Best Of
A review 2025–Highly recommend
The last reviews I found of the Grand Alaska tour were old so I’d like to give you an updated one. First off, I heard that Tauck may be leaving its Princess partnership which I believe is an upgrade, not a negative. But if they don’t this review will work for you also. I am still on the Grand Alaska tour, returning and ending in Vancouver tomorrow August 23, 2025.
Do not hesitate to join Tauck on an Alaska or any other tour. Yes, the dollars seem higher but the value is actually there. Why? No horrible lines of people, better/faster transportation, healthier travel in a smaller group, personalized travel (almost like an individual tour), mostly all inclusive except Tour Director and Driver tips which they totally deserve!! For example, Tauck took us on a ferry from our lodge location to the cruise port. We were there by 4 pm. The masses arrived by train and bus about 5 pm. Our luggage was in our room when we got through Security and we were unpacked and having our first cocktail as we watched the others arrive. This happened in several locations.
On the cruise I’ve spent about $100 of the $150 credited to me by Tauck. Again…why? Because Tauck has two happy hours where drinks and appetizers are provided AND includes two of the specialty restaurants. If you are a huge drinker or specialty coffee or soda drinker, consider a beverage package using your $150 credit. You can even gamble in the casino with the credit.
In all, I’ve pulled my credit card or cash out only a few times. On shore for souvenirs and to tip really really good tour guides.
Ali M. is our guide and works nonstop to make our travel stress-free. Hard to do with 39 discerning, diverse travelers. Ali is one of the reasons our group has travelers who have been on 5 to 14 Tauck trips. I have another planned already.
Lastly, my point of this review is to ask you NOT to look at just the dollar difference on a trip. Closely consider the comfort, included activities and expertise behind the company with whom you are traveling.
Thanks for listening…I’m off to enjoy another Tauck happy hour along with my great fellow Tauck travelers! Until my next trip….
Video Compilation of our TAUCK Italy Tour - May 2025!
I wanted to share our TAUCK Tour of Italy that we did this past May 2025! Please click on the link to view a compilation video of our journey. We toured Venice, Florence, Tuscany, and Rome for our 20th Anniversary. It was an unforgettable experience that we will never forget!
https://youtu.be/LGpLbUTqJQ8
Amorie
A Week In...Spain - trip report
I had initially booked this tour for May 2024 but got cold feet when I kept hearing it called "A Week in...Pain" --- that certainly caused some concern. But the dates in early Sept. 2025 worked out well so we went ahead with our plans for the 1st week in September. Well, we were wonderfully surprised. It was actually one of our top 2 Tauck trips. Yes, the itinerary was ambitious, but we thought well planned and wouldn't have missed a thing!
Our Tour Director was Susana Olivares who couldn't have been more welcoming, delightful or well-organized. She was always pleasant and hosted her home country with knowledge and ease. Each of the four hotels we stayed out were fabulous --- and this can be one area of concern for me as I've not been happy with some past hotels/hotel rooms in the past. But all four hotels were top notch. Our favorite hotel was in Seville (Hotel Alfonso XIII) and I must say I'm missing my breakfast next to the lovely gurgling fountain in the courtyard surrounded by mini orange tree plants. Seville was also my favorite stop along the way. We also greatly enjoyed the Alhambra Palace Hotel in Granada and will never forget exploring the Alhambra the next morning.
Madrid and Barcelona were important stops as well, but they are large cities so you won't be too surprised that I didn't find them as charming as the smaller stops between the two. Our bus driver was Felipe who was also fantastic and pleasant throughout the journey.
I am a foodie and was delighted to find Spanish food to be quite tasty. Oh yes, and I should also mention that we travelled with a delightful group of folks. No complainers, no braggarts, just a good group of travelling companions.
I was just about to give up on group travel, but this trip has renewed my faith and then some. Yes, it is a busy trip, but we wouldn't have wanted to miss any of the stops along the way. We learned so much about Spain, Spanish history and Spanish culture. Well done to Tauck!
