After Hours Vatican, Uffizzi, St. Mark's
My wife and I are booked on the Classic Italy, Small Group beginning Sunday, June 2. We just got noticed that all three after hour tours have been cancelled. We are so disappointed. These were to be the highlights of the trip. This is our first with Tauck. Is this something that happens frequently? If anyone else is on this trip, I'd love to hear from you! Randy
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Many times Tauck can't control this - many times these places are rented out or used for another function. I know it must be very disappointing. Surely you will still be visiting these places, but just during opening hours?. I can tell you that Tauck will do special things/surprises to try and make up for this. Anytime we've had a change in itinerary, they do make up for it.
I agree with Terrlynn that these changes are often out of Tauck's control. When we were in Venice our after hours tour of St Mark's was cancelled because Mrs. Obama was in town and got precedence over us. In its place we got a more extensive tour of the Doges' Palace and a visit to St Mark's during the day.
I you are in Venice and have some free time in the morning, go to St Mark's when they are having a Mass. The lights will be turned on and the gold mosaics are wonderful. Even if you don't stay for the entire service, it is so much better then during the day tour where the building is dark and you don't get to really see the mosaics.
You can also take pictures which are not permitted during the day tour where everyone is kept moving. This is also a place where a woman needs to make sure her knees are covered.
Yes, the Vatican tightly controls visits and often gives little or no warning of changes. Often the after-hours visits are replaced by early, before-opening visits.
We did not have (weren’t sched for) after-hours visits to Ufizzi and St Marks, but did have them at the Vatican Museum/Sistine Chapel and the Dodge’s Palace but not the Basilica.
Yes, it happens frequently. We have had two out of two cancelled. Most recently, an after hours of the Last Supper in Milan.
I did not have after hours visits to Uffizi and St. Marks either when I took this tour only the Vatican Museum/Sistine Chapel.
I just returned from Classic Italy earlier this week. All our after-hours tours went off without a hitch.
Anyone having their after hours tours in 2025 cancelled? We are concerned with all of the caveats in our itinerary document. Our tour starts Oct 3, 2025 being in Rome October 8 & 9. I do not see anything on the Jubilee calendar those dates but still worried about these potential issues.
Laurie, you may want to contact Tauck directly and speak with them if you're having second thoughts on taking this trip. Tauck really does an excellent job when the itinerary goes off-schedule. They make the very best of the situation with a few unexpected surprises along the way.