Tauck has unveiled two-brand new river cruises for 2015 and notes that despite the increase in capacity the line is experiencing this year with the upcoming debuts of ms Inspire and ms Savor, demand for its river cruise product remains high.
“Demand for our river cruises has been phenomenal, and it shows no sign of slowing down for next year,” said Tauck CEO Dan Mahar. “Even though we’ve continued to boost capacity, the popularity of our cruises is growing at an equal or even greater pace. There’s no question that right now is the very best time for travelers to make their 2015 river cruise plans with Tauck.”
The crown jewel of Tauck’s 2015 lineup is a massive 23-day all-inclusive itinerary that travels through three countries from London to Monte Carlo, Monaco. Starting at the iconic Fairmont Savoy Hotel in London (better known just as “The Savoy”), Tauck guests will be treated to an exclusive presentation by Winston Churchill’s granddaughter and biographer, Celia Sandys.
They’ll then journey aboard high-speed train underneath the English Channel to France to board the beautiful ms Swiss Sapphire for a nine-night voyage along the Seine that includes a visit to the famed D-Day landing beaches in Normandy. Other highlights include a tour of Claude Monet’s home in Giverny and guided sightseeing in Paris.
From the City of Love, high-speed rail links guests with Lyon where they will embark the ms Swiss Emerald for another nine-night cruise, this time along the Rhone. Highlights include tastings at vineyards in Burgundy; a tour of the Palais des Papes in Avignon; a game of petangue with locals in Viviers; and an excursion to see the cowboys of Provence’s Camargue region. Guests will then disembark in the Roman-inspired city of Arles for a post-cruise stay in Monaco at the Fairmont Monte Carlo.
Mahar also noted that demand for 2014 itineraries is so high that guests may have a better shot at getting the itinerary and stateroom they want by booking early for next year. The line has also seen a measurable increase in the number of families taking river cruises – something Mahar has personal experience with.
“Having traveled extensively with our five children, my wife and I know firsthand how easy and convenient it is to unpack the family just once, as you do on a river cruise,” said Mahar. “Also, the scale of a riverboat is more intimate than the massive ocean-going cruise ships, and that smaller size naturally promotes family togetherness and inter-generational bonding.” He also noted that river cruises provide daily opportunities for shore excursions, allowing for greater exploration and learning ashore.
Despite catering to a well-travelled demographic, the line’s Tauck Bridges family cruise program has been an enormous success for the line and their guests – so much so that the line is adding a new Tauck Bridges family cruise along the Rhine to its itinerary offerings for 2015.
Dubbed Castles on the Rhine: Family Riverboat Adventure, the new voyage will sail from Basel, Switzerland to the Dutch port of Amsterdam aboard the brand-new ms Inspire. Families will begin their journey by travelling outside of Basel to see the world’s steepest cogwheel train ascend the 7,000-foot summit of Mount Pilatus in the Swiss Alps. Sailing along the Rhine, they’ll be able to visit numerous cities and towns in France and Germany, including the thousand-year-old Reichenstein Castle, where guests will enjoy a guided tour, dinner and entertainment – all geared towards families.
Forget Disneyland; Europe is where the party is at this summer.
More information on Tauck can be found by viewing our complete company overview here on River Cruise Advisor. Our Live Voyage Report from onboard the new ms Inspire will begin here on April 7, 2014.
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