Avalon Waterways vs Tauck: which river cruise is better?

No score and no verdict of ours: what Avalon Waterways and Tauck each publish on their own websites, read 10 November 2026, topic by topic, each line linked to the page it came from.

Avalon Waterways vs Tauck: which river cruise is better?

Neither is better for everyone. Avalon says its small ships average 150 guests or less, includes up to 28 excursions and takes a $250 deposit on its US terms; Tauck's riverboats average 110 guests and its one upfront price covers unlimited drinks, all gratuities and airport transfers, with no single supplement in Category 1 on its European river cruises.

What is each line?

Avalon Waterways runs river cruises on its Avalon Suite Ships; it belongs to the Globus family of brands with Globus and Cosmos and calls itself a Swiss family-owned company, with its office in Denver, Colorado. Source

Tauck sells guided land journeys, river cruises and small ship cruises; founded in 1925, it is a family-owned, fourth-generation travel company. Source

Which ships does each line sail?

Avalon Waterways sails Avalon Suite Ships in Europe, the Avalon Alegria on the Douro (its newest Suite Ship) and the Avalon Saigon on the Mekong; it also sells cruises on the Delfin III on the Amazon and the MS Farah in Egypt; its pages do not say who owns them. Source

Tauck sails riverboats on Europe's rivers, including the custom-built ms Andorinha on the Douro from Porto; it does not own or operate the boats it uses. Source

How many guests are on board?

Avalon Waterways carries 102 passengers on the Avalon Alegria on the Douro and 36 guests in 18 Panorama Suites on the Avalon Saigon on the Mekong; it says its small ships average 150 guests or less. Source

Tauck's riverboats average 110 guests and its largest carry no more than 130 guests. Source

Which rivers does each line sail?

Avalon Waterways sails European rivers on its Suite Ships, the Douro on the Avalon Alegria and the Mekong through Vietnam and Cambodia on the Avalon Saigon; it also sells cruises on the Amazon in Peru (Delfin III) and in Egypt (MS Farah). Source

Tauck sells named sailings on the Rhine, Main, Moselle, Danube, Rhône, Saône, Seine and Douro and on the waterways of Belgium and Holland, from The Blue Danube to Rendezvous on the Seine: Paris to Normandy. Source

How large are the cabins?

Avalon Waterways' Panorama Suites are 200 square feet in Europe, which it says is an average of 30% larger than others, with Open-Air Balconies whose windows open 7 feet wide; suites on the Avalon Saigon are 245 square feet with wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling Open-Air Balconies. Source

Tauck's Tauck Suites are 300 square feet with walk-in closets, full-size bathrooms and double French balconies; 75% of its cabins are 225 sq ft or larger and its solo staterooms are 150 to 180 sq ft. Source

What does the fare include?

Avalon Waterways' Europe fares include wine and beer with lunch and dinner, sparkling wine with breakfast, soft drinks all day, Wi-Fi, up to 28 included excursions and gratuities for wait staff at included meals; airfare, guide and crew gratuities, laundry, minibar, optional excursions, travel protection and visas cost extra. Source

Tauck's one upfront price covers meals and snacks on board, 24/7 unlimited drinks (regional wine, beer, premium spirits, coffee, tea and soft drinks), unlimited wifi, small group excursions, all gratuities, airport transfers, port charges, taxes, fuel surcharges and overnight hotel stays on select cruises; airfare is not included. Source

Are shore excursions included?

Avalon Waterways includes up to 28 excursions per cruise in small groups, in three Avalon Choice styles (Classic, Discovery and Active); its Active & Discovery cruises average 22 included excursions and optional excursions are sold from 90 days before departure. Source

Tauck includes a choice of privately guided small group excursions and Tauck-exclusive cultural experiences, with an average of 15 guests per local guide ashore. Source

What do solo travellers pay?

Avalon Waterways charges a single room supplement where it applies, with no figure published; single accommodation can be requested and no solo cabins are named. Source

Tauck charges no single supplement in Category 1 on all European river cruises, sells solo cabins of 150 to 180 sq ft and offers solo savings of $1,000 per cabin in select categories on select river cruises. Source

How much is the deposit?

Avalon Waterways: Under its US terms, takes a non-refundable deposit of $250 (USD) per person on most cruises ($500 on the Delfin III, MS Farah and Botswana trips), with final payment 90 days before departure. Source

Tauck asks for final payment 120 days before departure on cruises; its river cruise deposit amount is not published. Source

What happens if you cancel?

Avalon Waterways: On 2026 and 2027 cruises, charges 50% of the total price from the final payment date to 30 days before departure, 80% at 29 to 1 days and 100% on the day of departure or later; deposits are non-refundable. Source

Tauck charges cancellation fees that vary by trip and rise nearer departure; its optional Cruise Protection Plan refunds the full cruise price 120 days before departure, with a loss of 25% at 119 to 60 days and 50% at 59 to 1 day before departure. Source

Is your money protected?

Avalon Waterways gives California Seller of Travel #2017032-20 and Florida Seller of Travel # ST38397 and does not say what they cover. Source

Tauck gives California Seller of Travel registration #2016001-20 under Tauck, Inc. and does not say what the registration covers. Source

What happens if the water is too high or too low?

Avalon Waterways says it will often move guests to a sister Suite Ship when water level disruptions are unchanged after 48 hours and uses motorcoaches and hotels for changes; its terms treat low or high water as a Force Majeure Event, with future travel credit offered and a refund possible if requested within 21 days. Source

Tauck treats low or high water as force majeure, when it may give a credit for a future Tauck trip instead of a refund; it may change the itinerary or substitute hotels, sightseeing and conveyances, refunding any savings to guests and covering any resulting expenses. Source

What if your mobility is limited?

Avalon Waterways: Outside the United States, guests must be able to walk up and down steps and ramps without a wheelchair or walker; collapsible wheelchairs up to 1030mm x 555mm are allowed if disclosed, motorised scooters are not permitted outside the US and many small ships have no lift. Source

Tauck gives every journey an Activity and a Pace rating from 1 to 4; it cannot give individual help with walking or wheelchairs, so guests needing it must travel with an able companion, some itineraries cannot take wheelchairs and no trip takes motorised scooters. Source

Can children come?

Avalon Waterways sets a minimum age of 8, with no child reductions and no special arrangements or activities for children on its ships. Source

Tauck takes children from age 4 on its Tauck Bridges family river cruises; on other trips it recommends children be at least 8 and offers no child rates. Source

When is each not the fit?

The limits below are published by each line on their own websites.

• Avalon Waterways: not the fit if you use a wheelchair or walker: outside the United States, guests must be able to walk up and down steps and ramps without one. Source
• Tauck: not the fit if you need help walking or use a motorised scooter: it gives no individual assistance, guests needing it must travel with an able companion and no trip takes scooters. Source

How do their reviews compare?

Their figures per platform, read 10 November 2026, each from a listing under the line's own name; a whole-company profile is marked. Figures are never added together.

• Avalon Waterways: Google: 4.2 out of 5 from 22 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.4 out of 5 from 1,905 reviews, newest 25 October 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
• Tauck: Google: 3.4 out of 5 from 41 reviews; Trustpilot (whole company): 2.7 out of 5 from 93 reviews, newest 13 October 2026. Read 10 November 2026.

The lines at a glance

One card each, as on every Uncompromised Travel river cruise page: what each sells, why to choose each, what to ask for and the limits each publishes.

Companies are added at each update. Want to be the company this page features?

Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 10 November 2026 · updated 10 November 2026