Tauck's 2026 Small Ship Bonanza

#expeditioncruising .

New Japan and Korea Itinerary, Arctic Circle Cruise Highlight Tauck’s 2026 Ocean Cruising Plans

“Small is Big” Next Year on 133 Departures Of 20 Tauck Itineraries Aboard 20 Small Ships

Tauck has announced its 2026 small ship ocean cruising plans, and the company is expanding its portfolio next year with the addition of two new itineraries, Sakura Seas: Japan & South Korea and Arctic Days & Northern Lights, offering guests exclusive, immersive experiences in two captivating corners of the globe. 

First Renderings of New Tauck Riverboats

#expeditioncruising .

Tauck has announced the names and designs of two new riverboats that will join its fleet next year, the ms Serene and the ms Lumière. The ms Serene will operate on the River Seine in France, while the ms Lumière will cruise in both France and along the Rhône. These names were chosen from over 1,000 suggestions from travel advisors, guests, and employees. Tauck CEO Jennifer Tombaugh explained that "Serene" reflects the calm nature of the River Seine, often depicted in Impressionist art, while "Lumière" suggests light and inspiration, referencing the lively Rhône and its connection to the Festival Lumière in Lyon.

New Small Ship Itineraries for 2019 from Tauck

#expeditioncruising .

The Joy of Travelling Small It’s the little things that make a Tauck small ship cruise so personally rewarding… and such a memorable cruising experience. Like sailing on yachts and expedition vessels to ports where bigger ships can’t go... with fewer guests onboard, more intimate settings and more personalised service for you. And all-included experiences ashore that inspire with unique access to history, nature, culture and daily life. Creating more cherished memories than you ever thought possible. Our 2019 Small Ship itineraries are now open for sale and available to view online. These fill up fast so don't wait, book now to secure your preferred departure date and cabin of choice. Go beyond the ordinary on our cruise ship tours around the globe...17 Tauck small ship itineraries aboard our hand-picked small luxury cruise ships, including some of the world's finest yachts and expeditionary vessels!

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Tauck to double small ship capacity

Tauck has announced plans to double its small ship cruising capacity within the next four years through strategic fleet expansion, deepened partnership programs and new itineraries.

"We are destination explorers at Tauck and some destinations are best explored by both land and sea," said Tauck President, Jennifer Tombaugh.

"Tauck Small Ship Cruising is our first product line to sell out each year," said Ms Tombaugh.

"By adding new destinations and expanding our capacity with Ponant, we are able to provide more choice and more availability in order to better serve the current and growing demand."

Ponant, the French-owned cruise line, will debut four new luxury expedition yachts in 2018 and 2019.

As part of an expanded partnership, Tauck will leverage all four Ponant new builds starting with Le Lapérouse in summer 2018.

The first Tauck sailing on Le Lapérouse departs on 3 July 2018 with the 7-night 'Iceland: Land of Fire & Ice' round-trip from Reykjavik stopping at off-the-beaten-path towns, tiny villages and isolated islands and priced from AUD9990 per person twin share.

"Today, Tauck utilises five Ponant ships for 10 itineraries. By 2020, we'll be sailing on nine Ponant ships further supporting our investment in growing the category," said Ms Tombaugh.

NEW CUBA CRUISE
Tauck Small Ship Cruising is adding a 10-day journey throughout Cuba departing 14, 23 and 28 December 2018 aboard the 3-masted schooner, Le Ponant.

The new people-to-people cultural sailing will be priced from AUD12,490 per person twin share calling on Cuba's coastal gems between Havana and Santiago de Cuba and including a two-night stay in Havana, complete with guided Tauck sightseeing.

BBC EARTH JOURNEYS
Tauck is further expanding its 4-year partnership with BBC Earth, the award-winning filmmaker behind the 2017 acclaimed series, Planet Earth II.  Starting in 2018, all Tauck Expedition small ship cruises become a part of the Tauck Earth Journeys portfolio featuring customised BBC Earth enhancements connecting travellers with wildlife and nature.

