DON'T CRUISE With AMA or Viking Before You Watch This! Affordable European River Cruise Options
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- Опубліковано 28 тра 2024
- If you are shopping around for a European River Cruise on the Rhine, Mosel, or other river, you have probably heard of the Viking Cruise Line and AMAwaterways. These are well-known brands that offer a luxury experience at a very high price tag, but did you know: there are other options! Don't pay too much for your river cruise. #cruise #rivercruise #cruiseship
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There is a bit of insurance in Viking. While we cruised 2 weeks their was a barge that blocked the Danube near a bridge do to grounding, cruise boats could not get through. On Viking we simply packed our bags, went on a tour, and were swapped to another Viking ship that was blocked on the other side. both ships simply switched direction. We got the same room as all ships are the same. Other ships could not continue, and were canceled mid cruise. Try finding a hotel in August in Europe for that many people, or nearby airports (if you booked your own flights you had to find way home)! Viking has so many ships heading in both directions they can easily do this. Other lines are not as busy and can't do the swap.
And how do you know other lines cannot "do the swap'"? Ah, Viking told you. Got it. You should know that is a common occurrence for all lines on European rivers. Our first Uniworld cruise involved three different boats due to low water at the end of a 2018 dry summer. I did talk with a Viking customer who stated he was left 'high and dry'. (Sorry for the pun.)
For everybody: When riverboat cruising, you should be prepared for swapping boats due to high or low water. Your enjoyment of travel is how you handle the inevitable problems.
I have cruised the Donau/Danube and Seine AMAWaterways and the Rhein/Rhine on Uniworld. My impression was that the cheaper lines were basically floating hotels, errrr… make that motels. By contrast, I would compare my cruises on AMA and Uniworld to visiting all-inclusive resorts with very good restaurants, comfortable common areas, entertainment, amenities, and included tours. They were environments that engendered interactions with other passengers. I would suggest taking a cruise on AMA and Viking, lines with two very different “philosophies,” and then updating this video in a manner reflecting those experiences. You could then at least partially answer the question about whether AMA and Viking are worth the cost difference. FWIW, I might consider a cruise on one of the cheaper lines, but I’d likely experience some regret and frustration. Also, consider revising this video to include more about on-board food, on-board entertainment, common areas, interactions with other passengers, WiFi, ….
So i think there's another perspective here. The "cruise" is far more than just the vessel itself. Perhaps if you are coming from an ocean-going cruise, you perspective might emphasize the physical ship and it's amenities like swimming pools, shows, casinos, etc. In contrast, pretty much all the river boats in Europe essentially look the same. The ships are limited in width, length, and depth by the locks, bridges, and shallow rivers. The cynic in me makes me think of all the ships as glorified river barges. So, instead of touting the ship itself, the cruise lines differentiate themselves on service, inclusions, activities, and, to a minor extent, decor. Where the difference between the cruise operators comes in is: The quantity, variety, and quality of the tours. The inclusions. The dining experience. The professionalism and attentiveness of the staff. From my past trips, it's plain to see that the target market tends to be people who are interested in seeing places of cultural, religious, historical, and governmental significance. It's a different crowd than you find on an ocean going cruise. Your AMA ticket includes several levels of activity at each port of call - from gentle walking tours, faster paced tours, and even bicycle tours. There are often several morning and afternoon tours to choose from. The tour guides are licensed by the location you are touring and may have an express privilege to help you skip long lines so you spend more of your time touring instead of waiting around in line. The staff on AMA has always been excellent - friendly, hardworking, caring and go out of their way to ensure your needs/requests are being met. On board laundry is very inexpensive and you get your clothes back the same day. You don't have to pack suitcases full of clothes. The food on board is amazing. Meals reflect the local cuisine of the region you are in with fresh seasonal produce used in the preparation of the meals. Meals are beautifully prepared dishes by the chefs from a menu that usually includes several special dinners for the night with meat, seafood, and vegetarian options. You are free to substitute, exclude, pull in items off other menu choices.... There are also the "usual" items for when you want to eat simpler fare. There's complementary coffee and tea all day, some kind of mineral/fruit water to fill your bottles. Beer and *good* wine are included during meals - including sparkling wine at breakfast. The AMA boats are all in good repair - the sailing staff are constantly maintaining and polishing and cleaning. House keeping is immaculate. There are pre-touring briefings to help you decide which of possibly many included activities you might want to join the next day. There are local musicians and performers that come on board to entertain. It's not a large production, just something local performed with pride and authenticity. So, when I pay all that money to get to Europe, take that precious time off work, and deal with the stresses and uncertainties of international travel, I ask myself, is it worth saving $1500 and continuing the uncertainties or do I just want to get on with an amazing vacation that I'll remember fondly forever?
Accurate and well expressed. Reading this should be required reading for all who watch the video without first-hand knowledge of the higher cost lines.
