September 11, 2023

Tauck Brings its First-Ever Cruise Guests to Cleveland

September 11, 2023/ Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson

98-Year-Old Industry Leader is Latest to Include Port Call in City

WILTON, CT (September 11, 2023) Cleveland’s popularity as a tourism hot spot and cruise ship destination continues to grow, as Connecticut-based Tauck recently brought travelers on its “Cruising the Great Lakes: Chicago to Toronto” itinerary to Cleveland. The port call on Saturday, September 9 marked Tauck’s first-ever visit to the city in its 98-year history.

Tauck is the award-winning leader in upscale guided travel, offering more than 150 land tours, cruises and safaris to 70+ countries and all seven continents. The company’s Great Lakes cruise sails aboard the intimate 430-foot, 184-guest Le Dumont-D’Urville, which is owned and operated by the luxury French cruise line Ponant. Saturday’s visit was the ship’s first-ever stop in Cleveland as well.

VISIT MARKS CLEVELAND’S GROWING POPULARITY WITH CRUISERS

Saturday’s arrival of the Tauck cruise was just the latest milestone in Cleveland’s growing popularity as a cruise ship destination. Earlier this summer the Viking ship Polaris called at the Port of Cleveland on its maiden voyage, and 49 different cruise ships will stop in the city this season, including visits by Pearl Seas Cruises and American Queen Voyages.

The Port of Cleveland is excited to see the growth of cruises through Cleveland. “Tourism is a vital part of our local economy,” said Will Friedman, President & CEO of the Port of Cleveland. “We expect to see even more cruise ships arrive in Cleveland in the next several years, and are happy to work with Tauck to accommodate more visitors.”

Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin noted that “Cruising in Cleveland has surged by 700% over the past couple of years, and it’s become an increasingly important driver for our local economy.” According to Cruise the Great Lakes, a regional cruise marketing program, 2023 is set to break records with 800 port visits generating $235 million in economic impact across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River waterways. Tauck’s “Cruising the Great Lakes: Chicago to Toronto” itinerary will visit Cleveland ten times in 2023 and 2024.

Tauck CEO Dan Mahar said that Tauck was excited to be adding Cleveland to its cruising portfolio. “Our cruises visit top destinations around the globe, from Antarctica to Venice, Italy to the Galapagos Islands, yet we’re always thrilled to showcase world-class locations closer to home,” said Mahar. “Cleveland has so much to offer, and it’s a fantastic addition to our ‘Cruising the Great Lakes’ itinerary.”

Tauck guests enjoyed a full day in Cleveland, beginning with an exclusive pre-opening visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday morning. After a pub lunch and beer flight at a local craft brewery, guests took in other sites including Playhouse Square, Edgewater Park and University Circle. Le Dumont-D’Urville sailed that evening for the Welland Canal.

Tauck is somewhat unique in the global cruising industry, as it operates its cruises on chartered ships owned and operated by third-party cruise lines. By entrusting the cruise operations to its partner companies, Tauck is able to focus its energies and leverage its expertise to deliver more enriching and more authentic experiences ashore, via custom-curated excursions operated by its Tauck Director guides and local experts.

Those interested in more information can contact their local travel professional, call Tauck at 800 468 2825, or visit the company’s website at www.tauck.com (www.tauck.ca in Canada, www.tauck.co.uk in the UK, www.tauck.com.au in Australia/New Zealand).

We found a better way to renew our passports!

October 04, 2022

Tauck Announces 2023 Savings for Solo Travelers

October 04, 2022/ Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson

Single Supplement Waived Entirely on All Category 1 Riverboat Cabins, and Reduced up to $1,000 on 176 Departures of 63 Itineraries to Five Continents

WILTON, CT (October 4, 2022) With the world now reopen to travel, Tauck is making sure that solo travelers aren’t left behind; the 97-year-old leader in upscale guided land journeys, European river cruises, small ship ocean cruises and Tauck Bridges family travel adventures has announced its solo traveler savings for 2023.

For the coming year, Tauck has again eliminated the single supplement on its Category 1 European riverboat cabins, waiving the supplement entirely for those cabins on each departure of every Tauck river cruise itinerary. The single supplement is thus being waived on nearly 250 Tauck river cruise departures next year. Tauck has also reduced the single supplement by $1,000 on other selected cabin categories on 63 departures of 20 different river itineraries.

On its land journeys, Tauck has reduced the single supplement by up to $1,000 on 113 departures of 43 tours visiting five continents. In North America, for example, the company has shaved up to $1,000 off the single supplement on 43 departures of 15 tours. On its popular European tours, Tauck has reduced the single supplement by up to $400 on 48 departures of 19 different land itineraries. And in its “Exotics” portfolio, Tauck has reduced the supplement by up to $600 on 22 departures of nine trips in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

“We’re excited to eliminate or dramatically reduce the single supplement on so many of our journeys, yet the financial savings are just one of several reasons why Tauck is so popular with solo travelers,” said Tauck CEO Dan Mahar. “Our trips provide a wonderful sense of assurance and support that our solo guests truly appreciate, and many say they feel like ‘part of the family’ when they travel with us.”

