Best Of
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)
Trip Review and Tips
This is based on our tour during the last half of August 2025. Your experience may vary, things change, and stuff happens.
Overall: A great tour with some of the best hotels in the world. The tour has a wide range of cultural experiences from diverse and cosmopolitan Singapore to Muslim Java, Hindu Bali, and Catholic influenced Flores. Add to that gardens, temples, monkeys, dragons and some great snorkeling. Opportunities for spa experiences are available at most hotels, some quite economical. We rank this in our top five tours out of 23 with Tauck. Everyone on our tour agreed that it exceeded expectations.
Hotels: Four of the hotels are world class. The Raffles, the two Four Seasons and the Amanjiwo are luxurious and spacious. Expect to be called by name by the attentive hotel staffs. The rooms are suites at the Raffles and villas at the other three. The Plataran Komodo has spacious rooms and a staff that tries really hard, but the hotel is a bit quirky. But, it's right on the beach and the boat to Komodo comes right to their pier. The Phoenix hotel is nothing special, but you're there just one night for easy airport access - just a sleep and a breakfast.
Currency: We got by without getting any local currency. Restaurants in both countries add 10% service to the bill automatically, so there's no need to tip in cash. In Singapore, all shops and restaurants accept credit cards. The only people who needed local currency were those who went to eat at the hawker markets - informal food halls with local vendors. ATMs are readily available in Singapore. In Indonesia, you're mostly
at the hotels in your free time, so there's little need for cash. Formal shops and restaurants take credit cards. Some people went into Ubud from the 4 Seasons Sayan (the hotel runs a shuttle). There are street vendors there and you'll need cash if you want to buy from them. The hotel has an ATM, the only one of the Indonesian hotels that does. You can also get Indonesian Rupiah from airport ATMs while waiting for a flight. Be aware that the largest Indonesian bill is 100,000 Rupiah, worth about $6. Plan to tip your TD in dollars brought from home.
Weather: Singapore is just above the equator and Indonesia, just below. Expect consistent temperatures (high seventies to high eighties) and high humidity no matter when you go. There are a wet season and a dry season. We were there at the end of August, which is in the dry season. Dry is a relative term. We did get some rain, at times heavy. but we lucked out and it didn't impact much on the activities. Bring a travel umbrella and possibly a rain jacket. We did get some days that were less hot and sticky, thanks to the winds that blow up from Australia at that time of year.
Dress: This tour is decidedly casual. Shorts and t-shirts or polos are the standard for men most all of the time. Women can wear shorts or summer dresses. The only exception is dining at the Raffles restaurants, where pants and a collared shirt are needed.
Singapore: There are many casual restaurants in the two shopping centers near the Raffles. If you plan dine at the Raffles, Tauck recommends that you make reservation before leaving. I think this is a good idea, as both restaurants we ate at were quite busy. Just be aware that the no show policy at the Raffles is strict and expensive. We did the afternoon tea in the lobby for lunch one day. It was good, but expensive. There is a limited selection of teas unless you pay a premium. Finger sandwiches and sweets are served together. The scones are served warm separately, so be sure to wait for the scones to arrive before digging into the sweets. We also ate at the Indian restaurant (Tiffin Room), and it was excellent. Be aware that if you want to see the famous indoor waterfall at the airport ("the Jewel), you'll need go on your own. You can get there on the Singapore MRT transit system. It's open 24 hrs., but there won't be time to visit when you arrive or depart. Some of the shops and attractions at the Jewel are only open 10am to 10pm. Visit the Jewel website for more information.
