Best Of
Review of Cruising the Seine Plus Paris and London
We just got back from the tour and thoroughly enjoyed it.
We arrived in London the day before the tour started.
We were going to walk to an outdoor market, but it was too hot to be outdoors.
Instead, we walked to the British Museum...but didn't realize that it was not air conditioned.
Many restaurants, museums, etc are not air conditioned in London.
Around the corner from the Rosewood Hotel is a cute little tavern called The Ship Tavern that is hundreds of years old. The history of the tavern is very interesting.
You leave the hotel, make a left, and go through a short alley and there it is.
The pub area is downstairs and a restaurant upstairs. We chose the pub area.
They do take reservations for the pub area up until 5pm...after that it is for walk ins...and you may have to wait for a table.
You can google Ship Tavern in London and make a reservation online.
We had the best fish and chips.
The Rosewood Hotel is beautiful.
A comment about the rooms...very well appointed, but it it was not easy climbing in and out of the shower...the bathtub was high.
I didn't know we could request a "walk in" shower. If needed, you may want to inquire about that.
The welcome dinner was very nice. Winston Churchill's great granddaughter spoke about him.
We were surprised that 75% of the men did wear sports jackets.
The visit to the Churchill War Rooms was very interesting. We were given headsets and walked around ourselves.
Now for the cruise...(Ms Sapphire) ... everything about the cruise experience was wonderful.
The cabins were very comfortable. The crew was amazing...very friendly and so accommodating.
Every meal was delicious. The service on the ship was excellent.
Hats of to the pianist, Marius. He entertained us in the lounge every evening.
Our three tour directors...Andre, Jeff and Ines were great. All were very knowledgable, very friendly and very approachable.
The excursions were very interesting.
Even though this tour is rated a 2 in pace and activity, there was a substantial amount of walking.
Many cobblestone streets.
A highlight of the cruise for me was everything relating to D Day.
The day before we went to D Day, many of us went to the Peace Museum. And back on the ship, we heard a lecture about what led up to D Day.
The stops we made the following day at the Normandy beaches and the American Cemetery were very moving.
Of course there were many other wonderful experiences we had on this tour, but time and space are limited.
This Tauck tour was our 16th and it did not disappoint. Another winner for Tauck.
Sue
Sue M
Review for 18-25 Jun 2025
We decided on this cruise because Belgium isn’t on any other Tauck tour and we wanted to see more of the Netherlands.
Weather for this trip was very warm and sunny in Belgium. 80s were common and even 90 one day. Got a little cooler in the Netherlands.
We flew into Brussels airport around 8:30 am along with at least 4 other jumbo jets. The waiting line for passport control was huge. Apparently, that’s common at that airport.
With Gift of Time, this tour starts at the Hotel Amigo in Brussels which is very well located just a few minutes’ walk from the Grand Place of Brussels. Lovely area to walk around which we had to do because it wasn’t until 3pm that our rooms were ready. The room was a good size and the view was the next door police dept bldg but quiet. We slept a bit and went out later when it was much cooler. Enjoyed an excellent waffle at Obe right across from the hotel.
The usual cruise day 1 – good breakfast at the hotel, meet the TDs, get luggage tags, prep bags for pickup and go out to sight see. We walked over to the Grand Place and toured the City Museum. Small but interesting museum which includes a history of the famous Manneken Pis (peeing boy statue). The statue has quite a history and an extensive wardrobe which is kept in a different location. Your museum ticket includes it. From the hotel you walk about 2 short blocks to the statue, maneuver around all the tourists taking photos, turn left and walk another few minutes. It was fun. At 3 the coach took us all to the ship. Usual first day on board.
Day 2 excursions included a city tour or an Art Nouveau tour. We had originally opted for the city tour but the CD let us switch to the Art Nouveau which was excellent. We drove around the city viewing loads of beautiful homes then stopped at the Van Buren home (yes the American Van Buren family). The house and gardens were amazing. Glad we switched.
