Frequently Asked Questions

We encourage you to make your reservation just as early as possible – especially if you are limited to the time period in which you can travel. Tauck journeys are popular and tend to fill quickly.

Absolutely! Many guests choose to extend their stay and we're happy to help. As a service, Tauck will make hotel reservations before and/or after your journey at select pre/post stay hotels offered for that tour. Rooms are reserved at the first or last night's hotel property of any Tauck journey, so there is no worry of having to change hotels or rooms at the start or end of your trip. Rooms are reserved on a space-available basis, and the cost will be added to your tour cost. Arranging hotel accommodations in the city where your journey begins for the night preceding your Tauck itinerary not only gives you more time to explore on your own, allows your group to become better acclimated to time changes before your journey begins and helps to relieve stress from potential travel delays – important factors to consider! Guests wishing to spend more time in cities where our journeys end can extend their stay – a great way to make your vacation last a little longer.

Complimentary transfers are included from your pre stay hotel to the start of your journey and from your post stay hotel to your disembarkation location.

Please Note: Transfers are included for Tauck-approved pre and post stay hotels. Non-Tauck hotels have to be approved prior to leaving on your tour.

For reservations, call 800-468-2825 or contact your Travel Advisor to book today! 

Reservations Sales Center hours – North America Eastern Time Zone (New York City time):

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 
8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Wednesday: 
10:00 AM – 9:30 PM

Saturday: 
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Sunday: 
Closed

Tauck's land journeys and cruises are split up into the following five main product lines – just click to learn more:

Land Journeys

Our fully guided land journeys explore six continents, each seamlessly orchestrated with authentic experiences on and off the beaten path, exclusive access, insider perspectives, premium hotel stays, and local cuisines.

Small Ship Cruising

With less than 300 guests onboard, our small ship cruises & expeditions explore some of the world's most intriguing ports of call in Europe, Asia, Antarctica, Latin America, and North America.

European River Cruising

Our European river cruises explore Europe's great waterways, from the Rhine and the Danube to the Rhone, the Seine and the Douro, on all-inclusive, intimate riverboat journeys, with exclusive cultural experiences onshore.

Tauck Bridges

Our multigenerational, Tauck Bridges family tours are designed to inspire wonder and enrich understanding. Every travel detail is taken care of so you can share experiences, and connect with each other through the magic of travel.

Small Group Journeys

Averaging just 24 guests, choose from 85+ small group trips around the world (including safaris); lower guide-to-guest ratio means more personalized service – enjoy authentic experiences on and off the beaten path, exclusive access, insider perspectives, premium hotel stays, and local cuisines.

Just about everything! Virtually every travel expense is included in one up-front price – airport transfers as specified in the itinerary, all hotel and ship accommodations, entertainment, meals as specified in the itinerary, special dinner, land and cruise transportation, sightseeing, shore excursions, luggage handling, concierge-style services, Tauck Tour Directors, services of local guides and more.

Most meals are included on Tauck journeys. Dining is a delightful and integral part of the Tauck experience – and that is why Tauck selects restaurants that offer a true taste of each region you visit. Enjoy Tauck's "free choice" dining where you often dine when and with whom you wish; some meals are full a la carte, some may be limited a la carte, and some may be from a set menu or buffet.

All appropriate gratuities for luggage handling, bellmen, doormen, dining room servers, and ship staff are included. Tauck Tour Director gratuities are not included on Tauck land journeys, but are included on all Tauck Bridges trips.

Over 100 cost components are included on every land journey – which means no hidden costs, no surcharges, no on-tour surprises!

Just about everything! Virtually every travel expense is included in one up-front price – airport transfers as specified in the itinerary, all hotel and ship accommodations, entertainment, meals as specified in the itinerary, special dinner, land and cruise transportation, sightseeing, shore excursions, luggage handling, most taxes, concierge-style services Tauck Directors, services of local guides and more.

