Tauck River Cruises: Is Tauck the River Cruise for You?

Table Of Content

• What to Expect on Europe's Rivers
• How Does Dining Compare on Viking and Tauck River Cruises?
• You'll find our spacious, 300-square-foot Category 7 "Tauck Suites" aboard every Tauck riverboat
• An exclusive Provençal experience on a family owned ranch in la Camargue
• First Timer's Guide
• An exclusive evening at a Rheingau wine estate overlooking the Rhine

On Viking, Scandinavian design rules the day, with light wood tones and a modern, clean look throughout. Tauck is equally non-fussy, but the overall feel is a little more elegant. Choose Tauck if you want the feeling of five-star service while still having the freedom to explore. Choose Tauck if you don't want any extra charges at all when you leave the ship, love the convenience of having everything set up for you or want the feeling of a more deluxe experience. Tauck shares the basic facts you need about Europe's rivers – plus the history, culture and more.

What to Expect on Europe's Rivers

Your riverboat exploration of the lower Danube cruises into Croatia; an onboard lecture by a local expert provides insights into the country's culture and history. Reboard your riverboat for lunch and cruise to Novi Sad, Serbia, enhanced by commentary by your Tauck Directors. You'll have a little free time this evening to explore Novi Sad before your cruise continues to Belgrade. Depart Vienna after breakfast, and spend the morning cruising to Slovakia. Arrive early afternoon in Bratislava, capital of Slovakia, where 17 centuries of history are chronicled on a walking tour led by a local guide.

How Does Dining Compare on Viking and Tauck River Cruises?

We know that travel is not just about the places you visit – it's how you experience them that really matters. Choose Tauck if onboard spa, beauty and fitness options are essential to your vacation. Choose Tauck if you like open seating and want the choice of having room service and a true alternative dining venue where you can get casual, hot food. Viking has more weeklong cruises than Tauck and sails in more places and on more dates.

You'll find our spacious, 300-square-foot Category 7 "Tauck Suites" aboard every Tauck riverboat

We'll give you options to travel on another 2021 or 2022 date – or, if you wish, on a different journey. And if you decide that the time is not right for you to travel, we'll refund your full tour cost. Download the details to make planning your trip easier - including an itinerary overview, pricing based on your selected departure date and accommodations, plus protection plan costs. So read ahead, immerse yourself in the magic of Europe's waterways, learn about the rivers we navigate, read through our first timers guide and discover why a Tauck river cruise is right for you. On board the riverboat, smoking is permitted in a limited area of the Sun deck.

Tauck differs in that the main restaurant is open seating, meaning you can go down and have dinner whenever you like. On Viking, everyone eats at the same time, which can create a "herding" effect that some people dislike. Both Viking and Tauck have well-thought-out cabins with an understated decor.

Enjoy a special Tauck visit to Budapest's opulent Hungarian State Opera House

In addition, the line gives you money to buy lunch at a local cafe during long port excursions, which no one else in the river cruise industry does. The restaurants, hotels, caterers and numerous other partners we work with all do their best to accommodate special dietary requests from Tauck guests. However, given the diverse nature of those food providers (from small wineries to grand hotels to world-famous restaurants in more than 70 countries worldwide), some of our partners are better able than others to accommodate such requests. We therefore cannot guarantee that all dietary requests can be accommodated at every meal.

Bringing the right clothing for your trip is important – we've partnered with New Headings who provide an "easy-to-use, one-stop shop" for your Tauck travel needs, specifically selected for this trip. Andrássy Avenue in the Pest section of Budapest is lined with grandiose public buildings. If you love opera, this is the place to hear it, enjoying some of the best acoustics in Europe. Dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is flexible and allows for layering. Pack comfortable yet sturdy walking shoes that have already been broken-in, as many of the sites visited were built centuries ago and have uneven surfaces, some steep inclines and many steps. If you are a resident of another country, please contact an embassy or consulate of the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria to determine what vaccination(s) may be required for your travel.

Yet Tauck carries far fewer passengers than its competitors, with 130 compared to 150 or 190. Instead, the ships are quietly upscale and elegant, with tasteful chandeliers and ironwork in the lobby, neutral colors in the cabins and ceiling molding in the lounge (along with the best bar napkins we've ever seen at sea). From June through August, the average high temperatures decrease as you travel west along the river and range from 69 to 79°F (21 to 26°C) and the average low temperatures range from 51 to 59°F (11 to 15°C). Rainfall amounts in this region remain fairly constant throughout the year, although late spring and early summer are generally the wettest seasons of the year. Smoking is not permitted in any cabin, the restaurant, the lounge or any other interior space.

You've cruised the Danube with Tauck, what next? - KarryOn

You've cruised the Danube with Tauck, what next?.

Posted: Mon, 22 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

It was Easter Sunday when we arrived, so everything was shut down - still a great town to explore and walk around. We had dinner in the Hotel that night since everything was closed - all 3 of our meals were delicious and the service was excellent, but very pricey. Tauck does have a few high-end extras onboard, including a fitness center, complimentary bikes and a plunge pool on the top deck. There's a salon that provides hair and nail services, as well as a small spa for massage treatments. Keep in mind that the itineraries are still destination-immersive, so you might not have as much time to use these as you think you will. On Tauck's four Inspiration ships, you'll find 67 cabins, and 49 on its Jewel-class ships.

On Viking, you can pay extra for a better bottle of wine, whereas Tauck has a wine cellar with some special bottles that are included in your fare (although they don't exactly volunteer these premier offerings; you have to ask). On Tauck, complimentary hot and cold canapes are passed during happy hour. Viking has the largest fleet, by far, in Europe, with 55 nearly identical Scandinavian-inspired Longships.

Together, we crafted a river cruise experience that was ahead of its time and inspired by the destinations we explore. Final Payment is due to Tauck 60 days before departure for lands trips, and 120 days before departure for cruises and rail journeys. If your deposit was made by credit card, final payment will be automatic unless you opted out at time of booking. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payment will be a considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply.

To enjoy this cruise, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances, often over unpaved and uneven surfaces. If you are a U.S. citizen traveling internationally, you will need a passport valid for six months beyond the completion of your Tauck journey for entry into France. All alcoholic drinks are available all the time on Tauck, plus the line often has wine tastings and excursions that focus on local beer and spirits. You might resent paying for other people's bar bills if you don't drink. There's a price for all those inclusions -- and Tauck's cost is definitely at the high end of river cruising. In Europe, the length of vessels is mostly dictated by the lock system.

We bring the locals aboard to share their stories, traditions and talents, then we invite you ashore to have a glass of wine or two with the vintners who made them... Attend command performances and concerts in opera houses and exclusive venues for Tauck guests only... And so many more opportunities to personally connect with the culture and people you meet in ways you couldn't do on your own.