Day 3 was Antwerp where we were docked right in the heart of it. We had a walking tour with a local guide ending at the cathedral. Could either walk back to the ship with the TD or stay to do a bit of shopping. We shopped and walked back on our own which was very easy to do. After lunch we made another excursion switch from the Fine Arts Museum to the beer tasting tour. That included walking to 3 pubs and 3 different Belgium beers. I loved the cherry beer. That night the Diamond Baritones performed in the lounge. The most entertaining group we’ve ever had on a cruise.
Day 4 was Bruges or Ghent. We opted for Ghent in part to see the famous alter piece, in part because it was Sat when Bruges would be packed with people and because we were warned that Bruges involved 3 miles of walking just to get to it from the coach. It was 90 that day. Ghent still involved a lot of walking. We first started at a City Museum, then walked from there to canal boats which took us into the city, then a walking tour to St Bavos. We entered the church with the guide but he couldn’t come with us to where the alter piece is displayed. Shoulders and knees needed to be covered there. We then got free time and 25 euros each for lunch. Our Tauck 1920’s party was after dinner that night. Only a few people had brought special outfits but it didn’t matter.
Day 5 was Gorinchem and finally some cooler weather. We walked from the ship with a local guide to tour this very tiny town and had a stop at a small church to listen to music. Dinner that night was at Slot Loevestein which required us to take a boat to it’s island. Their guides talked about the castle’s history then we saw a special play that referenced a famous prisoner in the castle. Dinner was provided in a modern building. By then our river cruise ship had moved to the castle’s dock so we boarded it directly.
Day 6 was Rotterdam or Leiden. We opted for Leiden. The local guide started at the university’s botanical garden which was interesting then we walked to a church with a history involving American pilgrims. Guide then took us to the area along the local river which was our meeting point after lunch. Anyone who wanted to could walk up to the highest point in the city (not very high) an old fortress. Leiden is a typical quaint cobblestoned village. We had plenty of time (and another 25 euros) for lunch and shopping. Sadly though it was Mon many shops were closed. That night was the Chef’s Dinner. Not the best I’ve ever had.
Day 7 was Amsterdam. We were docked west of central station. It’s still close but different than previous cruises. We all were bused to the parking garage under the Rijksmuseum and walked over to the canal for a 1 hour boat cruise. Very underwhelming local guide so I’m glad I’ve had previous cruises there. Those of us who opted for the ebike ride went back to the coach and headed to Volendam. The coach parked and we had to walk along the boardwalk to get to the bike rental location (about 15 minutes). Took a bit to match up helmets and bikes for each rider. Part of our group were 2 young girls, and they did not get ebikes which are too large and heavy for them. They had to pedal the hard way. Kudos to them that they kept a good pace. We headed out thru town and along a local road with bike lanes. We made a brief stop for photos at a windmill then when on to the dairy/cheese farm. It had the most amazing fully automatic milking system. We ended at their shop for samples and shopping if you wanted. Back to the village, another 25 euros and lunch on our own. We opted for a walk up that had kibberling (breaded fried fish nuggets) and fries then a separate stand for Dutch poffertjes (tiny puffy pancakes).
Day 8 departure. Since we were staying over in Amsterdam a couple of days (killing time before heading to our Scandinavian Land tour) the CD arranged a taxi to take us to our non-Tauck hotel which we paid for. He also arranged the transfer service to pick us up at the hotel for travel to the airport which Tauck covered.
Odds & Ends
There’s a LOT of walking on this cruise. Pretty close to an Activity Level 3.
We had a Category 6 cabin which we’ve had on Tauck’s Sapphire, Espirit & Treasures. It’s our favorite but I found that it’s different on the Grace. The cabin, bathroom and closet doors all open into the same area making it a challenge for two people to share and it lacked the 3 drawer dresser provided on the other ships. Hopefully Tauck’s new ships don’t repeat this.
The Compass Dining room menu had 5-6 main dish options every night including a new category called Hi Protein/Low Carb. The other change is at lunch where most hot items are now ordered instead of being on the buffet. Everything I had was good. Arthurs menu primarily featured Italian dishes at dinner.
The new Tauck water bottle is insulated, has a loop on the lid to carry and a wide opening. It’s also very heavy. Fine for in-room use but heavy for sightseeing.
