Tauck has announced the names and released renderings of the two new ships that will be joining its fleet of riverboats next year. While MS Serene will sail on itineraries along the Seine River in France, MS Lumière, also deployed in France, will operate on cruises along the Rhône River.
Along with the names, Tauck has also released the first artist renderings for the new ships, with detailed images showing the ship’s full exterior, Sun Deck, wellness area and Category 5 suite. The Sun Deck will be home to 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 provide a spot for al fresco dining, enjoying a glass of wine or relaxing and taking in views of the river.
The wellness area, dubbed The Retreat, includes a fitness center, massage treatment room and lounging area complete with a coffee, juice and snack bar, plus floor-to-ceiling windows. Expanded to provide additional amenities and services as compared to facilities on Tauck’s existing ships, the space has also been shifted from the lower Emerald Deck to the ships’ upper Diamond Deck.
On the stateroom front, each new vessel will house 300-square-foot Category 5 suites on the Diamond Deck, with the 410-foot MS Serene having 20 of the suites, while the nearly 443-foot MS Lumière will have 22. These spacious accommodations come with two French balconies, a seating area and a king-size bed.
In addition to the 20 Category 5 cabins, MS Serene will also offer 30 225-square-foot cabins( mainly on the middle Ruby Deck), and 12 180-square-foot Category 1 cabins (on the lower Emerald Deck) for a total capacity of 124 guests. Besides its 22 Category 5 suites, MS Lumière will offer 34 225-square-foot cabins primarily on the Ruby Deck and 12 180-square-foot Category 1 cabins on the Emerald deck for a total capacity of 130 guests. In all, 80 percent of the new ships’ cabins will span 225 square feet or more.
As on Tauck’s other riverboats, the Category 1 cabins on both MS Serene and MS Lumière will have all single supplements waived. At 180 square feet, the Category 1 cabins on both new vessels will be 20 percent larger than those featured on Tauck’s other riverboats.
Besides the “Family Fun Along The Seine: Paris To Normandy” itinerary, MS Serene will also host travelers on a new-for-2026 itinerary, “Bordeaux, Paris & The Seine.” 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. Guests will then travel by high-speed train to Paris where they’ll board MS Serene for a seven-night cruise along the Seine. Highlights include a choice of sightseeing options during a full day in Paris, a full-day’s exploration with a choice of activities at Chateau de Versailles and guided visits to the D-Day Beaches of Normandy, Rouen and Les Andelys. Guests will also enjoy an early morning visit to the Giverny home, studio and gardens of Impressionist painter Claude Monet; a reception and dinner at 16th-century Chateau du Taillis; and a visit to a family farm in Tilly where they will sample regional specialties.
Related Articles
Uniworld to Debut Three New Ships in 2027
Aqua Expeditions Reveals Chef-Hosted Sailings for ’25