TAUCK RIVER CRUISING POINTS-OF-DIFFERENCE

 

There are several things that differentiate Tauck river cruises from those offered by other lines, and each of our differentiating points is quantifiable:

 

• Zero.  Our river cruises are fully-inclusive, with zero options sold.  Included in our cruise prices are all shore excursions, all gratuities, unlimited onboard wine, beer and spirits throughout the day, airport transfers, taxes, port charges, luggage handling, and much, much more.  Also included are selected meals ashore in some amazing venues, including castles and palaces. (See below for more info.)

 

• One hundred thirty.  We intentionally limit our ships' capacity to accommodate no more than 130 guests, where other lines' ships routinely hold up to 190 passengers (or 46% more).  Bear in mind, of course, that all riverboats are limited to the same maximum dimensions, because all have to fit in the same locks and under the same bridges.  With fewer guests aboard, we're able to offer far more suites and more spacious public areas to deliver a more intimate, club-like atmosphere.

 

• Four.  Even with far fewer guests aboard, we provide more service personnel than other lines' ships carrying far more passengers.  Each Tauck riverboat is staffed by a Tauck Cruise Director and three Tauck Directors to tend to the needs of up to 130 guests, where other lines' ships carrying up to 190 passengers have just a single cruise director.

 

• Ninety two.  Tauck has offered industry-leading guided land journeys for ninety two years, and we are thus true destination experts with unmatched experience revealing the cultural stories of the different places we visit.  We bring this expertise to each of our river cruises, which unlike ocean cruises, feature a very heavy destination focus.

 

• Three.  Tauck has been voted the “World's Best River Cruise Line” three times by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine, and they've also voted us the “World's Best Tour Operator & Safari Outfitter three times as well. Those twin honors speak to the quality of both the onboard and on-shore experience enjoyed by Tauck guests, and it's something that no other company can claim.

 

 

PORTFOLIO

 

In all, Tauck operates 22 European river cruise itineraries in Europe, on the Danube, Rhone, Rhine, Seine, Moselle, Saone and Main rivers, as well as the Albert Canal. Included in our river cruise collection are four Tauck Bridges trips designed specifically for families (on the Danube, Rhine, Rhone and Seine), Christmas market cruises on the Danube and Rhine, and themed cruises exploring French culinary traditions along the Rhone and classical music along the Danube.

 

FLEET

 

We currently have nine ships in our fleet, four 135-meter ships and five 110-meter vessels:

 

135-meter ships:

• ms Grace (2016)
• ms Joy (2016)
• ms Inspire (2014)
• ms Savor (2014)

 

About the 135-meter ships:

Length: 443 feet / 135 meters

Width: 37 feet / 11.4 meters

Draft: 4 feet / 1.2 meters

Max. # of guests: 130 in 67 cabins

Crew members: 39

Tauck service staff: 4 (1 Tauck Cruise Director and 3 Tauck Directors)

Decks: 3 plus a Sun Deck

Elevator: Yes; services all decks except the Sun Deck

Internet: Complimentary Wi-Fi

 

Tauck's 135-meter ships have twenty-two 300 square foot suites furnished with two French balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows, pull-out couch, roomy walk-in closets with built-in drawers, and spacious bathroom with rain shower. Along with the suites, each 135-meter ship also has thirty-two 225 square foot cabins, plus an additional thirteen cabins ranging from 150 to 190 square feet. All suites and cabins feature in-room movies, minibar, individual heating and cooling controls, luxurious toiletries, and plush bedding with 100% goose down pillows, 400-thread-count linens and pillow-top mattresses.

 

The 135-meter ships also feature a second onboard restaurant offering lighter and traditional American fare to complement the ship's more formal main dining room. Named “Arthur's” in honor of company chairman Arthur Tauck, Jr., the café-like restaurant is located aft on the Diamond Deck where it features selections prepared in its own full-service kitchen.

 

Each 135-meter vessel includes four innovative Loft Cabins on the lower (Emerald) Deck. On other European riverboats the lower-deck cabins are small, and because they're mostly below the ships' waterlines, they're limited to modest, sealed windows at eye level that admit minimal sunlight and zero fresh air. Tauck's 225-square-foot loft cabins, however, have a raised platform seating area located against the ships' hull/outer wall with a correspondingly higher ceiling immediately above. The higher ceiling in turn allows the use of a much taller window than can normally be incorporated into lower-level cabins. The middle portion of this window can be opened electronically for fresh air, and being taller, the window allows far more natural light to fill the cabin.

