Tauck Travel USA/fleet will expand its river cruise operations in spring 2026 with two new boats designed specifically for navigation on the French rivers.
The first ship, purpose-built for the Rhone, will measure 443 ft (135 m) in length, with capacity for 130 guests across 68 cabins. The layout includes 22x 300 ft2 (28m2) suites on the Diamond (upper) deck, 34x 225-ft2 (~21m2) cabins on the Ruby (middle) deck, and 12x 180-ft2 (17m2) cabins on the Emerald (lower) deck.
The second slightly smaller (410 ft/125 m) boat will sail the Seine and accommodate 125 passengers. It will feature 20x 300 ft2 (~28m2) suites, 30x 225-ft2 (~21m2) cabins, and 12x 180 ft2 (~17 m2) cabins. The new Category 1 (180 ft2) cabins offer a 20% size increase over similar accommodations on Tauck’s current fleet. Unlike industry norms where 135-meter vessels may carry 46% more passengers, these riverboats emphasize spaciousness and service quality.
Dan Mahar (Tauck CEO) notes the design philosophy prioritizes the quality of the onboard experience, distinguishing Tauck’s approach from others in the industry. True to Tauck’s inclusivity, all Category 1 cabins on the new vessels will waive the single supplement, a policy offered fleetwide.
Both vessels will be constructed in Serbia and the Netherlands, respectively, and further details on their onboard amenities will be disclosed in due course. Tauck also recently opened preliminary bookings for its 2026 river cruises, allowing guests to secure space with full flexibility on deposit refunds when pricing and itineraries are finalized in early 2025. The announcement follows Tauck’s record-breaking year, with notable growth in bookings and high demand anticipated for 2025 sailings.