The newest destination to be added to the Earth Journeys' cruise collection is Iceland. Planned enhancements include BBC Earth experts on board select cruise departures and Tauck Director training and certification by BBC Earth filmmakers and historians.

Currently, every land and sea Tauck Earth Journey features on-tour film vignettes custom-made by BBC Earth natural history experts, which Tauck guests view during their travels. Many Earth Journeys also incorporate BBC Earth-approved field equipment gadgets, such as sensitive
long-range microphones, thermal imaging cameras, night-vision goggles, and self-activating camera traps. The vignettes provide exclusive insights and perspectives shared by BBC Earth experts, while the gadgets allow new and exhilarating ways for guests to interact with their surroundings, further enhancing and enriching the experience.

25 YEARS OF SMALL SHIP CRUISES
Celebrating 25 years in 2018, Tauck Small Ship Cruising offer a variety of intimate sailings to destinations across the globe. Leveraging its 90 plus years of land expertise to provide guests with more access and enrichment onshore, Tauck Small Ship Cruising itineraries include cultural journeys and expeditionary sailings. In the early 1990s, Tauck took its land model to the ocean in order to bring guests to destinations best explored by sea. By engaging various maritime partnerships, Tauck discovered that small ship cruises aligned most closely with the type of experiences their guests craved with an ability to reach locations big ships are unable to explore. Tauck's first small ship cruise set sail in 1993 in the Mediterranean. Today, all Tauck small ship cruises offer flexible yacht-like cruising on vessels tailored to each destination and range from 40 to a maximum 300 guests. Each Tauck Small Ship Cruising itinerary is all-inclusive covering all shore excursions, gratuities, port charges and taxes, airport transfers, luggage handing, internet access, on-board meals and dining ashore opportunities. Most Tauck itineraries also include complimentary on-board beer, wine and cocktails, as well as pre and/or post-cruise hotel stays featuring guided Tauck-exclusive sightseeing.

Bookings to be directed to your Travel Agent or Tauck Australia on 1300 732 300 or reservations@tauck.com.au

Luxury Small Ship Cruising Sale - Iceland, The Med, Northern Europe...

Combining Tauck's signature land sightseeing with
personalised small ship cruising

2016 Space Selling Fast - available dates:

Venice & The Dalmatian Coast on 28 August '16
Iceland: Land of Fire & Ice on 13, 20 and 27 July '16
St Petersburg & the Baltic on 6 & 13 June '16
Treasures of the Aegean on 10 & 31 August '16



Interested in other itineraries?

Contact us for a copy of Tauck's 2016 Small Ship Brochure
Phones open 9am on Monday

Call Sarah, Keryn or Val on 1300 857 437
or travel@traveltheworld.com.au

Featured Brochure: Tauck Small Ship Cruising 2016

#expeditioncruising 

Yacht and Expeditionary Small Ship Cruising



The difference in Tauck's small ship cruising lies in the choreography – the combination of personalised cruising with cultural land exploration. From the moment you step ashore, our 90+ years of expertise on land ensures that on every moment of your shore excursions (all included in the price) count! Small ship cruising means more personal attention from the captain and the crew – you'll find the on-board atmosphere to be both club-like and comfortable. The pace is more relaxed, the conversations are richer, and the day-to-day experiences are shared with like-minded travellers.

Order this brochure today. Hard copy or digital option available.

Tauck River Cruise Guide aimed at novices

#rivercruising 
  
Tauck published a 'First-Timer’s Guide to River Cruising' aimed at answering many questions common to prospective cruisers. The new 24-page, full-color brochure is available free at www.tauck.com/riverguide, where novice river cruisers can request a print or digital edition.

Organized into Who, Why, What, Where and When sections, the guide provides information about the typical river cruise traveler, the reasons behind river cruising’s popularity and what a river cruise experience is like. The guide also includes notes on when to travel, the differences between Europe’s most popular rivers and information on why ocean cruisers and independent travelers ought to enjoy a river cruise experience.

A two-page spread provides guidance on what travelers should look for when considering the wide array of river cruises available today.

