With springtime in full bloom throughout the European waterways, we’ve requested two of our River Cruise consultants, Amber Youell and Michelle Molnar, what visitors ought to anticipate alongside the riverbanks this yr.
How has Tauck been making ready for the 2023 river cruising season?
Amber: We have now been extraordinarily busy with the same old preparations, together with ship upkeep, itinerary fine-tuning, ordering provides, and extra. Moreover, our ships ms Grace and ms Pleasure, christened in 2016, underwent an intensive refurbishment, so visitors can anticipate a refreshed look within the cabins and public areas.
Michelle: Along with team-building with our Scylla companions, we additionally had an intensive coaching with all of our Cruise Administrators and Tauck Administrators (all full-time Tauck workers) who can be escorting visitors each on and off the ship. We centered on discovering new and distinctive methods to shock and delight our visitors whereas making certain all the pieces is in place to offer care and luxury.
What’s the present outlook surrounding water ranges on Europe’s rivers? Ought to we be involved about cruising disruption, significantly in the summertime months?
Michelle: It’s so laborious to inform, and nearly unimaginable to foretell what the River Gods (see video) will give us every season! I’ll say although, that the water ranges are completely excellent proper now and I don’t have sturdy concern about this coming summer time.
Even with final yr’s challenges – described as “file low” water ranges by the media – we had been largely unaffected. We cancelled only one river cruise in 2022, representing lower than 1% of our river cruise departures for the yr and operated 95% of our 2022 departures with no impression to our visitor expertise. In these uncommon cases the place an itinerary was impacted, it concerned altering ships or including a resort night time with modified sightseeing.
Tauck is the one firm that has full-time workers engaged on our ships, our Cruise Administrators and Tauck Administrators. We have now nice experience in all of the areas alongside the rivers because of our almost 100 yr historical past guiding land excursions. We offer decisions and options if the deliberate exercise for that day must be altered in any method. Our product groups have spent a ton of time in every vacation spot so we’ve a variety of issues in our again pocket if one thing falls quick.
Our visitors all the time come first. We’re there to deal with completely all the pieces to make sure our visitors are snug. We all the time discover a technique to protect one of the best expertise.
Are there any new and thrilling experiences aboard a Tauck river cruise this yr?
Amber: Lots of our Rhine excursions working earlier than June 4 will embody particular admission to the once-in-a-lifetime Vermeer exhibition on the Rijksmuseum, which brings collectively all of Vermeer’s identified works for the primary time below one roof. Our Rhine and Swiss Alps tour will function a brand new chocolate-themed tour of Bern, a metropolis which performed a pivotal position within the improvement of the fashionable chocolate trade. We’ve additionally added just a few new bike rides and onboard entertainers throughout most all of our cruises.
Are you able to present any perception into the most recent enhancements to our fleet?
Amber: Along with refurbishing the décor of two of our ships, we’ve invested in our onboard software program to boost the general visitor expertise in relation to their preferences and pursuits. We’ve achieved a major replace of our meals & beverage providing on board, together with revising bar and restaurant menus, offering extra à la carte service, and making a extra customized interplay between wait workers and visitors. We even have lovely, model new deck furnishings throughout your complete fleet.
River cruising is a journey expertise loved in all seasons; are you able to present just a few highlights of what visitors can anticipate in the summertime vs. fall months?
Amber: In summer time, visitors can anticipate an actual trip really feel in Europe, as most of the locals are whiling away afternoons on the town sq. cafés or on the riverfront. There are various summer time festivals, typically that includes stay music in public squares and parks. Germans and the Swiss significantly have a tendency to show any waterfront right into a beachfront, giving the river an nearly Riviera really feel.
In autumn come the cultural highlights such because the return of the theater and live performance season. You’ll additionally encounter wine, beer and harvest festivals in lots of cities and villages. The climate is extra temperate however nonetheless heat sufficient {that a} good sweater will suffice on most days.
Michelle: The summer time additionally offers elevated daylight, permitting our visitors to increase their time onshore. And if you happen to like foliage, there may be nothing fairly prefer it whereas on the Danube, Rhine, Rhône and Douro rivers within the fall, as the entire vineyards dotting the riverbanks change colours (and that’s coming from a New Englander!).
Study extra about what to anticipate on the Rivers of Europe with Tauck
View our insideTauck presentation with Michelle Molnar, one other nice technique to be taught why river cruising is without doubt one of the greatest methods to discover the center of Europe!
