The Pampered Cruiser

The Pampered Cruiser Sue & Bob Bradley: Travel agency owners specializing in river cruises & small ship ocean cruises.
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Many of you have been asking about Seabourn lately, so I was planning on addressing this anyway, then they contacted us ...
12/13/2024

Many of you have been asking about Seabourn lately, so I was planning on addressing this anyway, then they contacted us with a SPECIAL OFFER, so apparently the stars are aligning.

Our first experience on Seabourn was back in 2016, and it still stands out for us. The crew all knew our names, our drink orders would just show up when we entered a lounge or entertainment venue (because the crew knew our preferences), and we got to visit corners of Alaska we hadn’t been to before (and we’d been to Alaska several times).

Here’s what you can expect with Seabourn:

- All Suites. All the staterooms on Seabourn are in fact suites that are 300 square feet or larger. The in-suite bathrooms each have a full soaker tub, and double sinks, with granite counter tops. It’s nicer than our bathroom at home!
- Small Ship. There is a huge difference sailing with only 450 guests as opposed to 4500 guests. Besides the added service and intimacy, there are also logistic issues – like NOT having to line up to embark and disembark.
- Casual Luxury. Pants and a golf shirt (for the guys), is all you need to get in the dining room here. No need to play dress up.
- All inclusive. It’s nice to have everything in the price, and it also changes the culture on board the ship. When you order a glass of wine, they’re not asking for your key card, they just bring your wine (and top it up regularly). It’s like being in a friend’s living room.
- Great value. Given that the best-priced suite on Seabourn is larger (and better appointed) than the highest cabin category on the premium lines, the value per dollar is quite evident.
- Ventures by Seabourn. I like the option to be able to do some expedition offerings right off a luxury ship. These active options are particularly good if you’re going back to places you’ve already been (like Alaska!).
- Aquatic Platform. In warm water destinations, you can go swimming right off the ship. They also do their Caviar in the Surf event when anchored near swimming beaches.

THE OFFER

Seabourn’s Waves Season offer is already published on their website, and offers 15% off on just about all their itineraries (these reductions are already included on the fares on their website).

PLUS: Book through the Pampered Cruiser to receive an additional $200 per person onboard credit on many sailings (all of those listed below).

PLUS: For new reservations made between December 13th - 20th, we can add a further $300 cabin credit.

Yes, you can combine these offers. So what do you do with all these extra credits on an all-inclusive cruise line? Hopefully, you spend it on something you wouldn’t have done otherwise, and creates a real memory for you. There are tons of unique shore experiences you can use the credits for, or if you prefer a spa treatment or some shopping on board.

LUXURY EXPLORATION SHIPS

Seabourn has two ships that carry 450 guests, and two ships that carry 600 guests. They go all over the world, and prefer to anchor in yacht harbors, as opposed to big cruise ship ports (although you’ll likely embark and disembark at larger ports). Here are a few examples:

PORTUGAL, SPAIN & MOROCCO departing Lisbon on April 9 for 7-nights:

- Visit Lisbon, Gibraltar, Tangier, Almeria, Alicante, Valencia, Barcelona
- Fares from $4393 with a $200 per person on board credit (OBC).
- Watch our Seabourn Sojourn Ship tour: https://youtu.be/RJT7BVFpoqo

CROATIA & GREECE departing Athens June 22 for 7-nights

- Visit Athens, Monemvasia, Olympia, Dubrovnik, Hvar, Rovinj, Venice.
- Verandas from $5069 with a $200 per person OBC

ALASKA departing Vancouver August 22 for 7-nights

- Visit Queen Charlotte Sound, Ketchikan, Sitka, Yacutat Bay, Inian Islands, Icy Strait Point, Haines, Juneau.
- Fares from $4079 with a $200 per person OBC. Stay on board 14-nights to go round-trip Vancouver from $7224 and also visit Tracy Arm, Wrangell, Misty Fjords, Prince Rupert, and Alert Bay.
- See our Alaska PlayList on YouTube, with videos from our adventures with Seaborn in Alaska: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA1r3eOMaDVGIkLzMGzGDOfx8xOSpC2Vt

JAPAN intensive cruise departing Tokyo October 24 for 12 days.