Tauck ceo Dan Mahar said the guide's primary goal is to educate those interested in learning more about river cruising, rather than simply promoting Tauck. But, not surprisingly, he thinks a knowledgeable, informed traveler will be more likely to choose a Tauck river cruise.

Big names in small ships win T+L awards

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Winners of small ship and river cruise lines at Travel + Leisure Best of 2014 awards

Tauck's latest Inspiration-class river boat, ms Savor, launched in June. World's best?

Click to enlarge. Read Full report at T+L

Three more European river boats for Tauck

The innovative Loft Staterooms on Tauck’s new Inspiration-class ships
feature a raised platform with views that start just above the water line. (image: Tauck)

#expeditioncruising

by Theresa Norton Masek, Travelpulse

Tauck, which introduced two new river ships in Europe this year, will add three more vessels by 2016. The company in April will introduce the Esprit, the fifth vessel in the 118-guest Jewel Class, and two more 130-passenger Inspiration Class ships in 2016.

The new Esprit will operate on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers, offering 14-night cruises between Amsterdam and Budapest, and seven- and 12-night voyages between Basel and Amsterdam.

Tauck’s river cruise expansion plans were disclosed by CEO Dan Mahar during a meeting with the media held onboard the new Savor, which was christened June 21 in Bingen, Germany.

Tauck first chartered a riverboat in 1991 and built the first ship to its own specifications, the Swiss Emerald, in 2006. The Savor is the second in the new Inspiration Class of ships, introduced by the Inspire, which entered service in April.

The new vessels, built in partnership with Scylla AG, a Basel, Switzerland-based ship builder and operator, will help Tauck meet the fast-growing demand for river cruises.

“They sell out very fast,” Mahar said. “We’re typically 75 to 80 percent sold by December for the following year. We were definitely at that point last year. We’re about 40 percent sold for 2015 already now.”

And demand is highest for spacious suites. “The new ships have a whole top deck of suites, and they sell out first,” Mahar said. “It’s the number-one thing people buy.”

That presented a challenge, however — how to push sales of the staterooms on the lowest level, which usually are below the water line and have just a narrow strip of a window near the ceiling. “The lower deck cabins are the toughest to sell,” Mahar said. “Every riverboat company will tell you that.”

Tauck met the challenge on the Inspiration Class by designing the innovative Loft Staterooms, which add a high ceiling with a huge window that actually opens. The platform and window are raised above the water line, while the bulk of the cabin and bathroom are below water. Five steps lead up to the platform, which has a table and two chairs and a view from just a foot or two above the water line. The middle part of the huge window opens with a push of a button, as do the window’s drapes and sheer shade.

The result is an airy 225-square-foot stateroom flooded with natural light. The cabins above on the second level also measure 225 square feet but are configured in an L-shape to accommodate the raised ceilings in the Loft Staterooms below. The section of the upper-level rooms is like a foyer and doesn’t feel like space was taken away to make room for the loft one deck below.

The design, which premiered on the Inspire, was never done before and was “pushing the envelope,” Mahar said. “It was harder initially to understand, but now people love being so close to the water.”

Mahar said he expects the river cruise segment to continue growing. “Demand still exceeds our supply,” he said.

European rivers aren’t in danger of overcapacity yet, he said. “The market will continue to evolve to accept additional capacity, and towns are building more docking facilities,” Mahar said. “If you add another 10 riverboats, it’s still not as large as one ship being launched on the ocean side. Market demand will continue to increase.”

He pointed to the Nile River in Egypt, saying that more than 350 riverboats ply the 100-mile or so section between Aswan and Luxor. “In Europe there are thousands of miles [of rivers] so I think there’s still quite a bit of opportunity for capacity expansion. That doesn’t mean there won’t be challenges … but many towns, villages or cities see this as an economic development opportunity.”

Tauck and BBC Earth offer enriching travel

#expeditioncruising


GET A CLOSER LOOK AT WILDLIFE WONDERS OTHER TRAVELERS DON'T SEE ON OUR NEWEST EARTH JOURNEYS, CREATED BY TAUCK AND BBC EARTH!