Since this was a “waterways” vs river cruise, we had a confusing route involving multiple rivers and open waterways. The wide open areas were a bit weird if you’re used to river cruises. You could barely see the shore and had the closest to wave action I’ve ever felt on a river cruise.
For 2026, this cruise has been renamed Heart of Belgium and Holland.
Because of the euros given for lunches (a total of 150 for the two of us) we never bothered to find an ATM and actually have some leftover for our next tour. Credit cards with chips are the norm for most everything.
Let me know if I can answer any questions.
Tour Review 30 Jun - 12 Jul 2025
Rather than a day by day review, I’m going to focus on some of the issues/concerns other guests have raised about this tour and some of the itinerary changes we had. Since Tauck has done more tweaks to this one for 2026 so some of my experience won’t apply.
Weather – we had unseasonably warm and dry weather but not so hot as to be uncomfortable. Temps ranged from the 50s to the 60s with a few low 70s. We did get rain so definitely pack a rain jacket.
Hotels – first I’ll say that a 5 star experience isn’t important to us. Good location near things to see, cleanliness, light and the ability to sleep are primary. On the other hand, I don’t want to pay for a 5 star hotel and get a 2-3 star room. I’ll post a separate thread on them. Our biggest issue with the hotels was the lack of AC coupled with ….
Short Nights – the official sunset was usually 10-10:30 and sunrise 4-4:30 but the actual darkness was very short. Given the temps we had, no AC and the need to keep windows and curtains partially open, sleeping was a challenge. Pack ear plugs, sleep mask and maybe even a small rechargeable fan. The hotels were willing to supply a fan though finding a spot for one could be a challenge.
Service – I’d been told not to expect very deferential service personnel but honestly never had an issue. All the front desk/concierge staff were very nice and helpful. The breakfast buffet staff less so often seeming a bit stressed at times.
Coaches/coach time – one reviewer complained about an overly small coach in Norway but we had the standard 40+ person coaches that Tauck typically uses in Europe. Fairly comfortable except for the seat belt rules which are very strict in Norway. Like you could personally be fined – not just the driver. Plus the shoulder belts there were very tight and uncomfortable. Like all land tours there are some long driving days in particular the drive down from Stockholm and the drive from Oslo to the fjords. They were broken up by sufficient rest stops.
Food – Very good for the first half of the trip. Got a bit same same once we got to the fjords where buffets are the norm. I like buffets in being able to select what I want and how much, but it will be a while before I’m interested in meatballs or roast pork. Breakfasts were mostly good though getting hot items cooked to order was very rare. The Swedish cinnamon and cardamom buns at Hotel Reisen were my favorite.
Itinerary changes – the two main changes we had were switching out the overnight ferry from Copenhagen – Oslo for a SAS flight and changing the Troll Car ride for the Loen Skylift. The first is because the company that owned the ferries, which Tauck had a contract with, sold them to another company. Tauck couldn’t get them to guarantee the service they needed. I think it was something similar on the Troll car. While we still would have preferred the ferry over the flight, the Skylift was a definite improvement over the Troll car. The ferry change ends up causing less free time in Copenhagen but gives you more in Oslo. There are lots of other ferry and boat experiences on the tour which did help. The Skylift is a 5-10 minute walk from the Alexandra hotel and we were allowed to use our tickets on either of the 2 days we were there. The views there were amazing.
Dress – was very casual. Only 3 of the 11 men on the tour wore a sport coat and at least one of those would have easily left it at home. Weather is very unpredictable so be able to layer as needed.
Tipping – the three countries on this tour all have their own kroner which aren’t interchangeable. We paid for everything with credit card. Just bring dollars for tips. Note though that we had 5 different drivers. For Stockholm we had a local coach and different drivers each of the 2 days. Then our Danish driver joined us with a different coach on day 3 until we left for Oslo. Again there was a local driver until we were heading out of Oslo with a Norwegian driver. Tauck took care of tipping the local drivers and we paid the Danish driver (4 days) and the Norwegian (6 days). Makes me wonder if part of the tipping issue on land tours could be helped if Tauck went ahead and tipped all coach drivers leaving only the TD to be tipped by guests. Just a thought.