“And of course,” Mahar continued, “planning a solo trip with Tauck is as simple as selecting the itinerary and the departure date. All of the advance planning and other tasks that would normally fall squarely on the shoulders of a solo traveler – all of the choreography, all of the hotel and restaurant reservations, all of the on-site transportation, navigation and more – they’re all expertly handled by Tauck. It’s hard to put a real value on a relaxing, enriching and memorable travel experience,” Mahar concluded, “and while the monetary savings are great, in some ways they’re really just the icing on the cake.”

About Tauck: Founded in 1925, Tauck is a world leader in upscale guided travel, with more than 150 land tours, safaris, river cruises and small ship ocean cruises to 70+ countries and all seven continents. In each of the last 25 years, Tauck has been honored in Travel + Leisure magazine’s annual “World’s Best Awards” celebrating the very best in luxury tours, cruises, hotels and more.

Those interested in more information can contact their local travel professional, call Tauck at 800 468 2825, or visit the company’s website at www.tauck.com (www.tauck.ca in Canada, www.tauck.co.uk in the UK, www.tauck.com.au in Australia/New Zealand).

My review of Viking Ocean Cruises’ Viking Mars

August 11, 2022

Tauck Expanding U.S. Cruise Offerings in 2023 With New York-to-Quebec Itinerary

August 11, 2022/ Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson

Tauck’s 2023 Small Ship Cruising Portfolio to Feature 100+ Departures of 18 Journeys Aboard 16 Ships

WILTON, CT (August 9, 2022) Tauck has announced it will offer small ship ocean cruises from New York City to Quebec City aboard the Silversea ship Silver Shadow in the fall of 2023, marking the company’s latest expansion into domestic cruising and furthering its partnership with Silversea. The new 13-day “Shores of Eastern Canada and New England” itinerary will include three northbound Manhattan-to-Quebec City departures along with three southbound trips, all in September and October of next year.

The new cruise follows the 2019 introduction of Tauck’s “Cruising the Great Lakes: Chicago to Toronto” itinerary. Elsewhere in the U.S., Tauck has also featured a cruise along Alaska’s Inside Passage as well as a 15-day “Grand Alaska” combination land tour/seven-night cruise in its portfolio for many years. “We’ve seen tremendous interest in our Alaska and Great Lakes programs – we essentially sold out across the board this year – and we’re excited to expand our domestic cruise offerings for next year with this wonderful new journey,” said Tauck CEO Dan Mahar.

The new Tauck itinerary begins with an included overnight hotel stay at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square, followed by a day of guided sightseeing in Manhattan. Guests embark the Silver Shadow that afternoon for a 10-night cruise to Quebec City, highlighted by ports of call in Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, Halifax, Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island) and Saguenay (Quebec) before arriving in Quebec City. There, guests will explore the city on a sightseeing excursion before venturing out to tour the pastoral island Ile d’Orleans and experience stunning Montmorency Falls. The journey concludes with a farewell reception, dinner and overnight accommodations at Quebec City’s iconic landmark hotel, the Chateau Frontenac.

INCLUDED HOTEL STAYS IN MANHATTAN AND QUEBEC CITY… AND MORE

Although Tauck’s guests will be sharing time aboard Silver Shadow with Silversea’s other (non-Tauck) passengers, the Tauck guests will enjoy a markedly different experience, according to CEO Mahar. “Silversea does an incredible job, and we’re thrilled to partner with them on this journey,” said Mahar, “yet we like to think we’re bringing something extra to the table for our Tauck guests.”

For example, Mahar noted, Tauck includes the hotel stays and sightseeing in both Manhattan and Quebec City in its prices as part of its standard itinerary. In addition, Tauck offers 100% of its shore excursions at no additional charge, while Silversea includes only a selection of shore excursions in its prices. And Tauck’s shore excursions, added Mahar, are designed and operated exclusively by the company, all leveraging Tauck’s 97-year history of guiding award-winning land tours. “We take great pride in our ability to reveal the culture and history of a destination, and each of our shore excursions are Tauck-exclusive experiences typically led by our local guides in tandem with our own Tauck Director guides.” The Tauck Director guides also see to the onboard and onshore needs of Tauck’s guests throughout the trip, added Mahar.