See the world in a new way with Earth Journeys featuring the use of field equipment to see how BBC filmmakers reveal nature’s secrets – new camera and sound technology opens windows to worlds not easily viewed, or heard, by humans, and varies from tour to tour. And, view exclusive bespoke videos created for each destination by BBC Earth – they deepen your travel experience and share the filmmaker’s passion for a more intimate knowledge of our natural world.

And because you are a resident of Australia, when you book a 2015 Earth Journey, you also get one Free hotel night at Tauck’s hotel before or after your trip with Time on Tauck! Simply book your 2015 Earth Journey and hotel by January 2, 2015, subject to availability. Deposit must be paid at booking and other restrictions apply; ask at booking for details.

These are just a few of our Earth Journeys for 2015 – get all of the details on all of the journeys here. Space is filling quickly on preferred departure dates – so reserve now! Call your preferred travel agent or contact our representative in Australia – Travel the World on 1300-857-437 or email ttwmail@traveltheworld.com.au to reserve your space!

We look forward to welcoming you!


Daniel W. Mahar, CEO


TAUCK LAND JOURNEYS, TAUCK SMALL SHIP CRUISES AND TAUCK BRIDGES FAMILY ADVENTURES FEATURING BBC EARTH ORIGINAL CONTENT INCLUDE:

	CRUISING THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS Where you get up-close to unique wildlife such as blue-footed boobies, sea lions, iguanas, penguins and more as you explore the remote Galápagos Islands with expert naturalists on a 9-day trip featuring a 6-night Galápagos cruise aboard an expeditionary-style yacht.

Tauck Sees Huge Growth in French River Cruising

Company's Bookings Jump 137% in Two Years as it Adds Ships and Itineraries on the Rhone, Seine and Saône

When Tauck's ms Swiss Emerald sailed on the company's first-ever departure of its new Rhone River family river cruise earlier this month, it was just the latest milestone in Tauck's rapidly increasing presence in French river cruising.  Although the Connecticut-based company (recently named the "World's Best River Cruise Line" by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine) has only been operating on France's rivers for three years, it has already chalked up some impressive growth statistics.

- Order Tauck Brochures Now - 

Since its debut on the Rhone in 2011, Tauck's French river cruise bookings have increased 137%, and the company has gone from zero itineraries in France in 2010 to a total of seven for its 2014 operating season, including three popular specialty cruises for families, food lovers, and art aficionados.  The company will also deploy its ms Swiss Sapphire to sail on two new itineraries on the Seine next year, doubling the number of ships it has in France.  (The newly refurbished ms Swiss Emerald will continue to sail on the Rhone and the Saône.)  Tauck's success in France shows no sign of slowing, with pre-season bookings up more than 650% over the same time last year, and up nearly 1,300% over this same point just two years ago.

TWO NEW ITINERARIES ON THE SEINE
Helping fuel Tauck's incredible growth in preseason bookings are two new-for-2014 itineraries on the Seine.  The new "Cruising the Seine Plus Versailles, Paris & London" (from $6,790 per person, plus airfare) is a comprehensive two-week journey that begins with an included two-night stay in London at the landmark Savoy, featuring guided sightseeing plus a Tauck-exclusive lecture by Winston Churchill's biographer and granddaughter Celia Sandys.  After travelling via high-speed train beneath the English Channel to Calais, guests will board the ms Swiss Sapphire in Caudubec-en-Caux for a nine-day cruise along the Seine.

Highlights along the Seine will include an excursion to Normandy's D-Day beaches, an exclusive dinner with music at a private chateau in Rouen, and private tastings of absinthe in the Absinthe Museum in Auvers-sur-Oise and Calvados at Chateau du Breuil, a distiller of the spirit since the 1500s.  The journey continues in Paris, where the ms Swiss Sapphire will dock for three nights as Tauck guests enjoy an in-depth exploration of the city with included sightseeing.  After disembarking in Paris, guests will have their choice of a guided exploration of the city's colorful Montmartre district, or a guided visit to Louis XIV's palace at Versailles.  The 14-day itinerary concludes with a two-night stay in Versailles at the Trianon Palace Versailles, a Waldorf Astoria property, highlighted by an exploration of the Chevreuse Valley and a visit to the 12th-century Abbaye des Vaux de Cernay.