Thoroughly enjoyed your video! I’m going on a Viking cruise in November and paying a fortune, lol! I’m a senior and travel alone, not that that’s a problem for myself but sure hate paying extras for being single. I’m definitely going to be looking into the different more budget options and “THANK YOU SO MUCH” for doing this video, as I’m hoping to be able to take many more River Cruises but, not at Viking prices. Just had my passport renewed for “10 years” and I’m 80, lol! Lookout everyone, here I come! ❤😂🥰🤣👍
A suggestion: look into Uniworld river cruises - they are the most expensive and have the most elegant furnishings BUT they also offer "single supplement waived " for many of the cruises on specific dates - especially at the late Fall end of season, when ship is not full . And they announce the waiving months ahead of time, not in the last 2 weeks before sailing. Alas, they never waive single supplement for the Douro river cruises in Portugal ... but Uniworld includes all drinks and all tours and all gratuities and lots of singles go and food and service are wonderful.
That’s wonderful! I’m 68 and thinking of a River cruise but would have to go a more budget line than Viking, though I would love that someday. Also a single traveller. I hope to be able to take lots of trips in the future too!
@@anivee5863thanks for that!
We’ve been on 5 Viking River & ocean cruises & will stick with them. I can only compare them to the large cruise lines like Celebrity, Holland American, & Carnival. No kids, no casinos (don’t gamble or desire all that noise). Once you repeat a Viking cruise, you get many perks & discounts, so that’s an added bonus. All excursions are included daily but you can purchase added activities or just explore on your own. So much freedom. The staff is friendly & they really do get to know all your individual “likes”. Food is phenomenal & on Ocean cruises, you have other restaurants to choose from without additional charge. Many times, the airfare is offered free! There’s no formal dining, all is very casual. If there’s hiccups on the trip (water levels too high or low, timing issues, etc), Viking always has a plan B that seems effortless for them & many times was actually better than the original plan. Also, since the ships are smaller with less guests, the staff to guest ratio is high. You really get to meet the other guests & pretty much know everyone by the end of the trip. Can you say that about the oversized cruise ships out there? Viking has it down! I won’t stray.
I am from the UK and have just come back from a Main / Rhein river cruise from Nuremburg to Dusseldorf over 9 nights. It cost £1600 for the top grade cabin, but this was all that was left. It also included return flights from UK to Germany and chauffeur pickups from our house. All drinks with meals were included and all excursions, although there wew a few added optional ones. I would say this was a 4* experience, not quite 5*, but the price reflects that. Definitely targets the more mature passenger with the youngest being about 55 and the oldest 88+, although you do have to physically capable of the walking and stairs etc. Some of the gangways to get ashore were very steep as the water level was so low. The company was Titan and all passengers were from the UK. I would definitely use them again, although the Viking and other ships did look smarter to ours. However, we had a great time and saw loads of lovely places, ate plenty of lovely food and drank copious amounts of excellent German wines
If round trip airfare, all excursions, drink packages are included, then the value comparison changes. What you don’t see in the brochures, is the brand name and reputation, dealing with issues, compensation with travel issues etc. Sometimes you can’t put a price on that, my friends on a Viking Cruise were compensated for low water conditions on a Viking Cruise, alternate transportation were provided for them.
We’ve cruised with Uniworld, Avalon, and Viking. We enjoyed the service, the attention to detail, and the food. We get away to relax and be pampered and we did just that. 😊
I feel like watching this video has already saved me thousands of Euros. I always thought river cruises were all very expensive, but you’re showing how affordable they can actually be. This video is awesome!
You can also save a lot of money by not going on a river cruise! That is a hidden gem.
Thank you for mentioning that the food on Nicko was better than Tiara. With all the food we ate for 14 days, I only gained 1 pound. I’m convinced they are putting something in the US food to make us gain weight! Been home 2 weeks and already fighting to not gain weight.
Google: high fructose corn syrup health effects. It's in most US food. I try to avoid it.
@@Artsloops Exactly
Morgan, I appreciate what you are doing, I see it as showing those of us that are priced out of the 'Big Brand Name' river cruise market that there are options. It is opening river cruising to a market segment that would have never cruised AMA or VIKING, not trying to get people to change. We are avid and seasoned ocean cruisers and have been interested in trying a river cruise but have not been even remotely close to booking one because of the very high pricing. We are loyal Carnival cruisers and are very happy with the product for the price we pay, not everyone would be (or are) and that would be the same with river cruising. When you did your Viva videos I was really excited to learn that a more affordable option existed for the English speaking cruiser and presented us with options we were not previously aware of. VIKING or AMA will not have lost a customer if we do cruise with VIVA or NICKO as we would have never paid that amount even knowing there are 'extras' included. Included items only bring value if they are used or needed. Once again thank you for showing us new things and options. Edited to add that we see ads here in Atlantic Canada for Viking, AMA and Avalon for Europe and Viking and American Cruise Lines in US and a few in Canada on the Great Lakes.
