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which creates a stellar experience and
camaraderie.
TAUCK SMALL SHIP CRUISING: TRUE
ALL-INCLUSIVENESS
When Arthur Tauck Sr. founded Tauck,
Dan told that the very first tour was one
price. “We have been all-inclusive from
the beginning, and that continues 90 +
years later because we don’t sell components,”
he explained. “At Tauck Small
Ship cruising we are all-inclusive.”
The onboard experience includes
all meals, alcohol beverages and free
Internet, as well as the tours provided in
each of the destinations and ports visited
with transfers.
“The land portion is included before
and after our guests’ cruise as well,” noted
Dan. “At Tauck, we build those experiences,
so they are included and fully guided
by our people. Our customers describe it
as ‘being in a bubble,’ because we provide
the end to end experience.”
“Our guests pay one price upfront,
everything is included and they love it,”
he continued. “We take care of all the
details, reduce any stress our guests might
otherwise encounter and provide an all
immersive experience, enhancing our
guests’ lives as they travel. But this really
goes back to our founding and why we
are totally different.”
SELLING THE COMPLETE EXPERIENCE
AND TRUST
Providing a complete destination experience
with unique itineraries including
some new ones is where Tauck Small Ship
Cruising stands out and why they have an
extremely high percent repeat factor.
Dan noted that over 70 percent of
their guests are repeat ones and explained:
Our guests return from their trip and
want to do another one. They are our
best sales people. As we expand, the
challenge might be getting first time
potential cruisers, who might think we
are a bit higher priced. But when we
explain a bit more of the quality and
value of what we do, as well as Tauck’s
being known for providing the upscale
authentic experience, they have a better
understanding. For a brand to endure,
you must develop and create customers’
trust. We deliver that really well.
PROVIDING UNIQUE, PERSONALIZED
SHORE DESTINATION EXPERIENCES
Tauck Small Ship Cruising provides
unique, onshore destination experiences
included for their guests, ones that people
could not just do on their own. Dan
shared one example:
“We have developed a wonderful
partnership with The Vatican. Our guests
are allowed to visit and tour the Sistine
Chapel and the Vatican Museums during
the evening, rather than during the day,
when it’s packed with visitors. Taking
small groups with their own personal
guide after hours provides a completely
different experience and a priceless
moment. We try to build those in all of
our itineraries.”
It ties in perfectly with the guests
who sail on Tauck Small Ship Cruising.
“Our guests are knowledge seeking
explorers who appreciate and crave the in
depth and authentic engagement with the
destination,” explained Dan.
FUTURE NEW DESTINATIONS,
EXPANDING AND BEST PART OF
LEADING TAUCK
As far as expansion and long-term
plans for growth, Dan told, “We are
always on the lookout for new destinations
to explore with our guests.”
“We will be expanding with new destinations
in the coming years,” he continued.
“For us, the joy of our job is creating
itineraries. That really is the number one
joy – creating and crafting itineraries and
watching the enjoyment of our guests.”
As far as what Dan loves the best
about being a part of and leading Tauck,
WITH SMALL SHIPS,
THE FOCUS IS
AROUND THE
DESTINATION…
Daniel “Dan” Mahar
CEO, Tauck
“It’s making the impossible possible in a
unique way with your imagination and
standing back and seeing the customers
experience,” he told and noted that in
today’s more well-travelled world, people
desire experiences, are curious about destinations,
and love exploration.
“We appeal to a more affluent market,
and these are the people who say, ‘I
want to learn while I travel along with
having ways to grow and develop,’” he
continued. “At Tauck, we have the perfect
platform to do that.”
FIRST QUARTER 2017 | TRAVEL & CRUISE 23