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| Photo by Freeimages.com/Andreihorn |
Another new river cruise ship is ready to sail for Tauck. The company just held a christening ceremony in Straubing, Germany, along the Danube River, for its newest river cruise ship, Joy. Joy is the second for Tauck this year, following the launch of Grace in April.
Three Tauck employees, Jacque Moran, Mary Murrin and Kristin Robinson, served as godmothers to the new ship.
What will it be like onboard? The Joy will carry 130 guests, along with one Tauck Cruise Director and three Tauck Directors. VIPs will want to book one of the 22 300-square-foot suites furnished with two French balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows, a pull-out couch, walking closet and marble bathroom. The ship will also have 32 225-square-foot cabins, as well as 13 cabins ranging from 150 to 190 square feet. All suites and cabins have in-room movies, 100 percent goose down pillows, 400-thread-count linens and pillow-top mattresses (sounds nice).
Eight of the 225-square-foot staterooms are loft cabins on the lower (Emerald) deck. These cabins have a raised platform seating area against the ship’s hull with a higher ceiling above, allowing for a taller window than can normally be incorporated into lower-level cabins, Tauck said. The middle portion of this window can be opened electronically.
The Joy also has a second dining venue, Arthur’s, which is meant to serve as a more casual option than the fine dining in the ship’s main Compass Rose dining room. The ship also has a Panorama Lounge with musical performances and other entertainment, a fitness room, massage studio and hair salon, and an open-air Sun Deck with a putting green, plunge pool and seating to enjoy the view.
Following its inaugural cruise, the Joy will sail this year on Danube itineraries including “The Blue Danube,” “Musical Magic Along the Blue Danube,” and “Christmas Markets Along the Danube.” In 2017, the Joy will also host family groups as it sails on the eight-day Tauck Bridges itinerary, “Blue Danube: Family Riverboat Adventure.”