TauckReviews of tauck.com

We recently returned from Tauck’s Naples, Capri & Amalfi Coast journey, and I wanted to share our experience for other travelers considering spending a significant amount on a luxury guided trip. We are experienced travelers and understand that not every room will have the best view and that unexpected things can happen while traveling. My disappointment was not about expecting perfection. It was about value and expectations. For a trip positioned and priced at this level, we expected a truly elevated experience. Instead, several of our hotel room assignments were disappointing, including a room in Amalfi located next to the road after hearing so much about the spectacular coastal setting. Our previous rooms had also fallen short of what we expected from a premium itinerary. While we enjoyed some wonderful experiences—Herculaneum was a highlight, Capri is spectacular, and the Amalfi Coast itself is breathtaking—we often felt that the overall experience did not match the premium price. Some of the touring, meals and organization felt much more like what we could have arranged ourselves with private drivers and excellent local guides. Perhaps most disappointing was what happened afterward. I contacted Tauck directly and explained our experience in detail. The representative listened and took notes, which I appreciated, but there was no meaningful gesture toward a future Tauck journey or acknowledgment that might encourage us to give the company another opportunity. For travelers considering this particular itinerary, especially those accustomed to upscale or luxury travel, I would strongly suggest researching the hotels, room categories, included experiences and costs carefully and comparing them with what you could arrange independently or with another company which I would highly recommend. Italy was absolutely beautiful, and we created some wonderful memories. My disappointment isn’t with the destination—it is that the Tauck experience did not deliver the level of value we expected for the price we paid. I wish I had read a review like this before booking, which is why I’m sharing ours.

Tauck C- We have cruised on two Tauck trips. One to Iceland and the other to Alaska. The cruise line to Iceland was on the Ponnant. Our first night was a joke. We had to ask to speak to the manager because we hadn’t received our dinner almost 2 hours after placing our order. The manager simply replied “THESE THINGS HAPPEN!” We had to ask her to get our orders so we could eat that evening. She was ready to dismiss this event without making sure we were properly fed. Another couple at the next table experienced the same treatment and when she replied “These Things Happen”, they became so enraged they stormed off. Our cabin butler was non-existent and would actually avoid us when seeing us in our corridor. This was noted to the Tauck Tour Director when it happened and when we departed. Yet, no response from Tauck Customer Service regarding the treatment we received on the Ponnant nor Ponnant Cruise Lines. The second cruise was on the Silver Moon with Silversea. We had numerous issues and reported them to our Tauck cruise leader. He assured me someone from Silversea would promptly follow up with us regarding our concerns. After waiting 10 days, I followed up with our cruise leader re: status. Another 4 days have lapsed and no response from neither Tauck nor Silversea. We had tentatively booked another trip with Tauck to Switzerland next year, but after our most recent experience with Tauck, we’ll probably cancel and use another service.

I spent nearly $9,000 on Tauck's "Rhine, Swiss Alps & Amsterdam" cruise expecting a premium luxury experience, but faced serious operational and communication failures. Left Behind in Lucerne Switzerland: Prior to a private boat tour of Lake Lucerne, the group had a bathroom break but was never told which dock we were departing from. While everyone was using a public bathroom, I stepped away about 20 feet to take a couple of scenic photos by the sea wall. About 90 seconds later, I turned around to see no one left in line and had no idea which direction the group went? I ran to the only visible docks, only to find out the tours left from completely different docks a good 10-minute run away. The boat departed without me because staff failed to do a headcount at boarding. The boat did turn around to get me but being abandoned especially as solo female traveler was deeply distressing. Material Itinerary Downgrades: Due to low water, our E-bike tour was replaced with a long bus ride and short visit to Rudesheim. The Rhine castle tour was moved to a crowded public ferry with no ice and inaudible PA system on a scorching day. During the ship swap, luggage baked in extreme heat, melting specialty chocolates, cheeses and risking the efficacy of my prescription medications. They did reimburse for those items. Misleading Sales: Sales promised several single/solo travelers on this sailing. In reality, I was the only completely solo traveler out of 134 guests. The other six "singles" were decades older and traveling together, making the trip very isolating at times. The Response: I requested a fair and partial cash refund, but Tauck defended every matter. They refused a cash refund, offering only a $750 future travel voucher given to all guests. Because of the safety oversight and isolation, I cannot recommend Tauck to independent solo travelers.

