Hot on the heels of the launch of the new ms Inspire in April, Tauck is set to christen its second new river cruise ship this year.
The ms Savor will be christened in the German town of Bingen on June 21, 2014. Serving as the new ship’s Godmother will be Liz Tauck Walters, a member of Tauck’s board of directors and granddaughter of company founder Arthur Tauck, Sr. Walters is the third daughter of current Tauck chairman, Arthur Tauck, Jr., to serve as a Godmother to one of Tauck’s vessels. Kiki Tauck Mahar served as Godmother of Swiss Jewel, while Robin Tauck served as Godmother of the ms Treasures.
“We’re thrilled to announce Liz as godmother to the ms Savor,” said Tauck CEO Dan Mahar. “Christening our newest riverboat will be just the latest of Liz’s many contributions to Tauck’s success over the years. As an undergrad at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, Liz led tours of the campus for Tauck groups traveling on our New England itineraries. More recently, she’s helped lead the company by serving on our Board of Directors, while also helping guide Tauck’s award-winning philanthropy initiatives.”
“It really is an honor to serve as the godmother to this beautiful new ship,” Liz Tauck Walters said. “Tauck riverboats have set the standard for elegance and style while still being incredibly warm, intimate and welcoming. The Savor continues that tradition, and I’m so excited to see her join our fleet.”
Like ms Inspire, the forthcoming ms Savor will measure 443 feet in length and will carry just 130 guests; an increase of only 12 over the line’s existing, smaller river cruise vessels. It’s not uncommon for ships of this size to carry upward of 190 guests, and Tauck clearly feels that this moderate approach to capacity increase is a key selling point.
With few guests onboard, Tauck has concentrated on innovation on the stateroom and suite front on ms Inspire and ms Savor. The uppermost passenger deck features 22 Suites measuring 300 square feet apiece, each of which features a pull-out couch; walk-in closet; marble baths and dual floor-to-ceiling French balconies.
Eight staterooms, however, are really turning heads. Tauck’s new Loft Staterooms measure 225 square feet and are located on the lowest passenger deck, but feature what could arguably be described as the best views on the ship, thanks to a 1.5-story wall of glass featuring a loft-style seating area and electronically controlled blinds, curtains and even a push-button window partition that opens.
Tauck has also launched four new river cruise itineraries this year, including its first on the River Seine in France; “Rendezvous on the Seine” and “Cruising the Seine, plus Versailles, Paris & London.” The company will also be adding two additional cruises in 2015, including “Belle Epoch: London to Monte-Carlo.” This unique 23-day itinerary begins with a two-night stay at London’s iconic The Savoy before sailing along the Seine and the Rhone aboard the Swiss Sapphire and Swiss Emerald, respectively.
Designed specifically for families, Tauck’s second new itinerary for 2015 is the eight-day “Castles on the Rhine: Family Riverboat Adventure” from Basel to Amsterdam aboard the new ms Inspire.
For an in-depth look at Tauck’s new ms Inspire and her sister ms Savor – and their new Loft Staterooms – be sure to read our full Live Voyage Report from the maiden voyage of the ms Inspire as she sailed from Amsterdam to Brussels, Belgium.
More information about Tauck and their river cruise product can be found by viewing our complete Tauck profile here on River Cruise Advisor.