Just want to let you know that entry level prices are not that bad on Cunard and it is a totally different experience than Carnival. We love both, the afternoon tea on Cunard is to die for and they have gentlemen hosts to dance with the ladies who have a husband like mine who would rather take a nap in the cabin. Actually, I think my husband would rather go overboard than set foot on the dance floor!
I have had six Viking cruises and Viking knows their clientele and meet their needs. One of their strengths is their port excursions and reasonably priced optional choices, airport to cruise ship service, excellent food, personalized service, and beautiful accommodations. You mentioned going off on your own which is great and I have done. But depending on mobility and awareness of foreign cultures, this is more difficult for some age groups. Although you are comparing two styles of river cruising, you haven't actually sampled the more expensive option. Take an Ama or Viking cruise. After all, White Castle and Texas Roadhouse both sell hamburgers, one considerably more expensive. Are they the same experience?
Went to their website ……not too user friendly as there are no prices. Ship looks OK but no booking link
I am glad to see your river cruise comparison. I booked a Russian river trip with Viking just mainly to see Russia, the ship was old and cost more, well then the War with Ukraine started so my trip was cancelled by Viking and changed to France to Basel. I look for Business class flight to France and the Viking air Department quoted a high price, I found myself a much better rate on air France, so do not trust their air department! On arrival to France, Had to wait a long time to get my room in the Hotel, it was somehow chaotic with the Viking staff. On arrival to the River boat, everyone was invited to the welcoming talk, drinks were offered, I do not drink alcoholic drink so I just ask for a coke instead, the waiter immediately asked for my cruise card and charged the coke..? I had to go to front desk to correct the charges. Regarding their tour, some local guides walk fast, talk fast and was a marathon to chase the tour guides, I did not enjoy the fast pace on uneven european road. Food was not exceptional. I was not impressed with Viking. I will explore other venues in the future
My wife and have five Viking cruises under our belt. Seriously you really do need to take a Viking cruise to see exactly what you get for your money. The menu you showed was less than impressive compared to Viking’s offerings. Their service is amazing. Every member of the staff knew our names and preferences by the end of the day. On three of the 4 cruises after our first cruise there were staff members that remembered us from our first cruise. Their air travel department is top notch and found great flights in premium economy for very reasonable prices. Flying from the East Coast to Europe to us is a short trip and really don’t need business class. The excursions are small groups with a wide selection and options. Even on the oldest ship we sailed on looked and felt brand new. Spotless, perfectly maintained and obviously well cared for. I have taken the time to visit other river cruise ships and found many of them lacking by comparison. AMA ships are overly gaudy which isn’t our style plus based on talking to cruisers on AMA they felt the staff were stiff and not very personable. I hope you do take a Viking cruise just so you really know what you are getting. I will be the first they are pricier but the old adage is you get what you pay for.
Here is a gem from my Dad - " You are just renting this, not buying it. Find an enjoyable itinerary and don't blow the bank." For those with tons of discretionary funds, go big!
It's tough to compare other Cruises when you don't take one, I watched this video in hopes you actually took a " more expensive " one.
You are giving a comparison opinion and have never been on one ship.... not a great comparison
( the price is a good deal for the cheaper one but how about actually going on another cruise? )
You were trying to comparing an experience without going on it.
Just returned from a Viva-cruise. Meals were excuisite. 4 to 5 course meals with meat, fish or vegan options. No way I could have wished for better food.
Since we are europeans we did not take any organised trips, we like to go adventure our own, so seeing Viking-groups around those little villages was a bit funny. But, if you are new to Europe, it is understandable.
Would love to take a Viking cruise - but we also love to travel with our kids so for now that’s a no go. But will keep your review in mind when we are kids are older!
I agree - Viking is wonderful! I find the decor very tasteful and extremely comfortable - both the River cruises and ocean cruises. I love that you get one great excursion at each stop. We use to take all the extras when we were younger and just take the included ones now that we’re older. I love that you aren’t nickel and dimed. We are going on our 8th in a few months - Alaska - and we can’t wait!
I cannot tell you how happy I am that I found this vlog about 5 weeks ago. So I started researching immediately. I have always wanted to go on a Daneu or Rein River cruise, but I could not justify 7-8k for 7 night cruise. I am happy to say we booked on the Nikko Melodie which is the sister ship that you were on, Nikko Symphonie. We booked the top level so we could have the full length window and sliding door. We depart on 29th of September in Basel and visit 4 countries. Our cabin was $1100 pp. yes I will add the drink package for another $190, but will not add the excursion package. In my book you are a true influencer. I am so so glad that we found you and this discussion. Thank you, thank you. I will report back to you when we return. Did I say how happy I am to return to Amsterdam !!!