Prices – while the hotel and meals were fairly reasonable, shopping for other items is very expensive. A magnet that might be $5-6 will run $8-9. I even saw postcards for $5. Be mindful and use a currency converter. The VAT is also high and worth getting the right paperwork for a refund if you buy anything significant.
We arrived 3 days prior to the tour start and had more opportunities to see the sights in Stockholm. I highly recommend it as there is tons to see. We used the local public transport app SL to purchase a 72 hour senior pass for about $22 dollars that lets you use all buses, trams, city ferries, metro, etc. That made it easy to get around. We went to the ABBA museum which is fun if you’re a big fan otherwise don’t bother. The Swedish History Museum is well done and has an excellent Viking section. The Nordic Museum is more about the lives of ordinary people from about the 1500’s on. Well done. The tour includes an after-hours Vasa Museum visit but if you want time to really explore it you should go on your own. For dinner I recommend Fika & Wine which is about a 2 minute walk from Hotel Reisen. The best meatballs we had and a wonderful shrimp starter.
Hope this helps those scheduled for this tour or thinking of taking it. Let me know if I can answer specific concerns.
Switzerland Crown Jewel-July, 2025
I wanted to share some thoughts on this adventure. The previous comprehensive posts were very helpful and especially the many pictures like Mike Henderson and others do. This was our first time in Switzerland. There was a heat wave at the time, so it was hotter than usual.
Overall this was one of our favorite trips. Kristof did a great job as our TD. We had a new coach and there were 23 of us. We did receive an advance communication and we received a very detailed itinerary upon arrival. Switzerland is very expensive, so be prepared. The date of our trip we stayed at all of the listed hotels (eg. no variations like some dates). We found the hotels to be excellent and the locations just right for our touring. The service at all of the hotels was excellent as well. We do wish we stayed a minimum of two nights in each hotel due to the packing and unpacking (one night in St. Moritz).
The included meals overall were very good. It does get a little confusing which meals are included, which ones include alcohol and places you have to make your own reservations. Thanks to the previous detailed posters so we could make some reservations.. The breakfasts were open seating and buffets. They were plentiful and most had a small menu as well for eggs, french toast, etc. I believe there were four dinners where a sheet was passed around the bus so you could choose a time and eating companions as the TD had to make reservations in advance. Other included meals you entered the restaurant together and sat with whom you wanted. There was always bottled water available on the coach. Also in Switzerland there are public fountains in many cities and you can refill your bottles with safe, cold clean water.
It is such a beautiful country with so much to see. My wife's favorite day was Jungfrau and the Ice Palace. This was frankly my biggest concern of the trip (was I going to fall there (I didn't)). We had a nice reception in a private room with drinks and a lite bite). Wear shoes with good tread. As mentioned by others they don't allow metal studs. Around 95% of the Ice Palace has a strong rope to hold as you are walking through. In the few situations there weren't the local guides assisted if necessary. This was a very enjoyable experience.
We had excellent weather with the only rain the last two days. We had great views of the Matterhorn. This is a fast paced tour with luggage ready to go by 7:30 am or earlier. Mens jackets were not required. Our TD labeled our meals as "Casual" or "Smart Casual". We had a few jackets for the opening dinner, but none on our very casual farewell dinner.
I would be pleased to answer any questions as I know this is not nearly as comprehensive as other reviews.
taxare
Re: Is this trip worth the price that Tauck demands?
We took this tour (June 13, 2025) and enjoyed it immensely! We were very fortunate to have wonderful weather throughout the trip. Just a few days with intermittent showers. Scandinavia is beautiful. We found the hotels to be lovely, particularly the countryside hotels. This was our fourth Tauck tour and we would highly recommend the Scandinavia land tour. Our guide was excellent. Food was outstanding. When in Bergen, make a dinner reservation at the Penguin and order reindeer. Best meal I had the entire trip. We added days on the front and back ends of this tour. Be sure to take a cruise of the Stockholm Archipelago to take in some of the outer islands. Take the tram when in Loen and the funicular when in Bergen. For us, cruising the fjords of Norway was the highlight of the trip. Adjusting to sleeping without dark skies was our biggest challenge. Be sure to enjoy the local cuisine and eat fish. We were perplexed by fellow travelers choosing to eat Italian or other ethnic foods and skipping restaurants that were favorites of the locals.
