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Thanks!

Yes, there are a few budget lines that work well for some people. The service and experience onboard are different then what most people would expect, but for some they are a great option.

@@TheRiverCruiseQueen Have sailed on Viking and planning to try AMA and Uniworld next! Not planning to go on a budget line.

@@DileepB Amazing. Ama and Uniworld are both amazing options! Which river do you want to sail next?

@@TheRiverCruiseQueen Bordeaux and Rhine booked.

@@DileepB Amazing!

Yes, the Ama excursions are great. With Viking, the tours are usually walking tours that focus on the history of the town/region. I find it depends on the guide but their interests always shine through, so if they have a fondness for architecture they may focus more on that during the tour.

Yes, their rooms are very nice. I really appreciate the size of the showers with Avalon!

Awwwww thanks so much! That really makes me feel great. I love sharing this amazing form of travel with others! Budapest to Bucharest will be my next trip with my husband! I can't wait! 😍

Thanks so much!

@@user-bn2zb6bh5o I think you would be happily surprised by life onboard. But if you are looking for a younger group consider Avalon, Ama or Emerald.

Thanks!

Yay, that is great you had a good time. That sailing is an amazing way to see Europe. Will you be river cruising again?

@@TheRiverCruiseQueen most definitely! We’re probably going to do the capitals of eastern Europe next.

@@BlindBombshell Amazing. That is the sailing my husband and I want to do next!

Oh no, I am sorry if you had that experience. That is not what I have experienced onboard with Avalon. Which river did you sail?

@@TheRiverCruiseQueen a lot of crew members have had awful experience with Avalon plus from this year they keep most of the tips from tipbox.

I love this! I can just picture how lovely it is!

Oh, I would love to hear more about it. I have not sailed with them yet, but have been learning a lot about them lately.

Hi Gwynaeth! This sounds like it is going to be an amazing trip for you. I love the standard room for the huge savings. Emerald is a great company and you are going to have the best time. I have always found other guests very welcoming and friendly, so I am sure you will have no problem meeting people.

How fun. I bet it was a very different vibe then!

Yes, Tauck is top-notch! Have you sailed with them before?

@@TheRiverCruiseQueen 4 times!

@@dshinaberry wow, that is amazing! They have a loyal client with you!

@TheRiverCruiseQueen I travel solo and when you do the math with what's included, it actually works out really well and they treat their customers so well.

@@dshinaberry Thanks for sharing that! Which rivers have you sailed?

Yes, they do have additional tours you can pay for, but there is only one included tour. In my experience, when they have a bus tour to cover more of the city, there is always a walking component as well.

The only company that does not have a gym or pool is Viking. Pools and hot tubs can be found on all the other companies, but it does vary ship by ship. If you are active look at Ama or Avalon.

I agree. I loved my sailing with them. Everything was exceptional!

I do not like their very early full payment policy. Service is good.

@@DileepB Yes, many people do not like the fact you have to pay so early. Past guests usually get the option to pay later.

Great point! The rooms with the outside and French balcony are very bright! ❤

Thanks so much! 🥰 They will charge any drinks outside of what is included to your room and you can settle the bill at the end. With river cruising, you are also allowed to bring your own alcohol onboard, so if you find a nice bottle of vodka somewhere you are welcome to enjoy your own drinks.

@@TheRiverCruiseQueen Hi Melissa. Another question on the same topic. If I make a drink in my room, can I walk around the boat with it?

@@Moni_type1 Yes, you can enjoy the drink on the top deck and in the lounge. I wouldn't be so bold to sit at the bar with it, but anywhere else onboard is acceptable!

@@TheRiverCruiseQueen thanks Melissa

All three of these you can pre pay gratuities pey them at the end of your cruise. These cover all the onboard staff. It is encouraged to tip guides 2-5 euros and drivers 1-2 euros off the ship.

@@TheRiverCruiseQueen thank you! I’ve only done ocean cruises, tipping is similar to them. I bring usually tips for tour guides separately from the prepaid gratuities for staff on ship. 😊

@@heidibeechuk9203 Yes, they are similar in that way! But soooo different in almost every other way. You will have a great time comparing all the differences.

I am happy you agree. Onboard I always feel able to wear what makes me comfortable without judgement. Avalon Waterways actually says: "When it comes to cruise attire, our only code is comfort. "

Emerald includes the tips for onboard staff only, so budget some tips for guides! Their sister company, Scenic includes the tips for the guides off the ship.

We just finished a trip with Emerald. I tipped our local guides 2 to 5 Euros depending on length of time we spent with them. I, also, did leave an extra tip for the young lady that kept our room in great shape. She was the only one though. I like that gratuities are included with Emerald.

@@pamelawooden6012 Thanks for sharing! Yes, it is so nice that they are included. I think it makes sense since you will end up paying them in the end anyways.

Are on-board tips mandatory or voluntary? If they are mandatory, could you protect yourself from future price increases by prepaying them?

@@ryanm7171 with Emerald they are included and you don’t see any breakdown or any mention at all of them. It is stated “included”. On our Avalon trip we actually see an amount listed for prepaid gratuities. This is for the ship itself and does not included local guides. Not sure how any other company (just Emerald and Avalon) works.

