

Take Off With Tauck is valid only on European river cruises departing May 1 – August 31 and October 1 - October 31, 2023. Trips must be booked between May 1, 2023 - June 30, 2023. Tauck's air package is available to all guests departing from select U.S. and Canadian gateways to Europe. Available for new bookings only (subject to availability). Air is refundable until ticketed (certain restrictions apply). Not combinable with other offers. Premium Economy cabin is offered on transatlantic flights, and select carriers only.
Offer is only applicable for new guests to Tauck. New bookings only-must be booked & deposited during the booking window (07 May - 07 June 2023). Deposit & hotel request must be made at time of booking. Offer is not combinable with the Gift of Time or other Tauck offers. Offer is not combinable with any advisor travel benefits or rewards points travel. Subject to availability. If either pre or post-night at Tauck hotel is not available, offer does not apply. Valid for travel from January 1, 2023– December 31, 2023. Certain other restrictions may apply.
Centuries of vineyards, wine and timeless Port traditions along an enchanting "river of gold"… white-painted quinta estates lined with terraced vineyards… Lisbon's treasures from the Age of Discovery and beyond… art and architecture royally inspired and the joys of tapas in Madrid… Cruise through the heart of one of the world's oldest and most beautiful wine regions on a 12-day journey bookended by stays in Lisbon and Madrid, featuring a 7-night cruise aboard Tauck's new riverboat ms Andorinha , custom designed for exploring Portugal's "golden" Douro River. Visit quintas for wine tastings, hike through vineyards and villages, and discover the UNESCO World Heritage city of Porto, where the Douro kisses the Atlantic and timeless Port traditions steal your heart. Spend two nights each in Lisbon, the gate to the "New World," enticing with palaces aplenty and azulejos chronicling life from Moorish times to present day – and Madrid, Spain's bigger-than-life capital, with its bar culture and bevy of baroque and belle époque architecture.
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, InterContinental Lisbon. A transfer is included from Lisbon Airport to the InterContinental Lisbon, located between Eduardo VII Park, Marques de Pombal Square and the luxurious Avenida da Liberdade. Join us tonight for a private visit and welcome dinner at 18th-century Queluz National Palace, a blend of Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical architectural designs graced with gardens inspired by French styles.
Culturally rich and historically charming, Porto's pleasures are diverse and delightful, blending old and new to reveal a fascinating portrait of the city through art and architecture, wine and food, and magnificent waterfront views. Explore the city by land, river, and air when you ride a historic tram from the Foz Quarter to the medieval riverfront district of Porto, before boarding a water taxi that takes you across the river for a cable car ride to the top of the Luiz I Bride, rewarding with a stunning panorama. Or, if you prefer, join a local guide into the historic heart of Porto. Your tram ride will take you up to the top of the city for a robust walking tour with stops to taste local culinary treats.
The Douro River cuts a 200-mile path through one the world's most beautiful and prolific wine regions as it makes its way from Porto and the Atlantic Ocean through rugged wilderness to the Spanish frontier. The wine growing regions of the Douro surprise visitors with an array of vintages, young and old. Today unfolds with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Guimarães, regarded as the birthplace of Portugal and renowned for its well-preserved medieval buildings and national monuments. Then, drive to Aveleda to discover uniquely produced "green wines" during a tasting lunch at a quinta in a Vinho Verde vineyard. Green refers to its age not its color; the grapes they use for these wines are typically consumed within three to six months after bottling and can be red, white, or rosé. Chart a course for Peso da Régua this afternoon and dine onboard your riverboat tonight.
The idyllic village of Pinhão, situated at a scenic bend of Portugal's Douro River, is considered the gateway to the quintas and large wine estates of the Douro River Valley, one of Europe's oldest and revered wine making regions. A choice of shore excursions today includes a walk in pretty Pinhão, nestled in the heart of port wine country, with a visit to its historic tile-covered train station, a vision of blue and white Azulejo tiles – or a vigorous hike through the area's lush, sloping terraced vineyards with striking views of the town and river. Dine onboard the riverboat at your leisure tonight.
