Tauck has officially announced the names of its newest river cruise ships, both of which are set to debut next year. In 2016, Tauck will welcome the new ms Grace and ms Joy to its fleet of European river cruise ships. Both vessels will be sister-ships to the ms Inspire and ms Savor that initially debuted last year.

“I think these two names are wonderfully evocative of the emotional responses our guests have on our river cruises, both on and off our vessels,” said Tauck CEO Dan Mahar. “Grace is defined as ‘refined movement,’ and I can’t think of a better description of how our guests travel along Europe’s rivers. And our Tauck-exclusive shore excursions, and the 90 years of destination expertise we apply when crafting them, certainly fill our guests with joy. It’s the combination of both elements, the onboard and onshore experiences, the ‘grace’ and the ‘joy,’ that have prompted readers of Travel + Leisure magazine to name us the ‘World’s Best River Cruise Line’ in three of the past four years.”

The names of the two new river cruise ships were selected from over 400 individual entries submitted by Tauck employees during a special contest sponsored by the company that ran last fall.

Like the ms Inspire and ms Savor, Tauck’s new ms Grace and ms Joy will hold just 130 guests; a modest increase of 12 passengers over the line’s existing river cruise vessels. At 443 feet in length – these Inspiration-class ships carry a fraction of the guests that vessels of this size can typically hold.

Fans of Tauck’s new Loft Staterooms, which made their debut aboard the ms Inspire and ms Savor last year, will be thrilled to know that ms Grace and ms Joy will each feature eight Loft Staterooms. Like their predecessors, these will be situated on the lowest deck (Emerald Deck ) and will feature a raised loft seating area complemented by an overheight window two decks in size that can be opened electronically with the push of a button. That ease extends to the rest of the features in these staterooms, with curtains, blinds, lighting and even a flat-panel television that can all be electronically operated from switches located in both the living and sleeping areas of the room.

Four 150-square-foot staterooms will be set aside, designated as Solo Staterooms that will come with no additional single supplement required.

On the higher end of the scale, each ship will boast 22 Suites measuring 300 square feet and adorned with two French Balconies, a pull-out couch, a spacious bathroom with rain shower, and closets that Tauck calls ‘roomy’ but we’d be tempted to call “cavernous” based on our ms Inspire sailing.

In addition, each ship will be rounded out with 32 standard balcony cabins that measure 225 square feet, and 13 “riverview” cabins that range from 150 square feet to 190 square feet.

Also returning to both new vessels is Arthur’s, Tauck’s specialty dining venue located at the stern of each ship. The intimate restaurant has been named for company Chairman Arthur Tauck Jr., and comes complete with its own dedicated galley for faster service and better food preparation.

Tauck’s 2016 itineraries aboard the new ms Grace and ms Joy are now out and available for booking online. If the company’s existing ms Inspire and ms Savor are any indication, these are two vessels you’ll want to book on early.

More information on Tauck and the company’s entire fleet of river cruise ships can be found by viewing our company profile here on River Cruise Advisor.