Tauck released information on the deck plans and cabin configurations for the new riverboats it will be launching in Europe next year, and the two newbuilds will each have 57 percent more suites than the company’s existing Jewel Class vessels.
The two newbuilds, the ms Savor and ms Inspire (collectively comprising Tauck’s new Inspiration Class of ships) will each have twenty-two 300-square-foot suites. By contrast, Tauck’s Jewel Class vessels each have fourteen 300-square-foot suites. The increased number of suites is due in part to the longer length of the Inspiration Class ships, which are 443 feet long vs. 361 feet for the Jewel Class ships. However, Tauck is also increasing the overall percentage of suites on the newbuilds, with suites accounting for 33 percent of the 67 staterooms on the Inspiration Class vessels compared to 24 percent on the Jewel Class ships (where 14 of 59 cabins are suites).
All of the suites on the ms Savor and ms Inspire will be located on the ships’ Diamond Decks, and each will be furnished with a pull-out couch, roomy walk-in closest with built-in drawers, spacious marble bath with his-and-her sinks, two French balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows and brocade upholstery. Besides the suites, the newbuilds will also have thirty-two 225-square-foot cabins, plus an additional thirteen cabins ranging from 150 to 190 square feet. All suites and cabins will have in-room movies, minibar, individual heating and cooling controls, Molton Brown toiletries,and plush bedding with 100 percent goose down pillows, 400-thread-count linens and pillow-top mattresses.
Select lower-level cabins to feature "Loft" design
Eight of the thirty-two 225-square-foot cabins on each newbuild will be located on the lower (Emerald) deck, and will have a “loft” design with a raised platform seating area. Located against the ship’s hull or outer wall, each seating area will have a small table with two chairs, plus a raised ceiling that allows the use of a taller window than can normally be incorporated into lower-level cabins. The upper portion of this window can be opened for fresh air, and being taller, the window will allow more natural light to fill the cabin.
All 2014 Tauck river cruises now open for booking
Each of the 19 European river cruises in Tauck’s 2014 portfolio (on the Danube, Rhône, Rhine, Seine, Moselle, Saône, Main and Maas rivers) is now open for booking, and departure dates, prices and a host of additional information are contained in the company’s new 100-page 2014 river cruise brochure. Tauck also debuted an expanded and redesigned section of its website at www.tauck.com dedicated exclusively to river cruising. The new micro-site contains details on Tauck’s river cruise itineraries and ships, a collection of nine new videos, the latest Tauck river cruise news, guest message boards, and more.
Tauck is also expanding its river cruising outreach to the travel agent community with the appointment of Mary Murrin as the company’s first business development manager – river and small ship cruising. A Tauck cruise director aboard the company’s riverboats for five years prior to assuming her new role, Murrin is a travel industry veteran who has also worked with Ritz-Carlton and in events management. In her new position, Murrin will focus on agent and consumer education, represent Tauck at cruise-related conferences and other events, and help Tauck maintain its leadership position within the river and small ship ocean cruising segments.
For more information, visit www.tauck.com.