River cruise offerings from Tauck just got a little sweeter — in 2016, rates will be reduced by up to $1,200 per couple, compared to 2015 pricing. Dan Mahar, CEO of the company, attributes the price reductions entirely to the U.S. dollar’s strength against the euro.
“We’re incredibly proud of the value we deliver to our guests, and when opportunities arise to increase that value — whether it’s by enhancing the guest experience or taking advantage of favorable exchange rates — we’re excited to do so,” Mahar said.
In addition to lowering guest prices in 2016, Tauck also aims to add to the passenger experience with a fresh itinerary along the Rhine, new ships and a number of new Tauck-exclusive onshore dining experiences. The refined 130-passenger Grace and Joy ships will debut in April and June, respectively. Cruisers onboard Grace might opt for The Rhine, Swiss Alps & Amsterdam program, a new 10-day itinerary that includes a two-night stay at the five-star Bellevue Palace in Bern, Switzerland. While in the historic city, a walking tour and an excursion into the Bernese Alps to Jungfraujoch, Europe’s highest railway station, are among sightseeing options.
Additional onshore highlights include a walking tour of Lucerne, Switzerland, as well as a boat ride in Amsterdam’s famous canals and time to brush up on Danish art history at national museum Rijksmuseum.
Cruisers who revel in one-of-a-kind experiences are sure to enjoy another brand-new offer on Grace’s Rhine tour: the chance to partake in a private evening inside Schloss Ehreshoven, or Ehreshoven Castle, in Engelskirchen, Germany. At this Tauck-exclusive event (the castle is normally closed to the public), guests will mingle over cocktails, dinner and a live music show. The evening will also be part of The Romantic Rhine cruise next year.
Other enticing itinerary details for 2016 include new onshore dinner destinations. Guests on the Cruising the Seine plus Versailles, Paris and London trip will dine at Chateau Bizy in Vernon, France. Built in 1740, the chateau’s present-day owners are descendants of Napoleon.
On The Rhine and Moselle cruise, passengers will visit Schloss Johannisberg, or Johannisberg Castle, in Geisenheim, Germany, for a wine-cellar tour, a three-course dinner with wine pairings and musical performances. Schloss Johannisberg, once a Benedictine monastery and later the palace of Prince-Abbot of Fulda, was the first Riesling wine estate.
The Details
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