Tauck’s “Shores of Eastern Canada and New England” itinerary is priced from $8,990 per person, double-occupancy, plus airfare. (From $11,680 CAD, £6,760 and $12,660 AUD). Included in the cruise price – along with all shore excursions and the Manhattan and Quebec City hotel stays – are all gratuities, airport transfers, luggage handling, port charges, taxes and more.

30 YEARS AT SEA, AND A GROWING PARTNERSHIP WITH SILVERSEA

2023 will mark Tauck’s 30th anniversary offering small ship ocean cruises, and next year the company will operate more than 100 sailings of 18 small ship cruising itineraries exploring North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Antarctica and the Arabian Peninsula on a fleet of 16 different ships. Tauck already operates other cruises aboard select Silversea vessels, including the Silver Origin and Silver Muse. Tauck’s primary maritime partner remains Ponant, with Tauck featuring a total of nine different Ponant ships (including five of its six new Explorer-class vessels) on various itineraries around the world.

My review of Viking Ocean Cruises’ Viking Orion

June 16, 2022

With New Tom Hanks Movie “Elvis” Set to Premiere, Tauck Adds Private, After-Hours Visits to Presley’s Graceland Mansion

June 16, 2022/ Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson

Visits to Memphis Estate Expected to Surge with New Film and 40th Anniversary of Public Tours This Month

WILTON, CT (June 14, 2022) With the new Tom Hanks film “Elvis” hitting movie screens in the coming days, and with the late singer’s Graceland home also celebrating its 40th anniversary hosting public tours this month, Tauck has announced that guests on its “Life on the Mississippi” river cruise will enjoy a private after-hours tour of the Memphis mansion and grounds.

Designated a National Historic Landmark and included on the National Register of Historic Places, Graceland is one of the most famous homes in the United States. The estate welcomes over 500,000 visitors each year, including more than 4,000 on peak days, and it is second only to The White House as the most visited home in the country. Since opening for tours in June, 1982, Graceland has hosted more than 20 million visitors from every state in the U.S. and nearly every country of the world. The new film “Elvis,” directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Tom Hanks as Presley’s controversial manager Colonel Tom Parker, received a 12-minute standing ovation after its world premiere last month at the 75th annual Cannes Film Festival. The film debuts on June 24.

“Whether you enjoy his music or not, there’s no arguing that Elvis Presley remains an enduring cultural phenomenon and Graceland, his iconic Memphis home, is still an object of popular fascination,” said Tauck CEO Dan Mahar. “And with Tom Hanks’ new movie opening in theaters in the coming days – and coinciding with the home’s 40th anniversary celebration – Graceland promises to be more popular than ever. We’re thrilled to provide our guests with an exclusive, after-hours tour at Graceland, after the throngs of other visitors have departed for the day.”

PRIVATE VISITS TO GRACELAND, THE SISTINE CHAPEL THE LOUVRE AND MORE

Tauck guests will enjoy an uncrowded, hour-long tour of the Presley mansion and grounds, and the Graceland visit is just the latest example of the kinds of exclusive experiences Tauck offers around the world. On Tauck’s Italy tours, for example, guests enjoy exclusive, after-hours tours of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums. Other popular attractions where Tauck guests avoid the crowds and enjoy after-hours access include the Louvre in Paris, St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, the home and studio of Impressionist painter Claude Monet in Giverny, France, and the Queen Emma Summer Palace on Oahu, Hawaii, where Tauck guests enjoy an exclusive tour, cocktail reception and dinner. And along with the after-hours tour at Graceland, guests traveling on Tauck’s “Life on the Mississippi” trip will also enjoy a private, exclusive performance at New Orleans’ fabled Preservation Hall.

The 11-day “Life on the Mississippi” itinerary begins with a two-night stay at the Four Seasons in New Orleans, where guests will attend a private cooking demonstration and have lunch at the New Orleans School of Cooking, enjoy walking tours of the French Quarter and Garden District, and visit the National World War II Museum. After boarding the American Duchess paddle wheeler, guests will embark on a seven-night Mississippi River cruise highlighted by visits to Nottoway Plantation and St. Francisville in Louisiana, along with excursions in Natchez, Vicksburg and Greenville, Mississippi, before disembarking in Memphis. There guests will explore the city’s musical history, visit the National Civil Rights Museum and enjoy their after-hours Graceland tour before overnighting at the Guest House at Graceland. Select departures travel in the opposite direction, beginning in Memphis and concluding in New Orleans, and 2023 prices begin at $8,590 per person, double occupancy, plus airfare.

About Tauck: Founded in 1925, Tauck is a world leader in upscale guided travel, with more than 150 land tours, safaris, river cruises and small ship ocean cruises to 70+ countries and all seven continents. In each of the last 24 years, Tauck has been honored in Travel + Leisure magazine’s annual “World’s Best Awards” celebrating the very best in luxury tours, cruises, hotels and more.