduced "Single Supplement" meaning you can occupy a double occupancy cabin for the price of one person plus a percentage of the second person fare. We have even seen promotional offers where you can effectively pay just the cost of first person occupying the cabin. Hope this helps, thanks for the question
So the kid issue doesn't seem to be an issue with river cruising. That point was kind of passed over. Are there a lot of young children on river cruises? I don't particularly care to be on a cruise with kids ore even teenagers.
Some of the river cruise lines welcome kids but in reality most sailings have none or next to none. There is little to do for kids unless they are really into history. Plus the fact the most river cruise staterooms are only double occupancy so bringing along the kids means picking up the tab for another cabin.
These are obviously companies that you push as there are a lot more and some better choices than these three. Avalon, Titan, TUI, Scenic, Tauck, CroisiEurope. Ama Waterways was only considered 5th in the latest poll and Uniworld 9th, but heh hoh this is aimed at Americans and not Europeans.
just came back from a viking Danube cruise. A sold 'B." Nothing great but nothing bad. They nickel and dime you with charging for excursions and beverages outside of meal times.
I can’t watch this. Your audio is twice as loud as your guest so either I can’t hear her at all, or I turn it up enough to hear and every time you speak you are blasting my ears. Too bad.
Thanks for the input. We have since shifted to a new recording process and post production editor that allows us better control of the individual audio tracks.
They do have a tight final payment structure. There are quite a few folks who are not fans of the policy but at least there are other river cruise options.
I know I know! Thanks for catching it Red. Already been called out on it. Will do better next video other wise the good people of Oregon are going to have my hide.
The male presenter is much louder than the female presenter. I can either have him so loud it's painful, or her so quiet I struggle to hear what she is saying. I suggest you more closely match the volumes for future videos.
Hi Tracey thanks for pointing that out. Have been taken to task by a number of the good folks in Oregon. Will do better you can grade me we have another interview with Beth coming up in a few weeks.
This was great, having just taken my 1st river cruise, and ready to book my next. The one thing she didn't mention is the perks your travel agent may be able to give you to offset costs. For example, Viking was offering a free airfare deal when we booked. The travel agent threw in a Silver Spirits Package (unlimited drinks of any kind) plus a shipboard credit that paid for 2 extra shore excursions, our gratuities, and some swag bags from the Viking gift shop. When comparison shopping, I highly recommend asking your travel agent what perks they can include. This could sway your decision on which river cruise company you choose.
Good tip. Travel advisors often have additional perks on select sailings that are not available when you book directly with the ocean or river cruise line.
@@askarealtravelexpert True, but some advisors like the lady on this video charge a fee for their assistance, but might still be worth it.
We are getting $800 check back after sailing from our TA - so we can spend it how we like. This is much more than we get on say Royal Caribbean because Viking charges so much more, so she has more to work with - I won’t complain!!
Who's your travel agent?!?
Deb here. Your TA is a miracle worker. All we ever get from out TA is either a $200 or $100 travel credit depending on the number of days.
I have traveled with Beth several times on Uniworld and AmaWaterways. She puts together the best packages. She also is great at trouble shooting, working tirelessly to make sure everyone is accommodated when any problem may arise. On to Egypt with her in December!
We agree and and funny you mention Egypt That’s where we are off to on Sunday!
We got an very amazing price with viking that included the airfare. My sister and I won’t spend any extra money on tours. We’ll just do whatever they offer that is included or just walk into the town or village and look around. We don’t drink, so now problem there.
You will have a great time
I did too! My husband and I are going on Viking cruise with another couple in April, and we are not doing anything extra, just doing the 2 excursions offered per day. We are really low-key people and expect to venture out by ourselves as there are 4 of us.
The excursions included on Viking cruises are sufficient and will take up most of your touring time. The only extra excursion we added to the Viking Grand American cruise was the Sound of Music tour
Great video and review! We did the Danube in 2019 with AMA Waterways, and it was exceptional! We’re going back next Fall with AMA on the Seine Paris to Normandy!
