The single most confusing thing about river cruises is what's included. One line's 'all-inclusive' is another's 'drinks at dinner only.' Here's the honest breakdown across the lines we compare.
Truly all-inclusive (everything covered)
- Tauck — all excursions, all drinks, all gratuities
- Uniworld — all excursions, all drinks (premium spirits), all gratuities
- Scenic — all excursions, all drinks, all gratuities, butler service
- Riverside — all excursions, all drinks, all gratuities
Generous but not full (drinks all day, some excursions extra)
- AMA Waterways — wine/beer/cocktails all day + Sip & Sail; some premium excursions extra; gratuities extra
Standard (drinks at meals, one excursion per port)
- Viking — beer & wine at lunch/dinner; one excursion per port; flights, gratuities, and off-meal drinks extra
- Avalon — beer & wine at dinner; choice of excursion style per port; flights, gratuities extra
Light (drinks at dinner, some excursions)
- Emerald — beer & wine at dinner; some excursions; flights, gratuities, and most excursions extra
What's almost never included
- International flights to/from Europe (Viking and AMA sometimes include them as a promo)
- Pre/post-cruise hotel extensions (bookable, but extra)
- Premium spirits on lines that include 'beer and wine'
- Off-ship lunches and dinners
Tip
When comparing fares, add up the true cost: fare + flights + gratuities + drinks package. A $2,499 Viking sailing with $1,200 of extras can cost more than a $3,499 Tauck sailing with everything included. A VPC expert will do this math for you.
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