Upscale guided tour and cruise operator Tauck says that Europe is its guests' most popular destination worldwide.
The company has already resumed operations in the U.S. – its second most-popular destination – and the success Tauck is currently enjoying there will inform and enhance the restarts in Europe and Africa.
“All the hard work and meticulous planning we’ve put into our relaunch in the U.S. has paid off,” said Tauck CEO Dan Mahar, “and we’ve proven conclusively that we can deliver the Tauck-level experience our guests expect while still following all of the necessary safety protocols.”
The resumption of operations will take place in stages, beginning with selected departures of Tauck’s “Iceland” and “Treasures of the Aegean” small ship ocean cruises in June and July.
Also scheduled for July are the resumption of the company’s cruises in the Galapagos Islands as well as its Tauck Bridges family adventure in Costa Rica. Tauck’s guided safaris in eastern and southern Africa will resume in August, as will its land tours in Spain, France and Portugal.
August will also mark the resumption of Tauck’s European river cruises, with departures sailing on the Rhône and Seine in France and the Douro River in Portugal. Although no firm date has been set, Tauck plans to restart its cruises on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers – and the bulk of its remaining European land tours – in early fall as border openings permit.
Travel advisors are invited to keep an eye on the “Open for Travel” page on Tauck’s website as new itineraries return to the company’s active roster.
River Cruises in France and Portugal Slated for August,
With the Rhine, Main and Danube to follow
THE NEW MS ANDORINHA
Tauck’s August sailings on the Douro will mark its first-ever journeys on the river, as well as the debut of its new ms Andorinha riverboat. The Andorinha will accommodate just 84 guests. The ship’s design and décor will reflect the climate and cultural traditions of the Douro River Valley, and one especially notable feature will be a pop-up restaurant that rises from the stern of the vessel’s Sun (top) Deck on hydraulic lifts to become a fully functioning eatery with views of the surrounding countryside.
TAUCK RETURNS TO AFRICA
Tauck will resume its safaris in eastern and southern Africa with the 02AUG departure of “Mountain Gorilla Safari: Kenya, Tanzania & Rwanda” and the 04AUG departures of “Kenya & Tanzania: A Classic Safari” and “South Africa: An Elegant Adventure.” All of the company’s safaris are small-group journeys, with as few as 18 guests per departure to ensure an up-close, intimate immersion into the local culture, flora and fauna.
TAUCK CEO: PLAN AHEAD AS BOOKINGS SOAR
With the world beginning to reopen, Tauck CEO Mahar is strongly urging travel professionals to advise clients to lock in their vacation plans now. “One thing we’ve learned time and again over our 96 years is that travel denied is really travel deferred,” said Mahar. “When people are unable to travel, it only fuels their desire and determination to do so. And now – with 97% of our guests having been vaccinated – we’re seeing demand come roaring back.”
“90% of our 2021 U.S. departures are completely sold out,” Mahar continued, “2022 has the strongest advance bookings of any year in our 96-year history, and April was our strongest booking month since 2007. We still have space today,” concluded Mahar, “but we can’t say how long it’s going to last.”
For the very latest information, visit the Travel Updates page on Tauck’s website.
