Tauck
Luxury Cruising
Tauck is genuinely all-inclusive in a way very few cruise lines can match. Your shore excursions, gratuities, drinks, transfers — it is all bundled into the fare, so there is no drip-pricing or surprise charges. Their Inspiration-class riverboats are beautifully appointed, carrying just 130 guests with 22 full-size suites — more large suites than any other European riverboat. The onboard atmosphere is refined but relaxed, with outstanding dining and complimentary beverages flowing all day. For ocean voyaging, Tauck charters Ponant's Explorer-class ships, which gives you French boutique luxury with Tauck's own tour directors running the shore programme. That combination is hard to beat: Ponant hardware with Tauck's century of touring expertise. The typical Tauck guest is well-travelled, values quality over flash, and appreciates not having to reach for a wallet once the trip begins. I recommend them to couples and solo travellers who want a cultured, hassle-free river or small-ship experience without the mega-ship crowds.
Tauck is a fourth-generation, family-owned American travel company founded in 1925 when Arthur Tauck Sr. invited six paying passengers along on a sales trip through New England. A century later, the company operates more than 150 guided journeys across 70-plus countries and all seven continents, but it is the river and small-ship cruise programmes that have earned Tauck a devoted following among discerning travellers worldwide.
The river fleet currently numbers eleven purpose-built vessels sailing Europe’s great waterways. Six Inspiration-class ships — ms Treasures, ms Esprit, ms Grace, ms Joy, ms Savor, and ms Inspire — carry a maximum of 130 guests in spacious surroundings, each offering 22 Tauck Suites of 300 square feet, the most large suites of any riverboat on the Rhine, Danube, or Seine. Four Jewel-class ships — ms Emerald, ms Sapphire, ms Swiss Jewel, and ms Swiss Sapphire — carry 98 guests, while the custom-designed ms Andorinha accommodates just 84 guests on Portugal’s Douro River. Two new ships, ms Serene and ms Lumiere, join the French river fleet in 2026.
For ocean voyaging, Tauck partners with Ponant, chartering Explorer-class ships such as Le Laperouse, Le Champlain, Le Dumont d’Urville, and Le Bougainville for itineraries spanning the Mediterranean, Antarctica, the Arctic, Asia, and Latin America. These 184-guest vessels feature six passenger decks, the innovative Blue Eye underwater lounge, and Ice Class ratings for polar waters. Tauck’s own tour directors manage every shore excursion, blending Ponant’s French boutique hardware with Tauck’s century of touring expertise.
What truly sets Tauck apart is its genuinely all-inclusive model. The upfront fare covers every shore excursion, all gratuities to ship staff, Tauck directors, and local guides, airport transfers, complimentary beverages throughout the day including house wines and premium spirits, and the services of professional Tauck Directors who accompany every voyage. There is no art auction, no spa upsell pressure, and no bill at the end. It is an approach Arthur Tauck Sr. established a century ago — include virtually everything so guests can simply enjoy the journey — and the fourth generation of family ownership continues to honour it today.
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