{"id":30723,"date":"2017-10-16T01:37:23","date_gmt":"2017-10-16T07:37:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/?p=30723"},"modified":"2022-05-21T16:40:30","modified_gmt":"2022-05-21T20:40:30","slug":"moveable-feast-live-seine-tauck","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/2017\/10\/moveable-feast-live-seine-tauck\/","title":{"rendered":"A Moveable Feast: Live from the Seine On Tauck’s ms Sapphire"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/b>For the past week, I\u2019ve been cruising France\u2019s<\/strong> Seine River <\/a><\/strong>aboard Tauck<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s newly-refitted, 98-guest ms Sapphire<\/a> <\/strong>as part of the line\u2019s Rendezvous on the Seine<\/strong><\/em> river cruise tour. After six days of eating great cheeses and downing fine wines and calvados (a regional apple brandy local to this area), there is much to like about both the Seine and Tauck\u2019s spectacularly-refitted ms Sapphire.<\/p>\n

\"Tauck's<\/a>

Tauck’s ms Sapphire (also known as the Swiss Sapphire), docked in Paris on October 11, 2017. Photo \u00a9 2017 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

Beginning with a two-night stay in Paris at the hotel Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel<\/strong>, Tauck\u2019s nine-day itinerary provides a fantastic overview of the splendors of the Seine, including visits to Rouen, Caudebec-en-Caux, Honfleur, Les Andelys, Vernon<\/strong>, and a full-day excursion to the D-Day Beaches<\/strong> and the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial and Pointe Du Hoc<\/strong> sites near the town of Colleville-sur-Mer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, near Colleville-sur-Mer, enshrouded by fog. Photo \u00a9 2017 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

While Paris has immediate appeal thanks to its prominence in popular culture, don\u2019t be surprised if you fall in love with rural France too. Though many guests have doubtlessly come here to see the D-Day Landing Sites at Normandy, I\u2019ve found myself charmed by the small seaside towns of Honfleur and \u00c9tretat<\/strong>, where brasseries line the streets with their outdoor seating, inviting you to sit down to enjoy a glass of wine and some of the freshest mussels, now in season.<\/p>\n

Tauck prides itself on its all-inclusive river cruises that promise \u201cuncommon access\u201d ashore. This is my third Tauck voyage, and the company has done an excellent job of living up to my already-high expectations.<\/p>\n

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A private reception and dinner for Tauck guests at the Chateau du Taillis. Photo \u00a9 2017 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

A few evenings ago, we were treated to a private dinner at the 16th-century Chateau du Taillis<\/strong> near Duclair, France<\/strong>. At dusk, Tauck put on a sunset cocktail reception on the front lawn of the Chateau, which has been lovingly preserved by its owners. Guests were then invited to come inside the Chateau for a five-course gourmet meal of regional specialties, lit entirely by candlelight.<\/p>\n

Dinner at the Chateau du Taillis is exclusive to Tauck; one of many special events the line prides itself on offering. Next year, Tauck is ramping up its offerings on this itinerary with a private after-hours visit to The Louvre<\/strong> in Paris, and lunch at the prestigious Ore <\/strong>restaurant located within the Chateau de Versailles<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Honfleur, France. Tauck gave guests ample free time to explore this picturesque seaside port. Photo \u00a9 2017 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

Other little touches help make the Tauck experience a special one. On full-day excursions that don\u2019t include lunch, Tauck passed out \u20ac20 to each guest to buy meals on their own. With \u20ac40 per couple to spend, you can get a decent lunch here in Normandy \u2013 including wine \u2013 and still have some change left over.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s part of Tauck\u2019s all-inclusive commitment: No extras are sold onboard, outside of the ship\u2019s small gift shop, and all beverages, meals and gratuities \u2013 for onboard staff, as well as drivers, guides, and porters \u2013 are included as part of the price.<\/p>\n

Tauck\u2019s cruises aren\u2019t inexpensive, but they do provide great value and the peace-of-mind that the company\u2019s loyal guests are drawn to again and again.<\/p>\n

Tauck’s ms Sapphire: Just 98 Guests, Increased Exclusivity<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Thanks to a full refit last winter, Tauck’s ms Sapphire sparkles like new. Photo \u00a9 2017 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

When Tauck put the ms Sapphire into drydock last winter, it decreased<\/em> the number of guests onboard to just 98. For a 361-foot long ship, that means that Tauck\u2019s ms Sapphire offers up an uncommon amount of passenger space.<\/p>\n

During my week onboard, I haven\u2019t seen a single instance of crowding. During lectures and cocktail hours, when most guests retreat to the embrace of the ship\u2019s cozy wood-panelled lounge, there are plenty of tables for everyone, and a quiet space can always be found for bookworms looking to catch up on their reading.<\/p>\n

The ship\u2019s main restaurant is never crowded, and all tables are rarely full. That gives guests the flexibility to dine as a couple (even at a table built for four), or to join in with their fellow guests. Well-travelled and well-educated, Tauck\u2019s guests are a convivial bunch; don\u2019t be surprised if you find yourself conversing with the table next to you, even if you\u2019re dining solo or as a couple.<\/p>\n