So glad I could help!
How was your experience?
@@TikNervio we liked it so much. But it was all Germans with about 10 people from Finland. We were the only couple who spoke English as our first language. The staff was excellent. All staff speaks English and all announcements were in English. We did not do their tours, because they are only in German. The food was good. Breakfast was a little disappointing, because no omelet or egg fry station. But this was $2000 including tax total for 2 people total. We did not buy the drink package which would have if my spouse was a drinker. The price of drink package was €199/pp. but you must buy for both people in the cabin, no exceptions. We had the best cabin at the top level. We are comfortable rolling off the boat alone and exploring. I would do a little research the night before.
We did this cruise on Viking in June of this year. We received round trip airfare from Virginia, airport transfers, excursions and beer and wine at lunch and dinner. The airfare was a big decider for us. The fare was 3200 each and it was great. The food was also fantastic per my wife.
Viking Fan here. You get what you pay for, in my opinion. Have had only First-Class experiences on Viking - both River and Ocean - on many cruises. Caveat Emptor!
I agree with you. I have looked at Croisi, Leuftner, and Nicko. I will never do a Viking River cruise again. Viking does a great job at marketing and has snow balled the Anerican tourist. I told the Americans on the cruises I was on that the food was sub par compared to the cheaper cruises I have been on. I do not want American food when I am in Europe. Viking does a buffet dinner in the middle of the cruise to highlight the regional dishes. They should do one dish a night to elevate the experience of dining. The Americans at our table said they cooked the dishes better at home than the chefs on the cruise. That says a lot for how giid the food is on these shops. You are absolutely right. The 2 back to back cruises on Viking the crew were sick and germs were spread to the passengers. I canceled my Viking trip on the Elbe as I didn't want to pay for substandard food. I am looking at Croisi for that trip. I hope you keep showing Americans to step out of their comfort zone and enjoy another cruise line and save money. Traveling is meeting new people and exploring towns on your own in Europe is more fun than following a guide around. Keep up the good work. Jeanine W.
Avalon is one we see a lot of advertisements for as well. (Located in Delaware, USA). The price point for Viking leaves me with my jaw on the ground. I have over 25 Ocean Cruises, including 3 trans atlantic, and have sailed with MSC, Norwegian, Oceana, Princess, Celebrity and Carnival. I am a "bargain cruiser" (Think Emma), and choose to look for the best deal on the itinerary that interests me. Thank you for sharing what you consider to be an affordable river cruise option. The air fare would drive our price point up, but I like to see these options. One of the wonderful things about the river cruises, is that you can explore on your own!
Thank you for sharing this !
Great info, thanks!
Thanks for the information. I had no idea!
Cool - thanks for the tip. We'll look into it.
Great information! Thanks
I've read online reviews of Nicko, and smell from onboard smokers is a common complaint.
Awesome info, thank you!
Thanks for this, looking at this now.
I was looking for lower Seine river cruise while we were visiting Paris, I checked out Croisi (a French based company) and found them to be a good bit cheaper the Viking/AMA. They do offer the cruises direct to the US market now. They also offered a variety of lengths from 5-10 day, which the others did not. Ship was not as posh as AMA/Viking, but was comfortable, and the crew was fantastic, and the food authentic french and quite good. They also offered french or english for all services (though just 3 of us spoke english). They also included all excursions, drinks (not just at meals) and food in the price. Boy was the wine flowing:) I think you would be hard pressed to justify the AMA premium unless you really wanted to the fanciest ship.
We have cruised four times on Croisi River cruises, a family-owned French line with great food and beverages included. There are always some English speaking passengers, and the crew is multi lingual. Tours are frequently included, and prices well below Viking and other “premium lines
Thanks Morgan! Great info for me to work with.
We’ve been on Scenic. Got a great deal on inside cabin otherwise wouldn’t have paid what they charge. It was wonderful with all included. Butler service, excursions, drinks, gratuities, etc. Thank you for showing us this option! I’d rather do a couple/few of these vs 1 more expensive one. I’ll look into it!
Thanks for the info
Our cruise with AmaWaterways, Amsterdam to Basel, the add are alluring, so we went. Water, coffee and cookie most of the day. Softdrinks only at happy hour or meal times. You see all the castles in the advert, you pass every single one of them, never stopping. Excursion into Strousburg was very good, other excursions were blah.
Food at dinner was heavily seafood based, and a little high brow for a commoner American taste. Alternative food one night was pizza, tasted like a frozen pizza from the grocery store.
Very elegant ship, lots of time to read a book. Not a good value for us. Will look at Nico now, didn’t know about them.
Appreciate the information! Will be looking into Nico cruises as have always thought I won't do the river cruises because of the price but maybe now I can! many thanks!
Great information!
