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 to your post-stay hotel from 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 1800 962 043 or contact your travel agent to book today! 

Reservation Sales Center hours –  Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST):

Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM 

Saturday: Closed

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

Small is big at Tauck, where our small group journeys average 24 guests; new for 2024, we're pleased to introduce even Smaller Group journeys averaging 15 guests. Experience deeper connections with the destinations you visit – with more time, freedom and flexibility, plus opportunities to connect more closely with your Tauck Director, local guides, and fellow travelers. Choose from among 70+ different trips worldwide, including classic journeys, African safaris and private departures for your group only, experiencing firsthand the art of traveling small.

Just about everything! Virtually every travel expense is included in one up-front price – airport transfers as specified in the itinerary, all hotel accommodations, entertainment, meals as specified in the itinerary, special meals, sightseeing, airport transfers, services of local guides, luggage handling, 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 local guides, luggage handling, bellmen, doormen, and dining room servers. 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!

Click here to learn more about Tauck land journeys.

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 meals, land and cruise transportation, sightseeing, shore excursions, luggage handling, most taxes, concierge-style services Tauck Directors, services of local guides and more.

Meals are freshly prepared and regionally driven, both on the riverboat and at local restaurants. Complimentary beverages – from specialty coffee, tea, and soft drinks to house wine, beer and premium spirits – are included on the riverboats, all day, every day.

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!

Click here to learn more about Tauck river cruises.

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 meals, 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!

Click here to learn more about Tauck small ship cruises.

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 – and because they're Tauck tours, these choices are always included in the upfront price. 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 when applicable.

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

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, with your Tauck Director and with 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.

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.

Your journey is fully guided by expert Tauck Directors who average over 10 years of service with us, come from 41 countries, speak 52 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 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 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 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 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.

For reservations, call 1800 962 043 or contact your travel agent to book today! 

Reservation Sales Center hours –  Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST):

Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM 

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed

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 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 – contact our Group Sales Department at (800) 241-1365 or email groupsales@tauck.com.

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.

In order to help you enjoy seamless travel, we're happy to book the flights for your journey if your travels originate in the United States and go 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:

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

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.

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 – or of which you are not a citizen – you will be required to have a valid passport. Many countries require that your passport remain valid for at least 6 months beyond the completion date of your visit. Most Tauck cruise journeys require we receive and submit to the cruise line our guests' 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 Update
Beginning May 7, 2025, travelers flying within the United States will need a state-issued REAL ID-compliant license or identification card – or another acceptable form of ID, such as a passport. You can view the full list of acceptable forms of ID and learn more about REAL ID by visiting tsa.gov.

My Account is a 24/7 online platform exclusively designed for Tauck patrons to access important resources and self-service features both before and after their journey.

Visit My Account now

On My Account, we offer the following features:

• Upcoming Tours: View everything you need to know about your upcoming trip – from your personalized tour documents to pre-tour resources, such as packing lists, reading lists and more.
• Update Your Personal Information: You can use My Account to validate your contact information, passport number, and emergency contact information to ensure we have everything we need to assist you.
• Make a Payment: Quickly and easily make payments online and view your payment history.
• Arrival and Return Information: Review and/or share your arrival and return information to help facilitate your transfer service.
• Shore Excursions: Make your pre-tour selection of shore excursions (only applicable on select tours and cruises).
• FAQs: Read up on frequently asked questions regarding travel documents, guest and cruise protection, health and activity, and additional information related to your upcoming journey.

Visit My Account now

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 Tauck Bridges 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.

Click here to learn more about Tauck Bridges journeys.

Solo savings on land journeys: Seeing the world solo has never been easier than traveling on Tauck's guided trips – you'll find special savings for solo travelers on select departures of many Tauck land trips in Asia, Latin America, Europe and North America. To find departures with solo traveler savings, select an itinerary on our website, click on "Pricing and Availability," and then look for "Solo Savings." Check back often as our collection of Tauck land journeys, river cruises and small ship cruises are finalized – and start planning where in the world you want to explore next!

View all land journeys

Solo savings on river cruises: Solo Travelers enjoy Special Savings in Category 1 Cabins – No Single Supplement on all European River Cruises! 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!

Named one of the "World's Best River Cruise Lines" by the readers of Travel + Leisure, our European river cruises are a great way for guests traveling solo to explore Europe. You'll be in the company of like-minded travelers who chose their Tauck river cruise for the same reasons you did – mutual interests that foster camaraderie. Your Tauck Directors and ship's crew make you feel welcome from the moment you board, ensuring you are looked after onboard the riverboat and on shore excursions.

Solo Travelers also enjoy Savings of $1000 per cabin in select categories on select river cruises; you'll find "Solo Savings" under the "Pricing and Availability" section for each of our river cruise itineraries (certain restrictions apply; ask at time of booking).

View all river cruises

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.

Deposit Protection Plan 

Tauck provides "Deposit Protection Plan" at a cost of AUD $89 per person per tour or cruise. The cost is non-refundable and nontransferable and must be paid at the time of booking with your deposit. It only applies when you cancel your tour or cruise prior to fi nal payment date. The deposit held in credit will exclude fees imposed by third parties in relation to air, rail travel, hotels, transfer or applicable cruise cabins. When booking airfares through Tauck (including when taking advantage of a special offer that includes air travel), standard airline cancellation fees will apply. In some cases, airfares will be nonrefundable. In the event of cancellation, these fees will be deducted from the deposit paid, and therefore the credit being held. We will only credit the remainder of deposit to a future tour or cruise booking if you book within 24 months of cancellation of the original Tauck tour or cruise. This offer expires after the 24 months. We will only credit the remainder of the deposit to a future tour or cruise booking Balance Due and it can't be used as a credit for the initial deposit of a future tour or cruise booking. The Tauck "Deposit Protection Plan" only covers a Tauck tour or cruise and it does not replace Travel Insurance, which we recommend at the time of booking.

Final Payment is due to Tauck 60 days before departure for land trips, and 120 days before departure for cruises and rail journeys. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payment will be considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply.

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 complement 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.

Click here to learn more about Tauck Bridges journeys.

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, and 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: Children age 3 and older at the time of travel are welcome on many Tauck Bridges itineraries. 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 interests, 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.

Click here to learn more about Tauck Bridges journeys.

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 Tauck Bridges 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.