Tauck has revealed the names and artist renderings of the two new ships that will be joining its fleet of riverboats in 2026.
The new vessels will be called ms Serene and ms Lumière with both sailing on the River Seine in France, and Lumière also sailing the Rhône.
The names were selected from more than 1,000 suggestions submitted by Tauck’s travel advisors, guests and employees.
Tauck CEO Jennifer Tombaugh says, “the name Serene is perfect for our new ship on the Seine, bringing to mind tranquillity 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.
“Lumière evokes images of light, inspiration and discovery. Lyon, a popular destination on Tauck’s Rhône River cruises, is home to the Festival Lumière, which celebrates classic cinema and honours the Lumière brothers, pioneers in cinema who were raised and educated in Lyon.”
A peek inside
The ships will have large sun decks with pools, a full-service bar, and shaded day beds. There are also tables with comfortable seating – the perfect spot for alfresco dining.
The wellness area, dubbed ‘The Retreat’, has floor-to-ceiling windows providing lots of natural light and views of the river, and includes a fitness centre, massage treatment room and lounging area (with coffee/juice/snack bar).
Cabins will be roomy and airy with French balconies, a seating area and king-sized bed positioned to take in views of the passing countryside.
New itinerary
As well as sailing on Tauck’s family river cruise along the Seine, ms Serene will travel on a new 11-day itinerary in 2026.
Beginning with a fully guided, three-night exploration of Bordeaux and Saint Emilion, 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.
There are guided visits to the D-Day Beaches of Normandy, historic Rouen and scenic Les Andelys, an early morning visit to the Giverny home, studio and gardens of Impressionist painter Claude Monet and a Tauck-exclusive reception and dinner at 16th-century Château du Taillis.
For more information, visit Tauck.
