Tauck MS Serene

The 2026-built Tauck Serene cruise ship is the company's first Seine River cruiser, specifically designed for passenger shipping operations in France. The boat's principal homeport is downtown Paris.

MS Serene is a newbuild vessel with minimized passenger capacity to provide more spacious staterooms and public areas, resulting in a more intimate cruising experience with fewer guests and a better crew-to-passenger ratio.

Tauck Serene's sistership is Tauck Reverie (2027). Serene and Reverie represent a modified design that closely resembles Tauck Lumiere (2026), which operates on the Saone and Rhone rivers.

Currently, the shipowner Scylla AG charters these boats exclusively to the USA-based travel company Tauck Tours/fleet.

History - construction and ownership

Tauck Travel is a USA-based company (travel agency and cruise tour operator) specializing in river cruises and guided land tours. Founded in 1925 and headquartered in Wilton, Connecticut, the company is privately owned and family-operated by the Tauck family. It offers more than 140 all-inclusive land journeys, European river cruises, and small-ship ocean cruises (on chartered vessels), as well as family travel programs and African safaris in over 70 countries worldwide.

The vessel’s construction (hull and superstructure) was carried out at the Vahali Shipyard in Zasavica (Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia). Following construction, the ship was towed to the Netherlands for final outfitting at Scylla Initium Shipyard in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, Netherlands.

The riverboat (ENI number 7002258) is currently Switzerland-flagged (MMSI 269057151) and registered in Basel.

In February 2026, Tauck announced the ship’s godmother, Jennie Norman (Vice Chair of the Board of Directors). The christening ceremony took place on April 8 in central Paris.

Ticket price-inclusive amenities include:

• Shipboard dining (all meals – breakfast, lunch, dinner, and light snacks), as well as select meals during shore excursions
• Shipboard beverages (specialty coffee and tea, soft drinks, bottled water, and alcoholic drinks by the glass – house wines, beers, and premium spirits, served throughout the day)
• Entertainment and enrichment programs (live music, dancing, local performances, lectures, food and wine tastings, gala events, and curated cultural activities ashore)
• Complimentary Wi-Fi/Internet (unlimited throughout the voyage)
• Accommodations (onboard and often including hotel overnights pre-/post-cruise or during land tour portions)
• Land transfers (airport/train transfers at the beginning and end of the journey) and all gratuities (crew, guides, Tauck Directors)
• Shore excursions (guided tours and group transportation)

Tauck cruise fares also include port charges, fuel surcharges, and government taxes.

Itineraries

For her inaugural season (April-October 2026), MS Serene offers three France itineraries: "Bordeaux, Paris & The Seine" (11 days), "Rendezvous on the Seine" (10 days), and "Cruising the Seine, plus Paris and London" (12 days).

The 9-night/10-day "Rendezvous on the Seine" (roundtrip from Paris) includes Paris (Days 1–3, overnight), Rouen (Day 4), Le Havre (Days 5–6, overnight), Duclair (Day 7), Les Andelys (Day 8), and Giverny (Day 9), returning to Paris.

The 10-night/11-day "Bordeaux, Paris & The Seine" (Bordeaux to Paris) includes Bordeaux (Days 1–2, overnight), Saint-Emilion, Paris (Days 4–6, overnight), Rouen (Day 7), Caudebec-en-Caux (Day 8), Les Andelys (Day 9), and Giverny (Day 10), ending in Paris (Day 11).

The 11-night/12-day "Cruising the Seine, plus Paris & London" includes London-Greenwich (Days 1–2, hotel stay), flight to Paris (Days 3–5, overnight), and visits to Auvers-sur-Oise (Day 6), Vernon (Day 7), Rouen (Day 8), Le Havre (Day 9), Caudebec-en-Caux (Day 10), Les Andelys (Day 11), ending in Paris (Day 12).

Decks and Cabins

MS Serene has a total of 62 staterooms, including 20 Tauck Suites (29 m2 / 300 ft2) and 28 French Balcony staterooms (21 m2 / 225 ft2). The remaining 14 cabins (17 m2 / 180 ft2, approximately 20% of all) feature non-opening porthole windows.

All French Balcony cabins (categories 3 and 4 on the Ruby and Diamond decks) feature slide-opening, floor-to-ceiling windows with railings. Cabins in categories 1 and 2 (on the Emerald Deck) have porthole windows positioned higher on the riverside wall. Suites (category 5, on the Diamond Deck) feature two French balconies.

Category 1 cabins may be booked without a single supplement (subject to availability), making them attractive for solo travelers.

All staterooms include en-suite bathrooms (single-sink vanity, glass-door shower, WC, multi-head shower, hairdryer, premium amenities), hotel-style beds (twin convertible to queen), under-bed storage, walk-in closets, lounge area, complimentary mini-bar (soft drinks), HDTV with infotainment system, mirrored vanity, wireless phone, electronic safe, daily bottled water, individually controlled air conditioning, and 220V/110V outlets.

Suites additionally feature larger lounge areas (with pull-out sofa) and upgraded bathrooms with bathtubs.

Each cabin is equipped with a 42-inch smart HDTV (satellite reception) and an infotainment system (complimentary Internet, on-demand movies, real-time bridge camera views).

The boat has 4 decks, 3 of which contain passenger cabins.

Shipboard facilities

Like all Tauck-chartered vessels, Serene’s staff includes one Tauck Cruise Director and three Tauck Directors serving as tour guides.

Key facilities include Compass Rose (main dining room on Ruby Deck), Arthur’s Restaurant (alternative fine dining on Diamond Deck with indoor/outdoor seating and direct access to the Bow Terrace), Panorama Lounge (forward on Diamond Deck), The Retreat (wellness complex aft on Diamond Deck), and an open-air Sun Deck Bar & Lounge.

The Compass Rose offers open seating and flexible dining for all meals, with vegan and vegetarian options always available.

The Sun Deck features a heated outdoor swimming pool, sunbathing area, and shaded seating with retractable awnings. Solar panels located forward help generate onboard electricity.

The Bow Terrace (Deck 3 forward) is a small outdoor lounge with limited seating, connected to the Sun Deck via external staircases.

The Panorama Lounge & Bar features floor-to-ceiling windows, a grand piano, and a 24-hour beverage station offering complimentary drinks and snacks. Evening entertainment includes live performances, guest musicians, dance events, and enrichment lectures hosted by the Cruise Director.

Arthur’s Restaurant, named after Arthur Tauck Jr., offers a more casual dining alternative with open seating for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The Retreat (aft on Diamond Deck) serves as the wellness complex, featuring a fitness center, spa treatment room, and relaxation lounge with complimentary beverages and snacks, all with panoramic views.

The Lobby (Deck 3 midship) includes the Reception (24-hour guest services), Tour Desk, Cruise Director's Office, and a boutique shop. It also serves as the embarkation/disembarkation area on both port and starboard sides.

All cabin decks are connected by a Grand Staircase and a central elevator, with additional aft staircases linking decks 2–4.