Most meals are included on Tauck journeys. Dining is a delightful and integral part of the Tauck experience – and that is why Tauck selects restaurants that offer a true taste of each region you visit. Enjoy Tauck's "free choice" dining where you often dine when and with whom you wish; some meals are full a la carte, some may be limited a la carte, and some may be from a set menu or buffet.

All appropriate gratuities for luggage handling, bellmen, doormen, dining room servers, and ship staff are included. Tauck Tour Director and Tauck Cruise Director gratuities are included on all river cruises.

Over 100 cost components are included on every cruise – which means no hidden costs, no surcharges, no on-tour surprises

Just about everything! Virtually every travel expense is included in one up-front price – airport transfers as specified in the itinerary, all hotel and ship accommodations, entertainment, meals as specified in the itinerary, special dinner, land and cruise transportation, sightseeing, shore excursions, luggage handling, most taxes, concierge-style services Tauck Directors, services of local guides and more.

Most meals are included on Tauck journeys. Dining is a delightful and integral part of the Tauck experience – and that is why Tauck selects restaurants that offer a true taste of each region you visit. Enjoy Tauck's "free choice" dining where you often dine when and with whom you wish; some meals are full a la carte, some may be limited a la carte, and some may be from a set menu or buffet.

All appropriate gratuities for luggage handling, bellmen, doormen, dining room servers, and ship staff are included. Tauck Tour Director and Tauck Cruise Director gratuities are included on all small ship cruises.

Over 100 cost components are included on every cruise – which means no hidden costs, no surcharges, no on-tour surprises!

All Tauck Journeys have an "Activity" and a "Pace" rating, ranging from 1 – 4 to give you a better idea of what to expect in terms of stamina needed and physical activities while on tour. The higher the number, the more active the journey is.

Activity:

1 — May include climbing some stairs and walking for up to an hour at a time over primarily level ground, interspersed with periods of standing.

2 — Guests should be able to easily walk one to two miles, which may include climbing one or two flights of stairs and walking over uneven pavement, groomed hiking trails or cobblestones. Standing up to one hour or more may be required.

3 — Active components such as hiking, bicycling and walking longer distances may be included, and hills and/or uneven terrain may be encountered on several days. Guests should be able to walk two to three miles and stand for long periods of time with no difficulty.

4 — Designed for fit, vigorous travelers capable of easily walking three miles or more. Many days might include active pursuits such as hiking, bicycling or sea kayaking for one to three hours at a time. Guests should be capable of walking three or more miles over terrain including hills and rocky or uneven terrain.

Pace:

1 — Generally easy, with occasional free time for relaxation.

2 — Moderately paced, and may include some early morning hotel departures, one or two on-tour flights, and extended motor coach travel.

3 — Often robust – may include long days, active sightseeing, early starts, evening activities, significant travel times.

4 — Consistently robust – very full and active days, extended travel times, use of different modes of local transport, and a possibility of early starts.

Yes, many of our tours do offer a selection of choices on most given days of the tour. Many of our choices provide guests with deeper, richer cultural experiences through the various, towns, sites and regions they are visiting. Many of these choices are chosen the day of, however, some are chosen pre- tour. In the case of those, an email notification will be sent out prior as a reminder to make your choice selection when applicable.

The average group size of a Tauck journey varies depending on the trip that is selected. Most of our land journeys average 35 to 44 guests. Some of Tauck's cruise programs will average larger group sizes based on the capacity of a ship. While the group size can be larger for such cruise programs, the land touring and shore excursions are orchestrated in smaller group sizes.

Yes, many of our journeys do provide time to allow our guests free time to do as they wish.

Tauck regrets that it cannot provide individual assistance to a guest for walking, wheelchairs, motorized scooters, dining or other personal needs. Guests needing such assistance must be accompanied by an able companion who will assist them. We regret that some itineraries cannot accommodate wheelchairs or motorized scooters.