Spend the day enjoying a leisurely cruise in the heart of port wine country, past sloping terraced vineyards and picturesque villages; your riverboat was custom designed for Douro cruising and offers an expansive sun deck for viewing the scenery, cooling off in the pool or enjoying a casual café or cocktail at the rooftop bistro. Disembark in Pocinho for a choice of excursions that include a visit to a wine estate in a local village for a tour, presentation and tasting; activities in Pocinho rotate between this afternoon and tomorrow morning.
20,000 years ago prehistoric man called the Coa Valley home, leaving evidence of their residence on rocks in the Coa Valley. Visit the Museum of Art and Archaeology of the Côa Valley, stunning exhibits of rock art from the valley's Paleolithic era, discovered in the 1990s when excavations began for a Côa River dam. Return to the riverboat; as the river courses its way to Spain, it passes the ruins of hilltop castles hidden in the hills. Disembark in Barca de Alva to visit Castelo Rodrigo, standing watch over the medieval village of Rodrigo since the 13th century when its defensive battlements were built and fought over by both Spain and Portugal. A walking tour of the site reveals remnants of its storied roots on the river, before your cruise continues towards the Spanish border.
Disembark your riverboat and drive to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Salamanca for a guided walking tour of its ancient heart, viewing the "living room of Salamanca," the elegant arcaded Plaza Mayor, its stunning 12th-century Romanesque Cathedral, and its esteemed 800-year-old university, one of the oldest in the world. Continue on to Madrid for a two-night stay at a legendary palace hotel commissioned by King Alfonso XIII in 1912 and located in the heart of the city's renowned art triangle with easy access to its three most famous museums, El Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza. Tapas tantalize with small bites of local culinary fare on a tasting walk with an expert guide who knows where to find the best samples of this regional specialty.
Choose either a guided one-mile walk – or a short drive via coach – before making your way to Madrid's 18th-century Royal Palace, home to a succession of Spanish kings from Charles III to Alfonso XIII, and reigning today as the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family in name only. Your visit to this 2,000+ room jeweled palace, by square feet Europe's largest palace, takes you on a journey through history and time-honored splendor with a local guide as you view rooms and salons overflowing with art treasures and antiques, and gilded, floor to ceiling, with fine fabrics, magnificent mosaics, crystal chandeliers and more. Highlights may include the Reception Room, the State Apartments, the Armory, the Throne Room, the Banquet Room and the Royal Pharmacy. Head-turning art welcomes you to the Museo del Prado, one of the world's premier art museums with over 4,000 works of art masterpieces, including works by iconic Spanish artists Goya and Velázquez, many of them acquired by kings through the ages. Join us for a farewell reception and dinner at your hotel tonight.
Tour ends: Madrid. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Westin Palace, Madrid to Madrid-Barajas Airport or Madrid's Atocha Station. Allow a minimum of 3 ½ hours for flight check-in.
Centuries of vineyards, wine and timeless Port traditions along an enchanting "river of gold"… white-painted quinta estates lined with terraced vineyards… Lisbon's treasures from the Age of Discovery and beyond… art and architecture royally inspired and the joys of tapas in Madrid… Cruise through the heart of one of the world's oldest and most beautiful wine regions on a 12-day journey bookended by stays in Lisbon and Madrid, featuring a 7-night cruise aboard Tauck's new riverboat ms Andorinha, custom designed for exploring Portugal's "golden" Douro River. Visit quintas for wine tastings, hike through vineyards and villages, and discover the UNESCO World Heritage city of Porto, where the Douro kisses the Atlantic and timeless Port traditions steal your heart. Spend two nights each in Lisbon, the gate to the "New World," enticing with palaces aplenty and azulejos chronicling life from Moorish times to present day – and Madrid, Spain's bigger-than-life capital, with its bar culture and bevy of baroque and belle époque architecture.
Traveling with Peace of Mind
Our commitment never wavers – to earn your trust by always doing the right thing. As we explore the world together again, this will be more important than ever as we adapt to living and traveling in the presence of COVID-19.
