Viking and Tauck River Cruise Comparison
By Sandra & John Nowlan
Both Viking and Tauck have enviable reputations for a quality and thorough river cruise experience.
We’ve sailed on both lines over the past nine months.
Viking is by far the bigger company with many more choices on European rivers.
Tauck provides a more deluxe, all-inclusive experience than Viking, and, except for Viking’s two ultra-large suites on each ship, Tauck is more costly.
Viking Idi on the Moselle. * Photo: John & Sandra Nowlan
Basic fares for the 11-night City Lights Viking cruise land combo we recently experienced, start at $2,999 USD per person. With Tauck and its similar 9-night Three River Europe cruise, prices start at $6,390 USD per person. Keep in mind, prices fluctuate and discounts are often available through wholesalers; airfare may be included.
Viking’s Longships and Tauck’s Inspiration-class river vessels are the same length (135 meters; 443 feet), but otherwise there are significant differences.
Here are some points of comparison.
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Maximum Passenger Capacity
Viking — 190 passengers
Tauck — 130 passengers (max)
Maximum Crew
Viking — 55 crew
Tauck — 39 crew
Size of Cabins
Viking — Rooms range from 135 square feet to 445 square feet (though most are in the 135 square foot range)
Tauck — On average, rooms are bigger, ranging from 150 to 300 square feet
A large cabin on Tauck’s 98-pax Sapphire. * Photo: John & Sandra Nowlan
Are Drinks Included?
Viking — Complimentary wine and beer at lunch and dinner
Tauck — Complimentary wine, beer and spirits anytime
What’s the Deal on Tips?
Viking — Gratuities are charged at end of cruise
Tauck — Gratuities are included in fare
Are Excursions Included?
Viking — One complimentary excursion in each port; fee for others
Tauck — Choice of multiple complimentary excursions in each port; one special dinner (often in a castle)
Who’s in Charge?
Viking — One Program Director on each ship, responsible for tours
Tauck — One Cruise Director and three Tour Directors on each ship
Tour Size in Port?
Viking — Guided tours could have a bus full (45 guests)
Tauck — Most tours average 24 guests
Lunch in Port?
Viking — Usually on your own for lunch while on tour
Tauck — Tour guides provide money for lunch while on tour; also coins for pay toilets
Are Cabin Mini-fridges Stocked?
Viking — Room fridges are only stocked with drinks in top-level 3rd deck suites
Tauck — Room fridges stocked with drinks in all rooms
What’s the Dinner Situation?
Viking — Fixed dinner time (usually 7 pm)
Tauck — Flexible “anytime” dining
Room Service?
Viking — No room service
Tauck — “Bite to Eat” menu items can be delivered to rooms
What Extra Amenities are there like Bicycles?
Viking — No spas, bikes or pools on its ships
Tauck — There’s a small hair salon, plunge pool, fitness center and bikes for passenger use
What’s the Difference in Price?
Viking — Basic fares for our 11-night City Lights Viking cruise land combo start at $2,999 USD per person
Tauck — Tauck offers a more deluxe, all-inclusive and pricey river cruise than Viking; a 9-night Three River Europe Tauck cruise starts at $6,390 USD per person.
Along the Rhine.The top deck of the Viking Idi. * Photo: John & Sandra Nowlan
We hope you found our Viking and Tauck river cruise comparison helpful.
We’re able to share the comparison above because of our recent trips with both Viking and Tauck.
To read more about Viking, we recently reviewed an 11-night Viking river cruise and land tour combo on the 190-pax Idi for QuirkyCruise.
Last year, we traveled with Tauck aboard the 98-passenger Sapphire to experience their brand of river cruising and service.
READ: Here’s Sandra & John’s QuirkyCruise review of their Tauck river cruise on the Seine River.
At the end of the day, it depends what’s important to you.
We hope our Viking and Tauck river cruise comparison in this post helps you to decide what’s best for you.
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HEIDI SARNA
Very informative, clearly presented, nicely done!
You compare many things, but not cost. Tauck is typically a significant premium over Viking. Tauck isn’t providing many of the extras listed as free, you are just paying for those things up front.
This isn’t a complete comparison.
Hi David, we did mention cost in intro, here it is: Basic fares for our 11-night City Lights Viking cruise land combo start at $2,999 USD per person. With Tauck and its similar 9-night Three River Europe cruise, prices start at $6,390 USD per person.
I’ve made it clearer with a subhead.
We did the 8 day Viking Rhine River cruise this past spring. All excursions we did got us back in time for lunch and dinner. Never had to look for off ship meal
Best trip we’ve ever taken. Room size was not an issue. Only there for sleeping and preparing for each day.
Thanks for your insights, these are great points to make. If you have a moment, we’d love a reader review of your experience, here’s a link to the review form — https://quirkycruise.com/submit-reader-review-form/
Thank you!
This comparison does not add in fees and gratitudies on top of Viking price. I did the math . Tauck is cheaper
Well, fares will always vary depending on dates and itineraries etc, but generally, we’ve found Tauck is more expensive with more is included in the fares, while Viking is often less expensive, with less bundled in the fares.
Compare Viking to Grand Circle.
Yes, that would be a good comparison to detail … stay tuned!
We did our one and so far only river cruise on Viking in 2022, the 8 day Rhine cruise. We have also done two Viking ocean cruises, both 14 days. We think Viking provides excellent value and superb service. We decided we wanted more than the “snapshot” provided in each port, so we’ve done a month-long European road trip via rental car each of the last two years and are planning to do another one next year. We spend 3 nights in most places to really see each place and prefer doing it this way. You have more flexibility on a road trip, but it is more work to do all of the planning and make all of the arrangements. We expect to do a few more cruises, both ocean and river in the future. We have not had any real issues driving, and we are 76 years old.
Wow, that’s a way to travel!! You should write an article for us, or at least a Reader Review (like Trip Advisor for small-ship cruising, here the form: https://quirkycruise.com/submit-reader-review-form/ … Love that you combine a month-long roadtrip with a cruise, that’s a great way to do it if you can.