- Visit Tokyo (Yokohama), Tokushima, Takamatsu, Kanmon Strait, Busan, Sakaiminato, Tsuruga, Niigata, Akita, Hakodate,
- Fares from $7649 with a $200 per person OBC.

SOLAR ECLIPSE Cruise departing London August 8, 2026 for 14-days.

- Visit London, Isle of Wight, Cornwall, Galway, Killybegs, Oban, Ullapool, Faroe Islands, Westman Islands (Iceland), Reykjavik.
- Veranda fares from $12,499

Remote Luxury Discovery Ships

Seabourn has two Expedition Ships that carry 264 guests, for those who want to get off the beaten track a bit more, who prefer more active options for shore excursions. We resist using the word “expedition” because people don’t associate that word with retired people with moderate fitness levels enjoying such a thing. In reality, if you can walk up 2 flights of stairs, and can get in and out of a bathtub unassisted, you will do just fine on an “expedition”. The most important requirement is being curious about the region you’re visiting.

AUSTRALIA: KIMBERLEY COAST from Darwin to Broome departing May 19, 2026 for 10-nights

- See the waterfalls, visit fresh water reefs, see the horizontal waterfalls at Talbot Bay, visit with the Wunambal Gaambera indigenous peoples, learn about the pearl trade in Kuri Bay, and the mangrove forests at Hunter River, and Darwin.
- Fares from $11,359

IRELAND, SCOTLAND & ICELAND from Reykjavik to London departing June 19 for 14-nights

- Visit 8 different ports in Iceland, for light hiking, zodiac rides, to see remote fishing villages, bird watching, wildlife spotting, and Iceland’s spectacular scenery. Then followed by 2 stops in the Faroe Islands, and 4 stops in the Shetland Islands. Next to Scotland for an overnight stay in Kirkwall, and finally Copinsay Island before disembarking in London.
- Fares from $16,574

[CLICK for the full article]
https://pamperedcruiser.com/seabourn-small-ship-luxury/
P.S. Give us a call at 800-876-0168 to book your next trip.

What’s NEW with TAUCK?Thanks for following along as I share experiences from my first TAUCK River Cruise.What to know wh...
12/11/2024

What’s NEW with TAUCK?

Thanks for following along as I share experiences from my first TAUCK River Cruise.

What to know what’s NEW at Tauck?

1. Two brand new ships in France in 2026
Want to travel on one of the new ships? "Bordeaux, Paris & The Seine is a new itineary I’m really excited about. It’s a river cruise on the Seine, with a visit the Normandy Beaches, PLUS time on land in Paris and also in the Bordeaux region. This itinerary debuts in 2026 and you can experience it on a brand new ship. I expect this itinerary to be very popular and to sell out quickly. Place a deposit now to lock In your room (deposit is fully refundable). Please inquire.

2. “Smaller Groups”
Now you can choose from THREE group sizes when you travel on a Land Tour with Tauck:
- Classic Group - Average 38 peole
- Small Group - Average 24 people
- SMALLER Group - Average 15 people
75% of Tauck travellers choose a small group departure. This year Tauck piloted “Smaller Groups” and they were a huge hit. Watch for more Smaller Groups departure dates.

3. Time Sensitive Offer: Exclusive Savings on 2025 FLIGHTS to EUROPE
Book ANY trip to Europe (River Cruise, Land or Small Ship) departing Mar. 1st - Nov. 30th, 2025 (**excluding September**) and add flights at a low set price:
- Economy: $990 per person
- Premium Economy: $1,790 per person
- Business: $3,890 per person

Thanks for following along! It was fun sharing our trip with you!

We'd love to help you with your next trip whenever you're ready. Give us a call: 800-876-0168.

WHAT I LEARNED in ‘Tauck School’Thanks for following along as I share experiences from my first TAUCK River Cruise.As I ...
12/10/2024

WHAT I LEARNED in ‘Tauck School’

Thanks for following along as I share experiences from my first TAUCK River Cruise.

As I mentioned the other day, the reason for me to be on this river cruise was so I could attend ‘Tauck Academy’ which is Tauck's invitation-only, in-depth training program for travel advisors.

And now that I’m officially a Tauck Certified Advisor, I can offer you a complimentary pre- or post-trip hotel night with any trip if you a new Tauck guest (and if you’ve previously travelled with Tauck I’ll make sure you receive this "Gift of Time" as well).