Tauck is 97-years young this year, and our ability to weather many storms over the decades is a result of our values and beliefs – as a family and as a family-owned and led company. In addition to the guiding light of these values, our extensive experience, local knowledge and global support network help to ensure your safety on every Tauck journey. Building upon our bedrock of award-winning guest care, we have worked tirelessly to prepare for your return following the COVID-19 hiatus in travel. With guidance from leading experts, including the CDC and WHO, together with our internal Global Response Team and, most importantly, with feedback from thousands of our guests, we have redefined how we will conduct our experiences as we resume travel.
Tauck is Prepared for the Unexpected
For decades, Tauck has operated in over 70 countries in all 7 continents. Over this time, our staff and network of supplier partners have always been there to support our guests and team on the road. Our guests travel with a comprehensive, built-in support system that starts with the care and local knowledge of our Tauck Directors and extends to our network of partners around the world, including hoteliers and transportation companies.
At the core of our ability to quickly and effectively respond to the unexpected is our Global Response Team - a group of over 50 employees across all departments who stand ready to spring into action around the world. This team has plenty of experience, from weather events, high and low water on rivers, earthquakes, volcanic ash, civil unrest and work stoppages. They have also dealt with past virus outbreaks including the SARS and Zika viruses.
The Tauck Travel Well Pledge
Before we operate tours and cruises, all Tauck employees, our supplier partners and our guests will take Tauck’s Travel Well Pledge.
As a company, we will follow our enhanced protocols with diligence and rigor; review them frequently as the landscape changes and always make common-sense decisions grounded in purpose and pride. We embrace these new and necessary measures to combat COVID-19 and will do our very best to provide the Tauck care we have been honored to deliver for 97 years.
OUR NEW HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS
Consistent with our commitment to the well-being of our guests, we are implementing enhanced health and safety protocols. These protocols may vary by geographic regions and will certainly evolve over time, as science and society respond to new realities:
Tauck Staff
Prior to interacting with guests, each member of Tauck’s field staff is trained in enhanced protocols and participates in a personal health screening.
Once on tour, our Tauck Directors and supporting staff are responsible for maintaining these protocols with a special focus on cleanliness and physical distancing. They will relay critical information regarding requirements, advise when protocols are mandatory – such as wearing a face covering in group settings – and help facilitate guest care through communication with appropriate parties should a guest become ill on tour. All Tauck staff will adhere to the same requirements.
Guest Responsibility
When joining a Tauck journey, every guest is responsible for their own health and, in turn, the protection of their fellow travelers, the Tauck staff, our suppliers and the places we visit. Guests will pledge to follow the direction of the Tauck staff and adhere to health and safety protocols.
Guests are expected to wear face coverings in all group settings, to wash their hands frequently and to adhere to supplier and government regulations. While supplies of face coverings, gloves, and hand sanitizer will be available, guests are asked to bring such personal items for their own comfort.
Small is BIG
For many years, Tauck has emphasized and invested in more choices of activities, resulting in smaller groups for activities like sightseeing and events. This is consistent with our mantra that “Small is Big” – small groups and smaller ships with fewer guests.
We initially focused on these elements to improve the guest experience. Yet today they take on an additional dimension; small group experiences and more personal space are critical in providing the peace of mind our guests expect. Accordingly, we are offering even more small group experiences and limiting guest numbers across all of our journeys.
We have been working diligently with our partners to be prepared to welcome you back when the time is right.
Tauck has worked meticulously with our global supplier partners to plan for every itinerary following the hiatus in travel. All partners, whether they be a hotel, museum, small ship/riverboat, restaurant or other partner, have been thoughtful about how to provide a Tauck experience in this environment.
