Best Of
2026 Christmas Markets Cruise
I just booked my first Tauck trip and my first Christmas Markets cruise. And it will be my first solo trip unless I get brave before then and take a trip solo. Mainly want to introduce myself and hopefully "meet" some of my cruise-mates on here. I'll be on the Joy from Vienna to Nuremberg Dec. 1-8, 2026.
Re: March 13 Departure
Hi. My wife and I will be on this tour. It’s also our first time traveling with Tauck (as well as first time “down under”), and we’re excited to see all the great sites on the itinerary. We look forward to meeting you and your friends, and helping make your birthday trip a great success! See you soon! Dan
webbdane
Re: A Week In Portugal
I used supplemental tours from Lisbonexplorer.com. I was extremely pleased. I have recommended this source to many friends - with great feedback.
Re: A Week In Portugal
If you will have extra days in Porto, consider going to Aveiro. It's a charming town with canals, fun architecture, etc and a couple of interesting museums, including one of art nouveau. I thiink it's quite close - maybe a half hour away. Another option is Braga, although I think it's a bit further away by train.
I notice that Tauck's itinerary spends only part of a morning in Sintra. It isn't enough. In addition to the two palaces listed in the above comments there is much more to see. We walked from town - maybe 20 min - to the Regaleira (sp?) Palace, which was really interesting. We also took a cab one way and the bus another way to the beautiful Monserrate Palace, . There are still more places and the town is charming. It's worthy of an overnighter. We spent two nights there and still didn't see everything.
Barbara, you might want to check with Tauck about Jeronimos Monastery. It is so close to Belem and the maritime museum that it seems odd that the monastery wouldn't be included.
Another recommendation in Lisbon is to go to the Fronteira Palace. Because it isn't in the center of Lisbon I think it's a bit of a secret. Our tour company took us there. It's really wonderful - beautiful gardens, black swans, tiles, etc.
We went with another tour company but did Sintra on our own. We took a taxi as it wasn't that far from the airport.
Re: 2026 Christmas Markets Cruise
BarbaraLovesCats - I was on the 2023 Danube trip w/Claudia and, like she said, we more than welcomed solo travelers. I just did my first solo trip this past Dec on the Christmas Markets on the Rhine and met a lot of nice people who invited me to sit w/them in the lounge or at meals. On the Rhine cruise there were many, many people who were on their first Tauck trips. Tauck travelers are always welcoming of solo people. I have another solo trip for this December on the Yuletide Holiday cruise and look forward to meeting new people. You'll love it!
Re: Skipping excursions
Tauck will only provide transportation for their own activities- hotel should book the activity for you with pick up and drop off at the hotel.
you can also check Viator and pick the city you'll be at; they have day tours with pick up.
Get in the habit of checking attractions and options anywhere you go, it's the best way to see the most and save time, also buy any tickets here in the US, it is sometimes less expensive, you save time and you'll be sure to see what you're looking for.
I normally have an idea of where I want to travel and before I book, I do a general search of the place. Once I feel confident and sure I like and my desire of going to that country- I book and give deposit... then the fun begins- I search for xtra activities, Spas etc... and I book them.
mil
Re: 2026 Christmas Markets Cruise
We did this in Dec 2023. Six women together -- 2 solos and 4 of us who left our spouses at home. We added two more women on board and there was another even bigger group of women. You'll be fine. Enjoy.
Re: WiFi problems
NDPhillips, hopefully your time on the boat will be minimal so that you get to see the country you are in. Because of the time difference, it can be difficult to make phone calls to the US anyway.
Enjoy your first Tauck tour,I hear that boat is one of the nicest.
British
Re: Advertising
If feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, providing healthcare to women, promoting education, supporting the arts and working for a cleaner environment are politically motivated endeavors, I think we need more Rick Steveses in this world.
26 Feb - modified to indicate pluralization of surname.
kfnknfzk