From what began as a 1,600-kilometre car journey in 1925 to becoming a global leader in luxury travel, iconic family-owned tour company Tauck is gearing up to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2025 with a grand celebration and an array of new, exclusive experiences designed to captivate the most discerning of travellers.
News of Tauck’s Centennial celebration plans and innovations were shared at an exclusive media lunch at Sydney’s renowned Firedoor restaurant, helmed by celebrated chef Lennox Hastie, known for his culinary mastery of using open flames and featured in the Netflix documentary series Chef’s Table: BBQ.
Steve Spivak, Senior Vice President of Global Sales, highlighted the significance of the milestone. “It’s easy to become enamoured with the idea of reaching 100 years,” he shared. “But there is no guarantee that what we did yesterday will resonate tomorrow. Our secret is a restless desire to be better today than we were yesterday.”
David Clark, Managing Director for Tauck in Australia, echoed the sentiment, saying, “It’s an exciting time for Tauck. We’re not just celebrating the past; we’re looking ahead to the next 5, 10, and 20 years. This milestone is about setting the stage for a new era of creating memories that will last a lifetime.”
The centennial celebrations will culminate in a global gathering in Florence, Italy, a nod to the city’s role in the Renaissance and Tauck’s commitment to constant renewal and innovation.
So what’s new?
New Ships and Exclusive Itineraries for 2026
As part of its 100th anniversary celebration, Tauck has recently announced a host of exciting new products, including two custom-designed river cruise ships set to debut in 2026. The new vessels will sail the iconic Seine and Rhône rivers of France from 2026.
Onboard, 80 per cent of cabins will be 20 square metres or larger, offering more suites and larger cabins than other river ships of similar size.
Tauck will also introduce new 16-square metre Category One cabins featuring expanded bathrooms and no single supplement, continuing the company’s commitment to solo travellers.
“Small is big at Tauck,” said Spivak. “It’s not about getting bigger; it’s about delivering an intimate, exceptional experience. These new ships will carry fewer guests, allowing us to offer a unique, club-like atmosphere with larger cabins and a high staff-to-guest ratio.”
The new ships feature category seven suites on the top deck, two distinct dining venues—Compass Rose and Arthur’s Bistro—and a design that prioritises wellness and outdoor spaces. The addition of these ships expands Tauck’s destination fleet to 10, maintaining its commitment to quality over quantity.
To celebrate the announcement, Tauck is inviting travel partners to help name the two new ships with the winning names to be seen cruising the European waterways in 2026.
For more details on Tauck’s new ships, read our full coverage here.
Small and Smaller Group Experiences
In response to shifting travel preferences, Tauck has expanded its offerings to include even smaller group sizes. “We’ve seen a strong demand for more intimate, exclusive experiences,” Spivak noted. “We began with classic tours of 36 to 40 guests, then introduced small groups of 24, and now we’ve launched ‘Smaller Groups,’ averaging just 15 guests.”
With 75% of Tauck’s business now coming from small groups, the shift allows Tauck to access boutique hotels, offer exclusive dining experiences, and provide deeper, more immersive activities. The smaller group sizes enhance the sense of disappearing into the destination—a hallmark of Tauck’s commitment to personalised travel.
New Itineraries and Exclusive Programs
Among the new offerings shared for 2026, Tauck will roll out several innovative itineraries tailored to meet the needs of diverse travellers:
- Scotland Bridges Program: A family-focused tour exploring Edinburgh, Loch Lomond, and St. Andrews, expanding Tauck’s popular Bridges brand designed for multi-generational travel.
- Greece Land Journey: A 12-day, 11-night tour of Greece featuring stops in Thessaloniki, Athens, Crete, and Costa Navarino.
- Mexico Exploration: This is Tauck’s first foray into Mexico since building the Copper Canyon railroads in the 1950s. It is a curated journey through Mexico City, Casa Azul, San Pancho, and Oaxaca, offering unique cultural experiences that are off the beaten path.
- South Africa and Zimbabwe: This new itinerary combines luxury accommodations and exclusive game drives, offering guests a more intimate and less crowded experience in South Africa’s private reserves.
- A week in Copenhagen and Oslo: For those short on time, this trip offers a culture-rich trip to two of Scandinavia’s most iconic cities.
For a complete list of new itineraries and detailed coverage, visit here.
The Next Chapter for Tauck
As Tauck looks forward to its second century, the company says it remains focused on innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability. Spivak summed up the company’s ethos: “We know the needs of our clients are constantly changing. Our secret is to evolve faster than their desires, meeting them where they want to be.”
Meanwhile, Clark expressed his gratitude for the company’s support in the Australian market, “We wanted to acknowledge the incredible support we’ve had from our trade partners and consumers over the years. It’s exciting that we’ve been operating independently in this market for the last five years, and I’ve had the privilege to lead this business here.”
Clark emphasised the unique experiences that Tauck offers, drawing a parallel between the carefully selected venue for this particular event—Firedoor—and the curated travel experiences that are the company’s trademark. “We didn’t choose just any restaurant,” he explained. “Firedoor, led by Lennox Hastie, is a celebration of authenticity and exclusivity. It’s about cooking with fire, using raw elements to create something extraordinary, much like the way Tauck designs its tours—bringing stories to life with a unique touch.”
For more insights from David Clark, check out our exclusive interview here.
Find out more about the story of Tauck’s 100 years here.