A few additional suggestions:
1) Very happy with the Aon travel insurance offered by Tauck, which was reasonably priced. Our American Air flight was cancelled for the trip returning home and Aon absolutely exceeded my expectations by providing a prompt refund with minimal effort on my part. Still awaiting compensation for the cancellation from American Air, but that is completely separate from Tauck and Aon.
2) Recommend booking a visit to Park Guell in Barcelona. It's lovely and you will recognize the tilework from many photos of Barcelona. We took an Uber, which I cannot recommend, so walked back to the hotel on our own. Perhaps just get the hotel to help you with a taxi?
3) Booked a self-guided visit to Royal Palace of Madrid. Glad we did so as the regular entrance line was quite lengthy and it was great to be able to skip the line and walk in.
4) In Madrid, not far from the Royal Palace, (between Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor) is Market of San Miguel/Mercado de San Miguel. I am really missing it as we ate the best tapas and churros on the entire trip at this market. It's quite busy so we never did find a place to sit down but we made do (ate outside and sat on exterior ledge). We also found a wonderful food court and grocery area in the lower level of El Corte Ingles (sort of the Nordstrom of Spain), which was in the central square. It included sit-down restaurants and you could find every kind of food imaginable.
Hope this review is helpful.
Year 5786
L’Shanah Tovah to those who honor and celebrate their faith. Whether you do or not, may the new year bring memorable journeys and ‘sweet’ memories.
kfnknfzk
Antarctica Round up!!
Just back from Tauck Ponant Jan 26 to Feb. 8. Here are lots of suggestions I wish I had known before I packed up. 1, DO NOT OVER PACK!!! Tauck people wore same clothes for most landings. Merino wool worked best as it can be washed and dried very quickly. My suggested packing list. 1. Merino wool base layer leggings. I found mine on eBay . Great option. 2. One turtle neck base layer . Uniqlo has 3 types got mine there 2. One wool or micro fleece hoodie or sweater, 3. Two pr. Wool socks (wash and dry very easily). 4. 2 or 3 pairs regular socks for lounge wear on ship. 5. 1 hat and 1 pair insulated gloves . 5. 1 pair water proof pants (amazon has so many to choose from. Evening and loungewear. Our trip had many French passengers and they do dress up!!! However our Tauck group of 20 did not dress up. Most of us wore a nice blouse or sweater and added a scarf or necklace and that worked.. 1 pair of black slip on shoes or sandals good idea. Most of the days when we were not on landings we hung out in lounge wear. I had running tights and a matching jacket (TJMaxx) with tee shirt. Just bring what is comfortable no one cares. Shoes….. I brought one pair of black slipons, and one pair of ankle warm boots. Sneakers for walks in BA. IMPORTANT…The air on ship and outside is incredibly dry. Great for drying wet clothes (in a few hours hand washed were dry) however your skin will dry and crack even with lotion and your sinuses will dry up to the point I had to take a Zyrtec and use saline spray TG I brought them. If you can find a portable humidifier bring it. There is one on Amazon that you stick in a water bottle . Wish I had taken it. . The Drake!!! Going was great only 4 to 5 ft seas. However on the return we had very rough seas . So even though you say you don’t get seasick. take the patch. People who did not were sick. If you use a cpap or any necessary medical device … bring and extension cord. There is only one outlet in the room. Do not bring water bottles, they are provided. Big red Parkers provided for you are very very warm. You only need a hat and gloves for landings. And polarized sunglasses are definite. I brought 2 in case I lost one as I always do. I did notices that most people wore wrap around s.. On this cruise we were 140 passengers, which made everything easier. break down was about 65% French, 15% Asian, 20% English . We all got along. Walking sticks were necessary as most landings were on rocks or rough terrain. One each was all you need but I almost fell on the small rocky path to zodiac, the stick saved me!!! Got mine on eBay, as the ones on Amazon were to flimsy. We did a pre stay In Buenos Aires, great city but it was very very hot so pack some summer pants / capris and Short Sleeve tees. City tour was very good. They will take you to a market if you are there. For the weekend. Lots. Of stuff . Ladies, there is a shop just opposite the antique square. It is Karina Chasin . They sell the most beautiful printed scarfs. My friend and I both bought one(actually I got 2) and when we wore them the complements just kept on comming. They are long or square with a