Interested in knowing what it’s like to sail with Tauck in France on their “Rendezvous on the Seine” River Cruise?
If so, this post will give you a feel for what I experienced during my Fabulous sailing with Tauck on the “Seine” River in France and ideally it’ll help you see if this is a sailing you’d like to experience yourself!
Before I share my thoughts with you below, this overview video covers my top “highlights” of this itinerary if you’d like to hear some of the things that stood out to me.
And if you want a “visual” of what I saw & experienced during my “Rendezvous on the Seine” River Cruise with Tauck, this several-minute video shows you all the highlights! 🤩
And before I move on, maybe you’re not convinced yet you want to take a River Cruise to explore this area… if that’s the case, check out this video which covers why a River Cruise could be the perfect way for you to check out this & other destinations!
So, what makes a Tauck River Cruise different and why do I continue to recommend them to my clients…
…and why do 85% of my clients choose to sail with Tauck when they do their River Cruises?
I get into the “nitty gritty” of why Tauck is the top-rated River Cruise in Europe here…
…but overall, if I had to sum up the difference with Tauck vs their competitors, it’s not just the five-star touches they deliver again & again throughout their journeys (All, 100% included in your upfront price!)—it’s how effortlessly everything flows!
**Click/Tap Image to expand** There’s nothing better than arriving into another Country with NO worries about how you’re getting to your hotel or Cruise!! 😀
As an example, I hadn’t even reached baggage claim at the Paris airport when my phone buzzed saying “Your Tauck driver is here”!
No waiting. No fumbling with Uber apps or taxi lineups to figure out the best way to get to my hotel.
Just a private transfer in a spotless car with cold water and a warm welcome.
That awesome first impression… Classic “Tauck”…. they think of every detail so you don’t have to!! 😊
This video explains how Tauck includes airport (And even train) transfers on every trip you take with them… simple!
And this video explains that these kinds of inclusions & details aren’t just reserved for Tauck River Cruises…
…they’re Tauck “norms” whether you take a River Cruise or Small Ship Ocean Cruise or Land Tour with them!
Ok, back to my experience on Tauck’s “Rendezvous on the Seine” River Cruise!
…and it was no different for this sailing as I flew into Paris a day early right after finishing my “Arctic” Cruise with Silversea that I had experienced during the 2 weeks prior to this sailing (As I talk about hereI Love doing “Multi-Trip” Vacations!!) … you can get a “taste” of that Arctic sailing here.
**Click/Tap Image to expand** There’s a familiar site in Paris we all know well! 🤩
Before boarding, I wandered Paris at my own pace—a stroll along the Seine with river ships lined and the Eiffel Tower overseeing it all… of course, followed by some French cuisine at a traditional Parisian Cafe! 😋
I ALWAYS recommend arriving early. Not only does it ease you into the trip, it gives you a moment to take it all in!! 💯
And as I talk about here, there’s no reason not to get in at least a day early when traveling with Tauck as your pre-Cruise hotel will be FREE if you’re a past guest & you book early enough or if you’re a “New to Tauck” guest I can get you that night Free on me… again though, you’ll want to book early as Tauck’s hotel nights sell out often!
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After enjoying Paris at Tauck’s “pre-Cruise Hotel” for a day, it was time to board Tauck’s “MS Esprit” River Ship.
From the welcome toast (“Veuve Clicquot”, naturally 😉) to the thoughtful pace of dinner… everything felt warm, polished, and personal from Day 1 on my Tauck River Cruise!
With every interaction, the crew made it clear: you’re not just a passenger here—you’re a guest!!
FYI, this Tauck River ship fits just 102 guests maximum/there were 87 of us onboard our sailing this week… a perfect size compared to Tauck’s competitors who jam as many as double the amount of people into a not much bigger vessel.
Want to take a look “Inside” Tauck’s MS Esprit?
If so, check out this video of my overview of this Beautiful ship!
Curated Days with a Genuine Connection to France’s Culture… that’s what I experienced during my 10 days with Tauck!
