Tauck announced the christening of its newest riverboat,
the ms
Lumière in Lyon, France on March 27, 2026.
Expanding its presence in the Rhône and Seine, ms Lumière
and her sister ship ms Serene incorporate new design elements enhancing the
onboard guest
experience and connection to the rivers and destinations they explore. A
separate, private christening for the ms Serene, took place a few days later,
christened by godmother and Tauck Vice Chair of the Board, Jennie Norman.
“Our past river cruising patrons have played a meaningful
role in shaping the evolution of our river cruise fleet,” said Jennifer
Tombaugh, CEO of Tauck in a statement. “Celebrating the christening of ms
Lumière is a wonderful milestone, and these new ships allow us to welcome more
travelers to these beautiful rivers while incorporating ideas and insights
we’ve gathered from our guests and teams over the years.”
The new ships are designed to create a more seamless
connection to destination beyond the ship. Both ships were built to take in the
temperate climate and scenic beauty of Europe’s wine regions, featuring
resort-style sun decks with swimming pools and full-service bars, along with
striking sky-lit atriums and panoramic lounges.
“The addition of ms Lumière and ms Serene represents a
significant step forward for our river cruising portfolio,” said Jeremy Palmer,
President of Tauck. “Demand for France continues to be exceptionally strong,
and these ships allow us to expand our presence on these rivers while welcoming
more guests in the years ahead.”
Following her christening, the ms Lumière will feature Tauck
itineraries along the Rhône River, including journeys such as Savoring France:
Paris, Lyon & Provence. The ms Serene currently operates along the River
Seine on itineraries including Family Fun Along the Seine: Paris to Normandy
and the new 2026 Bordeaux, Paris & the Seine.
The addition of ms Lumière and ms Serene is part of Tauck’s
broader river cruise fleet expansion increasing river cruising capacity by more
than 30 percent compared to 2025.
In 2027, the company will introduce two additional
riverboats designed for the Seine and Portugal’s Douro River. The new Seine
vessel will share the same design philosophy as its sister ship the ms Serene,
while the new Douro ship will sail alongside sister ship ms Andorinha,
incorporating many guest-favorite features that have defined Tauck’s river
cruise experience. This four-vessel expansion represents the highest volume
increase in Tauck's river cruising history.
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