AmaWaterways is a great river cruise line. Enjoy Paris and the Seine
Very interesting video, thanks. I have been on 2 Ama cruises and 1 Uniworld cruise. I have also booked a 2024 Ama cruise. My cruises with both countries were excellent, but I prefer Ama for a couple of reasons. On all 3 cruises I purchased the pre and post cruise extensions. On Ama your cruise manager greats you when we check into the first hotel and bids farewell when you board the bus to the airport after the final hotel. Uniworld uses local guides for the pre and post extensions. They were fine, but the security of having that one person with you for your entire time is comforting. We had a medical emergency in Madrid and our manager was able to go with the passenger to the ER and monitor her during the entire 13 days. We arrived for our post during a huge political demonstration in Lisbon. Our bus was unable to get to the hotel and we had to walk. Our manager along with the local guide we there all the time for assistance. Food was excellent and abundance on both lines. What I do like is the light bistro lunch that Ama serves in the lounge. (I can't eat 3 large meals a day.) There was soup, small sandwiches, cheese and crackers, crudities and desserts. (With a cup of soup and cheese and crackers, I was set.) I really cannot remember what Uniworld served in the lounge, but it was very limited. The local guides for both lines were uniformly excellent as was the shipboard staff. On the Uniworld cruise I was on the lower level and found it just fine. Dimitri was in charge of those rooms, and he attended us like a butler in a fancy suit. It seemed as soon as we used a towel it was replaced.
Thanks for the mini review it’s wonderful to hear from our viewers.
Great overview. We just took Viking up the Rhine and the one thing that was a turn off for our party of 3 was the dining room seating. There were no tables for 2 or 4 unless you ate upstairs on the terrace, which didn’t have many seats indoors. The dining room’s tables sat 6 people and up and they were very close together, great if you’re an extrovert and want to meet new people every time you dine, not so great for those who don’t. We didn’t have this problem on an AMA Danube cruise a few years ago, so we are cruising on AMA again on the Douro River next year.
Thanks for some great insight on this. It's a very good point for some folks.
So informative and informational. Book with Beth and the team and you are booking with the best!
Glad you think so!
One huge advantage of Viking, which we experienced in 2018 (Grand European) during low water levels, was that they have so many ships we could transfer from one to another without our vacation becoming a bus tour. It wasn't very convenient, but I really felt for travelers we met who spent only 1 or 2 nights on the river cruise. Make sure you check your water levels and give yourself a chance to postpone if water levels are low.
Great tip the other river cruise lines will do this as well depending on ship availability but you are right Viking with more ships has the advantage. Water levels are going to become more of a thing as we go forward into the future, spring departures are going to become more popular when water levels are at peak. This is where the advice of an experienced river cruise travel advisor can come in handy.
Viking may have more ships but AmaWaterways have the lowest draft ships out of all the major cruise lines so the chances of you having to get off the ship is very low due to low water conditions. They also know how to work with high water conditions. Again, chances of that affecting your cruise is extremely low with Ama.
@@susanac7733Low draft is of no benefit when the rivers are closed to all large boat traffic, as was the case with the Rhine on our first river cruise.
We have traveled on both Viking, two river cruises and Amawaterways, on 1. They seemed very similar. Cabins, food, excursions, service. We are taking a Viking ocean cruise soon. My only quibble is that Viking air plans involve too many stops, no direct flights to Europe. Also, I just learned that travel agents can get you perks. I have always booked directly with the company.
Thanks for the comment on Viking Air we have an upcoming segment on Viking We will quiz the expert on the air portion. And yes travel advisors will often have access to special amenities and perks. Plus it also handy to have an some knowledgeable in the product especially for complicated itineraries.
We have always booked directly with the cruise company, but will use a highly recommended local TA. She has already done some great stuff for our next AMA cruise that is allowing us to cancel our Viking booking!
I’m cruising on Ama in December for the Christmas market on the rhine. Very excited
You are going to love it we are currently in Egypt with #Amawaterways boarding AmaDahlia in two days.
Ama’s excursions are far more varied and interesting than Viking’s. Loved my Ama cruise as a single traveler: and the swan-view room was perfectly fine! And I am very picky and claustrophobic. Glad I tried that, because I was barely in my room except to nap or sleep. Choosing the excursions that interest you make the trip.
Thanks for comment, good to know your thoughts on the swan view. One definitely does not spend a lot of time in your cabin.
Did they charge you a single supplement?
Thank you for making this video, it was very helpful as we weigh our options for our first river cruise.
Glad it was helpful!
As a veteran of 8 river cruises and a ninth coming up in a few weeks if the water levels hold, I thought this was a good video for a novice cruiser. I agree with pretty much everything but I thought that there were a couple of things missing. Nothing was said about possible water level problems and nothing was said about solo supplements. I feel that Viking is not as willing to waive single supplements as some of the other cruise lines. I have been on Gate 1, Viking, Avalon and Uniworld and Uniworld is my favorite by far. My upcoming cruise is my fifth with Uniworld and I have paid a solo supplement only once, but it was really worth it.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. And you are correct about possible water level issues especially in the upcoming years. This would make for a good segment about how the various cruise lines handle the situations. Same with solo supplements ( up charge for single occupancy) as some lines have promotions where they waive the up charge. Five river cruises on Uniworld alone would certainly make you an expert. Would you like to come on the show some time?