Just found your channel never heard of these cruises company’s going to try Viva next year thanks for the great reviews
I have only been on Viking river cruises. Four of them. The most I paid was $4000 for 14 days in the cheapest cabin. This did include wine at dinner, excursions and round trip air. The least expensive for 8 days was $2200 which also included round trip air. Both from USA.
The only river cruise I have been on was a seven night Viking cruise on the Danube. It cost $2200. Airfare (from Texas) was included, they picked us up at the airport and took us to the ship (where our luggage appeared in our rooms). They also took us to the airport for departure. Viking included the drinks package for free, my parents and sister received a discount for having cruised with Viking previously (I received that same discount for the Christmas on the Rhine cruise coming up in November), and we were invited to a private cocktail party for previous cruisers where we had free drinks and appetizers. The included excursions were great! And if you did not want to go on the excursion, you are close enough to walk from the ship to most city centers. The food and service were top-notch. When you add up the cost of round-trip flights from Dallas to Europe, the transportation to and from the airport, the included food and drinks, the included excursions, etc. it was definitely worth it for me. BUT this was a deal. Everyone who cruised with me (mom, dad, sister) is a teacher or a retired teacher. We always look for special prices (sign up for the emails from Viking to receive notifications). This was probably the least expensive cruise we could get with Viking. We paid about $2800 each ($2500 without the travel insurance) for the upcoming Christmas on the Rhine cruise, which included airfare from Dallas.
Do the less expensive cruise lines include airfare? Do they include transportation to and from the airport?
This is unbelievable! Thank you so much for this information. ❤
great to hear you enjoyed one of our cuises with Nicko hope to see you soon back on board on one of our ships !
Thanks for the comparison. Great for on our own explorers!
I second that you should try Avalon - I went on the Danube with them last year. There was at least 1 excursion in each of the smaller ports (walkng tour, or bike/hike for the althletic folk), and bus tours in the bigger cities (Vienna & Budapest) which were all included. There were some optional tours (evening trip to Viennese concert, bus to Linz monastery), but we only did the monastery, as there was still something included without paying extra at every stop.
BUT, as previous ocean cruisers with an eye on budget, we would never have even considered it, if it hadnt been under half their usual price, due to low occupancy. The ship must have been less than half-full, at best so there were some deals to be had. Maybe were just still getting to grips with marketing in what was still (and is still) an on-going pandemic, or maybe they had a partner company intending to sell a bus-worth of cabins that pulled out. Presumably due to low occupancy, the nightly entertainment was cut to only 3 nights out of our week-long trip, but that was ok for us.
Customer service was non-existent when our included Lufthansa flights home were cancelled though, and we never got a refund (neither we nor the travel agent could get anywhere with either Avalin or Lufthansa). We are lucky that we live between 3 different airports and knew a budget airline could get us back via an alternative route for about £100 each.
I'd do it again, but not for anything close to their usual full-price fares, when I could get twice as long on an ocean ship, or while I could easily get about a month going around European cities by train, for the amount they charge.
Morgan, you should reach out to Avalon. On our cruise, we felt like we had a great mixture of countries. There were several Canadians, one Brit, quite a few Americans, and half was Australians or Kiwis (New Zealanders). They were people that cruised several times with them, but most were on their first river cruise. Also, most had done regular ocean cruises as well. We all agreed that the service, amenities, tour guides, Food… Was all exceptional. I didn’t hear anybody say it was a bad time.
We stayed in the swan view room and really loved it. We will cruise there again. Should we take another river cruise.
Perhaps they would let you do a video in exchange for fare
Spot on! AMA and Viking are top-end and obviously are lovely cruise ships. I've cruised Phoenix and although German speaking(which may put off many); they are absolutely brilliant value. We also docked at the same places as Viking/Scenic/A-Rosa and many others. I don't think you'll beat Phoenix on price, aside of Nicko. We could dine at Michelin restaurants for weeks on what we saved versus Viking 🙂
Thank you for this information. I just started looking into river cruises, and this will save us big time
Thanks Morgan for this comparison video! Opened our eyes to other options. Liked your comment the pickiness of your mom. I could hear my mom complaining about too much cranberry taste in a "cranberry blast" drink as well! 😀
Thank you for pointing out the price differences! I would love to do a river cruise in Europe but I knew they were expensive. However, this makes me feel like it is a possibility! Thank you Morgan!!!
Thanks Morgan!
Wow! I had already wrote off Europe river cruises after looking at Viking. Thanks, I'm subscribed.
Thank you. We are looking at river cruises to get more of the experience.
Would be interesting if AMA or Viking would give you a cruise to review and compare! Have read other cruise content UA-camrs who get cruise ship cruises to do that. This is so eye opening, Morgan. Great to see more affordable river cruising. Thanks so much.
So glad you did this video My husband and I have wanted to do a The Christmas Market River cruises. We looked at Viking and Ama and not in our budget. So, thank you for this video. I will be checking the two you mentioned.
