Tauck is on a roll where rivers flow
Cruise line goes out of its way to craft unusual experiences
A lively reception is underway as Dean Scribner, 67, of Arlington, Va., arrives at the inner courtyard of Reichenstein Castle, an 11thcentury fortress overlooking the Rhine river.
But despite free-flowing libations and plentiful hors d’oeuvres, the aerospace scientist and his companions from the Tauck river ship Inspire don’t stay long. Wine glasses in hand, they soon are off to explore the four-floor-high, antique-filled stronghold’s labyrinthine corridors, rooms and battlements. For this one evening, at least, it is their own private citadel.
“It’s wonderful to have this place all to ourselves,” says Scribner, pausing to talk before a private dinner on the castle grounds.
Long known for upscale tours on land, New England-based Tauck in recent years has been carving out a position as a leader in high-end river cruising with more intimate, exclusive and allinclusive voyages than those offered by most other lines.
In addition to private events, sailings on the Inspire and Tauck’s six other vessels feature upscale cuisine, spacious accommodations and shore tours with special touches.
Starting with an overnight stay in Amsterdam, this 12-night “Rhine and Moselle” departure includes a private tour of the Van Gogh-filled Kroller-Muller Museum near Nijmegen, The Netherlands with an art historian. In the Moselle river town of Cochem, Germany, passengers follow a visit to the picture-perfect Reichsburg Castle with a private tasting at a nearby winery.
“You go places other tour groups don’t,” says Tauck fan Larry Adams, 73, of Dallas, after a stop at the ruins of the Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine. The bridge is a World War II landmark located in the infrequently visited town of Remagen.
Among the unusual aspects of a Tauck sailing is the presence of three full-time tour directors in addition to the cruise director who serve as always-present guides, problem solvers, organizers and traveling companions. Most lines staff vessels with only a single cruise director.
Like other river lines, Tauck contracts with local guides during most port stops. But the tour directors also accompany passengers on outings. On a hot day in the ancient Roman city of Trier, Germany, one of the directors buys ice cream for the Tauck group. In the riverfront town of Boppard, Germany, another director takes a small group up a nearby chairlift to a scenic overlook and buys everyone a beer.
While relatively new to river cruising, and a small player in the segment (river giant Viking has nearly 10 times as many ships), Tauck has operated land tours on the Continent for decades and it tapping its connections with top local guides, attractions and restaurants in designing unusual cruise itineraries.
During a stop in Heidelberg, Germany, a visit to the imposing castle overlooking town is followed by brats and beer at an at- mospheric brewpub just steps from the central square. The trip also includes a day in Luxembourg that features a stop at the American War Cemetery where Gen. George Patton is buried as well as an afternoon sailing through the castle-lined Middle Rhine Valley.
Like other Tauck ships, the Inspire offers unusually spacious cabins, with most rooms measuring 225 to 300 square feet. That’s as much as 50% bigger than the typical cabin on other river ships.
The line configures its vessels for fewer passengers than other brands with similar size ships. Launched in 2014, the 443-footlong Inspire carries a maximum of 130 passengers. Ama Water ways and Avalon ships of the same length on the Rhine carry 34 to 36 more passengers, respectively, while similar ships operated by Viking pack in as many as 60 more people.
The result is a higher crew-to-passenger ratio that river cruise veterans aboard Inspire say brings more attentive service.
“They really go above and beyond,” says Michelle Desio, 46, of Henderson, Nev., who is trying Tauck for the first time after sailing with Viking and Uniworld.
Speaking on the Inspire’s open-air top deck as the ship sails past the German cathedral town of Cologne, Desio says her room steward raced off when she mentioned she was low on water, only to return moments later with four complimentary bottles. Another passenger asked for a drink the ship didn’t stock and a crewmember bought some for her at the next port.
Notably, all tours during the voyage are included in the fare, which isn’t always the case with river lines. In addition to meals, Tauck includes unlimited complimentary beverages in its fares, including wine, beer and even premium spirits. Gratuities and airport transfers are included in Tauck’s fares. So much is included that the line doesn’t even bother to swipe credit cards when passengers arrive.
All of the extra perks and all-inclusiveness come at a price. Fares for the Inspire’s Rhine and Moselle cruises start at more than $400 per person, per day. Similar 12-night sailings from Avalon start at around $322 per day, while Viking offers nine-night Rhine sailings starting for as little as $258.
Still, passengers onboard aren’t complaining.
Says Adams, “We would rather pay a little more and have a great experience.”