As a single traveller who has been on APT, Scenic, Riviera x 2 and Amadeus river cruises I can say single supplements are my biggest complaint. Generally the price is doubled minus a couple of hundred quid for the air fare. But I'm not eating two sets of meals in the restaurant, using the pool twice as much as anyone else, etc.
I agree that Uniworld is my favorite.
Post covid you can now walk through other ships again when docked side by side, this happened on my Rhine cruise in September 2022.
Agreed that’s what we found on our Nile cruise. Although I am not sure you could have gone over top of a Nile river boat they are three and four decks
AmaWaterways’ AmaMagna is almost double width but can still go through certain locks. Thanks for the interesting video
That’s right only certain locks on the Danube. We have an upcoming segment on her detailing the Christmas Markets.
@@askarealtravelexpert enjoy, lovely ship with excellent food!
Thank you. Excellent reviews. Considering the grand voyage on Uniworld.
Glad it was helpful!
One key fact that was just sort of passed over is that the excursions are optional, you can choose all, some or none depending on your wants. But this is very informative.
This is true. Which is one of the cool things about river cruising in Europe. In most cases you dock at or very near the heart of each town. So you can always venture out on your own if you do choose,
We’ve done both AMA Magna Vilshoffen > Budapest (Danube) & UniWorld MarieAntionette Basel > Amsterdam (Rhien) … yes Uni was all inclusive but AMA was pretty much same, as when grouping with new friends on deck mid afternoon, or late morning a waiter came along and said would you like a … I think a Bloody Mary would go well with that sparkling water or would you like a Prosecco with the juice cocktail. In any case a bucks fizz - or champagne for that matter on during breakfast at AMA too. I think the staff on both of these lines were out of this world compared to some Ocean lines. Lastly, back in them olden days the river was the Highway Freeway Motorway etc. so when you fetch up at the dock of a town or village, you are literally straight into the town square with only a 4 or 5 minute walk … no messing with coaches local. But the coaches fo4 both lines when used are top notch, leather seats, USB outlets in seats air con etc. My advice go for a river hol on Uni or AMA you won’t be disappointed.
Thanks for the mini review. Always like to hear from river cruise fans.😎
Great info, thank you!! subscribed.
Awesome, thank you!
When you book a another Viking Cruise when you are on a Viking Cruise you have 6 months to pay for that next cruise. So the whole thing about 30 days goes out the window. They will tell you this on your cruise. Plus they give you onboard credit for the cruise you are on. Plus the more you Cruise with Viking the cheaper it gets because they give you credits for your next cruise. We just finished a Viking Cruise to Australia and New Zealand at the end of February 2023. We booked a River Cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest March 2024 while we were on the Orion. We received an onboard $200 credit, plus money off our River Cruise, plus we do not have to pay for our River Cruise until the middle of September 2023.
Thanks for the detailed comment we have another segment on Viking coming up where we take a in depth look at Viking both ocean and river.
I booked a 17 day Viking cruise, and we are only paying extra for 2 excursions. The Silver Spirits package costs $300 pp. We like the short complimentary excursions so we have time to explore the area on our own. We also got free air. $25 deposit held the reservation until 6 months before the cruise. their payment schedule seems to have changed, and my full payment for next year's cruise is due 15 months prior to departure. Will have to look at Uniworld and AMA who seem to require full payment only 3 months before the cruise, unless it is part of a special promotion. Will seek help from a TA!
Where are you off to on this one?
@@askarealtravelexpert Vienna to Bucharest.
Please include discussion of how the lines handle times when things don't go according to plan. We have cruised with Viking several times, and have experienced events where things did not go according to script thru no fault of Viking. Viking managed very difficult situations exceptionally well, leaving me with the idea that "When things go according to plan, anybody can look good. When things go off script, Viking looks VERY good!"
Also, no kids on Viking.
Great suggestion stay tuned
This was excellent! Thank you both.
Thanks so much the wonderful feedback makes it so worth it!
Beth was very kind about not correcting the mispronunciation of her home state.
She was indeed. But trust me I have heard from lots of proud Oregonians who were only too happy to call me on the carpet for my "Ted Baxter" moment!
Our last two Uniworld ships in France and on the Rhine had max 124 people. Viking dining rooms were reported to be excessively noisy by friends who like us having some hearing issues. Maybe it's the # of diners or how the rooms are built to reduce ambient noise but it's important to us.
