The old saying is “the devil is in the details”. It’s usually true. In the case of cruise vacations, the devil is in the inclusions.
When the inclusions are different between cruise lines, here’s how to do a side-by-side value comparison to make sure you’re comparing ‘apples to apples’. You can do this kind of comparison with ANY cruise lines, and you can adjust the numbers to reflect your own preferences (for example, people who do not drink alcohol would value this as $0). Don’t forget to include intangibles (you could even place a dollar value on them, although I prefer to ask myself, “is it worth it to me to pay the final price difference in order to get these intangibles?”. There is no right or wrong answer, and that’s the beauty of this exercise.
Here’s an example, where we look at Tauck (the most inclusive river cruise line) and Viking (where you pay as you go along).
Danube River: 7-night river cruise with 5 nights pre/post in September 2025
French Balcony Stateroom
| Tauck | Viking | |
| Published Price | $10,540 | $5,699 |
| Airport Transfers | $0 | $0**Included if you book Viking flights and do not deviate dates. |
| Beverages | $0* *Includes top shelf liquors | $189 Silver Spirits Beverage PackageBeer/wine with lunch/dinner is included in the published price. |
| Excursions | $0 Your choice of excursions | $1300 One excursion is included in each port of call (typically a walking tour). Other, more desirable excursions are available for sale. |
| Hotel in Prague | $0 | $1240 |
| Hotel in Budapest | $0 | $1399 |
| Meals during hotel stays | $0 | $250 |
| Gratuities (crew, local guides, drivers, tour directors, hotel staff) | $0 | $270 Onboard crew and tour director only. This amount does NOT include tips for transfer drivers, local guides, excursion drivers, hotel staff etc. |
| Actual Price | $10,540 | $10,347 |
| Intangibles | ||
| Room size (French Balcony) | 225 square feet | 135 square feet |
| No. of Guests (same sized ship) | 130 | 190 |
| No. of Cruise Directors on board | Four1 for each 33 guests | One1 for 190 guests |
A comparison of Ocean cruises is also revealing. Here’s Royal Caribbean (contemporary cruise line) and Silversea (all-inclusive, luxury brand):
Alaska Cruise for 7-nights departing in May 2025
| Silversea Silver Moon | RCL Quantum | |
| Best priced Room | $3400 | $1629 |
| Transfers | Included | $70 |
| Beverage Package/Tips/Wifi | Included | $805 |
| Excursions | Included | $400 |
| Specialty Dining | Included | $60 (2 times) |
| Actual Price | $3400 | $2964 |
| Comparable sized room | $3664 | |
| Intangibles | ||
| Guests aboard | 4905 | 596 |
| Space per guest (tons/guest) | 69 | 34 |
| Guests per crew | 1.5 | 3.8 |
| Size of Room | 335 square feet | 101 square feet |
These comparisons do not suggest that one brand is better than another. However it’s important to understand the value equation up-front when making your choices.
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Today’s Travel Opportunities
AMA WATERWAYS River Cruises
AMA has a strong focus on both WELLNESS with active shore excursion options, and on CULINARY with their Chef’s Table Restaurant and membership in La Chaine des Rotisseurs.
PORTUGAL & SPAIN departing July 4th for one week
- Visit Porto, Douro valley, Regua, Pinhao, Vega de Terron, Salamanca, Afurada.
- See the vineyards and estate wineries, traverse the locks, take in spectacular scenery, visit castle ruins, see paleolithic art, and enjoy architectural treasures.
- Optional extensions to Madrid and/or Lisbon.
- This trip is on the brand new AMA Sintra, carrying just 102 guests
- Fares from $4639. We can get you a further $225 pp off (5%) on this sailing only.
- Click here for more details: https://www.amawaterways.com/agent/pamperedcruiser/destination/europe-river-cruises/2025/enticing-douro
FRANCE, GERMANY & NETHERLANDS: Basel to Amsterdam departing July 19th for 7-nights
- Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Cologne, Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim, Ludwigshafen, Strasbourg, Basel
- Optional 4-night extension in Switzerland (2 nights Lucerne, 2 nights Zurich).
- Fares from $3989. We can get you a further $200 pp off (5%) on this sailing only.
- Here’s our itinerary video from when we did this cruise: https://youtu.be/UHzzsujRcDY
- Click here for more details: https://www.amawaterways.com/agent/pamperedcruiser/destination/europe-river-cruises/2025/enchanting-rhine
SOUTHERN AFRICA:
- Start in Capetown for 3-nights, then board your ship, and spend the next 4 days on Safari both by riverboat and 4 X 4. Spend 2 nights in Victoria Falls, before finishing in Johannesburg for the trip home.
- Fares from $12,045 with departures March through November.
SMALL SHIP LUXURY with SILVERSEA
We love Silversea’s small ship, all-inclusive luxury experience. It appears they love us back, because between now and the end of the month, our clients can get an additional $250 off their published fares. There’s a few exclusions, but just about all their cruises qualify.
WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN from Rome to Lisbon departing November 7 for 12-days
- Visit Rome, Tuscany, Monte Carlo, Marseille, Barcelona (overnight), Palma de Mallorca, Valencia, Malaga, Cadiz, Lisbon
- Fares from $7700 less $250 exclusively through our agency.
JAPAN from Hong Kong to Tokyo departing March 9, 2026 for 14-days
- Visit Hong Kong, Taiwan, Seoul (overnight), Busan, Kanmon Strait, Kochi, Osaka (overnight), Tokyo.
- Veranda fares from $9300 less $250 exclusively through our agency
SOUTH AMERICAN ENCOMPASSED from Buenos Aires to Santiago: Dec 28 for 18-days
- Visit BA (overnight), Montevideo, Puerto Madryn, Falkland Islands, Ushuaia, Garibaldi Glacier & Fjord, Punta Arenas, Chilean Fjords, Puerto Montt, Santiago (overnight)
- Fares from $9900 less $250 exclusively through our agency
ACTIVE ADVENTURES with NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
You don’t have to be an elite athlete, but if you like to be active on vacation, here are some great options close to home:
OREGON & WASHINGTON: Columbia River from Portland to Clarkston for 6-days
- Visit Portland, The Dalles (for Multnomah Falls and fish hatchery), Columbia Gorge, Walla Walla, Palouse River. Traverse the locks by river boat right here at home!
- Go hiking, kayaking, ride on the zodiacs, visit museums and wineries
- Departures in March, April September or October from $3665
BRITISH COLUMBIA and the SAN JUAN ISLANDS for 8-days round-trip Seattle
- Visit Victoria BC, Desolation Sound for kayaking and hiking, Alert Bay for First Nations immersion, the Canadian Gulf Islands to visit quaint communities, Friday Harbor on for the Whale museum, and other islands in Puget Sound.
- This corner of the country is a well-kept secret. Visit remote islands to see the sea lions, eagles, humpback and orca whales. Go for a bike ride in Victoria; kayaking, zodiacs, and paddleboarding in remote bays.
- Departures in September and October from $5397
WHALE WATCHING in MAGDALENA BAY (Baja California) for 6-days round-trip Loreto
- Whale Watching in Magdalena Bay for 6 dyas Jan, Feb, Mar. RT Loreto Mexico
- See the Gray Whales, explore the sand dunes at Sand Dollar Beach, and visit the fishing village of Puerto Magdalena. Go kayaking, zodiacs, paddleboarding, hiking, and cycling.
- Departures January through March from $3215
LAND-CRUISE with COLLETTE
If you like the structure of cruise, but want to go somewhere not normally accessible by a ship, then Collette should be on your radar. Here are some of the SPOTLIGHT tours, where you only have to unpack once, but get tons of excursions and activities.
NEW YORK for 5-days
- Visit Greenwich Village, Wall Street, Chinatown, Central Park, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the 9/11 Memorial.
- Includes 4-nights at the Sheraton Times Square, 5 meals, and 2 Broadway shows.
- Year-round departures from $2299.
PARIS for 7-days
- See Notre Dame, Montmartre, Champs-Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower.
- Includes 8 meals, 6-nights hotel, Seine River dinner cruise, Louvre Museum, Le Marais, Place de Vosges, Palace of Versailles, and dinner at the Eiffel Tower
- Departures April through November from $2799
Here are some of their other SPOTLIGHT tours:
- The French Riviera – 9-days from $2399
- London – 7-days from $2199
- Northern Italy – 9-days from $2449
- San Antonio, Texas – 5-days from $1599
- South Dakota, Mt. Rushmore & the Badlands
- Tuscany – 9-days from $1849
- Washington, DC – 6-days from $2399
In Case You Missed It:
SEABOURN: If you like a small-ship (450 – 600 guests), casual but high-end experience, then Seabourn might be great choice for you:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/seabourn-small-ship-luxury/
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND: It’s a long way to get there, but well worth the trip. Here are some suggestions to make the most of your experience there:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/how-to-visit-australia-new-zealand/
Latest YOUTUBE Post:
LOWER DANUBE: Perhaps you’ve already travelled the most common part of the Danube between Bavaria and Budapest. Or maybe you want to see Eastern Europe (Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania) from the comfort of a riverboat. Here’s our video blog from our trip there in October: https://youtu.be/-OhF7PSrj0c
Do You Have an Upcoming Viking Cruise?
Viking has replaced its Book on Board program with the BON VOYAGE incentive. This allows you to book your next Viking cruise in the 35 days BEFORE you board, and get some extra goodies for doing so:
- $100 per person on board credit
- 6-month final payment date
- $100 per person OFF one-week cruises, and bigger discounts for longer itineraries.
We made a short video about the Bon Voyage Program if you’d like more details:
https://youtu.be/gBM8IvjIb3U?si=Vy9UDiSqZQYHWR32
Contact us to book your NEXT VIKING CRUISE
If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