Here are some key takeaways from my training.

1. Tauck is a family-run business that’s been around for a long time. They will be celebrating 100 Years in 2025!

2. Tauck fosters remarkable Guest Satisfaction levels. People who travel with Tauck become Brand Ambassadors - they become repeat guests and refer their friends. This year, 56% of Tauck guests had previously travelled with Tauck, and a further 30% were referred by a past Tauck guest.

3. Tauck’s Guides are one big thing that sets Tauck apart from other companies, both on land and on the water. On a Tauck River Cruise there are FOUR cruise directors instead of the usual ONE [click on the photo for further comments about this]. The average tenure is 10-15 years working with Tauck, so they know what they’re doing, and they know exactly what guests want and how to make your trip special.

4. Tauck Guests Appreciate VALUE. With Tauck, you pay one upfront price, with no hidden costs and no surprises. Virtually everything is included, with no add-ons, up-sells, or nickle and diming. I’ve done a lot of research and price comparisons since my trip, and somewhat to my surprise, a Tauck river cruise compares nicely with other cruise lines (including Viking) when you consider all the inclusions. Yes, you can get a cheaper river cruise. But don’t immediately avoid Tauck because of a seemingly high upfront price.

5. Tauck's LAND Itineraries. So far I’ve talked strictly about my river cruise experience, but Tauck is equally well known for their land journeys. You can choose a Classic departure (with 36 guests on average) or a Small Group departure (with 24 people on average). Approximately 75% of people choose a Small Group trip.

Here are the most popular Tauck LAND itineraries:
America’s Canyonlands (8 days) https://www.tauck.com/tours/american-canyonlands-grand-canyon-escorted-tour?tcd=CY2025&dt=Small+Group&insider=mmjy-sue-bob-bradley-the-pampered-cruiser
Grand Australia and New Zealand (20 days): https://www.tauck.com/tours/grand-australia-new-zealand-escorted-tour-and-cruise?tcd=NA2025&dt=Small+Group&insider=mmjy-sue-bob-bradley-the-pampered-cruiser
Classic Italy (14 days) https://www.tauck.com/tours/american-canyonlands-grand-canyon-escorted-tour?tcd=CY2025&dt=Small+Group&insider=mmjy-sue-bob-bradley-the-pampered-cruiser

In case you’re wondering, this one is the most popular RIVER itinerary:
The Blue Danube (12 days) https://www.tauck.com/tours/danube-river-cruise?insider=mmjy-sue-bob-bradley-the-pampered-cruiser

Tauck trips tend to sell out quickly, and availability can be a big problem. So if there’s a trip that interests you, you’ll want to book early. Prices are SET IN STONE, so you can book early and be confident that you’re not going to miss out on a lower price. 2026 trips are open for booking and right now is the best time to book for optimal availability.

Request a free Tauck LAND brochure. The following brochures are currently available:
- North America Land Journeys
- Europe Land Journeys
- Africa & Middle East / Asia & South Pacific / Americas
Please send a quick email to [email protected] and let me know which brochure(s) you want me to send. Don’t forget to provide your MAILING ADDRESS!

Request a free Tauck RIVER Cruise Brochure here: https://inspires.to/experiences/explore-the-waterways-of-europe-with-tauck-5zp87

Thanks for following along! See you again tomorrow for my last post, where I pass along hot-off-the-press news about what’s NEW with Tauck.

TAUCK River Cruise - FREE TIME for Self-Created MemoriesThank you for following along as I share experiences from my fir...
12/08/2024

TAUCK River Cruise - FREE TIME for Self-Created Memories

Thank you for following along as I share experiences from my first Tauck River cruise!

On all Tauck trips, including their River Cruises, there is free time purposely built into the schedule. That’s because Tauck guests enjoy travelling with others, but also value privacy and the ability to make personal choices during the trip.

At the end of our trip, Leigh commented that it was our ’self-created moments’ that were some of the highlights of our trip. I hadn’t thought about it before she brought it up, but I realized she was right.

Here are some of the things we did during our free time to customize our trip and make it our own.

