Tauck as revealed small-ship ocean cruising plans for 2026, featuring two new itineraries: "Sakura Seas: Japan & South Korea" and "Arctic Days & Northern Lights."
The 14-day "Sakura Seas" itinerary marks Tauck's first-ever offering showcasing Seoul. The journey begins with a three-night stay in South Korea's capital, where guests will visit the 14th-century Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Korean War Memorial Museum, explore traditional Hanok village homes and shop in a local market.
After traveling by high-speed bullet train to Busan, guests will embark on Ponant's 184-passenger Le Soleal for an eight-night cruise. Ports of call include Sakaiminato, Hagi, Beppu, Uwajima, Miyajima Island, Hiroshima, Tamano and Kobe. The journey concludes with two nights in Tokyo.
The itinerary is priced from $16,490 per person, double occupancy, plus airfare. Three departures are scheduled for 2026: two eastbound (Seoul-to-Tokyo) trips on April 10 and 26, and one westbound (Tokyo-to-Seoul) departure on April 19.
The new "Arctic Days & Northern Lights" itinerary offers a 12-day exploration of northern Norway's Arctic region aboard Ponant's Explorer-class ship Le Laperouse. Departing from Tromso, the cruise features stops designed to connect guests with Indigenous cultures and provide opportunities to witness the aurora borealis. Due to high demand, all 2026 sailings of this itinerary are already sold out, with a waitlist available. Pricing starts at $14,990 per person, double occupancy, plus airfare.
For 2026, Tauck plans to operate 133 departures of 20 different itineraries onboard 20 ocean-going small ships across Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and Antarctica.
"Our guests are seeking memorable, life-enhancing experiences in fascinating destinations where they can forge meaningful bonds with local cultures and their fellow travelers," said Jennifer Tombaugh, CEO of Tauck. "In addition to providing a more personalized experience for our guests, our small ship cruises access smaller harbors and create opportunities for those authentic cultural encounters our guests value so highly. It's the difference between simply visiting a destination and truly immersing yourself in its culture, history and natural beauty."
Tauck reports strong demand for its small-ship cruising portfolio, with early reservations for 2026 nearly 20% ahead of 2025, which is on its way to being a record-breaking year.
The company's "Small is Big" philosophy continues to shape its product strategy across all offerings, including land journeys and European river cruises, where Tauck limits guest capacity on its riverboats to feature more suites and spacious public areas.
Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by Tauck. It was fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.
