Tauck reports it is broadening its European portfolio with special in-depth explorations of some of Europe’s most iconic cities beginning this September and continuing through next year.
The coming 18 months will see the launch of two different explorations of London, the debut of a third “city-centric” itinerary in Florence, and the reprise of Tauck’s first such event with the return of its popular “Roman Holiday Event” in Italy’s capital city next year, Tauck says. Two of the four itineraries, “The Tauck London Event” and “Roman Holiday,” are part of the company’s Tauck Events portfolio, while “World Cities… London” and “World Cities… Florence” together comprise Tauck’s new collection of World Cities tours.
Tauck Events are larger (average capacity is approximately 200 travelers, divided into smaller groups for sightseeing) and they typically have a maximum of just one departure per year. Most evenings at Tauck Events also include special gala gatherings at exclusive venues, from the historic Guildhall in London to the Vatican Museums where Tauck guests enjoy a private dinner.
By contrast, World Cities trips are small-group, city-specific tours that each have multiple departures, with an average of just 24 travelers per departure. According to Tauck CEO Dan Mahar, the new Tauck Events and World Cities programs reflect the company’s long history of innovation.
“For 88 years we’ve continually redefined the tour category and re-imagined what guided travel can be,” said Mahar. “In much the same way, these in-depth explorations offer our guests a new way to experience some of Europe’s most classic cities. Each of these journeys delivers the in-depth learning gained from traveling with expert guides, and incredible ‘insider’ access to people, places and experiences that travelers could never get on their own. And each offers the ease of a single, relaxing, extended hotel stay, with the convenience of unpacking just once.”
Tauck’s World Cities trips and European Tauck Events are all-inclusive, with five nights’ accommodations at luxury hotels, all sightseeing and entertainment, admission to all attractions, most meals, airport transfers, and much more included in the price. Mahar added that Tauck will be expanding both its Tauck Events and World Cities portfolios, with a New Year’s Eve event in Paris late next year, and World Cities itineraries in both Rome and Paris also in the works. “The Tauck London Event” will have its inaugural departure later this year, from September 19 – 24, 2013. A 2014 departure is scheduled for May 22 – 27 of next year, with both departures featuring a five-night stay at The Langham, London. Prices for the six-day event this September are from $5,290 per person, double occupancy, plus air, and from $5,590 for the 2014 departure.
The second new London itinerary, “World Cities… London” (six days, from $3,590 per person, double, plus airfare) will launch with eight departures between April and October, 2014. Tauck’s other new “World Cities” itinerary, “World Cities… Florence,” (six days, from $3,190 per person, double occupancy, plus airfare) explores Italy’s classic Renaissance city. Guests on this all-inclusive journey will enjoy five nights’ accommodations at Florence’s Hotel Bernini Palace, and choose from a total of ten departures scheduled between March and November, 2014. Next year will also see the return of Tauck’s “Roman Holiday Event,” which was first launched in 2010 and again offered in 2012. The single-departure, six-day itinerary (October 18 – 23, 2014) will feature four themed sightseeing tracks; “Ancient Rome: Romulus to the Caesars,” “The Eternal City: Geniuses of Rome,” “First Families, Private Palaces & Movie Sets,” and “Caput Mundi: Rome & the Middle Ages.”
Tauck’s “Roman Holiday Event” includes five nights’ accommodations at The Westin Excelsior, Rome, and the all-inclusive itinerary is priced from $5,390 per person, double-occupancy, plus air fare. Tauck said it is now taking bookings on its entire 2014 portfolio of European land tours, events, river cruises and small ship ocean cruises, and the company has posted itinerary information, prices and departure dates for each journey its website, www.tauck.com.