Tauck's second new French itinerary, "Rendezvous on the Seine," (ten days from $4,590 per person, plus airfare) also begins with an included two-night stay in Paris, at the Hotel Pullman overlooking the Eiffel Tour.  A subsequent seven-day cruise on the Seine includes ports-of-call at Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, Giverney (where guests will visit the home and gardens of Impressionist painter Claude Monet), Vernon, Les Andelys and Rouen.  Highlights include a farm visit and tasting of local farm-to-table specialties in Étretat, a visit to the seaside town of Honfleur, a lecture on the events of D-Day followed by a tour of Normandy's iconic beaches, and guided visits to historic abbeys and chateaux.

THE NEWLY REFURBISHED MS SWISS EMERALD
Elsewhere in France, Tauck's Rhone and Saône River cruises will sail aboard the newly renovated ms Swiss Emerald.  Launched in 2006, the ship received a makeover earlier this year when its décor was enlivened with new carpeting, new upholstery, new bedding and other enhancements.  The Swiss Emerald is one of four Tauck vessels in its Jewel Class of riverboats, along with the ms Swiss Sapphire, ms Swiss Jewel and ms Treasures.

Two new and larger Tauck riverboats, the ms Inspire and ms Savor, are currently under construction.  Set to launch next year, the 443-foot newbuilds will together comprise Tauck's Inspiration Class of ships.  Each will have twenty-two 300 square foot suites (a third of all cabins), as well as thirty-two 225 square foot cabins.

Eight of those 225 square foot cabins will be located on the lower (Emerald) deck, and they will feature an innovative "loft" design with a raised platform seating area.  Each seating area will have a table with two chairs, plus a raised ceiling that allows the use of a much taller window than can normally be incorporated into cabins on a riverboat's lower deck.  The upper portion of this window can be opened for fresh air, and being taller, the window will allow far more natural light to fill the cabin for a much brighter and more airy ambiance than can typically be achieved in lower level cabins.

ALL 2014 TAUCK RIVER CRUISES NOW OPEN FOR BOOKING

Each of the 19 European river cruises in Tauck's 2014 portfolio (on the Danube, Rhône, Rhine, Seine, Moselle, Saône, Main and Maas rivers) is now open for booking, and departure dates, prices and a host of additional information are contained in the company's new 100-page 2014 river cruise brochure.  Tauck has also debuted an expanded and redesigned section of its website at www.tauck.com dedicated exclusively to river cruising.  The new micro-site contains details on Tauck's river cruise itineraries and ships, a collection of nine new videos, the latest Tauck river cruise news, guest message boards, and more.

Tauck is also expanding its river cruising outreach to the travel agent community with the appointment of Mary Murrin as the company's first Business Development Manager – River and Small Ship Cruising.  A Tauck Cruise Director aboard the company's riverboats for five years prior to assuming her new role, Murrin is a travel industry veteran who has also worked with Ritz-Carlton and in events management.  In her new position, Murrin will focus on agent and consumer education, represent Tauck at cruise-related conferences and other events, and help Tauck maintain its leadership position within the river and small ship ocean cruising segments.

 ABOUT TAUCK

Tauck is a world leader in upscale guided travel, with nearly 100 land and cruise itineraries to some 70 countries and all seven continents.  The company has been named to Travel + Leisure magazine's list of the "World's Best Tour Operators & Safari Outfitters" in each of the past 15 years, and it has also been named to the magazine's list of the "World's Best River Cruise Lines" in each of the past four years.

ABOUT TRAVEL THE WORLD

Travel the World has been providing discerning travellers with unique luxury experiences for over 30 years. From premium cruise holidays with the world's best cruise lines to enriching cultural tours and indulgently luxurious resorts, Travel the World offers an exciting range of travel options beyond the predictable. The company has established new benchmarks of excellence in travel-related services to the Australian travel industry and consumers since 1977.

For further information on TAUCK please contact Travel the World on 1300 950 622 or visit www.traveltheworld.com.au