Oh man , we hear you about the noise factor in some dining rooms. (It's an any restaurant peeve of mine). Not sure if its a Viking structural thing or the number of passenger but 60 plus more folks in a dining room will definitely make a difference.
Very informative video! What is the youngest age of a child allowed on AMA?
Thanks for the comment the minimum age for Europe is 4 and 12 for Africa. Stay tuned we have an upcoming segment on family river cruising.
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.
Ama includes a cocktail hour before dinner. We did 2 excursions a day all included. Gratuities were included. Our bill after a week on the Rhône was $45. 😊
Minor correction. Ama does include transfers even when you don’t book air with them after your second booking.
The Sip and Sail cocktail hour. Great to take advantage of as they include most drinks that you order during that time beyond the the offered cocktail of the day. We just returned from AmaDahlia it was great.
Beth didn’t mention anything about comparing packages when Viking is offering free air…I wonder if they would be substantially less during those promotions.
That is a very good point. Viking does have great air contracts from time to time. It’s worth checking
We were just in a Uniworld and transfers are free only if the service is between 8am and 4pm. We have to pay extra because we arrived at the airport at 6pm ($30 per pax).
Hmm that's interesting and kind nickel and dime. We have a segment on Uniworld coming up will delve into this a bit stay tuned
I'm your opinion, what's the best month to do a European river cruise? I thought September, but I've heard river levels are decreasing! Is spring too rainy?
We like the shoulder seasons May June and September October. The stops along the way are less crowded and the heat is not too hot. As for water levels that is a moving target but the river cruise lines have ways to deal with that, some are better than others. I would have a conversation with a seasoned river cruise expert advisor to help you select the best itinerary and cruise line if you are concerned about it. We have had conversations with numerous travel experts over the years who have sailed on hundreds of river cruises and in all of those departures I can think of only one who mentioned that their river cruise was impacted by low water and the river cruise line handled it perfectly. Hope this helps.
Have k my been on Viking. One thing we could have done was brought our own alcohol- assuming the same in the other lines?? We normally do ocean cruises and found a river cruise to feel more crowded due to everyone doing everything at the same time. The concept of tracing with only 180 people seems good until you are in a town where there are multiple river boats and soooo many other tour groups as well. I like arranging my own activities, but the schedule doesn’t always allow it. We are trying one more to give it a fare shake. Also was surprised it didn’t feel elegant like their commercials feel. It was very casual and the CD wanted to be your friend by talking gossip about other guests. The piano player/singer was bad etc. So hoping to have a different experience next time
Its worthwhile trying another line such as AmaWaterways or Avalon, Uniworld if you are looking for more upscale, but having said that it sounds like ocean cruising may be a better fit for you.
Thanks for your videos. I just watched 2 of them, each comparing 3 river cruise companies. The biggest criteria my wife and I have is about food. We would want steamed veggies, fresh cooked beans (not canned), whole grains, mushrooms, onions, raw or dry roasted nuts and seeds, root vegetables (sweet potatoes, carrots), fresh fruit for dessert (no pastries, no added sugar), no alcohol, oatmeal (or other cooked whole grain cereals) for breakfast with plant milk and frozen blueberries or similar, and I love garlic and hot spices (but not my wife). We are nutrition-focused vegans. No bread, no pasta, no oil, no salt, no sugar. Obviously, no dairy, no meat, no fish, no eggs, no animal products. No soft drinks, just decaf tea. Is there a cruise IN THE WORLD that would accommodate us? We think we would like active shore excursions, bike rides, classical entertainment, tours, and museums, but we really need the right food. Is cruising possible for picky eaters like us? Thanks for your thoughts!
Hey a fellow lover of garlic and spice, love it. The river cruise lines are fairly accommodating when it comes to special diets, your list is fairly extensive would be best to check with the river cruise lines to see what they can do for you.
Damn, you are a lot of work. 😮
The Avalon rooms look amazing
They are!
Beth was inaccurate on several of her statements regarding Viking cruises. I have sailed with them 5 times and did not have to spend all the "extra" money she kept referring to. They do have a sip and sail party provided complimentary. 0:09 0:09 The complimentary excursions always included the major sites I would wish to visit. I have never had to pay ANY extra money for my needs. Considering her bias, I wonder if perhaps Viking isn't as generous in the amount paid to travel agents as Ama and Uniworld. And finally--I love the no kids policy!
🤔
Viking final payment date is completely different if you book in the UK. They want 25% deposit (which is very high for the UK market, we're used to a few hundred pounds each deposit on Scenic, Riviera etc), and then final payment is a few months (I forget how many) before departure.