beautiful face print surrounded by flowers in bright colors. The small ones were $20 US and the long ones $40. They had other printed items ALSO. I wish I had gotten more for future gifts because they were just so unique and $20 for a gift is great. And pack up very small so they did not take up any space in luggage. If you forget anything, Ushuaia has a main street with everything you could possible need. You will pay top dollar but if you forgot anything you can get it and will have time before you board the ship. It was a wonderful experience, one that will stay with you forever. Our Tauck family was great, our TD Melisa was so much fun and always there for us. Now for the downside… You are at the mercy of the weather. We lucked out and got in 4 landings but if the wind is up or the seas are too rough you don’t go. You are only allowed 1&1/2 hours on land, and you can’t sit kneel or layin the snow. You have to stay far away from the penguins and they are at every landing. Zodiac rides were fill ins for when we could not land. The expedition leaders were all good though. As Melisa said you have to be flexible as things don’t always go as planned. Very good advise. One last word. The trip back to the states is long, lots of time on planes and in airports. Pace yourself and try to sleep when possible. Back to reality !!! Ugg
bella c
Re: Missed Opportunity in Amsterdam
IMO, the missed opportunity was waiting around to check in when you could have left your bags with the bellman and gone out to explore Amsterdam, coming back later when everyone else had completed check in. Hotels don’t and quite honestly won’t staff for large drop offs. You expect them to bring people in for an hour? Traveling, especially to Europe where things move more leisurely, requires adapting to what is presented. I’ve been to Amsterdam multiple times, such a wonderful city with interesting sights around every corner. You’re on vacation, enjoy every moment and work around the minor inconveniences.
Re: Recap of Paris, Normandy, Brittany & the Loire Valley – Apr. 25-May 7, 2025
We just completed the Classic version of this tour. We had a total of 30 people. Friends one week before and one week after had 28 and 21 respectively. This tour runs 3x/week during this season, so it's likely to be less than full on any given tour. In this situation, the Classic tour worked well for us - still plenty of room to spread out on the bus.
Our TD extraordinaire, Michael, said that there were a few last minute cancellations.
My brief summary: we loved this tour. It had a great combination of history, art, beautiful landscapes, magnificent architecture. We really connected with our TD and the group. When you're sharing many hours together on the bus, at meals, on tours, it really does help to enjoy the company of the participants. Michael has an unbounding love of France and imparted that to all of us. His calm demeanor and quirky sense of humor made the trip most enjoyable. Experiencing Omaha Beach and the Normandy cemetery was very emotional for us. The guests who had served in the military were recognized and given special honors.
Surgie did a great job describing the details...I will add that some found the long walks (and multiple stairs -Mont St. Michel) challenging. A few guests were suffering from recent injuries. They were given alternative options or chose not to participate on a given activity. This did not hinder the rest of us; we tried to be supportive when possible.
What I loved about this tour is that it took us to new regions of France. While we've been to Paris before (and can do that on our own), driving through the countryside on small roads was lovely and unique to us. The small villages we visited were charming and picturesque. We were blessed with perfect weather and relatively uncrowded spaces. Despite moving hotels frequently, it was a relaxing trip.
I am not a paid influencer. The only person I influence is my husband, after the new Tauck brochures arrive (😉). Tauck got this one right.
SGF
Re: 2026 Christmas Markets Cruise
We take this trip about every 2-3 years. Def add days to Vienna as there is basically no Xmas Market time with Tauck there other than about one hr at the VERY crowded Rathaus Market at night. There is also no time to see St. Stephans or any of the other amazing Cathedrals there.
Don't miss these other markets while you are there on your own.
Maria Theresa Platz
Rathaus/CityHall - Tauck will take you there for about 1 hr at night
St. Stephans Cathedral Market
Art Advent/Karlsplatz - locals fav - also very close to the hotel Tauck uses if you stay there (Hotel Imperial Wein)
Spittelberg Market
AmHof Market
Tauck will take you to Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna, so you will get to see their Private Xmas Market.
