Tauck's new France riverboats are called Serene and Lumière

Ralph de Klijn
Mar 8
3 min read

Updated: Mar 12

Tauck's new river vessels in France will be called Serene, to operate on the Seine, and Lumière, on the Rhône.

The names were chosen from more than 1,000 suggestions submitted by travel advisors, customers and employees at the company’s invitation.

'The name Serene is perfect for our new ship on the Seine, bringing to mind tranquility and rejuvenation,' Tauck CEO Jennifer Tombaugh said. 'The River Seine itself is a gently flowing, meandering river that evokes a spirit of calm and escape that was captured beautifully in paintings of the waterway by the region’s Impressionist artists including Monet and Renoir.'

Lumière, meanwhile, evokes images of light, inspiration and discovery, Tombaugh continued, noting that the Rhône is a faster-flowing and livelier river, 'akin to a spark of inspiration.' She added that Lyon, a popular destination on Rhône cruises, is home to the Festival Lumière, which celebrates classic cinema and honors the Lumière brothers, pioneers in cinema who were raised and educated in Lyon. Each December the city also hosts the Fête des Lumières, or Festival of Lights, featuring decorative and artistic light installations.

First renderings

Newly released renderings of the vessels show their full exterior, Sun Deck, wellness area and Category 5 suite. The Sun Deck offers a swimming pool, full-service bar and shaded day beds. Plus, a number of four-top tables with provide seating for alfresco dining, sipping a glass of wine or simply taking in river views

The wellness area, dubbed The Retreat, includes a fitness center, massage treatment room and lounging area (complete with coffee/juice/snack bar) plus full floor-to-ceiling windows. Expanded to provide additional amenities and services, the wellness area on these new vessels is found on the upper Diamond Deck, instead of the lower Emerald

Deck, allowing for full-length windows.

300-square-foot top-deck suites

Each new vessel will offer 300-square-foot Category 5 suites on the Diamond Deck, with the 125-meter Serene having 20 of the suites and the 135-meter Lumière 22.

The Category 5 suites have two French balconies, a seating area and king-size bed positioned facing the window.

In addition, Serene will have 30 225-square-foot cabins (mainly on the middle Ruby Deck), and 12 180-square-foot Category 1 cabins on the lower Emerald Deck, with total capacity for 124 passengers. Besides its 22 Category 5 suites, Lumière will have 34 225-square-foot cabins primarily on the Ruby Deck, and 12 180-square-foot Category 1 cabins on the Emerald deck, for a total capacity of 130 passengers.

In all, 80% of the new vessels' cabins will be 225 square feet or larger.

No single supplement in Category 1

As on Tauck’s other riverboats, the Category 1 cabins for both vessels will not carry a single occupancy supplement and, at 180 square feet, these rooms will measure 20% larger than those featured on Tauck’s other riverboats.

A rendering of Tauck's Serene RENDERING: TAUCK

New 11-day journey

Besides sailing on Tauck’s 'Family Fun Along The Seine: Paris To Normandy, Serene will also host travelers on a new-for-2026 itinerary, the 11-day 'Bordeaux, Paris & The Seine.'

The new journey begins with a fully-guided, three-night exploration of Bordeaux and Saint Emilion with accommodations at the InterContinental Bordeaux - Le Grand Hotel. Passengers then travel by high-speed train to Paris where they’ll board the Serene for a seven-night cruise. Highlights include a choice of sightseeing options during a full day in Paris, a full-day’s exploration with a choice of activities at Chateau de Versailles and guided visits to the D-Day Beaches of Normandy, historic Rouen and scenic Les Andelys.

Passengers will also have a Tauck-exclusive early morning visit to the Giverny home, studio and gardens of Impressionist painter Claude Monet, a Tauck-exclusive reception and dinner at 16th-century Chateau du Taillis and a visit to a family farm in Tilly where they’ll sample regional specialties including cider, Calvados and pâté.

The trip is priced starting at $7,240 including all shore excursions, gratuities, onboard beverages, airport transfers, luggage handling, taxes and fees.