To meet our guests' growing interest in more intimate travel experiences, we've included more small group departures, averaging 24 guests or less. Small group sizes encourage camaraderie and lasting friendships among like-minded guests. They enable you to more closely connect with your Tauck Director and the local experts who enrich your perspectives through insider stories personally shared.

Fewer guests on sightseeing excursions means less time spent traveling from place to place, fewer lines and crowds, and more room to explore ancient – and modern – lands. You'll benefit from the freedom and flexibility to spend more time exploring the sights you've dreamed to see.

Your journey is fully guided by expert Tauck Tour Directors who average over 10 years of service with us, come from 40 countries, speak 42 languages collectively, and are renowned as the world's best travel companions. Across the globe, you'll also meet our handpicked local experts and guides who share their insights, creativity and knowledge; they include safari trackers, naturalists, chefs, musicians, professors, artists and more. Together, our team will be your insider's guide – they're the difference between a trip, and the trip of a lifetime.

Our Tauck Tour Directors who guide your trip are the best in the business:

• They treat every guest as an individual, looking after each guest's needs – so solo travelers feel secure and looked after from the day they arrive to departure.
• Personifications of the word "leader," our Tauck Tour Directors are knowledgeable professionals well-versed in local cultural customs and traditions – travel with someone "in the know."
• They manage all daily details of travel, from checking you in and out of hotels to all luggage handling, and they oversee your on-tour transportation.
• Tauck Tour Directors choreograph each day's sightseeing to make the best use of time, ensuring schedules are kept.
• Because they are "in the know" about the places you're traveling to, they offer helpful suggestions when asked – such as what to do in your free time.
• They thrive on finding creative ways to share their love of the destination, with pleasant surprises or spur-of-the-moment opportunities often along the way. 

Tauck land trips and cruises are enjoyed by people of all ages, by anyone who has a passion for enriching, rewarding and memorable travel experiences. Our Tauck Bridges family adventures are designed for family travel and attract people of all ages and generations.

Our tours have many days where you will be split up into smaller groups, allowing you to experience a richer, deeper connection with the region, your Tauck Director and the local guides accompanying you. While there are many instances over the course of your journey where your entire group will be together, there will be opportunities to personalize your sightseeing experiences your way.

Beginning in 2024, there is no longer a Covid-19 vaccination requirement or mandatory Travel Well Pledge for guests to sign while on tour with Tauck. This policy is subject to change and may be adjusted if there is a surge in infection rates or other factors that could impact the safety of our guests and employees.

To ensure the safety of others and the communities we visit, all guests must follow local health and safety protocols when necessitated by local health guidance and/or our supplier partners. While on tour, we continue to encourage all guests to monitor their own well-being and take preventative measures such as; frequent handwashing, using hand sanitizer, and/or wearing a mask if a guest feels more comfortable doing so. Should a guest feel ill for any reason, they will be encouraged to isolate and/or wear a mask. As always, by traveling with Tauck, guests agree to take personal accountability for their own health and to respect the well-being of their fellow travelers and the Tauck staff.

Yes! If you have a group of 10 or more on the same trip, the 11th person travels FREE. Families booking a Tauck Bridges family adventure need just 8 guests traveling together on the same departure and the 9th guest goes free. If your group numbers 10 or exactly 8, you'll receive 50% off one person's fare. The travel savings multiply as your group size grows!

On many of Tauck's worldwide land journeys you can reserve a private departure for just you, your family and close friends. Traveling in a "bubble" with your own group is a wonderful way to share the world and enjoy the exclusivity of your own Tauck journey, enjoying legendary experiences and signature Tauck moments, hosted by your own dedicated Tauck Director. A Private Departure exclusively for your own group includes all the advantages of traveling with Tauck: daily orchestration designed to maximize your time and deepen your experience. Whichever journey you choose, you and your travel companions will enjoy exclusive travel experiences and in-depth sightseeing – go to tauck.com/private-departures and begin planning!