 

110-meter ships:

• ms Treasures (2011; being reconfigured and refurbed for 2018)
• ms Esprit (2010; being reconfigured for 2018)
• ms Jewel (2009; being reconfigured and refurbed for 2018)
• ms Sapphire (2008; being reconfigured and refurbed for 2017)
• ms Swiss Emerald (2006; being reconfigured and refurbed for 2017)

 

About the 110-meter ships:

Length: 361 feet / 110 meters

Width: 37 feet / 11.4 meters

Draft: 4 feet / 1.2 meters

Max. # of guests: 98 in 49 cabins (upon completion of reconfiguration)

Crew members: 36

Tauck service staff: 4 (1 Tauck Cruise Director and 3 Tauck Directors)

Decks: 3 plus a Sun Deck

Elevator: Yes; between the Ruby and Diamond Decks

Internet: Complimentary Wi-Fi

 

Each 110-meter ship boasts 14 spacious, 300-square-foot suites, and each is equipped with walk-in closets and marble baths with full-size tubs. Each vessel also has 20 225-square-foot cabins and 15 additional cabins of 150-183 square-feet, with all suites, junior suites and cabins featuring sumptuous bedding including 400-thread-count linens, soft duvets, Mako cotton pillows with hypoallergenic 90% down filling, 100% cotton blankets, and pillow-top mattresses. All cabin categories also have televisions with in-room movies, mini-bars, terry cloth robes and slippers, radios, safes, adjustable air conditioning and luxury toiletries. Full floor-to-ceiling windows and French balconies are featured on 82% of all accommodations, and each 110-meter ship also boasts a Compass Rose restaurant, Panorama Lounge, boutique, massage studio and a second, more casual dining venue in Arthur's restaurant.

 

 

UNIQUE ONSHORE DINING EXPERIENCES

 

Following are just some examples of unique onshore dining experiences included in Tauck's prices, and enjoyed by Tauck guests:

 

• Schloss Ehreshoven in Engelskirchen, Germany. Normally closed to the public, Schloss Ehreshoven dates to the 14th century and was later expanded in the style of a grand Baroque manor house surrounded by a moat and landscaped gardens. The former home of the noble Nesselrode family, the castle will host Tauck guests for a cocktail reception, dinner and live musical performances.

 

 

• Chateau Bizy in Vernon, France. Known as “the Versailles of Normandy,” the chateau was inspired by Versailles and constructed in 1740. It counts among its former owners Louis XV, the Duke of Penthièvre, and the last French king, Louis-Philippe. The chateau is today owned by descendants of Napoleon. Chateau Bizy will host Tauck guests for a garden and estate tour, a champagne reception with hors d'oeuvres, and a three-course dinner with live musical entertainment.

 

 

• Schloss Johannisberg in Geisenheim, Germany. A former Benedictine monastery and later the palace of a Prince-Abbot, Schloss Johannisberg boasts over 1,200 years of winemaking history and was the first Riesling wine estate. While at Schloss Johannisberg, Tauck guests will be able to visit its historic wine cellar, enjoy a reception featuring wines from the castle's vineyards, and partake of a three-course dinner paired with local wines and musical performances.

 

 

• Palais Pallavicini in Vienna, Austria  A former convent, historic Palais Pallavicini is today a privately-owned palace in the heart of Vienna. The palace hosts Tauck guests for an Imperial Viennese Evening, featuring a cocktail reception and dinner with dance, opera and classical music performances by artists in period dress.

 

 

 

HISTORY

 

Tauck is a 92-year-old leader in guided premium-quality travel, with over 100 land journeys and cruises to 70+ countries and all seven continents. As part of our portfolio, we have operated European river cruises in close cooperation with Basel, Switzerland-based Scylla for over 10 years. Owned by the Reitsma family, Scylla is Tauck's river cruising maritime partner and we work extremely closely with them on the design, construction, outfitting and operation of our riverboat fleet.

 

For example, when we first sat down with Scylla to create our fleet, we specified that we wanted a higher percentage of suites than is typically found on most riverboats, and we wanted a second dining venue aboard each ship. On the other end of the spectrum, Tauck also specifies every last detail of the onboard experience our guests enjoy… from the bedding in the staterooms, to the toiletries in each cabin, to the titles in the ships' libraries.

 

Some other notes:

 

• Each ship is designed and built to Tauck's specs, each is heavily Tauck-branded, and each is used exclusively by Tauck.

 

• Tauck designs and markets each itinerary, and determines annual deployments for each vessel.

 

• Tauck staffs each ship with a Tauck Cruise Director and three Tauck Directors who oversee the overall guest experience.

 

• Tauck designs and operates all shore excursions.

 

• Tauck oversees all onboard guest activities (lectures, entertainment, commentary, etc).

 

• For their part, Scylla maintains legal ownership of the vessels, they oversee maritime operations aboard the ships, and they are the legal employer of the hotel/kitchen staffs (although we work very closely with Scylla on onboard food and beverage offerings).

 

 

RECENT AWARDS

 

2016         Editor's Choice Award: Best European River Cruise Line – CruiseReport.com

2016         Cool Cruises Awards: Best Luxury River Cruise Line – Travel Weekly UK

2016         “Best River Cruise Lines” – Global Traveler

2016         “Best River Cruise Line for Dining” – Cruise Critic

2015         Magellan Gold Award (River Cruising overall) – Travel Weekly

2014         “World's Best River Cruise Line” – Travel + Leisure

2013         “World's Best River Cruise Line” – Travel + Leisure