ms Inspire Review

4.5 / 5.0
12 reviews
See all photos
Editor Rating
4.5
Very Good
Overall
Dori Saltzman
Contributor

Floating down the Rhine, sitting by our window and watching the Dutch countryside roll by ... with the occasional walking tour thrown in: That's what we thought our ms Inspire cruise would consist of. Boy were we wrong. There's very little that's relaxing about sailing the Dutch Waterways onboard Inspire. It's an active vacation steeped in history and culture for people with inquiring minds. And it's fascinating.

The three tour directors onboard know everything -- and we mean everything -- about the places the boat visits. From the history of the cities and towns and the culture of the people to the artwork and literature that was birthed there, passengers are introduced to it all.

But it's not just the off-the-ship experience that's so enjoyable. Inspire is a gorgeous boat -- all shining brass, sparkling crystal and warm wooden tones, but its opulence isn't offputting. Instead, from the minute you step onboard, you feel welcomed. Within a few hours of boarding, you can meet with the maitre d' to discuss any dietary restrictions, plus you'll get a personal phone call from the hotel manager to see if you cabin is all in order. Your well-being is everyone's top priority.

Service is a bit different on Inspire though, as it is on all ships in the fleet. Because Tauck charters its boats from a company called Scylla, none of the crew -- except the cruise director and three tour directors -- are Tauck employees. While everyone is friendly, there is sometimes a clear distinction in quality between the two sets of crew. If Tauck's directors are exceptional, Scylla's crew ranges from just adequate to quite excellent. On our sailing, some of the dining crew left a lot to be desired, though the two maitre d's were amazing and always ready to bend over backward to make passengers happy. They weren't alone, though. When a passenger wanted popcorn, the hotel director visited a supermarket in port to pick up some.

The all-inclusive nature of the trip is another big check in the plus column. From the biggies like plentiful food and overflowing drinks to the little touches like a flower for each passenger at the American War Cemetery to lay on a soldier's grave and 20 euros per person given out on the last day to buy your own lunch in Brussels, Tauck thinks of just about everything.

Pros

Excellent onboard enrichment with three tour guides all well-versed in your itinerary.

Cons

Days in port are packed from morning 'til evening; if you're looking for relaxation you won't find it here.

Bottom Line

An all-inclusive experience with five-star enrichment on a beautiful river ship

About

Passengers: 130
Crew: 43
Passenger to Crew: 3.02:1
Launched: 2014

Fellow Passengers

Tauck attracts a solidly boomer demographic, with an average age of 68 or thereabouts. Hailing mostly from the United States, with a smattering from Canada, passengers are well off and well-traveled. Some 40 to 50 percent of passengers have been on either a Tauck river cruise or land tour before.

Tauck ms Inspire Dress Code

Smart casual is the official dress code, but comfort really is the name of the game, with at least two-thirds of the passengers sticking to jeans, even at meals. Only on the Captain's Welcome night and the last night is more formal attire (suit and tie, but not black tie, for men; nice dress or pantsuit for women, no gowns) recommended (but not required).

Find a cruise

Any Month
Tauck ms Inspire Cruiser Reviews

Not for Us

Each day we felt rushed through our excursions with not enough free time to explore a town on our own.We had one day to see both Bruges and Ghent, and one day in Brussels, definitely not enough time for any of the above.Read More
User Avatar
RSgo

couple2-5 Cruises

Age 70s

Had a wonderful Christmas Markets Rhine cruise with Tauck

The previous night the ship had been in an industrial area miles out, so I was expecting to pay for taxis, but on the day they had moved to a berth right in the heart of the old town.We were very pleased to make new friends and enjoyed meeting lots of new people (all living in the USA apart from us!?Read More
User Avatar
worldtraveller99

couple2-5 Cruises

Age 60s

FIRST RIVER CRUISE

Tauck is a wonderful operator It is an all inclusive cruise...all of the gratuities..shore excursions..alcohol and beverages The MS Inspire is a gorgeous ship..I have been on 28 ocean cruises soRead More
User Avatar
biguypbi

many10+ Cruises

Age 60s

Casual Elegance and Luxury

I was expecting a small tour bus or van.I was impressed with our 3 on board tour directors who really helped out.Read More
User Avatar
SD Kam

couple2-5 Cruises

Age 70s


Get special cruise deals, expert advice, insider tips and more.By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

© 1995—2024, The Independent Traveler, Inc.