By
Rebecca Gibson |
River cruise operator Tauck has launched its second Inspiration-class ship, boosting the line’s European capacity by 55%.
Launched by godmother Liz Tauck Walters – daughter of the company’s chairman and Tauck board director – the newbuild was welcomed by 20 members of the Tauck family, company executives, journalist and local dignitaries in Bingen am Rhein, Germany.
To celebrate the event, the company organised brass band performances and a water fountain display, while the area’s reigning ‘Wine Princess’ rang the ship’s bell.
“We’re thrilled to be welcoming the beautiful new Savor into our fleet,” said Dan Mahar, Tauck CEO. “We firmly believe that we offer the finest, most enriching cultural explorations along Europe’s rivers, and with the launch of Savor and the launch of Inspire in April, we’ll now be able to share those cruise experiences with more Tauck travellers and support more Tauck travel agents.”
Joining Tauck’s four Jewel-class ships – Treasures, Swiss Jewel, Swiss Sapphire and Swiss Emerald – both Savor and Inspire have boosted the company’s river cruising capacity by a total of 55%.
Tauck’s 443 ft-long Inspiration-class ships feature 22 suites measuring 300 sq ft, all of which will include two French balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows, a pull-out couch, walk-in wardrobes and a bathroom with a rain shower. In addition, the newbuilds have 32 cabins measuring 225 sq ft, as well as 13 cabins ranging from 150 to 190 sq ft. Four of these 13 cabins are reserved for single travellers.
Located on the lower Emerald Deck, eight of Tauck’s 225 sq ft loft cabins feature a raised platform seating area located against the ships’ hull/outer wall with a correspondingly higher ceiling. This has enabled the line to include a taller window than can normally be incorporated into lower-level cabins of riverboats, while the middle of the window can be opened electronically.
All suites and cabins will feature in-room movies, mini bar, individual heating and cooling controls, Molton Brown toiletries, and luxury bedding. The vessels also feature a main dining room – Compass Rose – and a second onboard dining venue named Arthur’s, which has its own dedicated kitchen and serves American steakhouse-style selections.
Each 443 ft Tauck riverboat is staffed by a Tauck cruise director and three Tauck directors who care for a maximum of 130 guests.
This year, Savor will sail a 12-day ‘The Blue Danube’ itinerary and a 10-day ‘Danube Reflections’ cruise. All shore excursions, gratuities, onboard spirits, wine and beer, entertainment, taxes, port charges, airport transfers and more included are included in the cruise price.
Tauck will also debut four new river cruise itineraries this year, including its first on the River Seine in France. Next year, the company will offer a new 23-day ‘Belle Epoch: London to Monte-Carlo’ cruise on the Seine, Saône and Rhône rivers, as well as an eight-day ‘Castles on the Rhine: Family Riverboat Adventure’. The latter itinerary is the third river cruise created specifically for families.