Tauck is offering two new ocean cruises in 2026, one of which is already sold out.
One is a Japan and South Korea itinerary and the other is a Norwegian Arctic itinerary that has already reached capacity and is now waitlist only.
The Japan-South Korea itinerary will be Tauck's first that visits Seoul. "Sakura Seas: Japan and South Korea," is a 14-day trip and with three cruise departures: April 10, 19 and 26.
The cruise either starts or ends in Seoul, where guests will spend three nights on land and participate in guided visits at sites such as the Gyeongbokgung Palace as well as local shopping and freeform exploration time.
The cruise portion is eight nights aboard Ponant's 264-passenger Le Soléal, embarking in Busan and traveling to Sakaiminato, Hagi, Beppu, Uwajima, Miyajima Island, Hiroshima, Tamano, Kobe and Osaka. From Osaka, guests will travel to Tokyo for a two-night stay.
Options for activities along the way include a variety of cultural experiences such as visiting castle ruins in Hagi, viewing a calligraphy demonstration and tea ceremony in Uwajima, visiting the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima and touring the city in Kobe. Other excursions offer opportunities to relax or get active. Guests can spend time at hot springs in Beppu and explore Tamano by bicycle.
The Arctic trip is a 12-day itinerary with a 10-night cruise aboard Ponant's 184-passenger Le Lapérouse.
The cruise starts and ends in Tromso with stops in Narvik, Leknes and the Lofoten Islands, Hammerfest, Bjornoya Island, Honningsvag and Alta. Tauck markets the Northern Lights as the highlight of a journey that includes excursions like a visit to a Viking museum and a wildlife center and the opportunity to learn about Indigenous culture.
"Our small-ship cruises access smaller harbors and create opportunities for those authentic cultural encounters our guests value so highly," said CEO Jennifer Tombaugh. "It's the difference between simply visiting a destination and truly immersing yourself in its culture, history and natural beauty."
The company says it is experiencing record sales for small-ship cruising and that early bookings for 2026 are almost 20% higher than they were for 2025.