Many of you have been asking more about packaged land vacations, so I thought I’d feature one of the companies that does this type of trip really well. Tauck is a family-owned company that has been in business for 98 years. They have trips in more than 70 countries on 7 continents. They have also made Travel & Leisure magazine’s “World’s Best” list for the past 25 years.
What is a Land Cruise?
Many of you are dedicated cruisers, and like the inclusions and structure that cruise vacations offer. Activities on a cruise are a diverse menu that you choose from, and you can participate or not. Land cruises are structured the same way. Here are some other similarities:
- Logistics are taken care of from start to finish.
- Land cruises are busy, with lots of options for activities, and seeing several different places in one trip.
- You’re moving from one place to another, so the scenery and activities change daily.
- You pay once, and have most things included.
- You get to learn and interact with the local people where they travel.
- You get to travel with other like-minded individuals and make friends to last a lifetime.
- They include entertainment, lectures and learning experiences.
Things to consider when choosing a Land Cruise:
There are even more Land Cruise providers than there are cruise lines, so here are some of the questions you’ll need to consider when choosing a land-tour provider:
- HOTELS: The quality of places you prefer to stay (3-star, 4-star, or 5-star). Tauck uses 5-star hotels wherever possible.
- PACE: Are you in each place for 1 night, 2 nights or longer? This will make a big difference in how you experience the destination. You also need to decide how much packing and unpacking you wish to do (one distinct advantage to cruising).
- INCLUSIONS: Are meals and drinks included? How about excursions (those optional activities just like on a cruise). Tauck includes just about all meals (depending on the itinerary), but in some places you are better off doing your own thing.
- SIZE OF GROUP: this ranges between 8 and 52 people.
How Tauck Differentiates:
- Tauck compares well with the top end of the cruise lines based on the accommodations provided, and the inclusions.
- Exclusive access to places not open to the public, or access before or after hours. For example: A private dinner at Palais Pallavicini in Vienna. OR a private wine tasting at the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum in Florence hosted by the Ferragamo family.
There is no doubt that cruising is an “efficient” and cost-effective way to travel if you want to do more than be stationed in one place for your vacation. However, not every destination can be explored by ship (or even river boat), so the idea of a Land Cruise makes a lot of sense for some locations.
The National Parks in both the United States and Canada, for example, are spectacular, and draw people from all over the world. With very few exceptions, these natural wonders can’t be accessed by ship, so a Land Cruise is how you want to experience them.
Today’s Travel Opportunities
Here are some Tauck Land Cruises that may be of interest:
Domestic & Canada
Canadian Rockies for 8-days round-trip from Calgary:
- Visit Kananaskis, Lake Louise, the Icefields Parkway, Jasper NP, Athabasca Glacier on an Ice Explorer Vehicle, Banff NP.
- From $5790 for departures May through September.
Hawaii 4-Island Journey for 12-days with departures January to October:
- Visit Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the big Island (with flights to get between them)
- Stay at the Mountain Home and secluded retreat of Queen Emma of Hawaii, do a Helicopter tour of Kauai, feast at a Luau in Maui, a Pearl Harbor visit, pre-hours private tour of Iolani Palace, an Outrigger canoe ride, see Volcanoes NP, visit a Kona Coffee Plantation, Allerton Garden, and Mount Haleakala.
- From $12,190 for departures January through October.
Tauck Bridges
Cruising is great for multi-generational groups, and Tauck excels in that space for Land Cruises, if you want to take your kids or grandkids away:
Ireland for 1-week round-trip from Dublin
- Visit Dublin, Kildare (for the Irish racehorse experience), Cobh (for the titanic experience), Killarney (sheep dog and falconry experience), morning cruise on Lough Leane, and the Cliffs of Moher.
- From $5890 for departures June through August
Phoenix to Las Vegas for 1-week: Red Rocks & Painted Canyons
- Visit the Grand Canyon for a light hike, Zion NP, flight-seeing over Lake Powell, Private off-road tour in the Navajo Nation, Trail Ride in Bryce Canyon, Glen Canyon rafting.
- From $4990 for departures March through August
Tauck River Cruises
Yep… Tauck offers more conventional River Cruises too:
Christmas Markets on the Rhine from Dusseldorf to Lucerne
- Visit Dusseldorf, Cologne, Rudesheim, Heidelberg, Baden-Baden, Strasbourg, Lucerne.
- 7-nights departing November 29 starting at $3890.
Paris & Normandy for Families (Paris round-trip)
- Take you kids or grandkids on this river cruise, and only unpack once.
- Visit Paris, Giverny (for Monet’s Gardens), Les Andelys, Rouen, Normandy Beaches, Versailles
- 7-nights departing July 3, starting at $4990
Recently booked a Viking Cruise?
Viking makes it really easy to book direct, either online, by phone, or on board. Our clients worry that if they book on-line (or on board), that they’re cutting us out, but if you let us know after you’ve booked, then we can still help you with your reservation.
We’ll check over your reservation to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal, and we will also add some onboard credits that are not available on direct bookings.
We can add at least $100 per person onboard credit to any direct Viking reservation made in the last 60 days.
There is never a situation where you’ll get a better deal by booking directly with Viking (or any other cruise line).
If you recently booked a Viking Cruise, please let us know as soon as possible.
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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
