Tauck Announces Full Restart of US Tours

New Orleans. Tauck Tours has announced it will fully restart its U.S. tours as of July 1. It has already begun operating departures of its “Southern Charms: Savannah, Hilton head and Charleston” and “New Orleans & Mississippi River Country” itineraries, with other popular tours across the country relaunching in the coming months © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

WILTON, CT – After a year of suspension of its tours and cruises, Tauck Tours plans to fully restart its U.S. tours by July 1.

In an email announcement to guests and travel advisors, Tauck CEO Dan Mahar noted that departures of Tauck’s “Southern Charms: Savannah, Hilton Head and Charleston” itinerary have already begun operating, to be followed this month by “New Orleans & Mississippi River Country,” with other popular tours across the country relaunching in the coming months.  Guests and travel advisors can access information on specific tour departures at a new Open for Travel page on Tauck’s website.

Tauck’s readiness to restart its U.S. operations was demonstrated in January and February when it ran several departures of its “Wonderland: Yellowstone in Winter” itinerary.  According to Mahar, the overwhelming success of those tours was a key factor in leading to today’s announcement.  “Guests told us they loved their tours, and their positive feedback proved conclusively that we can deliver a true Tauck-level experience while still following all of the appropriate health and safety protocols,” said Mahar.

Besides providing several operational advantages, restarting in the U.S. also seemed fitting from a historical perspective, Mahar noted.  Although Tauck offers tours and cruises in more than 70 countries and on all seven continents, the company’s roots are firmly in the U.S. where it first began hosting travelers in 1925.  Today, Tauck’s U.S. journeys offer unique access to exclusive experiences ranging from “inside the park” accommodations at America’s premier national parks to itineraries crafted in partnership with the award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns.

Operationally Tauck has been, working in close cooperation with its network of supplier-partners on plans to restart its tours.  The company’s Worldwide Operations team communicates continuously with more than 2,000 attractions, national parks, hotels, restaurants, guest lecturers and others involved in the delivery of its tour experiences, all while developing health and safety protocols and monitoring developments in 70+ countries around the world. 

Those health and safety protocols feature prominently on all of Tauck’s 2021 itineraries, and will include the mandatory use of masks, social distancing wherever possible, and enhanced cleaning and disinfection procedures.  Tauck is also requiring guests to complete and sign a Travel Well Pledge which confirms that they have either been vaccinated against Covid-19 or passed a PCR Covid-19 test within five days of departure, that they are free of virus-related symptoms, and that they have not been in close contact with anyone diagnosed with Covid-19.  The latest updates on Tauck’s travel policies, and the status of destinations served by the company, are featured in a Travel and Health page on the Tauck website.

95% of Surveyed Guests Vaccinated

While today’s announcement from Tauck refers only to its domestic trips, the company hopes to provide an update on selected international itineraries in the coming weeks.  In the meantime, Tauck’s customers are ready and excited to travel, whether domestically or abroad.  A recent survey of more than 5,000 guests booked to travel with Tauck from now through September revealed that a full 95% of respondents have already been vaccinated, and another 2% have their vaccinations scheduled.  And while a small proportion of guests remain undecided, the overwhelming majority – a full 88% – are eagerly looking forward to taking their upcoming Tauck trip as planned.  

The ability and willingness to travel shown by Tauck’s guests are reflected in the strong bookings the company is seeing for its U.S. tours.  And although Mahar stated that a number of departures are sold out, he also noted that availability remains on several of the company’s popular domestic itineraries, including “America’s Canyonlands,” “The Best of Hawaii” and “Southern Charms: Savannah, Hilton Head and Charleston.”  (As noted above, and for the very latest availability on all Tauck itineraries, guests and travel advisors can go to the Open for Travel page on Tauck’s website.)

Founded in 1925, Tauck Tours is a world leader in upscale guided travel, with more than 150 river cruises, small ship ocean cruises, land tours and safaris to 70+ countries and all seven continents.  In each of the last 23 years, Tauck has been honored in Travel + Leisure magazine’s annual “World’s Best Awards” celebrating the very best in luxury cruises, tours, hotels and more.

