Tauck MS Treasures

The 2011-built MS Treasures cruise ship (fka VIVA Treasures) joined Scylla’s fleet as the 4th riverboat, designed the same as the sisterships Swiss Emerald/VIVA Beyond, Swiss Sapphire, Swiss Jewel, and Esprit.

Tauck MS Treasures is deployed on the European rivers Rhine, Main, and Danube. The itineraries are based on departures from homeports Amsterdam (Rhine and Grand European voyages), Budapest (Danube and Grand European voyages), Basel (Upper Rhine and Moselle), Nuremberg (Main-Danube), and Vienna (Danube).

Currently, the shipowner Scylla charters MS Treasures exclusively to the USA-based cruise travel company Tauck Tours. When not chartered to other companies, the vessel becomes part of Scylla’s subsidiary and travel brand VIVA Cruises (2021-established).

The riverboat (ENI number 07001943) is currently Switzerland-flagged (MMSI 269057377) and registered in Basel.

Renamed “VIVA Treasures,” the riverboat was full-time chartered to VIVA Cruises in 2021, along with the fleetmates Inspire and Swiss Diamond. For VIVA Cruises, during summer 2021, both ships (Treasures and Inspire) operated 4-night itineraries visiting Wertheim and Wurzburg (on the Main River), and Kehl-Strasbourg via Mannheim (on the Rhine River). VIVA Cruises’ Danube itineraries visit the capital cities of Bratislava, Budapest, and Vienna. Both ships were priced from EUR 500 / GBP 440 per person (4-night voyage, double-occupancy cabin rates).

VIVA Cruises’ deals are all-inclusive, with fares covering snacks, in-cabin minibar, high-quality alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, RITUALS beauty products, and gratuities.

Decks and Cabins

MS Inspire provides 49 staterooms accommodating 98 passengers.

The Upper Deck (Diamond) houses all Suites - Tauck Suites (category 7) and Junior Suites (category 5).

The Main Deck (Ruby) houses French Balcony cabins (categories 4 and 6), while on the Lower Deck (Emerald) are the Riverview cabins (categories 1 and 2) with non-opening high windows.

All passenger staterooms are outside/outward-facing and equipped with an iPod docking station, TV, minibar, digital safe, air conditioning, and a bathroom (WC, shower, single sink, hairdryer, Tauck-branded Molton Brown bath products, terry cloth robes, towels). Beds are fitted with 400-thread satin bed linen, mako cotton pillows, 100% cotton blankets, and thick pillow-top mattresses.

Before the exclusive charter to Tauck, MS Treasures was redesigned with a new deck layout optimized for spaciousness. Over 70% of the passenger staterooms measure 225 ft2 (m2) or larger. The riverboat has 14x Suites (300 ft2), 20x French Balcony staterooms (225 ft2), 5x cabins (185 ft2), and 8x cabins (150 ft2).

85% of the staterooms are French Balcony (fitted with floor-to-ceiling windows.

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

Shipboard facilities

Amenities onboard MS Treasures include an open-seating dining room with flexible dining times and always-available vegetarian options; an alternative dining venue offering lighter breakfasts and classic lunch and dinner dishes; and alfresco dining on the Sun Deck, weather permitting. In Category 7 suites, American-style breakfast room service is also available. Complimentary snacks are served between 10 AM and midnight.

Complimentary beverages include beer, regional wine, premium spirits, specialty coffee, soft drinks, and water.

Onboard entertainment features nightly piano music, enrichment lectures, in-room movies, local performances, and culinary demonstrations. Complimentary Internet access is provided for all passengers. The Sun Deck offers a putting green and Jacuzzi.

MS Treasures also has a fitness center and massage studio. Bicycles are available for use ashore.

In March-April 2018, the Treasures riverboat underwent a drydock refit and refurbishment. Passenger capacity was reduced from 118 to 98 (a 17% reduction), and the number of staterooms decreased from 59 to 49. The reconstruction created larger public areas and more spacious passenger cabins. The most extensive changes were made on Ruby Deck (middle deck), where 30 cabins (14 m² / 150 ft² each) were replaced with 20 cabins (21 m² / 225 ft² each). The ship already had 14 suites (28 m² / 300 ft²). Following the 2018 drydock, nearly 70% of all staterooms measure 21 m². On Diamond Deck (upper deck), “The Bistro” restaurant was renamed “Arthur’s” and upgraded with its own galley (kitchen) and dedicated chef.

The same deckplan modifications were implemented on the fleetmates and sisterships MS Esprit (in 2018) and, in 2017, on Swiss Emerald/VIVA Beyond and Swiss Sapphire.

The vessel's construction (hull and superstructure) was completed at Vahali Shipyard in Belgrade, Serbia. Founded in 1923, the Dutch shipbuilding company Scheepswerf en Machinefabriek Vahali BV owns and operates shipyards in Serbia (Belgrade and Zasavica) and the Netherlands (Gendt). Vahali Shipyard Zasavica officially opened in 2013. After construction in Serbia, the cruise ship was towed to the Netherlands for final outfitting at Scheepswerf Vahali in Gendt.

Note: CruiseMapper’s complete list of river cruise ships and riverboats is available in the “itinerary” section of our River Cruises hub, where all companies and their fleets are listed.