We were very much looking forward to out tour of Rome and Sorrento. Huge disappointment—especially for the cost. Not at all what you should expect. The tour was at an exhausting pace. The local guides were very good, tour leader was somewhat surly. Accommodations were ok, nothing special. Food was lousy….but we did find exceptional food when we strolled away from the tour. Very mediocre experience at a very high cost. We’ll not be using their services again.

Returned from Portugal and Italy. One hotel Tauck put me in had a moldy dirty bathroom. Tauck refused to accommodate me on the cost. I do not accept being placed into a dirty small moldy bathroom at high cost to my family. One or t better. Tai k is thin skinned and unable to accept criticism. Their ratings on reviews speak.

We were invited by long term Tauck cruisers to join them on the Paris to Prague cruise. We contacted Tauck and inquired about their ability to meet my wife's dietary needs, they assured us they could. My travel agent contacted them, again they assured her they could. Well, the first three meals offered by Tauck she could not eat. Then, on the Savor, she was offered a dry rice cake as a gluten free bread, she ended up with steak every night as it was what she could eat. The Cruise Director was aware of our issues, and NEVER once cared to check in on us. A tour director was so rude so rude that I felt compelled to call corporate from Germany. Again, zero follow-up with us. They frankly give lip service, and JUST DON'T care. They use vendors for everything, so it is always someone else's fault.

Tauck is known for excellence and yet our recent “River” Trip, the “French Escapade”, on the ms Emerald, has left us speechless. Simply put, they “Overstated and Underdelivered”. Imagine going on an expensive, first-time “river” trip with Tauck, where you are placed in a small Paris hotel room for 3 days pre-cruise and experience on-ship challenges with: 1) no hot water for 4 days; 2) poorly trained wait staff; 3) poor food preparation and quality; 4) a staff employee suggesting that we utilize a competitor for future “river” cruises; 5) a broken in-room coffee machine and 6) a single day of no hot water for those on our floor. My wife and I have traveled with Tauck on multiple “non-river” trips and assumed we would have a similar experience. We were mistaken as we made a categorical error in judgement; we endured multiple issues that soured our interest in future “river” cruises with them. “A vacation is not like ordering food, you can’t send it back” and upon arriving home we cancelled the Tauck’s Yuletide Trip later this year. Having multiple undesirable issues compounds the already expensive trip when calculating the cost of the trip, air expenses, meals, time away from home, etc. Our challenges: 1. Tauck provided a tiny room for the 3 pre-cruise days in Paris. Hotel staff removed furniture to accommodate our luggage. Tauck informed us that most rooms in Paris are small. Really? This was by far the first time we encountered such a small room as compared to numerous other stays! 2. The first 4 mornings, while on the ship, we were met with cold showers . 3. On the 4th day it is our understanding the entire floor of state rooms had no hot water. 4. Either the Captain or the Tauck Director was untruthful when discussing the hot water lack of hot water. 5. There was time and inconvenience moving to another room due to the hot water issue. 6. We had a broken in-room coffee machine for several days. 7. Waiters were inadequately trained. We experienced poor service, incorrect orders or items not received. Waiters often interrupted table conversations. 8. We had poor food preparation and the food quality was questionable. At times the meat was chewy or tough. Several mornings the hashbrowns were warm on the outside but cold on the inside; other times they were extremely greasy. 9. The breakfasts and lunches were fairly repetitive. The food quality was not what you would expect from Tauck. A staff member informed us “your next trip should not be with Tauck but with (another company)”. 10. We anticipated a French Chef. That wasn’t the case. 11. We received an email the 5th morning on the ship stating: “keep your frustrations with this situation between you, your Tauck Director and me…….”. We found this email lacked Tauck’s understanding and empathy for our many challenges. After the trip, we sent a certified letter to Tauck’s CEO explaining the many challenges. Unfortunately, this letter was not taken seriously and handled by a Guest Relations Specialist. In summarizing a phone call, Tauck left us with the impression that this trip, our previous 9 trips and upcoming 5 have little or no significance. Tauck offered a meager compensation for all of the issues which amounted to about the cost of the shuttle expense from home to the airport.

The general goal of Tauk is ok but it depends entirely on your tour guide. Ours was bad. He was repeatedly unable to communicate ongoing details to the group about abundant changes along the way. Stay alert or you miss out on side trips or daily meeting places or dinner. That is not acceptable at this price.