Thanks for the info UK
Viking is asking for a $25 deposit this year and wants full payment a month from the booking date no matter how far in advance. For example, I booked Jan 17th and full payment is due Feb 28th although the cruise isn't until November
@@noname-JS It's still different in the UK.
Helpful video, thank you! I’ve taken many ocean cruises, but never a river cruise. I mentioned to my travel agent/friend that I was interested in doing one. I specifically said the Viking Romantic Danube cruise. She suggested I also look at Amawaterways. So, I’ve been looking…
I don’t like the AMA website. With Viking I can build my trip (including the pre-cruise), but in AMA, unless I’m missing it, they want you to provide info so they can email a quote. I don’t like that.
It’s hard to decide which line to pick! I love the idea to have a pool, but would I use it? Believe it or not, on my last two ocean cruises, we didn’t swim on the ship at all! We were too busy doing other things.
I like the idea of extra excursions to choose from, but would we have time to do them? Aren’t the included excursions worth it?
I’m not a food snob, but I do like good food! So that does matter to me.
Last but not least, I like to have quiet time on my balcony. I don’t care if it’s a full walk-out balcony or just a door I can open.
Decisions, decisions…
My apologies for such a long post.
Hello Penelope
Like you we have been on many ocean cruises but the cruise that was most memorable was our Rhine river cruise with AmaWaterways you will enjoy your time whether it be Ama or Viking.
The AmaWaterways website is a little more tricky to navigate but you should be able find all the info you need by navigating among the tabs int the gold bar " WHATS INCLUDED - ITINERARY - SHIPS. etc etc. For extensions pre or post tic the radio button. Or simply discuss all the options with your trusted travel agent.
The pool is a nice option but trust me this should not be a deciding factor as you will very likely not be in it much if at all.
When it comes to excursions we did two in one day in a lot of cases to take everything in and its nice to have the choice of several options. I am sure the Viking included excursions are great but one thing to remember is these might tend to be a bit more crowded as opposed to Ama who offer multiple free excursions per port.
Ama's food is excellent and they have won awards for it. Viking does not portend to be food connoisseurs so their dining experience is just ok, not bad by any stretch, but not memorable either.
You definitely want a balcony be it a french balcony (sliding door or window) or a full walk out. We did not spend that much time in our stateroom during our river cruise for two reasons. The size of our french balcony room was a bit confining and the weather, we did the Rhine in November. So the time of year should be a consideration for you as well.
Hope this helps. I would rely heavily on travel agent that has been on several river cruise lines and itineraries to help you with choices.
Best wishes to you and drop us a note when you sail.
No worries happy to help
@@askarealtravelexpert thank you very much!
Fully agree about the frustration of using AMA's website. Scenic and Emerald are also slow and cumbersome to access pricing.
Thanks for The informative videos of your viking cruise. It helps a lot. I can see a lot of walking in this video, which I Love it. However, I am so curious if the cruise offer an electric scoter ? My family been wanting to do a viking cruise, but my Main problem, is my husband has a parkingson disease and cannot able to walk for 1 minute, so I dont know How we can manage to do this kind of trips? We were planning to go on summer, hopefully I can get an answer from you.
Thank you!
Hi Jamish so sorry to hear about your husbands Parkinson's my Dad had the same affliction. Unfortunately none of the river cruise lines have motorized scooters available. It's a storage issue mainly. That being said it would be worth having a heart to heart talk with an expert river cruise advisor. You can explain your husbands limitations and see if perhaps a particular itinerary or river cruise line would be a good fit. Sometimes there are excursions for what is known as slow walkers. Hope this helps
@@askarealtravelexpert Thanks a lot of your reply. Yeah, Its a terrible desease and we have to dealt with it everyday. So I actually was planning for it to talk to them, so that we know what we gonna do.
Coz mainly that’s the only problem we were dealing with right now. We’ve been to cruises before, and we enjoyed so much. But then after he was diagnose with these disease we kinda stuck roaming around. So hopefully, I can get a further information from them.
Again thank you for your ideas.
God Bless!
