Tauck Tours on the Duchess

[Carol28]

Are there any differences in taking the Tauck tour vs just booking on the AQSC?  Has anyone done this tour yet? What were your impressions?

[nogihs]

I would luv to here any input. We are booked with AQSC on a cruse that Tauck was selling on for almost X2. Tauck adds days on both ends, for some of it. Wonder what else they add? Guess we will know in a little over a month! 

[califsealion]

I have not done a Tauck tour, but we were on a trip that included a group of Road Scholars (I think previously Elder Hostel?)  Again, I was not a part of that group so am just an outside observer. 

 

They had their own separate lectures by someone they brought along.  They also had separate tables at dinner that were set aside for them.  I believe they had their own organizer that traveled with them organizing the group as well.  I suppose one benefit is that you are traveling in a smaller subgroup, so may get to know people better (but on the two AQSC trips I've done, I did not find it an issue meeting people).  And maybe more in depth information/lectures?  I didn't really feel like I was missing out.

[DaveinCharlotte]

Like califsealion, we have not been on a Tauck tour either, but we were signed up for a Road Scholar (yes, used to be Elderhostel) cruise on the Duchess in 2020.  It was canceled due to covid, but before it was, we received packets of info on what to expect.  Yes, we would be seated separately, have our own lectures, and have our own group leader.  Couldn't figure out whether our excursions would be the same.  One big difference:  RS tacked on one addition hotel day before the cruise and two after.  Their price was significantly higher than booking direct with AQSC.  

[bebtwice]

One thing to check regarding the price difference is whether Tauck is including and arranging your flights. Have a neighbor who only travels with Tauck, largely because they arrange everything (she's not a planner). Road Scholar only arranges  international flights, with some of them being included in the price. Our domestic trip with RS required us to make our own flight arrangements, as does ASQC.

[bob brown]

While I think Tauck Tours is at the top as far as conducting overland bus tours, I would not book thru them for a sea or river cruise...

You are paying for a Tauck escort on those, that you don't really need.  The cruise line takes good care of you.

[Host Jazzbeau]

18 minutes ago, bob brown said:

While I think Tauck Tours is at the top as far as conducting overland bus tours, I would not book thru them for a sea or river cruise...

You are paying for a Tauck escort on those, that you don't really need.  The cruise line takes good care of you.

This may be true for AQSC cruises, but it’s not applicable to Tauck generally. 
 

First, Tauck River cruises in Europe are their own cruises. They have the ships on long term charter and there are no non-Tauck guests onboard. 
 

As to ocean cruises, Ponant doesn’t include shore excursions and the ones they sell are limited and dependent on how many English-speaking passengers are onboard. Tauck includes a full range of shore excursions plus the Tauck reps onboard serve as liaisons between you and Ponant.    Tauck definitely charges more, but there is added value. 

[bob brown]

30 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

This may be true for AQSC cruises, but it’s not applicable to Tauck generally. 
 

First, Tauck River cruises in Europe are their own cruises. They have the ships on long term charter and there are no non-Tauck guests onboard. 
 

As to ocean cruises, Ponant doesn’t include shore excursions and the ones they sell are limited and dependent on how many English-speaking passengers are onboard. Tauck includes a full range of shore excursions plus the Tauck reps onboard serve as liaisons between you and Ponant.    Tauck definitely charges more, but there is added value. 

I am not familiar with those, so can't comment on them, but those are different situations.   

Back in 1991, I went on my first cruise, a 14 night Princess cruise tour in Alaska.  It was a deluxe fully escorted tour, similar to Tauck, with our Princess escort, and local tour guides at each stop.  While I could see the value on the land (bus and train), portion, she was basically just along for the 'free cruise', on the Whittier to Vancouver portion, and really did nothing more than dine with us at some ship meals.

I don't believe Princess does that any longer...