New Japan and Korea Itinerary, Arctic Circle Cruise Highlight Tauck's 2026 Ocean Cruising Plans

WILTON, CT (April 14, 2025) Tauck has announced its 2026 small ship ocean cruising plans, and the company is expanding its portfolio next year with the addition of two new itineraries, Sakura Seas: Japan & South Korea and Arctic Days & Northern Lights, offering guests exclusive, immersive experiences in two captivating corners of the globe. 

Tauck's first-ever itinerary featuring Seoul, Sakura Seas: Japan & South Korea, will introduce guests to the region's vibrant culture, history, and cuisine. The 14-day itinerary (from $16,490 USD* per person, double occupancy, plus airfare) begins in Seoul, South Korea's dynamic capital, where an initial three-night stay offers guests a choice of three hotel options including the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul, Conrad Seoul or Four Seasons Seoul. 

Guests will enjoy guided visits to landmark sites in and around Seoul including the 14th-century Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Korean War Memorial Museum. They'll also explore traditional Hanok village homes, shop in a vibrant local market, and enjoy free time to explore as they please. Guests then travel by high-speed bullet train to Busan, where they'll tour the city before embarking on Ponant's elegant 184-passenger Le Soléal.

A subsequent eight-night cruise begins with a choice of activities in the fishing port of Sakaiminato, before visiting Hagi to discover samurai-era homes, castle ruins, and the city's renowned pottery. In Beppu, options include relaxing in hot springs, visiting scenic geothermal sites, or touring the historic Usuki Castletown. Uwajima follows with excursions to a pearl farm or a traditional garden with a calligraphy demonstration and tea ceremony.

Le Soléal continues to Miyajima Island where guests will see the iconic floating torii, then to Hiroshima for visits to the Peace Memorial and Atomic Bomb Museum. After docking in Tamano, guests can enjoy a cycling excursion through town, explore art on Naoshima Island, sample craft beer, or travel to Kurashiki to enjoy a walking tour. In Kobe, options include a local city tour or an overland excursion to Kyoto's famous temples. Guests next disembark in Osaka before enjoying two nights at a choice of hotels in Tokyo, complete with guided city sightseeing including visits to the Meiji Shrine and Edo Museum, and a farewell dinner with a sumo wrestling demonstration.

Tauck will offer three departures of the Sakura Seas itinerary next year, with two eastbound (Seoul-to-Tokyo) trips departing on April 10 and 26, and a westbound Tokyo-to-Seoul departure on April 19. Included in Tauck's price are all shore excursions, all gratuities, onboard beverages (adult and otherwise), airport transfers, all taxes and fees, and more.

Set against the stunning backdrop of northern Norway's Arctic landscapes, Tauck's new Arctic Days & Northern Lights itinerary (from $14,990 USD** per person, double occupancy, plus airfare) offers a 12-day exploration of the region's cultural and natural wonders, highlighted by prime opportunities to witness one of nature's most mesmerizing spectacles—the Aurora Borealis.

The cruise sets sail aboard Ponant's Explorer-class ship Le Lapérouse, from Tromsø, Norway's vibrant Arctic urban center, charting a course along Norway's rugged Arctic coast. Carefully curated stops offer unique opportunities to connect with the region's indigenous cultures, explore historic sites, and witness the celestial dance of the northern lights against the dramatic Arctic backdrop. Due to exceptional demand, all 2026 sailings of Arctic Days & Northern Lights are already sold out, with a waitlist available for interested travelers.

SMALL SHIP CRUISES SAIL INTO RECORD TERRITORY
In all, Tauck will sail 133 departures of 20 different itineraries aboard 20 ocean-going small ships next year in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and Antarctica. The announcement of Tauck's new voyages comes as the company is enjoying record sales of its small ship cruising portfolio. Early bookings for 2026 are already nearly 20% ahead of 2025, which itself is on track to be a record-breaking year for the category. This strong demand reflects travelers' growing interest in deeper explorations and meaningful cultural engagements, elements that are integral to the design of Tauck's small ship ocean cruise itineraries.

"Our guests are seeking memorable, life-enhancing experiences in fascinating destinations where they can forge meaningful bonds with local cultures and their fellow travelers," said Tauck CEO Jennifer Tombaugh. "In addition to providing a more personalized experience for our guests, our small ship cruises access smaller harbors and create opportunities for those authentic cultural encounters our guests value so highly. It's the difference between simply visiting a destination and truly immersing yourself in its culture, history and natural beauty."

Tauck's "Small is Big" philosophy continues to shape its product strategy in 2026, delivering travel experiences that prioritize personalization, access and connection over scale. As in small ship cruising, this concept is also evident in Tauck's land journeys—with the introduction of Small Group and Smaller Group tours—and extends across the company's European river cruises, where Tauck intentionally limits the guest capacity of its riverboats in order to feature more suites and roomier public areas. The overall result is a portfolio designed for travelers who value deeper interactions, fewer crowds and a more relaxed ambiance throughout their journey. 

About Tauck: Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025, Tauck has been family owned for four generations. The company is a world leader in upscale guided travel, with more than 170 land tours, safaris, river cruises, small ship ocean cruises and family travel adventures to 70+ countries and all seven continents. In each of the last 27 years, Tauck has been honored in Travel + Leisure magazine's annual "World's Best Awards" celebrating the very best in luxury tours, cruises, hotels and more.

Those interested in more information can contact their local travel professional, call Tauck at 800 468 2825, or visit the company's website at www.tauck.com (www.tauck.ca in Canada, www.tauck.co.uk in the UK, www.tauck.com.au in Australia/New Zealand).

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PLEASE NOTE: High-res images available for download at www.tauck.com/mediaimages.