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With just 98 guests onboard, Tauck was able to make Arthur’s, shown here, into a casual dining venue open for lunch and dinner, as well as continental breakfast. No reservations required. Photo \u00a9 2017 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

Having just 98 guests onboard has also allowed Tauck to keep almost-unheard-of hours at Arthur\u2019s<\/strong>, the ship\u2019s casual dining venue all the way aft on Deck 3.<\/p>\n

Named for chairman Arthur Tauck, Jr<\/strong>., Arthur\u2019s is now open daily from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. for casual lunch and dinner. Reservations aren\u2019t needed; just waltz on in and sit down to enjoy some of the best views on the ship. Food here reflects casual American staples, like Caesar salad and steak. The menu item winning the most accolades: the hamburger, with its made-on-bard patty, is causing a great deal of buzz throughout the ship. One fellow guest even called it, \u201cthe best hamburger I\u2019ve ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n

More Room, New Rooms<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Tauck added a total of 20 newly-expanded Category 6 rooms to the ms Sapphire, each measuring 225 square feet apiece. Photo \u00a9 2017 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

Taking the guest capacity down to just 98 allowed Tauck to expand its accommodations offerings aboard ms Sapphire. Last winter, Tauck \u2013 together with its river cruise operations partner Scylla AG<\/strong> \u2013 stripped the ship down, carving out twenty new Category 6<\/strong> cabins on Deck 2, and 14 refitted Category 7<\/strong> suites on Deck 3.<\/p>\n

Both categories were given brand-new marble baths with rainforest showerheads, and are some of the most spacious bathrooms in the river cruise industry.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been occupying a Category 6 Stateroom on Deck 2, and can attest that this newly-enlarged accommodation category is well worth it. Basically one-and-a-half standard staterooms, these rooms feature a French Balcony along with a half-width fixed window. Beds are situated to face the French Balcony, and there are half-a-dozen lighting options, from overhead lights to accent lights under (and inside) closets, along with well-positioned reading lights.<\/p>\n

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Category 6 and 7 staterooms aboard the ms Sapphire now feature some of the best bathrooms on the rivers of Europe, complete with rainfall showerheads. Photo \u00a9 2017 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

These new rooms are large enough that there is space for a small sitting area with a proper table and two chairs, plus a bank of closets and a chest of drawers. An in-room Nespresso<\/strong> machine allows for coffee at any time, and mini-bars are complimentary and restocked daily.<\/p>\n

Across the ship, guests will find Molton Brown<\/strong> toiletries, plush beds, and an interactive video-on-demand system. Stem-to-stern WiFi is included, and access has been decent for much of the cruise. The WiFi system is a little complicated, however, requiring guests to bring their devices to Reception to scan a QR access code in order to create a password and user ID. It works great on my laptop, but I\u2019ve been unable to make it work on my new iPhone.<\/p>\n

One piece of technology that works really<\/em> well<\/em>, though, is the new guest management system. Say goodbye to queuing at reception for chips, cards, or shore passes: As a few other river cruise companies have done, Tauck has installed a new iPad-like system that guests tap their room keycards in and out on in order to embark or disembark the ship. Much like the process when you step ashore on an ocean cruise, this new system immediately tells Tauck which guests are onboard, and which are on-shore. It’s a huge improvement over the old system.<\/p>\n

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These new Category 6 rooms offer plenty of personal space. Photo \u00a9 2017 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

With three days still left on my journey, there is more to discover \u2013 including why you should take a river cruise on the Seine even if you have no interest on D-Day whatsoever. I\u2019ll have more on that in a future article.<\/p>\n

For now, though, I should mention that one of Tauck\u2019s greatest strengths \u2013 aside from the ship, which sparkles like new \u2013 is its crew. Three Tauck Directors guide each river cruise journey throughout its land portion, while another dedicated Tauck Director sails with the ship. That\u2019s four dedicated “go-to” people on a single voyage. Most river cruise ships only have one such person for up to 190 guests.<\/p>\n

The same can be said for the crew aboard the ms Sapphire, who are friendly, personable, and go out of their way to make each guest feel valued. Don’t be surprised if your favorite drink arrives at your table before you’ve even thought to order it.<\/p>\n

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Paris in the fall. Photo \u00a9 2017 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

While this is the second-last Rendezvous on the Seine<\/em> river cruise of the season for Tauck, the 2018 season begins on April 3, 2018 and continues until the final departure on October 27, 2018.<\/p>\n

Like any river cruise, booking early is always a good idea, but even moreso now that the ms Sapphire only holds 98 guests. Tauck\u2019s river cruises have always been extremely popular (the company has a tremendously-loyal following of past guests), so expect next year\u2019s sailings to fill up quickly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For the past week, I\u2019ve been cruising France\u2019s Seine River aboard Tauck\u2019s newly-refitted, 98-guest ms Sapphire as part of the line\u2019s Rendezvous on the Seine river cruise tour. After six days of eating great cheeses and downing fine wines and calvados (a regional apple brandy local to this area), there is much to like about […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":30725,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[369,459,41,368,519,1281,321,367,23,366,217,83,81],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30723"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30723"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30723\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30725"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30723"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}