Each day offered options—whether it was “Le Marais”, the “Latin Quarter” or a panoramic city overview in Paris… Tauck never boxed us in.
And every tour came with a local guide who didn’t just know the streets—but lived them.
In Le Marais, our guide was part stand-up comic, part historian, and 100% Parisian charm!
**Click/Tap Image to expand** Lunch in Paris on Tauck… we chose “Moules-frites” & a “Croque Monsieur”… Tauck’s “Taste of the Town” is a wonderful enhancement from their competitor’s “lunch on your own”!!
Lunch in Paris?
Instead of herding us back to the ship for lunch, Tauck handed us €30 per person for a “Taste of the Town” experience and encouraged us to eat like locals.
On other River Cruises I’ve been on tours as long as 9-10+ hours, and still, “lunch on your own” is the norm… that’s the Tauck difference… they want you to experience it all… without the hassles!
Later that day, we enjoyed a casual wine tasting onboard which offered a mini-tour of France’s vineyards.
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And those weren’t the only “local taste” experiences we had onboard… many times in the restaurants on “Esprit” Tauck brought on popular local dishes for us to try (Like “Moules-frites”, “Crepes Suzette”, “Croque Monsieur”, etc.) and in the lounge they had some “Taste of France” items for us to try on multiple occasions like local cheeses, local meats, breads, escargots and even “frog legs” for the adventurous guests onboard like me! 😉
Speaking of food, it was FABULOUS on Tauck’s “MS Esprit” River ship!!
Want to see for yourself?? 😉
If so, this video shows you all the wonderful food I enjoyed while sailing with Tauck… including at their unique/second restaurant onboard… “Arthur’s”!
As I talk about here, it’s the norm for Tauck to provide awesome shore excursions and often they’re “exclusive”!
How about… Versailles—Without the Crowds!!
**Click/Tap Image to expand** Versailles the “Tauck Way”! 😉**Click/Tap Image to expand** There’s the “Queen’s Hamlet” at Versailles where we enjoyed a 2 hours prior to opening “early access” tour… Awesome experience!! 🤩
While most travellers were lining up at the main Palace gates, we entered through a quiet, almost hidden entrance—right into the heart of the Versailles gardens.
Locals jogged along the Grand Canal, rowers skimmed the water, and our small group had the grounds nearly to ourselves.
But the real magic?
Tauck arranged exclusive early access to “Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet”—two full hours before it opened to the public.
No noise, no crowds, no rush!
Just a private guide, a peaceful path and time to wander this magical world as it was meant to be experienced!
And waiting for us afterward as we boarded our coach back to the ship?
Chilled water to cool us down from the hot day and Pierre Hermé macarons—because of course, Tauck would end an exclusive moment with an elegant treat.
Every Stop, Seamless!
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Whether it was a perfectly paced tour through Rouen’s cobbled streets or standing in reverent silence on Omaha Beach or taking a bike ride to “Giverny” the day before visiting there as a “taste” of what was to come…
…Tauck knows how to make moments meaningful—without ever overdoing it!
Need a pharmacy for hay fever?
My partner did, so a Tauck Director personally escorted us to one and translated and returned us to the ship in time for lunch.
That’s not service. That’s care!!
**Click/Tap Image to expand** Yes, that’s right, Tauck has not 1 but 4 “Tauck Directors” onboard your River ship which means WAY more personal attention & care than their competitors can offer!
As I talk about here, Tauck’s competitors simply can’t do that as they all have 1 “Cruise Director” per sailing who rarely gets off the ship whereas Tauck has 4 “Tauck Directors” and 3 of them go on every tour with their guests…
…that’s the kind of attention you deserve to have after flying 1,000s of miles to experience a new destination… we all crave to “do our trips right” and traveling with Tauck virtually assures that will happen!!
Experiencing a new destination the way it was meant to be experienced!
From a carousel ride in Honfleur to a lavish five-course dinner in a private French Château, Tauck added special touches throughout the week that never felt forced or flashy—just fun, thoughtful, and full of heart!
Daytime and evening entertainment onboard ranged from Parisian Can-Can dancers to small lounge games to “French” line-dancing, wine tastings, and even karaoke.
