Trip review
I just returned from the Southbound trip and found it lacking in many respects. I posted the comments below on the Northbound board in response to a review by Joyce. I believe the same comments are true of both the northbound and southbound trips.
Though we just returned from the Southbound trip, we agree completely with Joyce's assessment of the trip--whether it be north or south. The ship, L'Austral was the worst part of the trip. Most of the time the food in the main dining room was inedible. There were few choices on the dining menu for dinner. My husband and I are not fussy eaters, and this is our 10th Tauck tour. We found the ship unacceptable.
The Hotel Grannie in Kyoto was not up to standards either. Yes, the location was great. The food on the welcome reception dinner was so bad that hardly anyone ate dinner. The hotel staff was unable to communicate to English speaking guests, which seemed unusual in such a large, metropolitan hotel.
Whereas in every other group I have been in with Tauck, I leave, having made a few friends and know everyone's name, that was not so on this trip. I never did meet everyone in our group. The farewell dinner on the final night was not the way I wanted to end. We had to rush to get a table to sit with anyone we knew. There were all 4 groups there and it was like a big convention rather than an intimate ending with a group of friends.
This will definitely be my last small ship cruise with Tauck. I am very disappointed. The only good thing is that the itinerary was good, and our tour director was excellent. Beyond that, not up to Tauck standards in any way.