A Week in Scotland June 5, 2022
I was on the Week in Scotland tour that started June 5th in Glasgow, went up to Inverness, and ended in
Edinburgh. It was wonderful. Perfect balance of outdoor activities and indoor castles. We had great weather. But to everyone's surprise, we had only eight people in the group. We were a close group after a short time and enjoyed each other's company. I'm grateful for this experience and the amazing detail our director Michelle provided us in such a warm manner. Bravo Michelle and everyone involved in planning. Thank You
Cathy_B
Tour review - May 24-June 3, 2025
This was a good tour, with a combination of large cities, small towns, and a lakeside stay. We were a group of 21 experienced travelers, led by Tour Director Theresa. Rudy, who was training to be a Tour Director for this tour, accompanied us. Among the the 21 travelers was a group of 4 couples who were traveling together, which could have been a problem. However, although they ate meals together, they were very pleasant and mingled well with the rest of the group during the day. In what was a first for me, the Tour Director assigned people to dinner groups and dinner times for the nights that dinner was included, but not as a group. I was a bit skeptical of that at first, but I found that it worked out well.
Because there has been discussion on the Forum about tipping, I have to mention that on both this tour and the one that followed (“A Week in Puglia”) the Tour Director mentioned that tips for hotel housekeeping were not included. (In fact, I have it in writing from this TD.) Both TDs also said that tips for local guides were included, but that people were welcome to add something if they wanted to. That did not sit well with me. It seemed like they were encouraging people to tip extra.
The hotels were very nice, although I was disappointed in my room at the elegant Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees in Stresa. The room was very small but adequate, obviously designed for a solo traveler (which I was), but the bathroom was a postage stamp! The door would not open all the way because it hit the toilet, and the toilet could not be used without closing the bathroom door. I have heard in the past that Tauck does not assign hotel rooms; the hotel does. However, I pay a single supplement to be treated the same way as other guests. I did not complain at the time, but if this happens again, I will. (On the Puglia tour that followed, I learned that a solo traveler on that trip had had the same room in Stresa on the Northern Italy trip last year.)
Over the years, I have learned that I prefer cities to the countryside, so I was not surprised that I preferred Milan to the smaller towns, although I did enjoy Bologna. I arrived in Milan a few days before the tour started, and took advantage of that time and a free afternoon during the tour to do a walking food tour, see “The Last Supper,” for which I had bought a ticket from the Convent two months in advance, visit the Pinacoteca di Brera (an art museum), tour the Duomo and its rooftop, and do a tour of and attend a performance at La Scala. ( Our Tauck tour was supposed to include a visit to the Duomo’s interior and not a tour of La Scala, but because of a change in schedule, it skipped the Duomo and included La Scala, so I did the opera house twice.) I’m glad I had the extra time in the city to see and do these additional things. For me, the highlight of the Tauck walking tour of Milan was our visit to the Ambrosiana Library that houses many of Leonardo Da Vinci’s original writings and sketches.
I had been to Lakes Como and Maggiore on previous Tauck trips (“Lake Como, Venice, Florence and Rome” and “Switzerland: Europe’s Crown Jewel”) but was still awed by the beauty of those lakes and surrounding towns.
Verona and Bologna were nice towns to walk around and soak up the Italian atmosphere. We had a brief visit to Bergamo, that I did not think added much to the tour, but it gave us an opportunity to get out and stretch our legs on a walking tour. I enjoyed walking along the bank of the Adige River that runs through Verona. We had an excellent walking tour of Bologna, during which I especially enjoyed the visit to the university. During the free afternoon in Bologna, I took a tourist train ride up a hill outside the city to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. Usually, there is an icon of the Madonna there, but it just happened to have been moved to the cathedral across the street from our hotel for its annual week in the city during May, where I did see it. Apart from the hilltop church itself, there was nothing to see there, except views over the city of Bologna. On my own, I went to the Church of San Dominico, because I had been told that there were three small statues done by a young Michelangelo, but the side altar on which they were displayed was closed off by a gate. Fortunately, a fellow traveler went later in the day, by which time the gate was open, and she was able to get photos of those statues that she shared with me.