You could be as social—or as quiet—as you liked.
Local Immersion with Global Grace
One day we visited a Normandy farm where the owner used worms as natural fertilizer.
He didn’t speak English, but his passion—and the apple brandy—translated just fine!
The next day, we visited Claude Monet’s iconic gardens in Giverny.
But this wasn’t your typical tourist stop.
**Click/Tap Image to expand** What an experience visiting “Monet’s Gardens” in “Giverny” on a private Tauck Tour, well before it opened to the public!! 🤩 Thanks to Tauck’s EXCLUSIVE EARLY ACCESS, we stepped into “Monet’s Gardens” 1.5 hours before the gates opened to the public… WOW, seriously, WOW!!
The lily pond?
Still. Quiet!
We wandered the famous Japanese bridge and flower-lined paths in near silence with a feeling that we were walking through a living painting.
Moments like this aren’t just rare—they’re WHY you choose to travel with Tauck.
Behind the Scenes, Above Expectations
From market tours with the ship’s chef to galley visits, from chilled towels dockside to chocolate buffets at night, every detail was handled with care!
Dinner in a French Château—With the Owners as Our Hosts
**Click/Tap Image to expand** What an amazing evening Tauck treated us to at “Château du Taillis”! 👌
One evening, Tauck brought us to a privately owned Château that most travellers will never even see, let alone dine in.
As we stepped into the garden, flutes of Champagne were waiting and soft music played from a live duo.
Before dinner, the Château’s owner welcomed us personally, sharing stories of the estate’s history.
It added a rare layer of intimacy and meaning!
We dined inside the Château on a multi-course meal worthy of the surroundings – an unforgettable evening I’ll never forget, and another reminder that Tauck doesn’t just give you access—they give you experiences!
Final Impressions
**Click/Tap Image to expand**Click/Tap Image to expand** Our journey ended where it began: smooth, seamless, and stress-free!
A Tauck Director, Ania, saw us off personally to our private car they had arranged for us.
The driver was waiting. Water bottles in the car. Luggage handled.
That’s the thing about Tauck—the luxury isn’t just in the linens or the wine.
It’s in the way they think ahead for you, so you don’t have to!
It’s in the stories they tell, the locals they choose, the heart behind the hospitality!
If you’re craving a trip that blends ease, insight, and a few pinch-me moments along the way, Tauck delivers in a way that’s hard to put into words—but unforgettable to experience!
From Parisian strolls to private Château dinners, from standing quietly in “Monet’s Gardens” before the crowds arrive to laughing with new friends over wine tastings on board, this “Rendezvous on the Seine” River Cruise felt less like a trip and more like a week-long collection of moments I’ll keep forever!
That’s why 85% of my clients choose Tauck for their River Cruises—it’s not just about where you go, but how you feel while you’re there!
If this sounds like the kind of journey you’ve been dreaming about, reach out to me and let’s talk through whether Tauck is the right fit for you.
As you’ll learn about here, I’ll share insider tips, help you get those sought-after early booking perks and make sure you’re fully prepared by the time you leave home.
Your “Rendezvous on the Seine” adventure might be closer than you think!🤩
I Appreciate You!
Shawn Power Your Trusted Cruise & Tauck Tour & Africa Safari Expert!
Additional “Insider Tips” to help you make the best of your next Tauck River Cruise!
As I talk about in this video, the top deck is the best location for your room on a River Cruise!
But, as I talk about in the below 2 videos, if you don’t book early enough (As I didn’t for this sailing!) this option won’t be availbale so make sure you book your Tauck River Cruise with me as soon as they open up for sale to get the date & room preferences you want!!
Here’s what a 300 square foot “Category 7” top deck Suite with 2 French Balconies on a Tauck River Cruise is like:
And here’s what a 225 square foot “Category 6” middle deck French Balcony Stateroom on a Tauck River Cruise is like:
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Interested in taking a River Cruise, Ocean Cruise or Tauck Land Tour? Contact Shawn and he can help you with your planning & booking of your next great Vacation!