1. On our full-day excursion to Rothenburg, the Tauck tour director gave each person 25 Euros for lunch, so we could all explore independently and make our own decision about when to stop, and which local venue looked the most enticing. Leigh and I chose a really cute little coffee shop/cafe that had been pointed out to us during our orientation walk. We had quite a bit of free time in Rothenburg, which passed by in a flash because there are so many cute little stores… including the Kathe Wohlfahrt Christmas Store, which is almost beyond my ability to describe. It’s a huge multi-room showroom, decorated from top to bottom for Christmas. We spent at least two hours in there, deciding what we couldn’t live without. Luckily they made it easy to ship things home, so it didn’t have to fit in our suitcases (now that would be a trick, wouldn’t it?). What fun it was to open the box when it arrived a week or so after our trip.

2. Every morning, The Coffee Fairy (that would be ME 😂) brought us coffee in bed, and we would sit chatting in bed for at least an hour, solving the world’s problems and watching the spectacular landscape and charming towns pass by (remember, our beds faced the window and this was an important part of the experience).

3. On our afternoon of scenic cruising through the famous Rhine Gorge, we decided to enjoy this experience from the whirlpool bath on the top deck. This truly was an afternoon to remember, with classical music playing in the background, and Leigh and I watching “Castle Ping Pong” (we called it this because we found ourselves turning our heads from left to right and back again, each time another ancient castle came into sight). This being October and a bit chilly, a thoughtful crew member realized that Hot Chocolate with Baileys was in order.

How will YOU customize your next River Cruise? I can’t wait to hear about it.

Thanks and see you tomorrow!

Tips if you’re following along:
- Be sure to CLICK each photo because I will put additional information and links with each one. I don’t want to overwhelm you with details in the main body of each post!
- SHARE with your friends
- I would love for you to COMMENT on my posts. Chime in and join the conversation. Ask questions. Tell us about your own trips. Post photos. It’s way more fun that way.
- Request a FREE Tauck River Cruise Brochure: https://inspires.to/experiences/explore-the-waterways-of-europe-with-tauck-5zp87
- Give us a call at 800-876-0168 to book your next trip

TAUCK River Cruise - All the Little EXTRASThank you for following along as I share experiences from my first Tauck River...
12/07/2024

TAUCK River Cruise - All the Little EXTRAS

Thank you for following along as I share experiences from my first Tauck River cruise!

At Tauck they like to say, “You get what you pay for… and then some”. That’s because they like to throw in a few little surprises along the way that nobody knew was going to be included.

How often does that happen in real life, where you get more than you pay for?

They weren’t necessarily big things. But they were things that made an impact.

For example in Cologne, one of the tour directors handed out €0.50 to each person so we could use the public washroom without worrying about how to get the correct change.

And when we visited the show gardens in Nijmegen, we had some free time on our own to wander around on our own. They gave us little cards that we could present in the cafe for a complimentary coffee and slice of pie. It was completely un-necessary but very much appreciated, and such a nice touch.

Here’s one of my favourite examples - one day when we were returning to the coach after an excursion, the bus driver was handing out water bottles as usual. One of the other ladies joked with him and said, “what about a beer?”. Well wouldn’t you know it, he turned around and reached into a cooler and pulled out a beer for her! His bus was pretty popular after that.

Another afternoon after an excursion, the tour director came through the bus and gave us huge Bavarian pretzels to munch on during the drive home.

One night at dinner, instead of bringing the dessert menu they announced there would be a Chocolate Extravaganza Buffet upstairs in the lounge. Check out the photos - there was a chocolate fondue fountain!

And on the second to last evening before disembarking, there was a little gift waiting for each of us - a cute little wooden toy (made in the local region) as a thank-you for completing the trip survey…. even though we had not yet completed the survey. So I guess it was actually a bribe LOL.

These kind of little ‘extra touches’ happen on every trip, and is part of what makes a Tauck River Cruise really unique and special.

See you tomorrow!