Our hotel in Bologna, the Grand Hotel Majestic Gia Baglioni, offered a tour of the hotel with a professor of art history that I found very interesting. Many of us took the tour. I was sorry that I had left my phone in the hotel room, so I was not able to take pictures, because rooms were locked after our tour. If someone is taking this Northern Italy tour I encourage him or her to take the tour of the hotel. I was able to take a photo later of the portion of the Roman road that had been unearthed in the lower level of the hotel, near the restaurant.
When we moved from one hotel to another, we had a couple of stops that I found interesting. We happened to visit a factory where we could observe all of the steps involved in making Parmesan cheese at the same time that some inspectors were testing the finished wheels of cheese (by tapping them) to see whether they qualified for the official seal of approval. Most did, but at least one wheel didn’t pass. I also enjoyed the balsamic vinegar tasting and factory.
On the other end of the “interest spectrum” was the visit to the Ferrari Museum. I know that some people really enjoyed it, but I opted out early in the tour and went to the cafe to enjoy a double espresso.
I had been to Venice twice already, so did not mind that the tour did not include a visit to St. Mark’s or the Doge’s Palace. We were treated to a concert, mostly of Vivaldi, at the Museum of Music in the San Maurizio Church on our walk to the hotel. The concert was not on our original schedule, and was a lovely surprise. It was also a treat to sit and relax inside the church out of the hot sun.
Our final day included a morning trip to the island of Burano. I had not known anything about Burano, other than it had been known for lace making, but I was pleasantly surprised by its charm. The homes are all painted in vivid colors, so that merchants returning from voyages could easily spot their homes. If a homeowner wants to change the color, he or she has to get permission from the authorities.
Tauck, as usual, provided a ride to the airport (in my case, part way by boat, then by car), but I had not only the transportation, but also a young lady who stayed with me all the way through check-in and up to security. That’s why I travel with Tauck — I know that they will take good care of me!
On the whole, I enjoyed this trip. It would not recommend it as anyone’s first trip to Italy, and I don’t believe that it was any of my fellow travelers’ first trip to that country. It was a good mix of cities and towns. The hotels were all in good locations. I had originally been disappointed when I had seen on a map the location of the Gritti Palace in Venice, because it seemed to be far away from “the action,” (my previous tours had stayed at the Danieli and the Metropole) but it really was not far, and the bar/breakfast room right on the Grand Canal was a real treat. The activity level is 2, but there were a few days where someone with difficulty walking might have had trouble. The weather was getting hotter as the trip continued. Venice was uncomfortably hot for me, even though it was early June. If, like me, you do not like the heat, I would recommend taking this tour earlier in the season or in the fall.
(As I was typing this review, I received in the mail a hand-written note from Theresa, our Tour Director, thanking me for taking the tour. That was very thoughtful of her, and I appreciate it.)
MCD
Trip notes from a Week In Ireland
Before we went on this trip, I read everything I could about this tour on the forum, because I was so excited, so now that I’ve gone, I thought some readers might appreciate my notes. It was the first time my husband and I traveled to Europe and our 4th Tauck Tour.
We arrived at Dromoland Castle at about 6:30 am and were jet lagged. In the lobby, the reception person took our name and explained our room was not ready, which I expected. He encouraged us to have some coffee/tea and pastries that were complimentary. Mike at the castle was so nice and showed us to the Drawing Room where we could relax and explained breakfast was not open until 7:30. No one else was in the room and there were very comfortable couches and chairs with floor to ceiling windows. I rested my eyes for about an hour.
