What happens if top-tier activity is cancelled last-minute?
If you are on a tour and one of the "top-tier" events on that itinerary gets canceled unexpectedly (such as due to weather, venue maintenance issue, road closure, etc.), how does Tauck handle that situation? I am talking about a special/unique activity that potentially is worth several hundred dollars per person, such as, a flight sightseeing tour, exclusive access after hours to a castle with a meal, etc. Does Tauck generally substitute another high-end activity (do they have back-up plans in place?) or does this tour portion just become free time? Do tour guests receive a partial refund or credit for the missed tour activity if a replacement activity is not provided? While some activities can be substituted more easily with a similar-type activity (such as replacing one winery or church with another), other tour activities are a one-of a kind highlight of that itinerary (such as Pompeii or Graceland). What are your experiences with last-minute changes of the special events/places?
Comments
Rarely is there a last minute change. That has been my experience anyway. Should something happen through no fault of theirs, Tauck will do their best to find a substitute. Please keep in mind that not every change is compensable, nor should it be in my opinion. When we have had changes—primarily weather related—the alternate has been rewarding. “Expectations versus reality” as Tauck always states. It’s an adventure; embrace it.
I haven't experienced a problem of that type, but it seems to me that you should get some compensation if the event was a major event of the tour. I would be quite upset if I scheduled a tour primarily for that major event and it didn't happen.
In ten tours with Tauck, we have had one issue...the pilot's window on the plane was cracked, and they had to get a new one installed. A very interesting activity was the replacement (Wellington NZ). They had to get a new window from Aukland. install it and test it, which took several hours.
Handled perfectly fine
We were on our way to Normandy and the American Cemetery when our tour director was informed that the cemetery was closed. They had lost power and could not be open without the ability for security. We were extremely disappointed because this was one of our main reasons for taking the trip and we would be leaving soon for the next port. About an hour after we got back to the ship there was an announcement that our bus driver had agreed to take anybody who wanted to go back to the American Cemetery the following day from our new port. It turned out to be better than if we had gone as planned because we had more time to spend in the museum. I don't remember what we missed by returning to the cemetery but whatever it was was fine with us.
We have had several experiences like this.
Balloon ride in Africa cancellation due to weather…there was a check in the mail when we got home.
Scenic flight to Monument valley cancelled due to weather…
Check in the mail…we were a family of nine… we got about $3000
Slot canyon trip cancelled due to possible flooding,…our group asked f they could join the alternative activity, a boat ride on the lake ….no it was full…I spoke up and told the group, don’t worry, Tauck will offer you a refund, they are good like that….they didn’t
Scenic train ride missed in Alaska….our group got there too late. No substitute offered, expected check in the mail, called Tauck, if we had not called, we would not have gotten back $90 each.
Strike in Italy, Tauck had to change days around, excellent coordinated change.
We have found occasionally the itinerary gets switched around, we fell foul of that once, had booked something else….we never book anything else during a tour because of that, we go early or stay late to see extra things. In addition, extras are added when you thought you had free time.
We love Tauck, they usually do the right thing!
I have a friend who recently took the Classic Italy tour and was in Rome when the new pope was being elected. Of course they could not go to the Sistine Chapel. The were taken to the Galleria Borghese instead. Tauck is quite agile at pivoting on the ground and it is one thing that I believe sets them apart from other companies.
On my Aus/NZ tour, our NZ speedboat trip was cancelled due to weather. IIRC, we went to a winery instead. Tauck sent a "refund" check of about $100 for the missed activity.