Tauck has announced its 2026 small ship ocean cruising plans, and the company is expanding its portfolio next year with the addition of two new itineraries: “Sakura Seas: Japan & South Korea” and “Arctic Days & Northern Lights.”
The 14-day “Sakura Seas: Japan & South Korea” itinerary begins in Seoul, South Korea’s capital, where a three-night stay offers guests a choice of three hotel options including the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul, Conrad Seoul or Four Seasons Seoul. Guests will enjoy guided visits to attractions in and around Seoul including the 14th-century Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Korean War Memorial Museum. They’ll also explore traditional Hanok village homes and shop in a local market. Guests then travel by high-speed bullet train to Busan, where they’ll tour the city before embarking on Ponant’s 184-passenger Le Soléal.
A subsequent eight-night cruise through Japan begins with a choice of activities in the fishing port of Sakaiminato, before visiting Hagi to discover samurai-era homes, castle ruins and the city’s renowned pottery. In Beppu, options include relaxing in hot springs, visiting scenic geothermal sites or touring the historic Usuki Castletown. Uwajima follows with excursions to a pearl farm or a traditional garden with a calligraphy demonstration and tea ceremony.
Le Soléal continues to Miyajima Island where guests will see the iconic floating torii, then to Hiroshima for visits to the Peace Memorial and Atomic Bomb Museum. After docking in Tamano, guests can enjoy a cycling excursion through town, explore art on Naoshima Island, sample craft beer or travel to Kurashiki to enjoy a walking tour. In Kobe, options include a local city tour or an overland excursion to Kyoto’s famous temples. Next, guests disembark in Osaka before enjoying two nights at a choice of hotels in Tokyo, complete with guided city sightseeing including visits to the Meiji Shrine and Edo Museum, and a farewell dinner with a sumo wrestling demonstration.
Tauck will offer three departures of the “Sakura Seas” itinerary next year, with two eastbound Seoul-to-Tokyo trips departing on April 10 and 26, and a westbound Tokyo-to-Seoul departure on April 19. Included in Tauck’s price are all shore excursions, all gratuities, onboard beverages (adult and otherwise), airport transfers, all taxes and fees, and more.
Alternatively, set against the backdrop of northern Norway’s Arctic landscapes, Tauck’s new “Arctic Days & Northern Lights” itinerary offers a 12-day exploration of the region’s cultural and natural wonders, highlighted by prime opportunities to witness the Aurora Borealis.
The cruise sets sail aboard Ponant’s Explorer-class ship Le Lapérouse, from Tromsø, charting a course along Norway’s Arctic coast. Stops offer opportunities to connect with the region’s Indigenous cultures, explore historic sites and witness the northern lights against the dramatic Arctic backdrop. Due to exceptional demand, all 2026 sailings of “Arctic Days & Northern Lights” are already sold out, with a waitlist available for interested travelers.
In all, Tauck will offer 133 departures of 20 different itineraries aboard 20 ocean-going small ships next year in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and Antarctica. The announcement of Tauck’s new voyages comes as the company is enjoying record sales of its small ship cruising portfolio. Early bookings for 2026 are already nearly 20 percent ahead of 2025, which is already on track to be a record-breaking year for the category.
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