River cruising is probably best if you are ambulatory. The locations where the ship docks are typically in cities or towns that date back several hundreds of years and were not designed to be friendly to those with mobility issues. I could see electric scooters having difficulties with cobbled streets, curbs with no cut-outs, uneven steps into the points of interest. On the three AMA boats I've been on (Rhine, Danube, Rhone), there are elevators between floors but not to the top deck. To get to the top deck you must ascend stairs. The floors served by the elevator are the dining level, the main deck, and the levels with state rooms. There is no elevator service above that top level of state-rooms. The main deck is spacious and has great views forwards and to the sides should you decide to stay on board. The furniture is spaced out enough for a scooter to navigate. You will have to travel across other boats to get to shore - some crossings have you ascending and descending stairs and some you may be able to traverse the lobby of the boat(s) between you and the shore. You will have to go up and down a gangway and the transition between the gangway and the land and/or the deck might involve some steps. I don't recall having to cross over ship thresholds. At each port of call, AMA has several "levels" of walking tours and in some locations (all?) they have a bus or shuttle tour. It seems like there were usually three different levels of guided walking tours depending on how fast you wanted to go and how much ground you wanted to cover before returning to the boat. There are also guided bike tours on every stop on AMA. So, lots of options, but old European cities are not ADA compliant, getting on and off the boats might be challenging, and access to the full ship might be problematic. I did see a video that compared river cruising to ocean cruising and they pointed out that there was a huge variety of things to do on board ocean going ships. There's also lots of entertainment options and different dining options on an ocean going cruise - to the point you really don't have to get off the ship to really enjoy yourself. Entertainment on a river boat is small-scale, quaint, and usually consists of one to 4 performers who come on board for a relatively short, stand-up, performance in the main lounge. I like to think of it as a nice way to socialize on board and perhaps see a bit of the local culture. It's not Cirque-du-Soleil, Broadway, big-name blues, folk, pop.. So if you are staying onboard, and start to crave some entertainment, the number and level of productions on a ocean cruise is probably far superior.
Are there ever sales on Ama cruises? Is Air ever included? thanks,!
Hi John Ama does have sales on periodically and yes some of them include air. At the moment they have a sale on their land programs as well as reduced rates on air on select sailings.
They have a free Loire extension on the Bordeaux cruise right now.
I have river cruised on AmaWaterways twice and loved the experience. I especially loved the Christmas Market cruise. The one river cruise line to avoid is Avalon. Worst experience I have ever had on any cruise..ocean or river. Only when we were aboard, on the first night, were we informed that the 2nd week of the river cruise was canceled due to Rhine/Danube river drought conditions. Instead, we were bused and housed in 3rd rate hotels, which offered us at best prison food buffet. At the same time, Viking could move their passengers to another ship. Horrible experience albeit we were reimbursed for 6 days. Had I known, I would have canceled. Given this review, I will be exploring Uniworld in the future. I always prefer all-inclusive if possible.
Thanks for the comment. It’s to bad to hear about Avalon nobody wants their river cruise to turn into a bus tour! I know sometimes the river conditions and water levels can change within 24 hours making it difficult to provide passengers with a lot of options. We actually have a segment on this coming soon stay tuned.
AMA often has morning and evening included excursions on most cruises.
They also seem to have a wider variety of choice.
very interesting video!!! What about a solo cruiser? Will any of these be better for this, let call it, issue?
Thanks great question on solo cruising. AmaWaterways as a rule usually has the most offers for Solo Cruisers with reduced single and even zero single supplement at certain times of the year on select cruises. Right now they have an offer on for 25% single supplement, meaning you only pay for 25% of the second person in what would normally be a double occupancy cabin. Viking runs their single supplements at 50% to 100 % depending on the time of year. Another option to look at is Emerald Waterways and Scenic as they both have some actual solo occupancy cabins check out Laura's video about them ruclips.net/video/wcJUL2VIDTU/видео.html
@@askarealtravelexpert thank You!
My mom and I booked under Uniworld's Solo Traveler Offer with NO single supplement and will be on the Danube this month traveling together in separate rooms. Our travel agent got a super deal in addition to the solo offer. Can't wait to see the 2024 offers!
@@izengolf1 wow! Can I ask you which travel agency you used if I may? Thanks!!! Enjoy your holidays than!!!!
@@laurap.5804 CAA in Belleville Ontario
With APT everything was included , all tours, drinks etc
Australian Pacific Touring right? How did you find them overall?
They were excellent, great cruise director, everything well organised, good food drinks etc, the excursions were very interesting, would highly recommend
Did the costs you quoted include the gratuities, or were those in addition to the bottom line?
Hi Lorraine we will confirm that with Beth stay tuned
Hi Lorraine just heard back form Beth. Yes gratuities were included in the final tally of her comparison
On our Viking Danube River cruise we had to walk through AMA or Uniworld boats.
Interesting normally Viking is the closest in as they actually own some of the docks
@@askarealtravelexpert epends on who gets there first.
The absolute worst nightmare for river cruisers would be people bringing their damned kids. It's not a kid's holiday, it's a parent's holiday and they bring the kids along. Unfortunately, their kids ruin everyone else's holiday with their crying and screaming and running about. 1000's of dollars down the drain because you cant just sit and relax because some kid is throwing a damned fit. Take them to Disney.
