By
Rebecca Gibson |
Tauck family members, company executives, travel agents and special guests gathered in Straubing, Germany on 22 June to welcome the new Joy into Tauck’s fleet of European riverboats.
Joy was christened by three longstanding Tauck employees – Jacque Moran, Mary Murrin and Kristin Robinson – who share 35 years of combined tenure at Tauck, including a combined total of 18 years as Tauck directors or Tauck cruise directors.
Like Tauck’s three other 135m ships, Joy will carry 130 guests, a Tauck Cruise Director and three Tauck Directors. The vessel features 22 suites measuring 300 sq ft. These are furnished with 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 newbuild has 32 cabins measuring 225 sq ft, as well as 13 cabins ranging from 150 to 190 sq ft. Four of these 13 cabins will be 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 will also offer Compass Rose, the ship’s main dining room, and Arthur’s, a casual dining venue named after the company’s chairman Arthur Tauck Jr. In addition, the ship features a scenic Panorama Lounge offering 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.
Following the conclusion of its inaugural cruise, Joy will sail Danube itineraries this year, including ‘The Blue Danube’, ‘Musical Magic Along the Blue Danube’ and ‘Christmas Markets Along the Danube’. In 2017, Joy will also host family groups on her eight-day Tauck Bridges itinerary, ‘Blue Danube: Family Riverboat Adventure.’
Joy is Tauck’s ninth European riverboat and her launch completes a 125% expansion of the company’s fleet over the past two years. The fleet now comprises three 135m ships – Inspire, Savor and Grace – and five 110m ships – Treasures, Swiss Jewel, Swiss Sapphire, Swiss Emerald and Esprit.
Tauck recently revealed plans to reconfigure all five of its 110-meter ships, and over the next two years each vessel will be enhanced with larger cabins, overall passenger capacity will be reduced on each ship, and each will also have its second onboard dining venue redesigned.