Yay, how exciting! Yes, spoil yourself for sure. What river are you sailing?

@@TheRiverCruiseQueen We're sailing the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel

@@Moni_type1 Oh, that will be lovely!

I couldn't agree more. The services onboard are top notch and the staff treat the guests so well. Viking really does have the ability to open doors to experiences you cannot have anywhere else. Are you sailing with them again?

Thanks! Have you sailed both of these rivers?

@@TheRiverCruiseQueen yes. Sailed the first time on the Danube, Main and Rhine….15 day Budapest to Amsterdam. Just did the Rhine…Amsterdam to Basel. Didn’t actually make it to Basel because of high waters. But loved both trips! Best way to see Europe.

@@pamelawooden6012 Oh those both sound lovely. Did you have any hotel nights on your last sailing or did they keep you on the ship?

@@TheRiverCruiseQueen we stayed on ship. The last three days were affected but Emerald took great care of us. The only place we missed was the Black Forest☹️ but it couldn’t be helped. They bused us to Heidelberg (which had been flooded the day before ) and to Strasbourg, France. The worst part was since we couldn’t make it to Basel, we had a 4-hr early (5am) bus ride to Zürich to catch our flight home. Things happen beyond our control and we just have to deal with it 🤷🏻‍♀️

No problem. I am always happy to hear that people find my content useful!

Yes, those are all great inclusions with Emerald. I also love how their transfers are included even if you book your airfare separately. They are a great company for a lot of people! Did you know that they have the best early payment deals?

@@TheRiverCruiseQueen what do you mean by early payment deals?

@@dominiquehoward6914 They often have the option to pay in full 10-months ahead of your sailing and offer a big discount if you opt to do that! :)

Yes, Viking does a lot of things perfectly. I loved my sailing with them and absolutely loved their ships! Where are you sailing in 2025?

@@TheRiverCruiseQueen Our sailing is 10 July 2025. We have a precruise extension also.

Yes, they are a great company. Which ocean itinerary are you sailing?

@@TheRiverCruiseQueen Paris to Zurich river cruise

@@JT_70 Amazing. That will be gorgeous!

@@TheRiverCruiseQueen we hope so. We plan on continuing on to Zermatt after the cruise.

Wow, that sounds like a great experience. Thanks for sharing. I have never sailed with them before, but I am intrigued now. What river are you sailing next year?

@@TheRiverCruiseQueen Next year we plan to sail the Rhine & Mosel from Bern to Antwerp.

Lovely! I love Uniworld's ships. They are so unique.

Yay! How exciting! Which River?

Yes, comparable to Viking would be Ama, Avalon, and Emerald! Water levels play a big role. Sometimes they are too high, sometimes too low and most often they are just right! It is unpredictable.

Yes, I think balconies are less necessary on a river cruise and more of a preference. Although the views can be gorgeous as you sail along the river.

That's so great to hear! Viking's ocean cruises are spectacular. Where are you sailing this fall?

That's interesting. Typically you have to pay for the Silver Spirits Package. I wonder if they had a promo when you booked?

Lucky you! Where do you live?

@@TheRiverCruiseQueen we live in Germany, Black Forest area (close to the Rhine) 💗

@@m.m.4645 How beautiful. I e-biked there this past fall! It was gorgeous!

@@TheRiverCruiseQueen Thank you - yes, it is a blessed area!

Yes, the view is so nice but most of the time you are in your room is for exactly that - sleep and shower. Which cruise company were you with?

@@TheRiverCruiseQueen Viiking. They are wonderful

There are a few that I highly recommended. Ama, Avalon and Viking are all great. If love to help you out if you want some support.

Look into a German Company. They speak English as well and the whole trip is much much cheaper than the mentioned ones.

Yes, there is food for every taste onboard. Which river are you sailing next?

What an experience that must have been. Was the whole trip a land tour? Or did you get to spend some time on the ship?

@@TheRiverCruiseQueen We sailed on the Viking Skadi from Budapest to Passau then traveled by Bus to Regensburg and to Nuremberg where we transferred, along with our cruise director, onto the Viking Bragi, our originally scheduled ship which could go no further south than Nuremberg due to the low water levels. The two ships were identical copies. We sailed to Frankfurt, then traveled by motor coach for the remainder of our excursion. As I recall we traveled thru 64 river locks though most of them were at night. Overall, it was a wonderful trip.

@@JT_70 Amazing. It sounds like they gave you the best trip possible!

@@TheRiverCruiseQueen Yes. Viking puts their guests first does everything to make the trip enjoyable and memorable for their guests. During our land excursion the motor coach stopped at a roadside pub. Our cruise director said to us “Order whatever you want. I’ll put it all on my Viking credit card.”

@@JT_70 So great. Were most guests as satisfied as your were with how they handled it?

Thanks for the feedback! I am happy to hear you enjoyed the experience overall. Did you provide comments about the food on the ship? I am sure they would love to hear what you think too.

@@TheRiverCruiseQueen yes we did.

Yes, water levels can play a huge part, but are very unpredictable. There is always a chance they could be too high or low. Thankfully, the companies I deal with have great contingency plans that minimize the impact on your trip.

That's amazing! The Rhone is very pretty!