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A colorful open air neighborhood on a mega cruise ship at night with twisting waterslides overhead and a large pink flamingo sculpture in the center. Bright signs read "SURFSIDE" and "ARCADE" as passengers walk between restaurants seating areas and family attractions.

The real mega cruise ship cost for our family was much higher than the base fare once we added drinks, WiFi, waterpark access, gratuities, and the other extras we actually used. My teens had an incredible time on our last mega ship cruise, and by the time we got off, we’d spent more on add-ons […]

What My Teens’ Favorite Cruise Actually Cost, Once Everything Was Added Up

After twenty-five plus cruises on mega cruise ships, including some of the biggest ships at sea, I’m starting to think I might just be done with them. The Ship That Charged Me $700 for WiFi I got quoted $700 for WiFi on a recent mega ship sailing and just stared at the screen for a […]

Royal Caribbean Star of the Seas docked at port under a blue sky

Confessions of a Travel Advisor Who Might Be Too Old for Mega Cruise Ships

A traditional Dutch windmill rises behind a sea of blooming tulips in shades of red, pink, and purple—an iconic view that defines the best tulip river cruise experience.

The right tulip river cruise has less to do with which line has the prettiest brochure and more to do with how you actually like to travel, since AmaWaterways, Avalon, and Tauck are all sailing roughly the same bloom window on roughly the same canals, and still deliver genuinely different trips. The Tulip Cruise I […]

Best Tulip River Cruises: How to Choose the Right One for You

Tauck River Cruise Ships: The Complete Guide to the Fleet, Cabins, and What Makes Them Different Tauck’s river ships carry fewer passengers than many of their competitors, which means more space per guest, and the price already includes nearly everything, so the number you see upfront is much closer to the number you actually pay. […]

Tauck’s riverboat “Serene” cruising along a lush, tree-lined stretch of river with white limestone cliffs in the background. Courtesy of Tauck.

Tauck River Cruise Ships: The Complete Guide to the Fleet, Cabins, and What Makes Them Different

A turquoise Japanese footbridge covered in purple and white wisteria blossoms stretches across a peaceful pond in Claude Monet Garden in Giverny France. Lush greenery and flowering plants surround the bridge something to see on 2028 river cruises.

Tauck is usually the better fit if you want every small decision handled for you before you even pack. Viking can be the better fit if you want a familiar premium river cruise experience, broader availability, and don’t mind paying separately for some of the things Tauck builds into the price. Why This Comparison Keeps […]

Tauck vs. Viking: Which River Cruise Line Should You Actually Book?

The best vacation for someone who has spent their whole life managing every detail is the one where, for once, they get to hand that job to someone else. The Client Who Sends Me a Spreadsheet I can usually tell within the first email who my most detail-oriented clients are. They send me a list. […]

A picturesque canal lined with colorful flowers winds through a historic European town filled with traditional half-timbered buildings reflected in the calm water. Charming destinations like this are memorable stops on many of the best river cruise itineraries.

The Best Vacation for a Lifelong Planner Is the One They Don’t Have to Plan

Two women smile together on the outdoor deck of a river cruise ship at night with the illuminated Hungarian Parliament Building across the Danube behind them. Golden lights from the landmark reflect across the dark river.

If you’re trying to choose between the Rhine vs Danube for your European first river cruise, everyone will tell you to compare the castles. After cruising both, I think they’re comparing the wrong thing. The real difference isn’t what you see, it’s how much of your day gets eaten up getting to and from the […]

If This Is Your First European River Cruise, I’d Pick the Danube Over the Rhine, and Here’s Why

“Tara, what’s the best river cruise for our anniversary trip?” People ask me some version of this question all the time. The problem is, it’s the wrong question. The best river cruise line for a retired cyclist celebrating an anniversary probably isn’t the best choice for a solo traveler, a foodie, or a family trying […]

The 5 Best River Cruise Lines in Europe: Why Viking Didn’t Make My List

A woman wearing a bicycle helmet stands beside a rental bike along the Rhine River in Düsseldorf while giving a peace sign. Active excursions like cycling through riverside cities are common on a Rhine River cruise.

People see “beer and wine included” in a European river cruise brochure and assume they’re signing up for a floating happy hour. They’re not. That single line in the inclusions list gets mistaken for the entire personality of the trip, and it’s causing some travelers, especially non-drinkers, to rule out a vacation they’d probably love. […]

Are European River Cruises Party Boats? Here’s What “Beer & Wine Included” Really Means

If you’re considering a Tauck river cruise, one of the first decisions you’ll make isn’t which itinerary to choose. It’s whether to book directly with Tauck or work with a Tauck Certified Travel Agent. Over the past several years, I’ve helped dozens of travelers compare Tauck with other luxury river cruise lines, including AmaWaterways, Avalon […]

Travel advisor standing among towering ocotillo plants, cacti, and rugged desert mountains during a Sonoran Desert excursion included with the Tauck Certified training. The sunny landscape showcases the type of guided Jeep adventure Tauck offers in Scottsdale.

Book Tauck Directly or Use a Tauck Certified Travel Agent? Here’s How to Decide.

 
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Not Sure Which River Cruise Is Right for You?

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Most people only know Viking, but the experience can vary more than you’d expect.

This guide walks you through a few of the river cruise lines I recommend most often and what actually sets them apart.