For more information, contact your local travel professional, call Tauck at 800-468-2825, or visit www.tauck.com.

For more travel features, visit:

goingplacesfarandnear.com

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

moralcompasstravel.info

www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

goingplacesfarandnear.tumblr.com/

instagram.com/going_places_far_and_near/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

Trafalgar Introduces New 2012/13 Itineraries to France, Italy and Morocco

The Roman Colosseum is visited on Trafalgar’s new 9-day Paris & Rome itinerary for 2012/13 © 2012 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Trafalgar (www.trafalgar.com), a leader in guided vacations, is introducing three new itineraries to France, Italy and Morocco that offer unique local experiences and exceptional value in its 2012/2013 Autumn, Winter & Spring Europe brochure. The programs are noted for offering local experiences and value.

Trafalgar’s collection of 33 incredible itineraries that visit 18 countries feature Trafalgar’s Insider Experiences, including Hidden Treasures and Local Specialties with Europe’s finest Travel Directors. These itineraries are perfect for travelers looking to experience the wonders of Europe with fewer crowds and lower airfares, plus up to 38% savings compared to travel during the summer months.

On the new 9-day Paris & Rome, travelers get the opportunity to see two of Europe’s most fascinating cities during some of their most beautiful seasons. Spending the first three nights in Paris, guests will see the City of Lights bursting with color in the fall, twinkle amongst lightly falling snow in the winter, or bloom to life in the mild spring. After a morning of sightseeing with a Local Guide, guests enjoy a few days of leisure time to explore beautiful Paris on their own, warming up with deliciously rich hot chocolate in a cafe or quietly soaking up the beauty of the city’s many art galleries. Next, it’s a short flight over to the Eternal City of Rome where guests can drink wine and fill up on fresh pasta to their heart’s content. Three days at leisure gives them time to visit the Colosseum, gaze up in awe at the Sistine Chapel and sip on warm cappuccino.

The new 10-day Best of Morocco is sure to delight the senses, as guests weave their way through the vibrant cities of Marrakech, Fez, Casablanca and Ouarzazate, to name a few. Between resting their heads at beautiful First Class hotels like the Le Meridien and Le Berbere Palace, guests will enjoy highlights like a visit to the Royal Palace in Fez and a trip to the country’s biggest ‘souk’ in Marrakech, plus will have plenty of time to sample the many flavors of Moroccan cuisine and shop for intricate textiles in the exotic bazaars.

The 10-day Wonderful France takes guests to the country’s most vibrant cities and small towns, traveling from Paris to the south and back up again. Highlights include an exclusive Be My Guest dinner amongst the vineyards in Aix-en-Provence, winetasting in Beaune and a daytrip to the jet set playground of Monaco.

“Visiting Europe during the Autumn, Winter and Spring gives travelers an opportunity to immerse themselves in their destination with fewer crowds than in the summer,” says Paul Wiseman, President of Trafalgar USA. “Plus, this time of year represents great savings. Not only are airfares lower, our vacations from November to April are up to 38% less than peak summer months. Travelers can enjoy Europe starting at just $99 per day.”

Limited-time savings: Book and deposit 2012/13 Autumn, Winter and Spring Europe vacations by July 12, 2012 and travelers can save $250 per couple.

Trafalgar is a leading guided vacation company offering exceptional quality and value itineraries to a range of exciting destinations. With 65 years of experience and unrivaled local expertise, Trafalgar provides an authentic insider’s view to create truly unique travel experiences in Europe, Britain and Eastern Mediterranean, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, China, Mexico, Central and South America, USA and Canada.

For more information, contact your Travel Agent, call 866-544-4434 or visit http://www.trafalgar.com. Follow on Twitter at @TrafalgarUSA and @TrafalgarTalk and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TrafalgarTravel

For more travel features, visit:

www.travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate

www.examiner.com/eclectic-travel-in-national/karen-rubin