Tauck

I've had the pleasure to travel with Tauck on their Grand Australia & New Zealand land tour and their Treasures of the Mediterranean Small Ship Cruise from Malta to Nice. Very different experiences in some ways, but absolutely first rate in every way.

I've never seen a program director as well organized as on the one to Australia and New Zealand. A graduate of the London School of Economics who gave up a six-figure income in international finance because she preferred the freedom and excitement of international travel, this was one guide who never missed an opportunity to make the most out of a tour for all of the members of the group. And with a rather large contingent of 32 to shepherd, that was quite an accomplishment. I don't know if Tauck itineraries are all accommodated as well, although I suspect from talking to passengers on the small ship cruise, it is likely they are.

Upon boarding the small cruise ship Le Ponant in Malta, I shortly discovered that my wife and I were the new guys aboard ship. When I asked my new fellow passengers if this was their first Tauck tour, the reply was always "oh no", followed by a number somewhere from seven upwards. I've never heard so many rave reviews from satisfied customers for a tour company and after the cruise I clearly knew why. How can you go wrong with a French crew serving the best in French cuisine and wine to complete satiation? And after enjoying numerous cruises aboard large ships, what a delight it was sailing on a three-masted, 32 cabin, "luxury yacht" that could duck into the smallest of harbors such as Corsica's Bonafacio and Sicily's Taormina and even stop for an impromptu swim off the back deck. This really was a cruise that gave new meaning to "all-inclusive," not the least of which were several shore excursions such as on the islands of Ponza and Lipari and along Italy's Amalfi coast. The guides for these tours ashore were, as to be expected, very professional, but I confess I did miss that remarkable economist on this one.