Tauck commits to major fleet refurbishment
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Tauck has announced sweeping new plans to reconfigure more than half its European river cruising fleet over the next two years.
The five Jewel Class riverboats will have larger cabins, overall space per guest will be increased by 20% and the casual, second dining restaurant will be upgraded.
Tauck CEO Dan Mahar said: “From day-one our approach has always been to limit passenger capacity and, by doing so, provide a more intimate, club-like atmosphere and more spacious cabins for our guests.”
Tauck’s 110-metre Jewel Class ships include the MS Swiss Emerald, MS Swiss Sapphire, MS Swiss Jewel, MS Esprit and MS Treasures. The European riverboat fleet also includes four 135-metre Inspiration Class ships: the new MS Grace and MS Joy launching later this year, and the MS Inspire and the MS Savor.
Tauck’s two-phase plan will see its riverboats in France, the MS Swiss Emerald and MS Swiss Sapphire, reconfigured, renamed and re-launched next winter in time for the 2017 operating season. In the second phase, scheduled for winter 2017/2018, the remaining three Jewel Class ships will undergo identical transformations in time for the 2018 operating season. The new names for the refurbished ships have yet to be disclosed.
The most dramatic enhancement aboard each ship will be on the Ruby (middle) Deck, where the 30 150 sq ft cabins will be replaced with 20 cabins, each measuring 225 sq ft. This will mean that 69% of all cabins will be 225 sq ft or larger – the highest percentage on any 110-metre riverboat in Europe. Overall capacity will be reduced from 118 passengers to 98 and the total number of cabins will be reduced from 59 to 49. Tauck will continue to staff each ship with a Tauck cruise director and a full complement of three Tauck tour directors.
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