Tauck River Cruise
Kerry has just returned from a two week Tauck river cruise travelling from Budapest to Amsterdam….
“TAUCK is about connecting people with places. Their purpose is to offer inspirational travel experiences, increase curiosity, motivate a thirst for learning, and to create once in a lifetime travel experiences, because once in a lifetime happens only once.”
Cruising the Danube, the Main and the Rhine in 5-star luxury with Tauck, who lived up to their philosophy. Fabulous! They are fully inclusive (down to the prepaid tips for onshore bathrooms! (secret password is Tauck – ssshhhh!) and everything is of the highest standard. Our high expectations were exceeded.
I had not expected to feel as ‘involved’. On an ocean cruise, you are often far from land with little or no view other than ocean. On the rivers, everything is right there – whenever you look up there is something new. We visited cities, Budapest, Vienna, Cologne, Towns and Villages. Regensburg was a personal favorite.
The rivers are very narrow so you are close to the riverbanks where there is always something happening. Locals kayaking, fishing or picnicking; all offering a friendly wave as we pass. Well used cycle paths along much of the waterway. (There are cycles onboard for use by guests). You can hear the church bells and the bird life as you cruise past – the boat itself was extremely quiet.
The Inspiration Class boats are all very new with contemporary décor. The cabins are some of the largest on the river, but still relatively small, unless you are in the spacious suites which are fabulous. Some other companies may offer a balcony – but I would book a Tauck cabin ahead of these – any balcony space is taken from the cabin, so they are very small – better to have a larger cabin space with a floor to ceiling sliding door and a glass balustrade (a French balcony). Its lovely to be able to slide open your door and watch the world go by from your bed.
Tauck also carry less passengers than their competitors on the same sized boats, meaning there is also more room in the public areas, restaurants and on the full-length sun deck. Spa pool at the back of the boat and a Gym and a Spa also on board.
Autumn is a lovely time to be on the river – the fall colors were spectacular in the forests, national parks and the vineyards. 68 locks kept the three captains busy. We had to discard ballast (water) on the Danube to make us lighter/float higher when the clearance was minimal under the boat due to low river levels; then take on ballast to lower us in the water so we could get under the lower bridges of the Rhine. The Captains bridge lowers on hydraulics to be almost flush with the deck and all passengers move (quickly) from chairs to the floor at the lowest bridges.
The food was outstanding, always with local dishes on offer and regional wine matches. All beverages were included. Champagne and Castles a highlight as we travelled past the 25 castles, numerous churches and villages on a 68 km stretch of the Rhine.
Three Tour Directors; who were all incredibly knowledgeable, on customs, cuisine, architecture, history, languages and very personable. Again, this sets Tauck ahead of the others – three directors mean smaller more intimate groups and more options with there being a choice of sightseeing and activities – one guide may walk and the others take the less active by coach. There was plenty of exercise to be had, cycling, walking through vineyards, hiking up to castles and monasteries.
Tauck will often add a surprise – something not on the itinerary – an extra stop, winetasting, special guest talent onboard in the evening. We saw 4 former members of the Regensburg Boys Choir perform just for us in a church annex of the Cathedral – a very special bonus.
So often people say to me they love the idea of a river cruise – “one day, when we retire” implying when they are perhaps less active. There is so much to do it’s a great option for active people. An ocean cruise can cater well for a less active guest. You want to be fit and mobile to fully take advantage of all that is on offer on a river cruise. So, don’t leave it too late…….go now!
If two weeks is too long, there are shorter one week options as well – It’s a great inclusion into any European itinerary. Unpack once and see Europe up close and in style from the river with Tauck.
Contact us and l we can design an itinerary for you which includes an amazing Tauck journey.
View Slideshow below
Budapest to Amsterdam
Tauck River Cruise
Kerry has just returned from a two week Tauck river cruise travelling from Budapest to Amsterdam….
“TAUCK is about connecting people with places. Their purpose is to offer inspirational travel experiences, increase curiosity, motivate a thirst for learning, and to create once in a lifetime travel experiences, because once in a lifetime happens only once.”
Cruising the Danube, the Main and the Rhine in 5-star luxury with Tauck, who lived up to their philosophy. Fabulous! They are fully inclusive (down to the prepaid tips for onshore bathrooms! (secret password is Tauck – ssshhhh!) and everything is of the highest standard. Our high expectations were exceeded.
I had not expected to feel as ‘involved’. On an ocean cruise, you are often far from land with little or no view other than ocean. On the rivers, everything is right there – whenever you look up there is something new. We visited cities, Budapest, Vienna, Cologne, Towns and Villages. Regensburg was a personal favorite.
The rivers are very narrow so you are close to the riverbanks where there is always something happening. Locals kayaking, fishing or picnicking; all offering a friendly wave as we pass. Well used cycle paths along much of the waterway. (There are cycles onboard for use by guests). You can hear the church bells and the bird life as you cruise past – the boat itself was extremely quiet.
The Inspiration Class boats are all very new with contemporary décor. The cabins are some of the largest on the river, but still relatively small, unless you are in the spacious suites which are fabulous. Some other companies may offer a balcony – but I would book a Tauck cabin ahead of these – any balcony space is taken from the cabin, so they are very small – better to have a larger cabin space with a floor to ceiling sliding door and a glass balustrade (a French balcony). Its lovely to be able to slide open your door and watch the world go by from your bed.
Tauck also carry less passengers than their competitors on the same sized boats, meaning there is also more room in the public areas, restaurants and on the full-length sun deck. Spa pool at the back of the boat and a Gym and a Spa also on board.
Autumn is a lovely time to be on the river – the fall colors were spectacular in the forests, national parks and the vineyards. 68 locks kept the three captains busy. We had to discard ballast (water) on the Danube to make us lighter/float higher when the clearance was minimal under the boat due to low river levels; then take on ballast to lower us in the water so we could get under the lower bridges of the Rhine. The Captains bridge lowers on hydraulics to be almost flush with the deck and all passengers move (quickly) from chairs to the floor at the lowest bridges.
The food was outstanding, always with local dishes on offer and regional wine matches. All beverages were included. Champagne and Castles a highlight as we travelled past the 25 castles, numerous churches and villages on a 68 km stretch of the Rhine.
Three Tour Directors; who were all incredibly knowledgeable, on customs, cuisine, architecture, history, languages and very personable. Again, this sets Tauck ahead of the others – three directors mean smaller more intimate groups and more options with there being a choice of sightseeing and activities – one guide may walk and the others take the less active by coach. There was plenty of exercise to be had, cycling, walking through vineyards, hiking up to castles and monasteries.
Tauck will often add a surprise – something not on the itinerary – an extra stop, winetasting, special guest talent onboard in the evening. We saw 4 former members of the Regensburg Boys Choir perform just for us in a church annex of the Cathedral – a very special bonus.
So often people say to me they love the idea of a river cruise – “one day, when we retire” implying when they are perhaps less active. There is so much to do it’s a great option for active people. An ocean cruise can cater well for a less active guest. You want to be fit and mobile to fully take advantage of all that is on offer on a river cruise. So, don’t leave it too late…….go now!
If two weeks is too long, there are shorter one week options as well – It’s a great inclusion into any European itinerary. Unpack once and see Europe up close and in style from the river with Tauck.
Contact us and l we can design an itinerary for you which includes an amazing Tauck journey.
View Slideshow below