99% of river cruises are not kid friendly (the only exception we can think of is AmaWaterways which partners with Disney on select sailings) there is simply not enough facilities or activities to keep younger kids entertained. Nor do the onboard accommodations allow for more than double occupancy on most ships. It’s for that reason that most river cruise lines have an age limit or in the case of Viking a no kids policy. So long story short you are not going to see a lot of kids on a river cruise.
I’d be interested in knowing the best time of year for European river cruises, since I’ll probably one get one in my lifetime.
Hi Susan April May June is a good time frame. July August and September you may encounter low water levels meaning they may have to transfer you to a bus to finish the itinerary. Best thing to speak with a travel advisor with lots of river cruise experience to guide you.
I took a fantastic Viking Christmas Market Cruise on the Rhine December 12-20, 2022. We had no problem with water levels.
Love Christmas markets
Personally I would have put Scenic and Tauck in the top 3.
Interesting we are going to do a segment on Scenic and Tauck in the near future. Stay tuned
I would have liked to have heard some input about Vikings free airfare. I have heard that it could be a nightmare and that it's better to book your own? This was certainly affect its price. I have never taken a river Cruise and I'm still confused
We have an upcoming segment on Viking that deals with just your question but by way of preview our experts recommend purchasing the Air Plus option when booking your cruise. With Air Plus it allows for your travel advisor to work directly with the Viking air department to get the best options for you. It’s 100 per person but the experts say it is really worth for the extra flexibility.
We have an upcoming segment on Viking that deals with just your question but by way of preview our experts recommend purchasing the Air Plus option when booking your cruise. With Air Plus it allows for your travel advisor to work directly with the Viking air department to get the best options for you. It’s 100 per person but the experts say it is really worth for the extra flexibility.
This was very helpful thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Just wanted to say that with Viking, the final payment deadline at the end of the month that you book is not set in stone. I have booked 2 cruises directly with Viking in 2022 for 2024 and don't have to make the final payment until 2023. Yes, they did request payment at the end of the booking month, like you say in the video but, I said sorry I can't do it then, so they made arrangements to accommodate me. They also discount the cruise fare if you have sailed with them before in either rivers or oceans, you just have to remind them.
Thanks for the update. So if you push back a bit they will accommodate. That’s a good tip it a shame Viking would not be more forthcoming about that. Same goes for loyalty discounts on cruise fares. That said though Viking is likely struggling a bit with new call centre staff training post Covid line most other cruise lines.
My sister and I are going on a cruise on the Viking in November 2023 and they want the final payment at the end of September this year, 2022. I am just hoping that I don’t have to get a vaccine that is the next hurdle.
Didn’t work for me. I tried to book a cruise with Viking and I had gone up to the point of deposit and when final payment was due. When I found out the ridiculously short turn around, I said can’t do it that soon and they told me “sorry to hear that”. That was it
@@stevehenson3325 I would call again and talk to a different person.
Booked a Viking cruise in June for June 2023. Final payment was due end of Sept. 2023.
She fails to mention that Viking has better itineraries and pre-and post stays. Well worth the extra money.
You are right! with 70 ships in Europe there is a lot of choice for itineraries. And it always makes good sense to do either a pre or post stay if you are going all that way. Check out the Viking interview we did with the Kaplans they are big Viking fans ruclips.net/video/MPk4VNRSmUg/видео.html
Uniworld is the best of the three. The other two hit you with that extra bill at the end.
Thanks for the comment.
So much misinformation. We did not have to pay when we booked Viking. Includes one morning excursion in each port and then you can explore on your own. Large variety of optional excursions. 190 passengers because no pool. If you are just using your room to shower and sleep as Beth said then size is adequate.
Thanks for the comment. Stay tuned for our upcoming segment with two Viking experts that touches on all of this.
Where would you rank Scenic among these three lines?
I've heard this comparison made among the three lines in this video
1. Uniworld is the Ritz
2. AMA is the Four Seasons
3. Viking is the Hilton
Great question and also a hard one. Scenic would rank ahead of all three of these lines for being the most all inclusive including butler service for all and unique excursions. To use a cruise ship analogy;
1. Scenic is Silversea (Luxury)
2. Uniworld is Seabourn
3. AMA is Celebrity Cruises
4. Viking is Royal Caribbean
Accordingly they also tend to be top of the mark for price so it comes down to what type of experience you are looking for, for your hard earned dollar.
We have an upcoming segment comparing Scenic River to Tauck so stay tuned.
