Tauck MS Serene

The 2026-built Tauck Serene ship cruises in France, on the Seine River, leaving from homeport Paris. MS Serene's sistership is the 2027-built fleetmate TBN2027. Serene is also a smaller version (redesigned sistership) and very similar to MS Lumiere (2026), deployed on the Saone and Rhone rivers.

Currently, the shipowner Scylla AG charters MS Serene exclusively to the USA cruise 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. The company was founded in 1925 and currently headquartered in Wilton (Connecticut USA). The company is privately-owned and family-operated (by the Tauck family). It offers 140+ all-inclusive land excursions, European river cruises and small-ship ocean cruises (on chartered vessels), also family-themed travel vacations and African safaris in 70+ countries worldwide.

The vessel's construction (hull and superstructure) was done at the Vahali Shipyard in Zasavica (Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia). Following the construction in Serbia, the ship was towed to Holland for final outfitting at Den Breejen Shipyard in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, The Netherlands.

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

Ticket price-included amenities include:

• shipboard dining (all meals - breakfasts, lunches, dinners, light snacks), some meals on land excursions (dining at selected restaurants)
• shipboard beverages (specialty coffee and teas, soft drinks, bottled water, alcoholic drinks by the glass - house wines, beers and premium spirits, throughout the day)
• shipboard entertainment and enrichment programs (live music, dancing, local performances, lectures, food and wine tastings, gala events and special evenings), specially designed/programmed cultural activities ashore
• shipboard Wi-Fi/Internet (unlimited throughout the voyage)
• accommodations (both on the riverboat and often hotel overnights /pre- or post-cruise, or during the land portions of the cruisetour itinerary)
• land transfers (airport/train transfers, usually at the start and end of the voyage), all gratuities/tips (ship crew, local tour guides, Tauck Directors, etc)
• shore excursions (guided land tours, group bus travel)

Tauck's cruise fares also include various fees/taxes (port charges, fuel surcharges, government taxes).

Itineraries

For the inaugural (April through October 2026) season of MS Serene, Tauck scheduled three France river cruisetour itineraries titled "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 Cruise" (roundtrip from Paris) starts with Paris City (DAY 1-2-3/overnight) and visits Rouen (DAY 4), Le Havre (DAY 5-6/overnight), Duclair (DAY 7), Les Andelys (DAY 8) and Giverny (DAY 9) before ending in Paris.

The 10-night/11-day "Bordeaux, Paris & The Seine Cruise" (from Bordeaux to Paris) starts with Bordeaux (DAY 1-2/overnight) and visits Saint-Emilion, Paris (DAY 4-5-6/overnight), Rouen (DAY 7), Caudebec-en-Caux (DAY 8), Les Andelys (DAY 9), and Giverny (DAY 10) before ending in Paris (DAY 11).

The 11-night/12-day "Cruising the Seine, plus Paris & London" is a cruisetour that starts with an overnight in London-Greenwich (DAY 1-2/overnight hotel), follows the flight to Paris (DAY 3-4-5/overnight), then 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) and ends in Paris (DAY 12).

Decks and Cabins

MS Serene ship has a total of 62 staterooms, of which 20x 29 m2 (300 ft2) Tauck Suites, and 28x 21 m2 (225 ft2) French Balcony staterooms. The remaining 14x 17 m2 (180 ft2) cabins (~20% of all) have Portholes (non-opening windows).

All French Balcony cabins (categories 3 and 4 on Ruby and Diamond decks) have slide-opening French Balconies (floor-ceiling windows that open to a railing). Cabins in categories 1 and 2 (on Emerald Deck) have Porthole Windows (non-opening) positioned high up on the riverside wall. The Suites (category 5, on Diamond deck) have two French Balconies.

Category 1 cabins (window cabins) can be booked without a single supplement, subject to availability, making them a preferred option for single travelers.

All staterooms (regardless cabin category) offer as complimentary amenities en-suite bathroom (single-sink vanity with under-storage, glass-door shower, WC, multi shower head, hairdryer, premium bath amenities, razor-only outlet), hotel beds (2 twin beds convertible to double / Queen-size), ample underbed space (for suitcases), large wardrobe (walk-in closet), lounge area (with low table and 2 chairs), complimentary mini-bar (soft drinks), HDTV with infotainment system, mirrored vanity table with chair, wireless phone, electronic safe box (in the closet), complimentary bottled water (supplied daily), individually-controlled air-conditioning, power outlets (220V / 110V).

Suites additionally have a larger lounge area (with pull-out sofa) and a larger bathroom (with bathtub).

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

The boat has 4 decks, of which 3 have cabins.

Shipboard facilities

Like all Tauck-chartered riverboats, Serene's staff includes one Tauck Cruise Director plus three Tauck Directors employed as tour guides.

As main facilities, the ship has Compass Rose (Main Dining Room Restaurant, forward on Ruby Deck/2nd floor), Arthur's Restaurant (specialty / alternative fine-dining venue with indoor-outdoor seating, located forward on Diamond Deck/3rd floor) withdirect access to the Bow Terrace (alfrescso dining venue), Panorama Lounge (Bar-Saloon located forward on Diamond Deck), an open-air Sundeck Bar & Lounge (forward on Sun Deck/4th floor).

The Compass Rose restaurant has open seating and provides flexible dining (breakfast, lunch, dinner). The menu always includes vegan and vegetarian meals.

Forward on Sundeck (adjacent to the Bar Lounge) is the sunbathing area with an outdoor heated Swimming Pool. Sundeck's remaining space is a shaded seating area (sunloungers and tables with chairs) covered with retractable awnings. Forward (adjacent to the Wheelhouse / Navigation Bridge) are the solar panels producing most of the electricity used on the ship.

The fore-located (at the bow) Terrace on Deck 3 is a small outdoor lounge with limited seating (several round tables and chairs). Two external staircases provide direct access to the Sundeck from the Bow Terrace.

The Panorama Lounge & Bar is an indoor lounge with floor-ceiling windows, comfortable seating, a grand piano, a beverage station (24-hour) for complimentary beverages (tea/coffee, mineral, and carbonated water) and light snacks (biscuits, pastries). Panorama Lounge's evening entertainment program features live performances by guest entertainers (local musicians and dancers boarding the ship, a resident pianist), talent shows (by the crew), night dancing parties. The Lounge also serves Tauck River Cruises' enrichment program by hosting daily lectures, media presentations and port talks (by the boat's Tauck Cruise Director) related to the cruise tour itinerary (ports and excursions offered ashore).

Arthur's is an open-seating dining venue named after Arthur Tauck Jr (second-generation leader of the company). Arthur's Restaurant offers a light breakfast, and serves as an alternative dining venue for lunch and dinner. Arthur's is less formal in comparison to the Compass Rose (dining room).

The Retreat (aft on Diamond Deck) is the ship's wellness complex, featuring a Gym (Fitness Center), a Spa (treatment room for massages) and a Relaxation Lounge & Bar (serving complimentary snacks and beverages/coffee, tea, juices). The entire wellness area has floor-to-ceiling windows for unobstructed scenery views.

In the Lobby area (Deck 3 midship, between Panorama Lounge and the Suites) are both ship entrances (portside and starboard embarkation/debarkation areas), the Reception (24-hour Guest Services Desk providing assistance, cashier services, information on daily scheduled tours and onboard activities), Cruise Director's Office, and a small Shop (selling hand-made souvenirs, occasion gifts, travel essentials). The Reception Desk also serves Tauck's excursions/tours and future cruise booking programs.

All cabin decks are connected via a Grand Staircase and an elevator (passenger lift). Smaller (aft) staircases connect decks 2-3 and 3-4.