Often perceived as selling a product that’s on the pricey side, river cruise lines go out of their way to tout the inclusiveness of river cruising and the value it presents. However, what exactly is covered and what isn’t varies slightly depending on the line.
For a company like Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, which this year made a concerted effort to go after the higher-end river cruise and markets its offering as a “six-star” product, its all-inclusive pricing covers almost everything except for international airfare (this is a given for all cruise lines) and port charges.
As part of its rebranding, in 2014, Uniworld decided to also include gratuities in its pricing, as well as unlimited beverages onboard, not including top-shelf wines and spirits.
Another line embracing all-inclusivity is Scenic Cruises, which covers gratuities, unlimited beverages and port charges in its prices.
Viking Cruises also includes port charges in its prices. But Viking’s prices do not cover gratuities or unlimited beer and wine — Viking offers complimentary beer and wine with lunch and dinner.
AmaWaterways does not include port charges in its prices. Ama’s prices cover unlimited beer and wine with lunch and dinner, and do not cover gratuities.
Avalon Waterways’ prices exclude port charges and gratuities, but include unlimited wine and beer with dinner, and sparkling wine with breakfast.
Tauck’s river cruise prices cover gratuities, unlimited beer, wine and premium spirits, and port charges (the only line besides Scenic to include all three). Most meals are included, save for occasionally during a pre or post-cruise hotel stay when the ships are docked in larger cities where guests have free time to explore on their own — Tauck might not include a lunch or a dinner here or there to allow guests to have a meal in town, according to a company spokesperson. Tauck also includes some onshore meals in the cities and towns on the itinerary.
It’s the difference between the size of the bar tab or no bar tab at all, and some elements, like port charges, that are either part of a commissionable price or not. The differences are admittedly often slight and do not detract from the overall rally cry about the inclusiveness of river cruises in general.
Compared to many big ship cruises and resort vacations, passengers on river cruise ships will likely spend much less in additional costs, regardless of which line they’re sailing with. And that is and should be a marketable tool for travel sellers.
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Corrections: Avalon Waterways’ prices include unlimited wine and beer with dinner, and sparkling wine with breakfast. A previous version of this report said alcohol wasn't included in the price. In addition, Tauck also includes gratuities, unlimited drinks and port charges in rates. A previous version stated that Scenic Cruises was the only line to include all three.