Tips if you’re following along:
- Be sure to CLICK each photo because I will put additional information and links with each one. I don’t want to overwhelm you with details in the main body of each post!
- SHARE with your friends
- I would love for you to COMMENT on my posts. Chime in and join the conversation. Ask questions. Tell us about your own trips. Post photos. It’s way more fun that way.
- Request a FREE Tauck River Cruise Brochure: https://inspires.to/experiences/explore-the-waterways-of-europe-with-tauck-5zp87
- Give us a call at 800-876-0168 to book your next trip

TAUCK River Cruise - OUR SHIP and our CABIN Thank you for following along as I share experiences from my first Tauck Riv...
12/06/2024

TAUCK River Cruise - OUR SHIP and our CABIN

Thank you for following along as I share experiences from my first Tauck River cruise!

Today I’d like to show you around our ship (the ms JOY), and also into our gorgeous stateroom.

As you probably know, all the river ships are pretty much identical. They are a standard length, width and height no matter which cruise line, because they all have to fit into the same locks, and fit under the same bridges along the rivers. It’s what each cruise line does with the ships that makes them each a bit different - for example how many guests are on board, how big are the cabins, is there a pool, is there a fitness center, is there a spa and salon, and so on.

The ms Joy is designed to accommodate a maximum of 130 guests. For comparison, Viking puts 190 guests on ships the same size.

A smaller number of guests means more SPACE for each person, both in your room, and also in the public areas like the lounge. It makes a difference because for example when we walk into the lounge, there is always a seat available.

Here are some features of the ms JOY that stood out for me:
- Putting green and whirlpool bath on the top deck
- Bikes on board for guest use
- Fitness Center
- Salon and Spa
- Gift Shop
- Fantastic service and entertainment in the Panorama lounge. There was a resident singer/piano player who was especially good at Billy Joel and Elton John songs, and at other times local entertainers came onboard
- Incredible food in the main restaurant (the Compass Rose). I’ve always felt that AMA waterways outshines everyone when it comes to food, but Tauck might be even better. The meals were truly spectacular.
- Arthur’s - this is an alternate restaurant, located at the back of the ship. Lighter fare is served during breakfast. Classic favourites are offered at lunch. And in the evening it becomes an Asian restaurant, with a multi-course fine dining experience. This is also where you’ll find the coffee station and snacks.

Because there are fewer number of people on board, that means the CABINS can be larger too.

As some of you noticed in a photo a couple of days ago, our stateroom was really big! We were lucky enough to have a Category 7 cabin, one of the largest on the ship. We enjoyed every minute of it. I highly recommend upgrading to a Category 7 if you can.

Here are some of the things Leigh and I enjoyed about this room:
- TWO French Balconies with floor to ceiling sliding glass windows
- Beds facing the window
- Spacious walk in closet - with lots of hangers! (Important when two women are travelling together)
- Very large shower with a rainfall shower head and a built in seat in the shower
- Molton Brown amenities in the bathroom (if you’ve ever been on a Seabourn cruise, they use the same brand - one of my favourites)
- A separate sitting area with a table and 2 chairs
- Couch that pulls out to accommodate another guest, so you could have up to 3 people in the room
- Mini fridge pre-stocked with soda and water, and replenished daily. If you want alcohol in there too, all you have to do is ask.
- Coffee/Tea station in the room
- A shipboard credit designed to cover the cost of laundry service
- Room service - You hang your request on the doorknob the night before, and in the morning your breakfast and coffee are delivered with a smile. At other times of day you can also order food from a limited menu.

This was Leigh’s first river cruise of any kind, and it was hard for me to explain to her what a normal river cruise cabin would be like instead. She’s spoiled now, that’s for sure!

I think this video gives a good feel for what a Tauck River Cruise is like: https://youtu.be/vV7RXaNq4Uw

Thanks to everyone who participated in the survey yesterday! See you again tomorrow!

Tips if you’re following along:
- Be sure to CLICK each photo because I will put additional information and links with each one. I don’t want to overwhelm you with details in the main body of each post!
- SHARE with your friends
- I would love for you to COMMENT on my posts. Chime in and join the conversation. Ask questions. Tell us about your own trips. Post photos. It’s way more fun that way.
- Request a FREE Tauck River Cruise Brochure: https://inspires.to/experiences/explore-the-waterways-of-europe-with-tauck-5zp87
- Give us a call at 800-876-0168 to book your next trip

SHORE EXCURSIONS are still a point of irritation for many of you when we ask how your trip went. There is some variatio...
12/06/2024

SHORE EXCURSIONS are still a point of irritation for many of you when we ask how your trip went. There is some variation, but this is a problem across just about ALL the cruise lines, and in many different regions around the world.

