Best Of
Re: River Cruise Laundry Service
YES British. On vacation, I want a relaxed atmosphere. And I don't want to haul around a lot of ONE USE only items for 3 weeks in Europe (off & on trains, etc). I totally understand that dinners in a castle/palace/etc we need to 'dress the part' -- but other than that, I want to be comfy on vacation and pack practically. We can dress up and go out at home.
We work so hard all year long - vacation is our time to enJOY & decompress.
We love traveling with Tauck over the other companies we go with occasionally and I must say it is much more casual than it was when we 1st started traveling with them in 2002. We have 3 tours booked with Tauck in the next 15 months and thankfully only one night is a little on the dressy side as it's in some sort of palace.
Re: River Cruise Laundry Service
My experience with laundry on river cruises...
Last November/December, we were on a month long trip, involving 2 river cruises, with 2 different cruise lines.
We had some pre-cruise days before we boarded the first river cruise in Basel with Ama.
Then a week of "on-our-own travel" by train (Budapest/Prague/Vienna.)
We embarked in Vienna for the next cruise, Chrismas Markets on the Danube, with Tauck.
We had some post-cruise land days "on-our-own" in Nuremberg and Munich.
I didn't think much about the cost of having our laundry done on the ship, it was all about convenience, and we needed clean clothes. 
We had roughly the same amount of clothing items in our laundry bag on both river cruises.
It cost about $30 on Ama, it was $83 on Tauck.
Both times the laundry came back quickly and neatly folded, and I was a happy camper.
I have hand-washed small items in the sink, many times. And, if they were not completely dry by morning, the hair dryer comes in handy! 
Sometimes you just pay for the convenience of having laundry done for you, all while enjoying a wonderful vacation!
bobbette
Re: Thoughts on Namibia Adventure
Quest, I had a similar experience while on the B, Z and SA tour. During our lunch cruise in 2022, we watched in amazement as hundreds of elephants crossed the Chobe River dividing Botswana from Namibia. Our TD pointed to Namibia telling us that an advance Tauck team had just gone there to plan a new tour. I knew then that I wanted to go. My husband and I were there last May and loved every minute of it. Although British is correct that the tour is too short to see all of that magical country, we found the trip to be elegantly curated and filled with amazing surprises waiting for us around every corner. It was the perfect length for us. Whether you go with Tauck or another company, my advice is to not miss Namibia if given the opportunity. Safari njema!
Re: AON insurance medical coverage
Two different Tauck agents told me that yes, the insurance is covered on pre and post tour days. I specifically asked about the medical. I am going on the Normandy, Brittany & Paris trip ( First Tauck tour) and am staying 5 extra nights in Paris. There is a limit on how many days would be covered, but 5 fell within the limit. I booked my own flights and after tour hotel stay. Do I feel 100% confident with the answer? Nope, but I’m going with it.
jpfly
Re: The 1st 8 Days of the Portrait of India Tour on 1 Nov 23 (New Delhi to Udaipur)
dwannand
Question: are there any opportunities on POI to have laundry done? (Makes a difference regarding packing for the trip)
There are opportunities to do laundry on this tour. My first laundry request was after leaving Varanasi. I just wanted that smell out...All of the Oberoi hotels offer laundry services
Re: The 1st 8 Days of the Portrait of India Tour on 1 Nov 23 (New Delhi to Udaipur)
There's always the Ganges...
BKMD
Re: Air to Cape town.
United flies nonstop EWR - JNB every day
United flies nonstop EWR - CPT (THREE DAYS A WEEK)
if you put search on the day when there is not the nonstop ie 4 other days -- it does not inform you of this 3xwk nonstop.
After Botswana tour, added an extra day at One & Only -- so could take the long nonstop CPT - EWR.
Capetown is worth spending an extra day meandering around the V&A waterfront.
Quest
Re: things to do on the essence of japan tour starting oct 28
We are on the Oct 28 tour also, coming in a day early - also looking for something to do close to the hotel.
Cheers - John and Sandy, Denver CO
jc07
Re: River Cruise Laundry Service
I don’t recall which European tour it was, but we had a palace location for a dinner. The first thing the TD said on that day was, ‘It’s only us, Tauck, so there really is no need to change or dress up for this dinner’.
British