Here is one quote from the article: “Major parts of the Rhine and Danube as well as the Moselle and Main are not navigational, so we focus on the stretches that still have enough depth to cruise,” said Patrick Ell, a vice president at German operator Viva Cruises."
On that quote from Patrick Ell, vice president at German operator Viva Cruises. Viva Cruises is owned and operated by parent company Scylla AG. Scylla AG Is also the company that owns and operates the Tauck boats. A river boat they own, MS Anna Katharina, collided with a lock on 24 July 26 damaging boat. All passengers had to be evacuated, some to hospital. Doesn’t say if low water had anything to do with it. Here is ink to article on it:
British - Tauck cancelled our trip on A Sunday. On Monday, our travel agent called TAUCK. They confirmed that to take offer to transfer protection a new trip had to be booked by next day. I had an email exchange with customer service where I said two days was unreasonable, but they chose not to address this or any reason why in reply. We are members of the recently introduced 1925 circle, so much for valuing repeat customers.
One other thing I learned. If you buy air through Tauck there is a cancellation fee once you are ticketed, currently $400.00 per person for coach and $500.00 for business. I had always assumed this was only if I cancelled trip since that seems “right” and we were refunded full air amount for 2 trips cancelled during COVID, Apparently fee now applies if Tauck cancels trip, they wrote:
“Once tickets are issued, a cancellation penalty would normally apply. However, as an exception for this cancelled tour, all cancellation penalties on issued Tauck Air tickets will be waived“
Wow, Gerard, even though you are a member of the 1925 club, as we are!
Even though nothing that shocking has happen to us, we are also noticing little things. For example, on our very recent tour, where you are asked if there are any special dates for you on the tour, we put down our wedding anniversary that was while we were on the tour. We are often on a Tauck tour when we have our anniversary and have always had an acknowledgement with anything from a card to a cake and even a gift. This trip, not even a mention.
We were recently contacted by Tauck to take part in a one on one discussion about another Tauck product, emphasizing and distinguishing a regular Bridges tour towards an additional tour for teens and young adults. The new management are really branching out. The discussion with the new director of that was really interesting.
I wish we would get some forum members who have been on a Roam trip, I really want to know what they think, or if indeed it is attracting the 40 to 50 age group they wanted to attract. Or if seniors are there instead. Certainly my children, both in that age range, would never pay those prices, they arrange similar vacations themselves which are so easy to do these days much much cheaper.
I note you booked your tour through a travel agent, I feel this is a prime example of dealing with Tauck directly. Have you cancelled a few tours with Tauck? Maybe that is a reason because I am sure Tauck is treating people differently.
We are on the Sept 6th Amsterdam to Budapest River Cruise. Due to river condition I do hope they cancel the cruise and do a full refund. This thread does show some people saying they received full refunds. Tauck is amazing and treats their customers in a First Class manner.
Tauck also handled my airline reservations. Hopefully they will refund those fares.
I was actually interviewed prior to the launch of Roam about the product line and mentioned that I would be interested to see if they could attract enough of the 40-50's aged people who wanted to pay those prices when they often have children and are paying for school and saving for retirement, etc...to actually make a whole new line worthwhile and profitable. I never would have traveled like that at that age and my current nieces and nephews in that age range would not travel like that. I still can't help but feel they are losing focus - its one thing to branch out, but another to branch out and forget about maintaining your current product line and relationships with current customers. I guess this is a symptom of being more "big business" rather than a "family-owned business."
Comments
There is an interesting article in today's (8/4/26) Wall Street Journal about the impact of the low water levels on the European rivers. It is behind a paywall, but here is the link that might work without a subscription: https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/ships-cant-move-and-power-plants-shut-down-as-drought-saps-europes-rivers-8b083c62?st=xK43wT&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
Here is one quote from the article: “Major parts of the Rhine and Danube as well as the Moselle and Main are not navigational, so we focus on the stretches that still have enough depth to cruise,” said Patrick Ell, a vice president at German operator Viva Cruises."
Just my opinion, but they are putting much more effort into getting Roam off the ground than keeping current “regular” Tauck customers happy.
On that quote from Patrick Ell, vice president at German operator Viva Cruises. Viva Cruises is owned and operated by parent company Scylla AG. Scylla AG Is also the company that owns and operates the Tauck boats. A river boat they own, MS Anna Katharina, collided with a lock on 24 July 26 damaging boat. All passengers had to be evacuated, some to hospital. Doesn’t say if low water had anything to do with it. Here is ink to article on it:
https://people.com/14-passengers-reportedly-injured-after-river-cruise-ship-strikes-lock-12027497
British - Tauck cancelled our trip on A Sunday. On Monday, our travel agent called TAUCK. They confirmed that to take offer to transfer protection a new trip had to be booked by next day. I had an email exchange with customer service where I said two days was unreasonable, but they chose not to address this or any reason why in reply. We are members of the recently introduced 1925 circle, so much for valuing repeat customers.
One other thing I learned. If you buy air through Tauck there is a cancellation fee once you are ticketed, currently $400.00 per person for coach and $500.00 for business. I had always assumed this was only if I cancelled trip since that seems “right” and we were refunded full air amount for 2 trips cancelled during COVID, Apparently fee now applies if Tauck cancels trip, they wrote:
“Once tickets are issued, a cancellation penalty would normally apply. However, as an exception for this cancelled tour, all cancellation penalties on issued Tauck Air tickets will be waived“
So they may not waive on next cancelled tour.
Wow, Gerard, even though you are a member of the 1925 club, as we are!
Even though nothing that shocking has happen to us, we are also noticing little things. For example, on our very recent tour, where you are asked if there are any special dates for you on the tour, we put down our wedding anniversary that was while we were on the tour. We are often on a Tauck tour when we have our anniversary and have always had an acknowledgement with anything from a card to a cake and even a gift. This trip, not even a mention.
We were recently contacted by Tauck to take part in a one on one discussion about another Tauck product, emphasizing and distinguishing a regular Bridges tour towards an additional tour for teens and young adults. The new management are really branching out. The discussion with the new director of that was really interesting.
I wish we would get some forum members who have been on a Roam trip, I really want to know what they think, or if indeed it is attracting the 40 to 50 age group they wanted to attract. Or if seniors are there instead. Certainly my children, both in that age range, would never pay those prices, they arrange similar vacations themselves which are so easy to do these days much much cheaper.
I note you booked your tour through a travel agent, I feel this is a prime example of dealing with Tauck directly. Have you cancelled a few tours with Tauck? Maybe that is a reason because I am sure Tauck is treating people differently.
We are on the Sept 6th Amsterdam to Budapest River Cruise. Due to river condition I do hope they cancel the cruise and do a full refund. This thread does show some people saying they received full refunds. Tauck is amazing and treats their customers in a First Class manner.
Tauck also handled my airline reservations. Hopefully they will refund those fares.
8/4/2026. Anyone have updated information?
I was actually interviewed prior to the launch of Roam about the product line and mentioned that I would be interested to see if they could attract enough of the 40-50's aged people who wanted to pay those prices when they often have children and are paying for school and saving for retirement, etc...to actually make a whole new line worthwhile and profitable. I never would have traveled like that at that age and my current nieces and nephews in that age range would not travel like that. I still can't help but feel they are losing focus - its one thing to branch out, but another to branch out and forget about maintaining your current product line and relationships with current customers. I guess this is a symptom of being more "big business" rather than a "family-owned business."