Thank you so very much for this video. I live in a Suburb of Chicago and Viking is overwhelmingly the most dominant advertising river cruise seen.
Your explanation of your mom's personality made me ALOL, to the point that I had to pause to get the laughter out before watching the rest of the video without laughing over it. My mom had the same type of personality.
I am going to buy your book because these videos are enormously helpful to me. And you have such an amazing spirit.
So glad that I stumbled upon your video. I have checked out the prices on AMA and Viking and their are cost prohibitive for us. We will check out the ones you recommended. Thanks so much!😊
So glad I stumbled onto this video. I can pass on the hoity toity stuff to save that kind of serious money. Thanks so much for providing this information.
Another thing you might look into are river barges. My sister went on one in France and loved it! (For those who are really cost conscious!)
Mostly we see ads for Viking here in Canada. We’ve been with Scenic (Australian company) on the Rhine, and with Amawaterways on the Danube. Both were great. With AMA there are usually 2 or 3 included tour options for each stop. Also the cabins have 2 balconies…one outside and the other a French balcony with sliding doors (in the alcove you noticed.)
Excellent
Good advice
We’ll consider this
Any bikes available
Learned a lot
This has been one of the most informative vlogs I have watched. We want to do a 2024 Christmas market cruise. 100% helpful and good research
Very glad to help!
I am a dedicated AMA cruiser. I booked the trip for 2 however the second guest bailed. The very wonderful crew gave me extra attention. The other guests also took me under their wings. It was the best trip of my life. I am going again soon knowing everything will be fabulous.
I’m very curious to know if AMA still charged the second passenger that didn’t come, or if YOU had to pay an up-charge for having a double cabin, but cruising solo. Other cruise lines do exactly that! Can you believe it?
I so appreciate your practical point of view. I've done river cruises on both Nicko and Phoenix. I'd recommend them both
Morgan, I love your book. I would love for you to publish ANOTHER book so I can buy that too.
I’ve wanted to do a river cruise and you are right, I thought no way! I can see a river cruise in my future now.😎
We did the Douro with NIcko and it was great. We booked from Canada in CAD. Great cruise!!
Two other River cruise lines that advertise in Canada and USA are Croisi and Amadeus. Both are excellent
Haven't seen one in a little while, but for a time UA-cam was playing Viking ads at me *constantly*. I think I've only heard of AMA from youtubers like you. Thanks for sharing info about more affordable lines!
Lol, I said that yesterday so today they started showing me Viking commercials again 😆
Thanks for the info.. GATE 1 is also a line with discounts compared to Viking.. one may find discounts on the main lines by looking out a year and looking for promotions also.
Great heads-up!! I have always looked at the price, and have often said that there is no way! I've thought that maybe a bus tour is the way to go instead...just thinking anyway. Thanks so much for sharing your experience! Bruce and Otis
Thanks Morgan, a real eye opener. I can afford them all but why spend more when you are a seasoned traveler and can get a better value. Just the kind of helpful information I’ve been looking for. As an English speaker I’ve found you can you can pretty much work through most situations in Europe with respect and kindness.
I have never been on a cruise and would love to go on one. You have given me hope I might find one that so me. I have some mobility issues so think a river cruise might be suitable. Thank you
Great post! Marketing, marketing & more marketing that's why it's mostly the bigger/more expensive companies are what future consumers see. Glad you introduced affordable cruise lines. Expensive or affordable priced cruise trip both offers return on memories. I would have to say that it all depends on the traveler's pocket/budget. There are some who does not blink at a 10 day Viking or Seaborn cruise for 30k. A lesser priced cruise is just as good as a 30k one - just make your own fun as a solo travilista, or with loved ones & friends.
I’m totally with you! I look at European river cruises from time to time, but always recoil in horror at the price. I’ll check out your recommendations. Thanks!
LOL, the ad that played at the end of your video was from Viking!
Thanks for introducing me to optional river cruiselines. I haven't done any....mostly due to price as I am a solo traveler....in Canadian dollars. I did a quick check and saw, as is often the case, VIVA and Nicko charge double for a solo traveler. Granted, so do some of the luxury ships, but they also have no solo supplement sales at times.
I appreciate at least having a broader choice when a river cruises pops onto my radar again.
Morgan, thanks so much for sharing this information. I thought European river cruises were too expensive for me. It's nice to know there are others out there. Nico would be a great option.
If you want to go from point A to point B in comfort, Nikko or another line might be good. The extra cost of AMA and Viking gets you excursions. AMA gives you more "free" excursions than Viking, who only gives you one per city. Both give you free wine and beer with meals. AMA gives you a free happy hour if you want something more. Both have drink programs a world cheaper than on bigger cruise ships. AMA has excursions for those who may be mobility limited and ones for those who are able to keep up with the crowd better. For the American market, both lines offer discount or even free flights to Europe. I suppose with Nikko, I could walk around with a Fodor's book to get the layout of the city and its history, but AMA and Viking have done a good job of getting guides that give you the history and share their love of their home.