Java: The initial visit to the Borobudur temple just has you walk around the base of the temple. A second visit, the following morning, was available for those who wish to climb to the top of the temple and get a closer view. I would strongly recommend taking advantage of this. Also be aware that you may hear the call to prayer from several local mosques at 4:30 in the morning. The Amanjiwo provides foam ear plugs, but it's not that bad. The speaker who talked about Javanese Kingdoms and archeology was terrible. Best to skip it. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Bali: In addition to the two restaurants at the 4 Seasons Sayan, the bar serves light meals like burgers and pizzas. The Riverside Restaurant is small and books up quickly. You can get the same menu at the adjacent "Tapas Terrace" but there is not overhead covering. Some people went into Ubud or to nearby restaurants up the hill from the hotel, but these would require a taxi ride. Taxis are cheap and negotiable. At the Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay, Tauck provide hors d'oeuvres and drinks on the first night. You can eat at the Sundara restaurant near the Tauck reception, but most of us ate in the Sundara bar which had a good menu for light meals. For lunch the next day you can eat there or at the bar at the pool. We ate at the pool bar and the food was excellent. Both 4 Seasons properties are spread out. You can get around by calling for a buggy (electric cart) to take you around.
Flores: The snorkeling after the visit to the dragons was very good. If you're comfortable in the water and have snorkeled before (recommended), I would not pass up this opportunity. Bringing a rash guard is a good idea, but not a necessity. The food at the Plataran Komodo was just okay. Seafood tended to be overcooked and dry there and should probably be avoided. Maybe they'll get a better cook in future.
That's it for now. I'll add things if I think of them and try to clean up any typos. Let me know if you have any questions.
Re: Detailed, Hourly Travel Itineraries
Since travel restarted after Covid, Tauck has included fewer activities (and meals). Personally, I like to fill the free time with "stuff." Sometimes, this requires a reservation or timed ticket. That's why it's important to know hourly details. I understand this isn't always possible. For example, being at the whim of the Vatican for timing of their tours. That is the exception, not the rule.
If Tauck is going to continue their less-included model, perhaps they should offer free full days, so we can more easily take advantage of free time, rather than a few hours here and there in between things, which is far less predictable.
BKMD
Re: Roam by Tauck
We started travelling abroad every summer when our kids went to summer camp. We were in our mid 40's and usually did 10 days, hitting a major city and then took a train to other places close by. Sometimes we just did day trips either on a bus tour or with a private guide. We didn't cover a lot of ground, but got to tour each city extensively. Much of the travel (hotels, guides) was arranged by a travel agent we knew. We also used guide books and planned VERY full days. No down time, unless we were in transit to a new location. This was in the early 2000s when the internet was just picking up speed. Sometimes our home life was so hectic that I didn't do all my research until we were on the plane.
Looking back, I think I would have liked being on a small tour of similar aged travelers. Not for sporty activities (we do that on our own in the US), but for the quick pace. Today, we go back to our hotel for a little rest before dinner. We're tired. In those days, I would dress in the am knowing that those clothes were going to take me to dinner, as well. In London, we'd stand in line for 1/2 price West End tickets in the morning, spend a day touring and riding the tube, grab a bite before a 7 pm curtain and then an after theatre drink before returning to our hotel. Every night.
Just thinking about it now is exhausting.
So maybe getting those youngsters on the Tauck train makes good sense. Take away the burden of the planning and research and show them a good time. Keep it active and interesting. We'll be watching you from the little resto/bar on the corner enjoying our aperitif.
SGF
Re: Hotel Lutetia Paris
MCD - I remember you like history so you might already know this… The leader of the Abwehr, who opposed the Nazi regime, gave Denmark advance notice of the impending invasion so they could prepare. It gave the Danes some time to move Jews to neutral Sweden. My father, and many others, were part of the resistance movement in København.
kfnknfzk
Re: Review of Tauck’s Italia Bella: Rome to Venice Tour — A Disturbing and Unsafe Experience
I don't think the fact that they just joined is indication of spam. Most Tauck guests are not members of the forum. If I was in that situation, and felt that I had been treated badly and then ignored, I might go to the forum to tell my story. Probably also go to other sites and tell the same story.
Re: Roam by Tauck
This discussion reminded me of our first Tauck tour in 1993. In our early 40's we were among the youngest on the tour. We enjoyed all the people on the tour and met some interesting people. The most memorable were two women from St Louis who were traveling together. While they were probably younger then than we are today, we considered them "old". But that didn't stop us from spending time with them.