First, the reasons why:

- Professional tour guides are highly skilled people. They are almost always university educated, and speak several languages. You can’t hire “just anyone”!
- After not getting paid for two years during the pandemic, many of these capable, skilled people left the industry and haven’t come back.
- The cruise lines contract their shore excursions out to local providers… so the same providers are servicing all the cruise lines.
- About 2.2 MILLION more people got on cruise ships in 2023, than in 2019 (the last “normal” year). Those extra millions are booking shore excursions with fewer providers.

So this is both a supply and a demand problem!

What YOU can do about it:

- Book Early – Don’t wait until the last minute to consider your shore excursions.
- Book Independent Excursions -- You don’t have to buy your excursions from the cruise line, and it’s a myth that if you stick with cruise line shore excursions, they’ll hold the ship for you if you come back late. Certainly, some ships HAVE delayed departure because of late comers. However, more often, the captain of the ship does NOT have the discretion to delay departure. Tides, commercial traffic, and the Harbor Master’s instructions trump the skipper’s ability to delay departure.
- Book a Car & Driver -- if you have 4 people or more, then it will probably be cheaper, and you’ll have a far better experience than on a motorcoach with 50 others. The photo is of me, Bob, and our friends Julie & Jesse, when we hired a car and driver in Malta, instead of taking a shore excursion with 40 others on a motor coach. It was WAY better.
- Pay for Privileged Access – Some excursions allow you to pay more to skip the line, or go before/after hours. For example, both Tauck and Uniworld have some privileged access options.
- Independent Exploration – you DON’T have to take an excursion. In the old days, I would buy a guide book, and do self-directed tours of places I was visiting. Today there are APPs you can download for a specific location that will provide an audio tour, and a map with the highlights. You can use public transit, taxis or Uber to get around.
- Take a Foodie Tour – this a great way to get oriented, there’s usually fewer people, and you get to experience the connection between a people, their culture and their food.
- Look at the Big Picture – If you don’t think you’re going to get back to a place, and you have a specific interest, it may very well be worth paying for an upgraded excursion.
- Ask How Many People will be on your Excursion -- and consider whether you’d be better off paying more. The “death-shuffle” with 40 others is not a good experience.
- Do some Homework – In ports like Rome (that is over an hour from the port), you’ll want to have organized excursions to help you bridge that distance. In ports like Vancouver, the ship docks downtown, so you can walk right off the ship and into the city. These are just two examples, but knowing what you want to do in a particular port of call, and how logistically easy it will be to do that, will help you immensely.

This is a problem that will probably self-correct, but it’s unclear as to when that will happen. Until then, it’s worth getting in front of your shore excursions.

[CLICK for the full article]
https://pamperedcruiser.com/shore-excursion-survival-guide/
P.S. Give us a call at 800-876-0168 to book your next trip.

THREE RIVERS - Danube, Main, and RhineThank you for following along as I share experiences from my first TAUCK River Cr...
12/04/2024

THREE RIVERS - Danube, Main, and Rhine

Thank you for following along as I share experiences from my first TAUCK River Cruise!

Our trip started in Amsterdam, Netherlands and finished in Regensburg, Germany. Leigh and I chose to add two extra nights in Amsterdam, which I highly recommend. (As a side note, now that I'm a Tauck Certified Advisor, I can offer you a complimentary hotel night before or after your trip, to give you some extra time if you want to arrive early or stay later. Tauck hotels are all 5-star properties, so this extra benefit can be quite valuable).

Our itinerary took us along 3 picturesque European waterways - the Rhine, Main, and Danube Rivers.

Our ship the ms Joy was our welcoming and comfortable home during this journey.

