Tauck announces 2026 small ship ocean cruising plans

Tauck has announced its 2026 small ship ocean cruising plans, with the company expanding its portfolio with the addition of two new itineraries in Japan, Korea and the Arctic.

The Sakura Seas: Japan & South Korea and Arctic Days & Northern Lights highlights Tauck’s 2026 ocean cruising plans and provides guests exclusive, immersive experiences in two captivating corners of the globe.

The 14-day Sakura Seas: Japan & South Korea, priced from $24,990 per person double occupancy with airfare, begins in Seoul, South Korea’s dynamic capital, where an initial 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 landmark sites in and around Seoul including the 14th-century Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Korean War Memorial Museum. They’ll also explore traditional Hanok village homes, shop in a vibrant local market, and enjoy free time to explore as they please. Guests then travel by high-speed bullet train to Busan for a city before embarking Ponant’s elegant 184-passenger Le Soleal.

A subsequent eight-night cruise 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 Soleal 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. Guests next 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 offers three departures of the Sakura Seas itinerary, with two eastbound (Seoul-to-Tokyo) trips departing on 10 and 25 April, and a westbound Tokyo-to-Seoul departure on 19 April. Included in Tauck’s price are all shore excursions, all gratuities, onboard beverages (adult and otherwise), airport transfers, all taxes and fees, and more.

Tauck’s new Arctic Days & Northern Lights itinerary, priced from $22,690 per person double occupancy with airfare, offers a 12-day exploration of the region’s cultural and natural wonders, highlighted by prime opportunities to witness one of nature’s most mesmerizing spectacles – the Aurora Borealis.

The cruise sets sail aboard Ponant’s Explorer-class ship Le Laperouse, from Tromsø, Norway’s vibrant Arctic urban center, charting a course along Norway’s rugged Arctic coast. Carefully curated stops offer unique opportunities to connect with the region’s indigenous cultures, explore historic sites, and witness the celestial dance of 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.

Small ship cruises sail into record territory

In all, Tauck sails 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 per cent ahead of 2025, which itself is on track to be a record-breaking year for the category. This strong demand reflects travellers’ growing interest in deeper explorations and meaningful cultural engagements, elements that are integral to the design of Tauck’s small ship ocean cruise itineraries.

“Our guests are seeking memorable, life-enhancing experiences in fascinating destinations where they can forge meaningful bonds with local cultures and their fellow travellers,” Tauck CEO, Jennifer Tombaugh, said. “In addition to providing a more personalised experience for our guests, our small ship cruises access smaller harbours 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’s ‘Small is Big’ philosophy continues to shape its product strategy in 2026, delivering travel experiences that prioritise personalisation, access and connection over scale. As in small ship cruising, this concept is also evident in Tauck’s land journeys – with the introduction of Small Group and Smaller Group tours – and extends across the company’s European river cruises, where Tauck intentionally limits the guest capacity of its riverboats in order to feature more suites and roomier public areas. The overall result is a portfolio designed for travelers who value deeper interactions, fewer crowds and a more relaxed ambiance throughout their journey.