When breakfast was open, the hostess explained the cost was 50 euros per person and that included the large continental breakfast and anything off the menu. Breakfast was included the morning after our stay and looking back, we probably should’ve just had the complimentary coffee and pastry on this first day. Lucky for us our room was ready at 8:30 am! We were so happy to take a short nap before we went on the History Walking Tour around the castle. I had scheduled a horseback ride, but my husband thought he would fall off the horse if he didn’t get more sleep. After a 2 hour nap, he was ready and Sarah at Castlefergus Equestrian was very accommodating, so we rode horses at 4 pm. The castle “rang up” a taxi for us which cost 10 euros each way and our driver, Gerry Dolan was nice. The ride was fantastic as I noted in a previous post. For dinner this night, we ate at The Fig Tree which is near the golf course. The employees at the castle gave us a ride there, even though it is a short walk. We really liked this restaurant and I had Sticky Toffee Pudding for dessert as someone else posted how good it was. Kind of like cake, more that pudding with a tasty toffee topping. Really good.
Day 1 of the tour we had free time until dinner, so my husband did the Falconry Experience which was great! I paid as a spectator and was happy to take photos and learn about the birds from Jack. I really loved the Dromoland Castle! Just to sit and read or walk around the grounds was relaxing. Mike who brought us to our room, explained all the beverages (water, lemonades, sodas), shortbread cookies and potato chips are complimentary. On one warm day, we wanted more lemonade, so I asked the receptionist if I could buy 2 bottles. Oh no, she said, what is your room number and we will bring you more, no cost. The following day, they would replenish cookies and chips we ate. During the early evening, there was a turn down service where they folded down the bed, gave us more water and tasty chocolate. One evening we met the ladies and asked if we could have the light weight quilt vs the heavy down comforter and they took care of that for us. At the welcome dinner, there were 2 surprises which I won’t give away, but that is part of the fun of travel. It was “wow”. Our tour director, Suzanne Cole was a great guide. She gave us information, but wasn’t overbearing.
On Day 2 we went to the Cliffs Of Moher and were so lucky to have a sunny gorgeous day. Lunch at the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis was very good, as were all of our meals. There wasn’t much time to walk around the town, but that was fine. We got back to the castle about 3 pm.
Day 3 was a trip to Blarney Village and some people in our group kissed the stone. I didn’t want the germs, but enjoyed the nice gardens around the castle and the village stores. We had lunch on our own at Christy’s which was good. We learned that when you are ready to leave, you go up to the bar to pay your bill. They didn’t give us a check, but I overheard the waitress telling someone else.
The private recital at St. Finn’s Cathedral was lovely (a word you hear a lot of in Ireland). Dinner at Perrot’s restaurant was very good and we asked to eat here twice, vs the Orchid Restaurant which was more gourmet. The Hayfield Manor is a beautiful, cozy, comfortable hotel. I mailed some postcards here and when I asked where I could buy postage, they said “we will take care of that for you” (no charge).
Day 4, we visited Charles Fort which was interesting and then onto Kinsale. I loved this town. It was small, but we didn’t run out of things to see. We had lunch at the White House, which was good. Funny they never heard of having an Arnold Palmer, or even when we explained half iced tea/half lemonade. My husband bought a tiramisu dessert at one of the food trucks in town. It was perfect. I bought a silver Celtic Cross necklace from Kinsale Silver where the man makes his own jewelry. I thought the price of 58 euros was more than fair.
Behind the Hayfield Manor is the Bloom Bar, on their property, but a few steps behind the hotel. If you have a chance, you should come here for a drink. It’s all glass and the sides open with the nice weather. The roof is louvered so they can open it in nice weather, which we had. I think the Tauck notes indicate the afternoon is free in Cork on this day, but we got back around 5 pm.
Day 5, we go to Waterford for a tour of the Waterford Crystal Factory which was very interesting. I was surprised at how it is made by hand. There are beautiful display pieces and some pieces you can buy. 70 euros for a small Christmas ornament is too much for me. We had enough time for lunch and to walk down the street to the Viking ship. Lunch across the road at the cafe was just so-so. The menu seemed more like a brunch menu. Our group dinner at the Doheny and Nesbitt pub tonight, just a short walk from our hotel, was fun. The Cottage Pie was delicious. To us, The Shelbourne Hotel is just ok. I guess we were really spoiled by Dromoland and the Hayfield Manor. The location is perfect and the meals are good, but it does not seem fair to have a stocked refrigerator with a note that anything you take, will be charged to your room.