Some highlights of this itinerary:
- We travelled through 48 locks, gaining more than 1000 feet in elevation during our journey!
- A relaxing evening canal cruise in Amsterdam
- A delightful afternoon wandering the Gardens of Appelter (located in Nijmegen, the oldest town in the Netherlands)
- Gazing in awe at the famous filigree-towered Cologne Cathedral
- Tauck Exclusive dinner and music at Schlosshotel Kronberg, a castle built in 1893 under the commission of Empress Victoria Friedrich and sparkling with antiques and paintings from her private estate
- Visit to the historic race track at Nurburgring, considered the greatest road racing circuit in the world, and featured in the movie Rush.
- A yummy tasting tour in Frankfurt, with local specialties including the sausages that gave this city it’s modern-day name
- E-Bike ride along the picturesque Rhine
- Scenic cruising through Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with more than 40 castles and fortresses
- A REALLY fun Bavarian BBQ with music, in the German fairy-tale town of Marktheidenfeld
- A day in the charming walled Bavarian town of Rothenburg (stay tuned for more info about this excursion, as it was one of the highlights of our trip)
- A day in Bayreuth, home of the remarkable, baroque-style Magravial Opera House
- Underground tour in Nuremberg to visit the historic rock-cut tunnels where centuries-old breweries would store their beer

All these remarkable experiences (along with many others) were included in the price of our Tauck River Cruise.

Thanks to everyone who ‘liked’ and commented on yesterday’s post! See you again tomorrow!

Tips if you’re following along:
- Be sure to CLICK each photo because I will put additional information and links with each one. I don’t want to overwhelm you with details in the main body of each post!
- SHARE with your friends
- I would love for you to COMMENT on my posts. Chime in and join the conversation. Ask questions. Tell us about your own trips. Post photos. It’s way more fun that way.
- Request a FREE Tauck River Cruise Brochure: https://inspires.to/experiences/explore-the-waterways-of-europe-with-tauck-5zp87
- Give us a call at 800-876-0168 to book your next trip

Sue’s first TAUCK River Cruise!Bob and I consider ourselves to be very lucky because we've been able to take multiple ri...
12/03/2024

Sue’s first TAUCK River Cruise!

Bob and I consider ourselves to be very lucky because we've been able to take multiple river cruises. We know first-hand what it’s like to travel with Viking, AMA Waterways, and Uniworld.

When I got this chance to experience a river cruise with our friends at TAUCK, I jumped at it!

The reason for this cruise was for me to attend ‘Tauck Academy’ which is Tauck's exclusive in-person training program for travel advisors. This is the first time Tauck Academy was held on board a river ship (Tauck also offers Escorted Land Tours, so Tauck Academy is normally on land). Competition was stiff for the application process and only 25 people were selected out of 500 applicants. Feeling very fortunate.

This time, I travelled with my friend Leigh. Leigh and I originally met through our kids’ involvement in Boy Scouts (we were both parent volunteers). Since then, we attend weekly ‘beer club’ meetings together with other friends, and also travel together at times (often with adult kids).

As you might guess from these photos, Leigh is a TON of fun. But beyond that, her perspective on this trip was extremely important because she has never been on a river cruise before. The job I assigned her on this trip was to document her thoughts and observations as a first-time river cruiser.

Follow along over the next few days as I share our experiences on this amazing trip!

Tauck is the ONLY truly All-Inclusive river cruise line, and over the coming days you’ll see how this makes a difference.

Tips if you’re following along:
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- Give us a call at 800-876-0168 to book your next trip

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750 East Main Street
Stamford, CT
10018

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+18008760168

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Videos

Chocolate fondue fountain (with strawberries for dipping).

Video of our Category 7 room - 300 sq. ft. with 2 French Balconies.

Musical welcome to the Bavarian BBQ in Marktheidenfeld

THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS IN LYON Or in French: LA FETE DES LUMIERES. This four-day event takes place every December in Lyon and an expected 4 million people attended this year. What started with locals placing a candle in their windows to thank the Virgin Mary for sparing the region from the Plague, has evolved into a multi-venue, outdoor celebration of light, laser projection, music and visual effects. Think of it as a more interesting and more creative variation of fireworks, that lasts for several days. You (and several thousand of your closest friends) walk around to dozens of outdoor exhibits around the city-center, and witness the spectacle of projection and light onto buildings or sometimes Christmas lights with accompanying music and sound effects. It’s like a less-tacky version of the Las Vegas strip. If you’re thinking of a Christmas Markets experience in Europe next year, you may want to add this onto the trip. Of course, my iPhone video clips won’t do this justice… Farm to table cuisine, wine, Roman ruins, history, scenery – it’s all here in Provence, and #AMAWaterways is the perfect way to experience it all.

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