Tell us what you have in mind and we'll put you in the capable hands of a Group Sales Manager who will take care of the details for your group – contact our Group Sales Department at (800) 241-1365 or email groupsales@tauck.com.

Accrued frequent flyer miles cannot be used toward the purchase of Tauck's airfare or used for class upgrades, however, airfare purchased through Tauck does qualify to earn you additional miles.

Tauck makes it easy to enjoy seamless travel from the moment you book your journey. Ask us to check into the best flights for your journey if your travels originate in the United States to Alaska, Hawaii, and destinations outside of the U.S. (except Canada). Flights are subject to availability. We have partnered with leading domestic and international airlines to bring you to these destinations, and can often offer you significant savings on your airfare. And while purchasing your air through Tauck takes the hassle out of booking it yourself, it also offers you several advantages available only with Tauck:

• Airline transfers to and from your hotel are often included
• Earn Frequent Flyer mileage on most airlines
• Benefit from Tauck's lenient change and refund policies
• Reserve your flights in advance; pay later when tickets are issued
• Enjoy significant savings on Business Class airfare on select flights

Tauck offers special fares (subject to availability), for most travel originating in the U.S., to Alaska, Hawaii, and destinations outside of the U.S. (except Canada). We strongly urge you to take advantage of Tauck's air, which offers more lenient change and refund policies, and has been selected for having the most suitable flights for travelers arriving and departing our journey's designated start and end dates. 

Our Air Team here at Tauck are happy to arrange your air arrangements. Please note however, our team only arranges international flights. 

No matter where your destination may be, you should bring identification with you. When traveling to destinations outside of the country from which you are traveling from, or for which you are not a citizen of – you will be required to have a valid passport. Many countries require that your passport remain valid for at least 6 month beyond the completion date of your visit. With tighter security and immigration policies, even U.S. citizens traveling to Canada will very soon be required to have a valid passport to enter. Most Tauck cruise journeys require we receive and submit to the cruise line our guest's passport information well in advance of the cruise departure date. If you are a U.S. citizen traveling abroad then a valid passport will be required, and though not mandatory, we also recommend bringing some form of government issued photo ID such as a driver's license.

For U.S. citizens traveling within the United States, while passports are not required, proof of identification at airport check-in has become mandatory. A valid passport or a government issued photo ID is sufficient. Tauck recommends that non-U.S. citizens consult the embassies or consulates of the countries they will be visiting to determine identification and travel document requirements.

Real ID Act - Effective January 22, 2018

Beginning in January, 2018, some state IDs will no longer permit you to board a domestic flight. Currently, some states are compliant, some have received extensions, and some are not compliant. Click here to see the status of your state. If your state license is not compliant, you can use a passport in lieu of a valid state ID. 

Please Note: The federal government has extended the deadline to October 1, 2021 for domestic airline passengers to secure a Real ID driver's license for use as identification at the airport. Travelers without a verified license or ID card will also have the option of showing other identity documents, such as a passport or military ID to board a plane.

My Account is the membership area of Tauck.com, which offers prospective and current guests exclusive access to a special online community and features for both before and after their journey. All are welcome to participate.

On My Account, we offer the following features:

• Account Dashboard: Here you have the opportunity to view your upcoming reservations and access the Bucket List option for your future trip planning needs.
• Make A Payment: Make a payment on your own upcoming journey and your travel companion's upcoming journeys. 
• Arrival & Return Information: This page contains your arrival and departure information including confirmation number, flight number, flight times, and transfer confirmation.
• Passport: Manage your passport information for you and your travel companions.
• Emergency Contact Information
• FAQs: Frequently asked questions regarding Travel Documents, Guest & Cruise Protection, Health and Activity and additional specific information related to your upcoming journey.

