Tauck to launch two new river ships in France in 2026
Tauck has confirmed two new ships will join its fleet in spring 2026 following construction in Serbia and the Netherlands next year
The two vessels, which have not yet been named, include a 135-metre ship that will sail on Tauck itineraries along the Rhone, accommodating 130 guests in sixty-eight cabins.
A slightly smaller sister ship will host up to 124 guests along the River Seine, with accommodations including twenty 300 sq ft suites on its Diamond Deck, thirty 225 sq ft cabins and twelve 180 sq ft Category 1 cabins on the Emerald Deck.
At 180 sq ft, the Category 1 cabins on both newbuilds will be 20 per cent larger than the Category 1 cabins found on Tauck’s other river ships. All Category 1 cabins on the new ships will have the single supplement waived on every sailing.
Tauck CEO Dan Mahar said the two new ships will continue the company’s “proven formula for success” on Europe’s rivers.
“With our two new riverboats, we’ll continue to prioritise our guests’ comfort and the quality of their onboard experience, rather than following the industry norm of maximising revenue by maximising passenger capacity,” he added.
“Other lines’ 135-metre ships carry a full 46 per cent more people than Tauck’s riverboats, and you simply can’t provide the same service or quality of experience with nearly half-again as many guests.”
Mahar explained that by intentionally accommodating fewer guests, Tauck is able to offer roomier cabins, with 80 per cent of the cabins on the two newbuilds being 225 square feet or larger).
Having fewer guests aboard also ensures that each ship’s public areas are less crowded and provide a “more relaxed and intimate onboard ambiance”, Mahar added.
As with Tauck’s other river ships, the two newbuilds will sail with a dedicated Tauck cruise director as well as up to three Tauck director guides, and the itineraries offered on the new ships will be fully inclusive, with all shore excursions, gratuities, onboard beverages, arrival and departure airport transfers, and taxes and fees built into the cruise fare.
Tauck reports ‘robust’ demand for 2025 sailings
The ships’ Sun Deck and other communal spaces including the vessels’ restaurants, lounges, spa and gym facilities are receiving some “special focus”, with details to be announced at a later date.
“We’ve been listening carefully to what our guests have been saying, and to feedback from the Tauck cruise directors and Tauck director guides who work aboard our riverboats, and we’re reimagining our public spaces with some fresh and fun innovations,” said Mahar.
The announcement of Tauck’s new ships comes as the company prepares to conclude a record year with its European river cruises, including double-digit growth (percentage-wise) over last year’s passenger levels. Demand for Tauck’s 2025 sailings is also robust, with pre-season bookings likewise up double-digits year-on-year.