@@askarealtravelexpert Thank you for that extremely prompt reply and counsel! I will watch for that Tauck vs. Scenic comparison . . . very interested to see how those two rank based on your (& your guest's?) assessment.
We traveled on Viking, Uniworld & Scenic last year, and agree with your ranking of the three. The agreement is in part based on our view that Silversea & Seabourn are pretty close in what they have to offer with Silversea just a modest cut above - i.e., our Scenic experience on the Rhone & Saone was almost a "too close to call" comparison to our Uniworld experience in Bordeaux.
With that in mind . . . and equally curious about ocean cruising . . . where do you place Regent among Silversea, Seabourn (and, presumably, with ultra upscale A&K now in charge, Crystal)? We sailed Silversea twice in 2021 (Iceland & Antarctica) and Regent three times in 2022 (north Atlantic, Med & Miami to LA via Panama Canal) . . . admittedly limited experience, all of which is post COVID; so, your insights would be most welcome!
Thanks again for your counsel and insights.
Wow John that is a lot of travel. I am envious. It’s another tough call. All three lines are excellent. We are doing a Seabourn segment in February . I will let you know when it is up and will pose your question to one of our experts.
How good is the wine that is included at lunch and dinner? What does an upgrade cost?
Thanks for the question! We will address our questions in our nest Viking segment stay tuned.
18 years and up makes Viking much more attractive to me.
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@@askarealtravelexpert What does that emoji mean?
I love the idea that there are no kids running around, screaming, crying, whining, and knocking things over. I want to be able to see the sites without someone' yardmonkey ruining it.
Very helpful!
Glad you enjoyed it
Thanks for sharing the information but there's no State called "ORA-GONE" .
You are right thanks for catching that . I seem to have a mental block / tic when it comes to that wonderful state.
Which ones have single rooms?
There are very few river cruise ships with single occupancy rooms. AmaWaterways has a few on some of their older ships in Europe. What most of the lines do is periodically the offer a reduced "Single Supplement" meaning you can occupy a double occupancy cabin for the price of one person plus a percentage of the second person fare. We have even seen promotional offers where you can effectively pay just the cost of first person occupying the cabin. Hope this helps, thanks for the question
@@askarealtravelexpert that's very helpful. Thanks!
So the kid issue doesn't seem to be an issue with river cruising. That point was kind of passed over. Are there a lot of young children on river cruises? I don't particularly care to be on a cruise with kids ore even teenagers.
Some of the river cruise lines welcome kids but in reality most sailings have none or next to none. There is little to do for kids unless they are really into history. Plus the fact the most river cruise staterooms are only double occupancy so bringing along the kids means picking up the tab for another cabin.
No children on the one I went on
Thanks for the feedback
These are obviously companies that you push as there are a lot more and some better choices than these three.
Avalon, Titan, TUI, Scenic, Tauck, CroisiEurope.
Ama Waterways was only considered 5th in the latest poll and Uniworld 9th, but heh hoh this is aimed at Americans and not Europeans.
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Uniworld is a cut above...AMA is excellent...but viking is the dog that don't hunt
Thanks for the comment
just came back from a viking Danube cruise. A sold 'B." Nothing great but nothing bad. They nickel and dime you with charging for excursions and beverages outside of meal times.
I prefer GRAND CIRCLE TRAVEL
What do you like about them?
Why not Avalon?
Stay tuned we have an upcoming segment exclusively about Avalon
I can’t watch this. Your audio is twice as loud as your guest so either I can’t hear her at all, or I turn it up enough to hear and every time you speak you are blasting my ears. Too bad.
Thanks for the input. We have since shifted to a new recording process and post production editor that allows us better control of the individual audio tracks.
Viking wants final payment soon after booking. No go for me.
They do have a tight final payment structure. There are quite a few folks who are not fans of the policy but at least there are other river cruise options.
Why not?
It’s not Ore-gone, it’s Ore-gun
I know I know! Thanks for catching it Red. Already been called out on it. Will do better next video other wise the good people of Oregon are going to have my hide.
No way..floating Petri dish
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The male presenter is much louder than the female presenter. I can either have him so loud it's painful, or her so quiet I struggle to hear what she is saying. I suggest you more closely match the volumes for future videos.
Thanks for critique Owen. We now have the ability to to have separate sound tracks brought in for post edit so that should help future productions.
@@askarealtravelexpert Great, that should help even up the volumes.
Please, please learn how to pronounce Oregon correctly.
Hi Tracey thanks for pointing that out. Have been taken to task by a number of the good folks in Oregon. Will do better you can grade me we have another interview with Beth coming up in a few weeks.
You have too much free time, traceykellogg. 🙄