In the early years of Tauck's Yellow Roads, many of the dinners were at outside restaurants, not in the hotel restaurant.
Since my husband is originally from Kansas City, in Bruges we invited them to join us for dinner. They had grown up on the Hill in St Louis which is the Italian neighborhood. One of the women's last name was Berra. We learned that Yogi was her cousin and that they both had been invited by Yogi to meet the Yankees. We were impressed that they had met Joe DiMaggio and others!
Of equal interest to my husband was one of the other "boys" who grew up with them. When they learned that Bob had gone to Rockhurst HS in KC, they asked if he knew a priest called Father Puricelli. Bob groaned and remarked that Father Puricelli had been his Latin teacher. Bob has many great stories about his teaching methods - but he learned a lot in four years.
After the trip one of the women sent us her recipe for risotto along with a package of the flavoring she used. She thanked us for reaching out to them despite the age difference and inviting them to join us for dinner.
While we have no idea what happened to these women over the years, this is a memory that we have not forgotten and continue to share with others over the 30+ years since our first Tauck trip.
We have found that sometimes you need to go out of your way to meet others on the tour but it is well worth the effort.
Kathy M
Trip Report Aegean Voyage, Istanbul to Athens, April 2025
Part 1
When Tauck announced that it was resuming this tour, I jumped on it. I really wanted to visit Istanbul, and i looked forward to cruising Greece for the second time. It was a wonderful trip,
A couple of weeks prior to the start of the tour, we received an email from the two tour directors, including very helpful information about Istanbul sightseeing, restaurants, how to use the metro, as well as a schedule for the Istanbul days. We were also advised that the TDs had set up a WhatsApp group and provideded a link to join. This gave me an opportunity to research WhatsApp, which i had not previously used, download the app and be ready to use it on tour.
Getting there: We flew United to Frankfurt, Lufthansa to Istanbul. Very smooth. We, and two other couples from the tour, were met upon exiting the jetway and driven in a cart to the immigration area, then walked with the rep to the baggage claim area, and then escorted to the parking lot and driven by by van to the hotel.
The Istanbul Intercontinental was excellent. We arrived one day early, so stayed there for four nights. We had a very nice room overlooking the Bosphorus. Very good breakfast buffet. The Istanbul weather was cool (layers were needed), as predicted in the forecasts. With the exception of a rainy arrival day, it was beautiful and sunny.
Day 1: The tour was to start this evening. In the morning, we took the funicular down to the waterfront and then the Metro to the Old City area and visited the excellent Archeological Museum. Then, we visited the nearby park, where tulips were in bloom. April is tulip festival season in Istanbul. In the afternoon, we explored the New District area near the Intercontinental, including Taksim Square and the pedestrian street, Istiklal.
The tour commenced with the Welcome Reception in the rooftop bar/restaurant, with stunning Bosphorus views, and then a good dinner in a ballroom. There were 74 people in the tour group (maximum is 80). My concern about the size of the group was alleviated when we were told that the group would be divided in two between the two TDs. Then, for all of the Turkey portions of the tour, each group would be divided again, as we would have 4 local Turkish guides. It worked out very well. Our TD was outstanding, experienced and organized and our Turkish guide was excellent.
Day 2: A super day of sightseeing. The Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Bascilica Cistern (loved it), Ottoman style lunch, Grand Bazaar. Rather than spending too much time at the Bazaar, my husband and I walked over to the nearby Meydeni Square, saw the column of Constantine, and then visited the Mosque next to our meeting point to return to the hotel. On our own, we then took the funicular down to the waterfront and walked over to the cruise port area. Lots of shops and restaurants and a beautiful walk along the Bosphorus. Light dinner on our own at Faros, near the Hotel, the same place we ate the first night.
Day 3: Excellent visit to Topkapi Palace. Our guide took us through the Harem and the Treasury. We then had free time to visit other areas. We saw the Relico (including staff of Moses, relics of John the Baptist, the prophet Muhammad such as his whiskers), Garments, Audience Chamber, Library and the Pavilion (beautiful chandeliers). After lunch, short break at hotel, Then, to avoid lines, late afternoon visit to Hagia Sofia. Then, to historic Orient Express station for Whirling Dervish show and dinner. Another great day.
