- Tauck is launching two new river ships for the Seine and Rhône.
- The new vessels have new features onboard including expansive suites and cabins.
- The line is also launching a new Bordeaux river cruise on the ms Serene.
Tauck has announced it is building two new ships which will join its fleet next year. The new ship, ms Serene will cruise on the Seine while the ms Lumière, which will also operate in France and on Tauck’s cruises along the Rhône.
The names for the new ships were selected from more than 1000 suggestions submitted by Tauck’s travel advisors, guests, and employees.
“The name Serene is perfect for our new ship on the Seine, bringing to mind tranquility and rejuvenation. The River Seine itself is a gently flowing, meandering river that evokes a spirit of calm and escape that was captured beautifully in paintings of the waterway by the region’s Impressionist artists including Monet and Renoir,” said the company’s CEO Jennifer Tombaugh.
The ms Lumiére is inspired by the Rhone’s fast-moving waters as well as Lyon, a popular destination on the river. It is also home to the Festival Lumière, which celebrates classic cinema and honours the Lumière brothers, pioneers in cinema who were raised and educated in Lyon.
Each December the city also hosts the Fête des Lumières, or Festival of Lights, featuring decorative and artistic light installations throughout the city.
David Clark, Managing Director of Australia, said, “Today marks a special announcement for us here at Tauck. Our two new ships, the ms Serene and the ms Lumière, will be wonderful, new additions to Tauck’s existing, award-winning fleet. I’m confident that these ships will prove to be particularly popular with our Australian guests when they set sail next year.”
What’s inside the new Tauck ships
The line has also released the first artist renderings for the new ships, with four detailed images showing the ship’s full exterior, Sun Deck, wellness area, and Category 5 suite.
The Sun Deck features a swimming pool, full-service bar, and a generous allotment of shaded day beds. Also on the Sun Deck, a number of four-top tables with comfortable seating where guests can enjoy a glass of wine, and also has an alfresco dining spot.
The wellness area, dubbed The Retreat, includes a fitness centre, massage treatment room, and lounging area (complete with coffee/juice/snack bar) plus full floor-to-ceiling windows.
Each of the new buildings will feature a generous offering of 300-sq. ft. Category 5 suites on the Diamond (upper) Deck, with the 125-meter Serene having 20 of the suites and the 135-meter ms Lumière boasting 22.
The rendering of the Category 5 suites shows boasts two French balconies, a comfortable seating area, and a king-size bed.
In addition to the 20 Category 5 cabins, the ms Serene will also have 225 square feet. cabins (mainly on the middle Ruby Deck), and twelve 180 square feet. Category 1 cabins on the lower Emerald Deck, for a total capacity of 124 guests. Besides its 22 Category 5 suites, the ms Lumière will have thirty-four roomy 225 square feet. cabins primarily on the Ruby Deck, and twelve 180 square feet Category 1 cabins on the Emerald Deck, for a total capacity of 130 guests. In all, 80% of the new ships’ cabins will be 225 square feet or larger.
The Category 1 cabins on both the ms Serene and ms Lumière will have all single supplements waived and at 180-square feet, the Category 1 cabins on both new vessels will be 20% larger than those featured on Tauck’s other riverboats.
Ms Serene’s new itineraries
In addition to sailing on Tauck’s family river cruise along the Seine, Family Fun Along The Seine: Paris To Normandy, the ms Serene will also host travellers on a new-for-2026 Tauck itinerary, Bordeaux, Paris & The Seine (11-days, from $10,990).
The new journey begins with a fully-guided, three-night exploration of Bordeaux and Saint Emilion with accommodations at the InterContinental Bordeaux – Le Grand Hotel.
Tauck guests will then travel by high-speed train to Paris where they will board the ms Serene for a seven-night cruise along the Seine. Highlights along the river include a choice of sightseeing options during a full day in Paris, a full day’s exploration with a choice of activities at Château de Versailles, and guided visits to the D-Day Beaches of Normandy, historic Rouen, and scenic Les Andelys.
Guests will also enjoy a Tauck-exclusive early morning visit to the Giverny home, studio, and gardens of Impressionist painter Claude Monet, a Tauck-exclusive reception and dinner at 16th-century Château du Taillis, and a visit to a family farm in Tilly where they’ll sample regional specialties including cider, Calvados and pâté.
Included in the new cruise’s price are all shore excursions, all gratuities, all onboard beverages (including all wine, beer, and spirits), airport transfers, luggage handling, taxes, fees, and more.