Click here to watch the My Account tutorial video

Yes! If you have a group of 10 or more on the same trip, the 11th person travels FREE. Families booking a Tauck Bridges journey need just 8 guests traveling together on the same departure and the 9th guest goes free. If your group numbers 10 or exactly 8, you'll receive 50% off one person's fare. The travel savings multiply as your group size grows!

Yes! Special rates are available and vary by journey. Children under 11 or 12 (depending on the journey) are eligible for the special rates on all of our family adventures.

On some tours, we may be able to offer special child rates on Tauck contracted airfare. Please inquire at the time of booking for details. Please note that at this time we do not hold special children's rates for our Guest Protection Plan.

The single price in Category 1 is the same as the double price, which means savings of up to 50% for solo travelers on every departure of every European river cruise!

Solo Travelers also enjoy Savings of $1,000 per cabin in select categories on select river cruises; you'll find all of the savings details under the prices on each of our river cruises (certain restrictions apply; ask at time of booking).

We have a special page dedicated to traveling solo with Tauck – check out all of the details here. Tauck has negotiated with its hoteliers to offer special solo traveler savings on limited departures of select trips – details can be found on our Traveling Solo With Tauck page or you can check for savings on individual trip pages under Pricing & Availability.

Your vacation is an important investment – and to help you protect it, Tauck offers comprehensive travel protection plans, designed to protect your investment if you need to cancel your trip. Visit Tauck Travel Protection for details.

Your travel investment is secure with Tauck's comprehensive Travel Protection plans – before, during, and after your trip. Complete details of the many benefits and outstanding coverage provided by the plans, including comprehensive COVID-19 coverage can be found at Tauck Travel Protection. 

Tauck Bridges journeys differ in that all of the journeys' components are designed to best suit "family" travel. Our itineraries, hotels, meals and activities are specially planned to thoroughly compliment our loyal family travelers. However, Tauck Bridges journeys are designed and delivered by the same devoted and experienced staff, whose expertise and love of travel have brought numerous awards throughout the company's history. Please note that Tauck Land Journeys and Cruises are designed primarily for adults, although children are certainly welcome. We do not offer child rates on non-Tauck Bridges journeys.

Children age 3 and older at the time of travel are welcome on Tauck Bridges itineraries. Based upon our experience with family travelers, for each itinerary we have a minimum recommended age to encourage comfort and enjoyment for all of our guests. In some cases there may be age restrictions on activities; all children must be accompanied on activities by a parent or guardian. At least one guest in the traveling party must be 21 or older to make a reservation. Note: Minimum age for our Tauck Bridges river cruises is 4 years; minimum age for our Tauck Bridges African safaris is 5 years; and minimum age for our Tauck Bridges Galápagos cruise is 6 years.

We ask that you use good judgment if considering bringing a young child or children on a Tauck journey. Many of our itineraries do not cater to young children's interest, patience or stamina, and therefore aren't really suited to children of too young an age. Young children's behavior can be unpredictable, and with consideration for all fellow travelers wanting to enjoy their vacation to its fullest, it is important to know and understand that Tauck has the right to ask any tour member who is disruptive to a group to leave the tour whether they are 6 or 96 years of age.

Family travel is important to us. The bond between children and adults as they experience the world together makes for special memories that last lifetimes. It is for that reason we created 'Tauck Bridges' – journeys for the whole family to enjoy together. Each of these kid-friendly family oriented journeys has a minimum recommended age rating to encourage comfort and enjoyment for all our guests.

Yes! Special rates are available and vary by journey. Children under 11 or 12 (depending on the journey) are eligible for the special rates on all of our family adventures.

On some tours, we may be able to offer special child rates on Tauck contracted airfare. Please inquire at the time of booking for details. Please note that at this time we do not hold special children's rates for our Guest Protection Plan.

The discounts we offer are based upon what we are able to secure from the many different hotels, restaurants and other suppliers we use throughout the world. In general, most discounts apply to children under 12.