Day 4: Our last day in Istanbul, in the morning the groups drove to the Asia side to board a boat for a lovely cruise on the Bosphorus. Our local guides provided information about what we were seeing and mingled on deck and inside to answer any questions. We disembarked in the Old City area and walked to the Rustem Pasha Mosque, known for its beautiful tiles. Then, we walked over to the Spice Market and had free time there. I liked the Spice Market better than the Grand Bazaar - smaller, less aggressive vendors. Then, lunch at Hamdi, known for their kebabs. Then, we headed for the cruise terminal.
My husband and I are cruise veterans, including two previous cruises with Windstar, both of those on the Wind Surf. This cruise was on the Star Legend, maximum capacity around 300. There were 273 passengers on our cruise. Boarding was a little bit slow, but smooth (our two groups arrived a the same time). In addition to checking in and getting our cruise card, we were able to make one reservation at each of the two alternative dining restaurants. The main dining room is open seating - no reservation. The two smaller restaurants, Candles and Cuadro 44, require reservations. As the cruise progressed, I was able to make an additional reservation at each of the those restaurants, which we really enjoyed. I think I was lucky with cancellations, and a willingness to eat later.
We had a Star Balcony Suite midship on deck 5, which was exactly what I requested. The cabin was spacious and well layed out, including a walkin closet. The "balcony" is more of a French Balcony, but you can step outside. No room for furniture. We were very pleased with the cabin and the ship. I liked the Yacht Club, which is a forward lounge with nice views and a coffee bar with a barista and light snacks. The layout of the ship is good and the crew is excellent and hard working. I thought the food in the two alternative restaurants was excellent. We had dinner in the main dining room twice, the first time a so-so experience, the second time much better. We had cabin service breakfast every morning - excellent. We ate lunch at the outside Veranda twice, very nice. The outside barbeque dinner was very good, and fun. And the Ephesus dinner was unique and memorable.
Day 5: Lemnos, Greece. We had a leisurely morning, arriving at Lemnos around 11:30 a.m. After a quick lunch, we met the group to tender in to the port. There were choices of excursions. We took the town walkiing and tasting tour, which was pleasant. We then had time to hike up toward the Castle (steep, uneven steps, stones and inclines). We enjoyed some fantastic views, but did not go all the way to the top because it was quite windy.
Day 6: Mykonos, Greece. When we last visited Mykonos, years ago, our Delos excursion was cancelled because of choppy waters. So, we rented a scooter and explored the Island. Tauck offers the Delos tour and an Island tour, and we chose Delos. The ship docked at the new port area (which was fortunate, as choppy waters may have precluded tendering). Our Delos group took a bus to the Old Port area, walked to the ferry dock and boarded there. It was choppy, but not bad. The Delos group was split in two, with separate local guides. Our's was excellent. Delos was green with lovely Spring wildflowers. We had some free time to visit the Museum before boarding the ferry to return to town. We then walked around the town for awhile, to Little Venice and the Windmills. We walked back to the ship shuttle area, but the shuttle had left because it was full. So, we took a water taxi, which was fun.
Day 7: Kusadasi, Turkey. The same local Turkey guides met us here. My husband and I had visited Ephasus years ago. This tour was much more comprehensive. We also visited the Terrace Houses, which had not yet been excavated when we previously visited. Excellent tour. My husband and I then quickly split off from the group to visit the Ephasus Archeological Museum in Selcuk. Our TD helped us arrange, at our own expense, a driver to take us there and then to the restaurant where the rest of the group was dining (same town, but not walking distance). We were able to catch up on lunch and watch the silk worm and carpet weaving demonstration, which was interesting. Back to the ship. At 6:45 p.m. Windstar started transporting the passengers back to Ephasus for the Special Event dinner. A memorable and enjoyable evening.
To be continued...