Avalon was our river cruise, twice. We loved it BUT I'm going to look at the ones you offered.
That is exactly my experience.
We did 3 very nice cruises with Nicko and phoenix.
We are a German/Canadian couple living in Germany.
The prices some of the American cruise lines call up we would never ever want to pay!!!!
We prefer to do several cruises (also sea cruises) for the same price!!!
Thanks! Great information. This August I am going on my second Viking cruise with friends. The river cruises are a lot of fun and I would like to do more. At Nicko prices, I CAN! Yippee!
OMG, I love your videos so much. I saw your video about the Viva Tiara a week after I booked a Viking River cruise. I did the 14 night grand European, and at 5K each it did include airfare. Due to weather issues we got upgraded to business class and only arrived 3 hours later than our original flight. I seriously want to try Nicko cruises. I have to say, the food on Viking was truly 6 star and our program director Gavin was amazing, but it was a real stretch for me financially. From your Video the decor on AMA was way more elegant than Viking, who goes with the Scandinavian minimalist look. Also, I would prefer a ship that has a hot tub to relax in after a long day of walking. Also, a line that does not charge a single supplement would be a huge plus. I had to drag my daughter on the Viking to avoid the single supplement, LOL. Again, keep making your great videos Morgan!
The only cruises I see advertising for in the US is Viking. Plus my lovely daughter called Viking once...now we get weekly mailers from Viking!! Lots of junk mail. I thought moving 7 years ago would eliminate junk mail..nope they found us even 1600 miles away!! I would love to do a river cruise, maybe in 2025. I have big travel plans already for 2024. I am coming to Europe solo this summer. Hubby didn't want to come, so I am doing the cruise by myself. After the virus we all found out..we can't wait forever especially as you age. Do it today or you'll never do it.
Good on you for going solo! I wouldn't have had half of the amazing experiences I've had around the world if I always waited for someone to come with. You're going to have a great time.
If you think the junk mail is bad, wait until you book a cruise on Viking. They are super aggressive before you go, trying to upsell you before you go and when you return the bombard you with email, junk mail and phone calls trying to get you to go on another cruise.
Very good video. I have been on over 175 ocean cruises ( no Carnival, NCL pre the free style protocol, or the like), mostly Princess, celebrity, mid scale like Oceania and Azamara and upscale like Crystal, seaborne and regent, etc. I have been on 5 river cruises, 2 AMA, 2 Uniworld, and one crystal ( I want to try Riverside cruises who bought their river cruises). You are right, river cruising as compared to Ocean is no comparison!
I am used to better and more upscale companies. Your comparison is very true, but let me ask people who have not tried so many upper scale ships. Let’s look at North American hotels. They are all places to sleep, the the experience is different and the cost varies immensely. There are those who like a 4 seasons hotel ( that I would compare as the crystal ships or Uniworld). Then there are the hiltons and Sheratons, which I would say is like Ama, Avalon, Viking, etc, then there are budget hotels. So it’s the experience you want. A big negative for me would be the language. I was in Rio a year before the Olympics ( mY last time was carnival 2023, but I was surprised that for an international city, people do not speak English! Yes better hotels and restaurants have the front staff who do, but I felt as I was in a fish bowl. The only time on my first visit that I was with English speaking people were on tours ( these were Germans tourists ), so the language is a big factor for me, especially as I travel alone.
My last river cruise was on the Nile on Uniworld this spring. I was surprised to see at least 50plus ships in Luxor and Aswan, we in North American know of maybe 4-5 companies. yes Uniworld charged $1000 a day pp, but the room ( all suite 340 sq feet) the food, service and tours were better than AMA who were maybe $1000 or so less. ( I am nit comparing their ships as most have been re-imaged with a couple of years). I spoke to some people and their ships on the Nile catered to the various countries, so the language on board was Portuguese, or Italian, or French, etc. Some were much cheaper, but it’s what you want and expect.
However for someone who just wants to cruise and the experience on board is not the most important, yes, Viva and the other company you mentioned are great and a more economical way to travel. It all depends on your budget and expectations…….
Thanks for that video. My husband and I would love to go on a river cruise, and the price has always stopped us. My travel agent was on Emerald last year and loved it. Two of my friends have sailed on Viking and had a great time, and they spent a fortune, and the other issue with Viking is they require full payment 18 months in advance! If I am able to book Nicko in the US, I would consider them. We don't need a drinks package or excursions in every port.
Here in Australia the cruise lines most popularly advertised are Viking, ATP and Scenic.
We did a 15 night cruise on Viking for 5K pp but it did include our airfare RT from the US. Only thing it didn’t have that I would have liked was a hot tub.
