Tauck vs Viking River Cruise: Which One Feels Like Us?

A couple from Clearwater came to see me last year with two printouts. Both were Danube sailings, one from Tauck and one from Viking. The wife asked which was better, and I asked which one sounded more like the two of them.

That question is what this article is about. If you're weighing a Tauck vs Viking river cruise, here's how I sort it out with clients, so you can pick the line that suits how you travel before you put down a deposit.

I'm a Tauck Certified Specialist and a Viking Certified Expert, so I book both and can be straight about where each one fits.

Which One Sounds Like You

I start with two questions. Do you want fewer people on board, or more? And do you want one price that covers most things, or a base fare you add to as you go?

Tauck leans toward fewer people and one price. Viking leans toward a slightly bigger ship and more say in what you add. Your answers often point to one line fairly quickly.

The Ships Are the Same Length

On paper, the two ships look alike. Tauck's ms Inspire measures 443 feet and holds up to 130 guests. Tauck also lists up to three of its own directors traveling with the group, which helps if you like having someone to ask.

Viking's Longship is the same length, but Viking Ve carries 190 guests, so it puts 60 more people on the same amount of ship. You can see the numbers on Viking's page. Fewer guests usually makes a ship feel quieter, and more guests usually makes it livelier.

Tauck vs Viking River Cruise, Side by Side

Here is what each line lists on its own site. Inclusions change, so confirm the current list before you book.

	Tauck	Viking
Guests on board	Up to 130 on ms Inspire	190 on Viking Ve
Shore excursions	All included	One in every port
Drinks	House wine, beer, and premium spirits on the riverboat, all day	Beer, wine, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; coffee, tea, and bottled water around the clock
Tips	Included	Not on Viking's list
Airport transfers	Included on arrival and departure	Included with a Viking Air purchase

Tauck rolls tips, premium spirits, and every excursion into one price. Viking includes one excursion in every port, plus beer, wine, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner. Tips aren't on Viking's list, so I ask about them before I quote anything.

Read the Itinerary Port by Port

Two sailings on the same line can feel different, so I read the itinerary one port at a time. On Viking, I check which excursion is included in each port and ask whether it's the one my client would choose. On Tauck, I look at what's included each day and how much free time is left.

Some people love a free afternoon, and others feel they're wasting a port. That preference decides more than most brochures let on. I keep notes like these in a side-by-side for clients, and my blog has other comparisons written the same way.

Add It Up Before You Compare

Comparing base fares alone is the mistake I watch for. The two lines put different things in the price, so I take whatever one line leaves out and add it to that line's total:

• Tips for the crew and guides

• Drinks outside of meals

• Optional excursions you'd really book

• Airport transfers

  
  

Other lines, like Scenic, list their inclusions differently again, so the same check applies. Each line also runs more than one ship, so ask about the exact ship on your dates. I can price both for the same sailing and put the totals side by side. My services page covers the rest of what I handle.

If Neither Feels Right

Some readers get this far and realize neither line is quite them. That's worth finding out before a deposit. I also book Uniworld, and the same math applies there.

How I'm Paid

You should know how I'm paid. I book both lines, and I earn a commission from the line you sail with. Ask any advisor about this before you commit, me included. You can read more about me on my About Us page.

Common Questions About Tauck and Viking

My FAQ page has more answers, and these are the ones that come up most around this choice.

What is the difference between Tauck and Viking river cruises?

Tauck carries fewer guests on ms Inspire and includes more in one price, tips and every excursion among them. Viking carries more guests on Viking Ve and includes a shorter list, with one excursion in every port.

Is Tauck more expensive than Viking?

Base fares alone won't tell you. Tauck includes tips, premium spirits, and every excursion, so you have to add those extras to Viking's fare before the two totals mean the same thing. Ask for both quotes on the same sailing.

Which is better for a first river cruise?

Both work. Tauck's directors on ms Inspire may appeal if you want more hand-holding, and Viking fits if you'd rather keep the base simple and build on it. Compare the same sailing on both before you choose.

Do I need a travel advisor to book Tauck or Viking?

No, you can usually book with either line directly. An advisor helps most when you want both sailings priced side by side, or need someone to call when plans change. Look for an ASTA member, since ASTA holds its members to a strict code of ethics.

Send me your dates and I'll put both quotes side by side. If AmaWaterways is on your list too, tell me and I'll add it to the comparison, so you're weighing every option on the same sailing. You can contact me here.