f I had to put money on the one
ingredient that will keep tour operators prosperous, it would be
creativity. Finding new and unusual travel experiences will become
increasingly important as consumers' interests range beyond the
conventional itineraries.
A few weeks back I wrote about a creative approach to high-end
tour programming in Abercrombie & Kent's globe-trotting wine
tour by private jet.
Another example of tour operator creativity can be found in
Tauck World Discovery's arrangement to offer 10-night Greek Islands
cruises aboard the yacht once owned by Aristotle Onassis that was
used as the location for the fabled wedding of Prince Rainier of
Monaco and Grace Kelly.
The vessel, once called the Christina, and now the Christina O,
has been taken out of years of abandonment and some $50 million has
been invested in bringing her back to life and then some.
She will be on charter for much of the summer but beginning in
August, Tauck will offer four departures from Rome to Athens and
four from Athens to Rome.
The itinerary will include visits to Corfu, Skorpios, Kefalonia,
Delphi, Itea, the Corinth Canal, Hydra, Milos, Santorini and
Mykonos as well as stays in Rome and Athens.
Peter Tauck, the company's co-president has written a personal
letter about the background of his company's involvement in
restoring the vessel and offering it to the public.
Tauck notes that upon seeing the yacht from the dock of a Greek
naval shipyard, he imagined how a restoration of the vessel could
bring about a unique travel experience.
"All of the passions that have been important to my family for
three generations kept coming to mind," he writes.
"A passion for finding unique ways to show guests the world; a
passion for portraying the past as a beacon to the future; and a
passion for the preservation of our heritage -- all of these led me
to ask the question "what if?"
There are only 18 staterooms on the 325-foot yacht, plus the
Onassis Suite and Tauck reports that space is closing fast.
You can read his letter on the company's Web site at www.tauck.com. The site
also offers details of the itinerary and snapshots of historic
photos taken aboard the vessel. Information also is available at
(800) 465-2825.