I’ve sailed Avalon and really enjoyed the overall value. I’ve had the opportunity to tour several different river cruise lines and a lot of differences are in overall interior design, cabin layout, and whether some include alcohol and excursions. Another point of difference is the type or category of excursions offered. I’m also very interested in sailing the AmaMagna. She’s a much wider ship and I was definitely impressed when I toured her in 2022. Jimmy’s Wine Bar and the fireside library are calling my name for a Christmas Market sailing. It makes you want to hang out there with a nice glass of red wine.
Wow! Big difference
Emerald Waterways is also English only. Tips and excursions included. Optional excursions offered.
Whenever I've looked into cheaper lines they offer excursions but very few are offered for free. I also like the educational talks about the areas you are travelling through. I don't drink so I haven't looked at that. Viking is a premium brand. I would definitely go with them if I could afford it, but they charge solos a full single supplement.
I ravel the rivers on Tauck. They are pricey but do have rooms without a single supplement. They are also truly all inclusive without exception and include lots of special events. I book really far in advance to ensure i have a room and to give me months to pay it off.
Thanks for the info. I have always wanted to try a river cruise but thought they too expensive. I will be looking into Viva and Nikko cruises.
Haven't been on Nicko, but for American traveller's, they offer free air on the popular Viking River cruises, so when you put that into considerations $2500 is not a bad deal plus they even include the airport transfers.
Thanks so much for this video! I had no idea there were other options than the big 3. We travel to Europe a lot and always wanted to do a river cruise, but could spend a month in Europe for what Viking and AMA charge. You just gained another subscriber.
Welcome! I'm glad I could help!
I actually appreciate you doing these comparisons, I’m on a budget of a little over 3,000. I’ve been on cruises but don’t care for them but may be the river ones are better🙂
Love your video, great information, however, All the upgraded furnishings outside spaces, etc. are worth the extra money to me. And you have to know I’m not above my raising, I grew up lower middle class. I appreciate that level of detail.
I've cruised on the Seine with Avalon. I believe the difference between the economy cruise lines & Avalon, Viking, etc is the food quality. The lower consumer ratings on Nicko seems to be regarding food quality. Avalon's cuisine was superb, including the buffet at breakfast & lunch.
Thank you for commenting, very helpful!
I'm very happy you and some other UA-camrs have showed off budget river cruises. I didn't know these existed until a few years ago, and the idea of seeing multiple cities for a reasonable price seems great.
Viking does the most advertising in the US by far. I only know of AMA because they partner with Adventures by Disney.
Morgan. Please tell me that website that offers better prices for travel agents. I am a travel agent in the USA. Thanks Morgan !
Looking for cruise for may of next year and am on a budget,these suggestions are perfect. Costs are half from your usual river cruise sites😀
I've never seriously considered European river cruising until seeing your videos! Some of the Very Big Brands are financially out of reach for me. But the experiences you've covered seem lovely and affordable. I had no idea!😊👍Miss Viva Tiara and her sister ships FTW!
Please welcome her back to the staaaage....
Thank you for helping us financially challenged people who want to travel and cruise... but, couldn't without alternative avenues or opinions!
"Financially challenged" makes it sound so unfortunate. Let's call it "travelling on a beer budget and not a champagne budget" :-P
@@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides Yes, budget traveling sounds much better!
Per your request for information on other river cruises that advertise and promote here in the USA, not in any specific order. Avalon, UniWorld, Emerald, Scenic Riveria, along with AMA and Viking which you know about. One fact about Viking compared to all others is they have more cabins and they are all smaller than all their competition, thus more crowded ships!
and Tauck. Also Viking boats, having more passengers (ca. 200), have a greater draft and are more suceptible to itinerary changes due to low water levels than lines like AMA and Uniworld who carry 135 to 155 passengers.
I really liked this since I hate to be frivolous with money. Every year Viking sends me a river cruise brochure. Often look longingly but Nikko sounds super appealing to me. I really like to plan places I want to see--more art and history fewer cathedrals. Thanks!
Just discovered your channel and catching up. Loved the presentation. Have always wanted to do a river cruise but we just couldn't afford one. You have opened our eyes and the possibilies. Many thanks. 😊 Those of you that have exalted the vitues of Viking or others. Not all of us can afford them. I'd rather have the opportunity to travel, albiet more cheaply, than never travel because it is too expensive.
Welcome onboard! :-) Thanks for coming over. I totally get what you mean about wanting to travel, even if you have a restricted budget. That's a big topic here!
This was a very informative video. I have only been aware of Viking and their prices are too rich for my blood. Thanks Morgan!👍🙂
Scenic, APT and Viking are the big ones here in Australia. The 1st two I believe are Australian owned and operated rather than European operated. These river cruises are typically between $6000 and $12000 per person in Australia. 2 to 3 times the cost of a Ocean cruise.