A more intimate, upscale way to cruise Europe's rivers

TRECHTINGSHAUSEN, Germany -- A lively reception is underway as Dean Scribner, 67, of Arlington, Va. arrives at the inner courtyard of Reichenstein Castle, an 11th century fortress overlooking the Rhine.

But despite free-flowing libations and plentiful hors d'oeuvres, the aerospace scientist and his companions from the Tauck river ship Inspire don't stay long. Wine glasses in hand, they soon are off to explore the four-floor-high, antique-filled stronghold's labyrinthine corridors, rooms and battlements.

For this one evening, at least, it is their own private citadel.

"It's wonderful to have this place all to ourselves," says Scribner, pausing to talk before a private dinner on the castle grounds. "These special events are an elegant way to see things."

Elegant, indeed. Long known for upscale tours on land, New England-based Tauck in recent years has been carving out a position as a leader in high-end river cruising with more intimate, exclusive and all-inclusive voyages than those offered by most other lines.

In addition to private events such as the evening at Reichenstein Castle, sailings on the Inspire and Tauck's six other vessels feature upscale cuisine, spacious accommodations and highly choreographed shore tours that often include special touches.

Starting with an overnight stay in Amsterdam, this 12-night "Rhine and Moselle" departure includes a private tour of the Van Gogh-filled Kroller-Muller Museum near Nijmegen, The Netherlands with an art historian. In the vineyard-surrounded Moselle river town of Cochem, Germany, passengers follow a visit to the picture-perfect Reichsburg Castle with a private tasting at a nearby winery.

"You go places other tour groups don't," says Tauck fan Larry Adams, 73, of Dallas, after a stop at the ruins of the Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine, a World War II landmark that is located in the infrequently visited town of Remagen. "We wouldn't do a cruise with any other line."

Among the unusual aspects of a Tauck sailing is the presence of three full-time tour directors in addition to the cruise director who serve as always-present guides, problem solvers, organizers and traveling companions. Most lines only staff vessels with a single cruise director.

Like other river lines, Tauck contracts with local guides to lead tours during most port stops. But the tour directors also accompany passengers on outings, backing up the local guides and assuring a seamless -- and classy -- experience. On a hot day in the ancient Roman city of Trier, Germany, one of the directors interrupts the local guides to buy the entire Tauck group ice cream at a local store. During a stop at the riverfront town of Boppard, Germany, another director takes a small group looking for more adventure up a nearby chairlift for a walk to a scenic overlooking -- and then buys everyone a beer.

While relatively new to river cruising, and a small player in the segment (river giant Viking has nearly 10 times as many ships), Tauck is no stranger to European touring, having operated land tours on the Continent for decades, and it's tapping its long-established connections with top local guides, attractions and restaurants in designing unusual cruise itineraries.

During a stop in Heidelberg, Germany, a visit to the imposing castle overlooking town is followed by brats and beer at an atmospheric brewpub just steps from the central square. In the Black Forest spa town of Baden-Baden, a walking tour ends with a private reception at the palatial Casino Baden-Baden.

The trip also includes a day in Luxembourg that features a stop at the American War Cemetery where famed American general George Patton is buried as well as an afternoon sailing through the castle-lined, UNESCO World Heritage-listed Middle Rhine Valley.

Like other Tauck ships, the Inspire offers unusually spacious cabins, with most rooms measuring 225 to 300 square feet. That's as much as 50% bigger than the typical cabin on other river ships.

A key factor in the Tauck difference is that the line configures its vessels for fewer passengers than other brands with similar size ships while maintaining similar staffing levels. Launched in 2014, the 443-foot-long Inspire carries a maximum of just 130 passengers. AmaWaterways and Avalon ships of the same length on the Rhine carry 34 to 36 more passengers, respectively, while similar ships operated by Viking pack in as many as 60 more people.

The result is a higher crew-to-passenger ratio that river cruise veterans aboard Inspire say brings more attentive service.

"They really go above and beyond," says Michelle Desio, 46, of Henderson, Nevada, who is trying Tauck for the first time after sailing with Viking and Uniworld.

Speaking on the Inspire's open-air top deck as it sails past the German cathedral town of Cologne, Desio says her room steward raced off when she mentioned she was low on water, only to return moments later with four complimentary bottles. Another passenger she knows asked for a decaffeinated tea that the ship didn't stock, and a crew member got off at the next port and bought some for her.

"Now that's service," she says.

Notably, all tours during the voyage are included in the fare, which isn't always the case with river lines. In addition to meals, Tauck also includes unlimited complimentary beverages in its fares. Sodas, espresso drinks, wine, beer and even premium spirits are available for no extra charge at any time. Many other river cruise operators only offer complimentary wine and beer with lunch and dinner.

In addition, gratuities on Tauck as well as airport transfers are included in fares. So much is included, in fact, that the line doesn't even bother to swipe credit cards when passengers arrive. Many leave without a bill.

All of the extra perks and all-inclusiveness come at a price, alas. Fares for the Inspire's Rhine and Moselle cruises start at more than $400 per person, per day -- notably higher than many of its rivals. Similar 12-night sailings from Avalon start at around $322 per day, while Viking offers nine-night Rhine sailings starting for as little as $258.

Still, passengers on board aren't complaining.

"We would rather pay a little more and have a great experience, and that's what Tauck gives you," says Adams. "We're already looking at what will be our next Tauck cruise."

If you go ...

Tauck offers 12-night "Rhine and Moselle" sailings on the 130-passenger Inspire from April through October. The one-way voyages between Amsterdam and Basel, Switzerland start at $4,890 per person, based on double occupancy, including all tours; meals; airport transfers; unlimited on-board drinks throughout the day including wine, beer and premium spirits; and gratuities.

Tauck also offers shorter, seven-night "Romantic Rhine" sailings between Amsterdam and Basel starting at $3,590 per person. Beginning in 2016, Tauck also will offer a third itinerary between Amsterdam and Basel, "The Rhine, Swiss Alps & Amsterdam," that pairs a seven-night cruise with two nights at a hotel in Bern, Switzerland. The trips start at $4,690 per person.

Other Tauck river itineraries include 14-night sailings between Amsterdam and Budapest on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers; seven-night sailings on the upper and lower Danube, often paired with included hotel stays and several days of touring on land; and voyages on the Seine and Rhone rivers in France.

Information: 800-468-2825; tauck.com.

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