Day 6 we go on a city tour by bus, so we get a lay of the land. The EPIC museum was very interesting and there is a nice cafe in this “mall” area of the museum. They gave my husband a mini cupcake with his latte. We both enjoyed the Ballyknocken Cooking School. I learned some baking tips and Tauck gave us a little paperback cookbook from here.
Day 7 is our final full day and we are free to do what we want. We wanted to see St. Patrick’s Cathedral so we walked through St. Stephen’s Green which is a large park. Suzanne assured us that Dublin is a safe city, so we felt comfortable walking everywhere today. Some large tour buses arrived at St. Patrick’s just after us (just before 9 am) but it is so big, the crowds are not a problem. It was 10 euros pp for senior admission. We walked to Grafton Street where there are many stores, restaurants and street musicians. Cafe Nero coffee shop was a good stop to rest and have a latte. Ginos had great gelato. Kilkenny Department Store is nice with most things made in Ireland. It was starting to rain (we only had 2 days of light rain part of the day) and when we got back to the hotel, we wanted a cup of tea. No. 27 is a bar hotel, but it has more than drinks! We shared a meal, had tea and relaxed before our farewell dinner.
This was a great trip with great people on our tour, the people who live in Ireland are so nice and polite (you don’t hear any horns beeping in traffic), perfect weather and great food. The hotels provide hair dryers which can be used in your room (not bathrooms) next to large mirrors and desks, outlets nearby. I felt like I learned about the country and people who live here. Suzanne was a great director and we traveled in mid-May on a classic tour. Temperatures were from the low 60’s to mid 70’s so layered clothing works out well.
Sussan
Re: Is it time to boycott cash tips to get Tauck to join the modern era?
I’m pretty sure the TD’s and bus drivers know how to handle US dollars, and I would bet they know how to get a better exchange rate than what we are likely to get.
Sealord
Re: Review of Impressions from the Seine May 23-30, 2025
Leigh - I'm so sorry this happened to you on your 1st Tauck trip. We just returned from "Rendezvous on the Seine" & we had late people a few times and we waited for 10-15min most times. Eventually, a TG got off the bus to continue to wait & the rest of us went on. One of the issues with traveling as a group is that the TG/CD have to keep everyone 'happy' - and that is not always easy. They are on a schedule & I think do their best to keep us happy. The Captain had nothing to do with this and most likely doesn't even know it happened - not his job.
To have a whole bus who is on time, wait on others who are not is a tough call. I'm not saying what they did was right and you certainly deserved an apology as you were the guest. But we all have to be on time to make a group tour work well. If you don't know the area - arrive extra early. There are great apps for your phone to help in European cities to avoid getting lost.
Another issue is that there is always the option to stay later on your own & get back to the boat via UBER - they mention this often. Since you weren't there at the specified time, they may have thought you were staying longer on your own. This does happen and we have done it.
We were just on the Seine Tauck trip also and our cards were easy to read, so I don't understand why yours wasn't?
What kfnknfzk says is true - we've been on several Tauck river cruises & 'usually' they do give out ship info at the 1st meeting & again on the bus & it is in your stateroom. I do hope that Tauck will make this right for you. We have traveled with Tauck since 2003 & trust them & like them as a company (and we have been with many other companies over the years). I hope you will give Tauck another try, but if not, there are many other companies to choose from. Don't let this deter you from traveling solo again.
henrypoon_66 -- if Tauck is so "nasty," why don't you do yourself and all of us a favor and move on to the A&K Forum & not participate here. I've been on the forum for 11 years & have never seen postings such as yours. I travel w/other companies also. None of us are 'influencers' here - we are just people who love to travel, both with Tauck, on our own, & with other companies.
Let's get this forum back to what it is meant to be - a place to learn from, give recommendations to, ask advice about.