And while it's impossible to list all of the enhanced health and safety protocols for the hundreds of Tauck partners across the globe, we would like to share a representative sample of what you can expect:
Hotels
Our hotel partners all have world-class health and safety protocols. However, these guidelines may vary depending on local situations and regulations. Here are some typical examples:
Ships and Riverboats
We have worked closely with our cruise partners to ensure the best possible health and safety protocols and to ensure the care and service you expect from Tauck:
Sightseeing and Local Activities
Many of our experiences are exclusive and/or private and that’s important in taking care of you. Whether it be a guided tour, a visit to an iconic museum or private home, a musical performance, or any other special Tauck activities, we are applying the same rigor to health and safety protocols:
Dining
Tauck has always been known for a la carte dining; having more freedom to decide when and with whom to dine now has more value than ever. Additionally, our partners whether they be hotels, ships, special venues or restaurants, are raising their already rigorous hygienic standards. Here are some examples:
On-Tour Transportation
Keeping on-tour transportation safe is a major focus of our team who has worked with hundreds of partners to ensure continuity in health and safety protocols:
Our Supplier Partners are ready for you
Tauck is proud to have worked closely with our partners around the world, many of them for decades, to deliver the quality, comfort and safety you expect. Whether it be hotels and resorts, riverboats and small ships, restaurants, event venues or transportation companies, their meticulous health and safety protocols reflect their leadership and well-earned respect in the travel industry. The following are some select health and safety protocols. We will update these on a regular basis.
In addition to our supplier partners, we have also been actively engaged with global travel organizations to standardize health and safety protocols throughout the travel industry. TourCare is one example:
TourCare are health and sanitation guidelines developed by the tour industry's major global associations: the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), The Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) and the European Tourism Association (ETOA). Tauck, and our supplier partners, meet and exceed these guidelines that require members to adhere to the highest standards in the industry.
The Tauck experience was everything we expected it to be. We also appreciated the warm reception as their first cruise on the Danube since the Covid shutdown. Their professional staff navigated the travel restrictions as we moved from country to country and overall elimated those worries for us. Their were 52 (of a possible 130) passengers on board so to say we were given VIP treatment is an understatement. We loved the crew on board the MS Joy as well as the talented Cruise Director and Tour Directors. The experience that they created for us is the reason why we will continue to travel with Tauck and recommend them to others. On a negative note, I was disappointed in the hotel selection in Prague. The InterContinental where we had originally been booked was under renovation. We were shifted to the Hilton which was average at best. Additionally as a Category 7 traveler, we were put in a standard room. Other Category 7 travelers were upgraded to the premium floors which I found irritating.
Tauck is absolutely top notch! They treated us like absolute Royalty on the ship. I would without a doubt highly recommend Tauck for your next vacation.
Very good itinerary and great on board staff, including the Cruise Director, who was immensely helpful when my partner became ill with bronchitis. Local guides in Colmar, Stuttgart, and Amsterdam were very, very good too. Food and drink were plentiful and well-prepared.
This trip was wonderful. Tauck experience is over the top and enjoyed every minute.
Tauck is incredible. I would recommend them to anyone. They think of details I would never have imagined... down to the coins it takes to use a restroom at one of the Christmas markets in Salzburg.
Although our trip was changed due to unforeseen events (low water) Tauck came together to make it better than we could have expected.. many competitors canceled but Tauck made it happen !!!
Truck as usual did a superb job
Once you take a Tauck tour, you'll never go with another Operator. The Tauck experience was incredible and totally worth the money. Can't think of one thing to complain about or would change.
Tauck is everything they promise and more. The room was wonderful, the food was outstanding, the guides were knowledgeable and fun to be with.
It was the first of - I hope- many. Excellent organization and staff.
Enjoyed all aspects of the Tauck Cruise.
It is wonderful to have every detail taken care of with a smile on the face of the staff.
The Tauck riverboat was fabulous! We were three in the room and it was large with a beautiful walk-in closet and new lovely bathroom. The Pullman Hotel near the Eiffel Tower was disappointing. The room for three was minuscule and the staff at the front desk were not helpful. If there was a knowledgable concierge, we never found him. The location was poor for metro to get to main sights around the city. We put that on our Tauck survey as well. Cruise director and all tour guides were exceptional. Highly recommend Tauck Bridges and we're looking forward to the Bridges trip we booked for next April. Thanks Affordable Tours!
We love Tauck, they are so professional and handle all the "little" details.
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We had a marvelous trip. Tauck thinks of everything!!