The Private Market in Regensberg at the Thurn & Taxis Palace is amazing and if you see things you like there, get them as you may not see them again. It has amazing products.
If you want a cheaper place to stay than the Tauck hotel, we love Hotel Das Tyrol - it is walkable to most everything. We typically stay here for 2-3 nights, then move to the Tauck hotel for the last night for our FREE Gift of Time. Just depends on your budget
Def also extend in Nuremberg as the new itinerary doesn't allow any market time there and it is one of the best markets - the older itinerary had ample time in Nuremberg, but they have changed things and now there is no time and Nuremberg is a great city w/so much to see besides the markets.
We don't care for the hotel Tauck uses in Nuremberg as it is far from the Markets, it is NOT within the old city wall - so we stay at Hotel Victoria - you can read reviews and see photos on TripAdvisor, but we book direct with the hotel. It is the #1 hotel in Nuremberg and books fast so we email them and book early. We booked for this December 2025 in the Fall of 2024. It is quaint, local, a good FREE breakfast and walkable to everything.
Nuremberg's market is HUGE and we save it to buy most everything as we find it has a great selection.
We typically take the train to Munich and fly home from there as we can get a direct flight home from there.
I posted a review of this trip in 2022 you can read if interested. We are returning this December with 10 friends.
If you do go to Munich - PM me and I can recommend hotels and a great tour guide for Dachau & Third Reich if you are interested.
The markets there are good, but certainly no better than what you will see on your cruise - for us, it's just an easy way to get home.
You'll have no issues being a solo- people are so friendly and most all of us include the solos in meals, etc. You'll have ample invitations
Re: Roll Call for 2025 Christmas Markets Along the Danube December 7th, 2025 Leaving from Vienna
We will be on this tour, along with 10 of our friends. We have taken this tour a few times in the past. I have a review posted from our last one in 2022. We are arriving 3 days early in Vienna, extending 2 nights in Nuremberg, then taking the train to Munich for 2 nights to fly home. It is a wonderful tour. We took a similar one on Uniworld also and Tauck does it much better.
Re: Review of Impressions from the Seine May 23-30, 2025
Plenty of blame to go around on this one.
Reading the online itinerary it was clearly the 2nd tour day after they had had the cruise info briefing held the night before. The day had 2 excursion options in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. I'm assuming rather than returning to the ship for lunch, guests were offered the option to stay in Paris and be picked up later by a shuttle bus back to the ship. If I were very nervous about finding my way around Paris solo I'd have gone back to the ship. Did none of the 3 guests have a map? Did anyone take note of where the bus pickup location was? None of the 3 of them could figure out how to call the ship's number? I have to wonder if each of the 3 thought one of the others would take care of things.
The bus did come for you - but you weren't there. If they were truly only 5 minutes late then it's easy to say the TD should have waited. But what if they'd been 10 minutes or 20 or whatever? What if the trio had decided to just stay in Paris all afternoon? No way for the TD to know that. The TD should have contacted the cruise director and made sure they were following up on this and they certainly shouldn't have been rude later.
In what way was the Swiss ship's number indecipherable?
No calling the Paris police was not the right option unless you'd been robbed or mugged.
No it's not the ship captains job to console you. The captain's primary job is to pilot the ship safely and on time. The hotel manager answers to the captain to take care of cabins and meals. The Tauck tour directors and cruise director are responsible for excursions and activities. For those new to river cruising, the timing is a big issue. When the daily schedule says All Aboard at a certain time, they won't be waiting for you. A ship's docking and transit thru the many locks are pretty tightly timed. If one ship is too late or too early it causes a domino affect. I've been on cruises when that happened.
Leigh, I'm sorry you had a bad experience. While I'd expect Tauck to apologize I doubt they could ever guarantee that nothing wrong is going to happen especially when you aren't actually with the TD. People are given free time to explore and when that happens they have to be ready to take care of themselves making there way thru unfamiliar areas, public transport, languages, etc.
Both sides on this one need to do better.
(And once again, no I'm not a paid influencer)
