By
Rebecca Gibson |
Tauck is to boost its Christmas market river cruise departures by 67% and increase the number of ships sailing on its two Christmas-themed itineraries from three to four this winter.
Christened in April, the line’s two Inspiration Class ship Inspire and Savor will both make their Christmas market cruise debuts and join Treasures and Swiss Jewel to double Tauck’s presence on the Danube and Rhine rivers.
Inspire and Swiss Jewel will sail eight-day ‘Christmas Markets Along The Rhine’ voyages on 7 December and 13 December respectively. Enabling guests to visit markets in Germany and France, the ships will sail from Cologne to Basel, Germany. Northbound departures following a reverse itinerary begin in Basel on 30 November and 14 December onboard Inspire, and on 6 December on Swiss Jewel.
Meanwhile Savor will offer an eight-day eastbound ‘Christmas Markets Along the Danube’ cruise from Nürnberg, Germany, to Vienna, Austria, on 29 November and 13 December. Treasures will offer the same itinerary on 7 December. Westbound cruises that begin in Vienna will be available on Savor on 6 December and Treasures on 30 November.
Guests sailing on these voyages can enjoy onboard cultural performances and local crafts and cooking demonstrations, lectures and walking tours, as well as an Austrian lunch at the iconic Stiftskeller St Peter restaurant in Salzburg, and lunch with beer produced on-site at the award-winning Brauhaus Vetter restaurant and brewery in Heidelberg. In addition, Tauck will host a tree-trimming party onboard each riverboat and each ship will feature festive holiday decorations and seasonal treats including glühwein, the region’s traditional mulled wine.
In addition, Tauck is to launch five new ships between mid-2014 and mid-2016, representing a 125% increase in the size of its fleet. Two Inspiration Class ships will debut later this year, while two more unnamed Inspiration Class ships will launch in 2016 and a fifth Jewel Class ship named Espirit will join the fleet in 2015.
Originally ordered by Tauck and its maritime partner Scylla in 2008, Espirit was scheduled to enter service in 2010, but her delivery was delayed until 2015 as a result of the US economic crisis. Scylla constructed the ship and has operated the vessel under a different flag in the interim. Before joining the Tauck fleet, Espirit will undergo further renovations and upgrades to ensure it reflects the line’s four other Jewel Class vessels.
Like the other Jewel Class ships, Esprit will accommodate 118 guests and has 14 suites, seven junior suites and 38 cabins. Around 85% of the accommodation will have full floor-to-ceiling windows and French balconies. Esprit will also feature the Compass Rose restaurant, a lounge, boutique, massage studio and a second, more casual dining venue in The Bistro restaurant.