By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert
http://www.dreamdestinations.com
As many of you know, we have one of the best, in-depth, Europe River Cruise Comparisons available anywhere on our website. We have updated our 2016 version to provide even more accurate information on the ever changing Europe river cruise scene.
We want to emphasize all of these river cruise lines are good values and special trips. Many have won awards and there is really no official ranking system to provide you a valid comparison method.
To help overcome the lack of an official ranking system, we have found that The Berlitz River Cruising in Europe & the USA Guide to be as fair an evaluation as presently available to the public. This book evaluates individual ships in its rating system instead of entire companies, so we have decided to compare the best rivership from each company to determine a ranking system as our method of comparison.
We have also provided our own personal rankings of each line with comments.
So, let’s explore these ranking together, or if you like, just go directly to our full PDF presentation at this link:
READ OUR COMPLETE 86 SLIDE PRESENTATION
What Cruise Lines are We Comparing?
There are 8 major river cruise lines that market to US consumers. The 8 lines we are comparing are: AmaWaterways, Avalon, Crystal River Cruises, Emerald Waterways, Scenic, Tauck, Uniworld and Viking. We provide a good look at the advantages and disadvantages of each company, so you can determine if they might be a good match for your vacation.
Here are some of our photos of the actual riverships in action or in port:
Why Should You Trust Our Comparisons?
Our ratings are based on sailing on 15 Europe river cruises, selling river cruises on most river cruise lines, personal research and earning specialty designations from almost all major river cruise lines. We have tried to present the best factual information possible and if the data is our personal opinion, clearly state this.
What are the Biggest Changes from the 2016 to 2018-19 Comparisons?
There are several changes to our previous 73 slide PowerPoint presentation.
The first change is the addition of our photos of all the river cruise lines except Crystal. We feel the reason this is significant, is that it gives you proof we have actually sailed on or seen these cruise lines in action.
The second change is to add rankings to the scores form the Berlitz guide. This should help you quickly distinguish the differences between lines instead of having to compare the number scores.
The third change is enhanced information on Crystal River Cruises. In our original guide, there was only one river cruise ship, the Mozart, a double wide rivership. Now Crystal has 5 ships sailing in Europe with the addition of 4 longships. We have updated all our information on Crystal.
The forth change was to provide information about U by Uniworld—their new 2 boat venture that is radically different than others approach to Europe river cruising.
The last major change is to delete the pricing information chart, as the 2016 chart was a snapshot, not a real comparison. Also, some lines do not publish their fares—you must directly contact the company to get accurate pricing. Another factor is the air add-ons and other special incentives that many lines are offering.
Berlitz Overall Ratings
From the book, River Cruising in Europe & the USA, we selected the best rated rivership of each company to create this comparison chart. Here are their rankings using this methodology:
Our Overall Ratings
Here are our rankings of the 8 cruise lines:
My Final Thoughts
Please share this information with anyone who might want to learn more about Europe River cruising or have them call us—we will be delighted to help!
Getting unbiased information about the various river cruise companies is difficult. There is no one company that is right for everyone. We do believe we know enough to guide you to the right river cruise company that matches your travel style. We can provide comparisons that will provide you significant information to make sound travel decisions about which company to use for your river cruise vacation.
We are travel experts, ocean and river cruise experts, and Europe destination experts. We have first-hand knowledge of almost anywhere you want to visit in Europe. We know our products and the vendors who sell them to you. We have designed special tours for dozens of clients, led several and will continue to find just the right vacation that will exceed your expectations.
When you are spending your hard earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.
Whatever your Dream Destinations are, we are here to help you get the best possible vacation based on what is important to you! We will provide you high quality, expertly planned travel. Please give me a call 713-397-0188 (Hank) or email me at hschrader@dreamdestinations.com. We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!
HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 45 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:
- AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
- Viking River Cruise Specialist
- Scenic River Cruise Specialist
- Emerald Waterways Specialist
- Avalon Waterways Specialist
- Brit Agent
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