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Tauck cuts capacity on river boats
Tauck is to reconfigure more than half its European river cruise fleet over the next two years, creating fewer but larger cabins on its five Jewel Class riverboats.
On the Ruby Deck of each ship, 30 cabins will be replaced with 20 larger cabins, reducing the ship’s overall capacity from 118 passengers to 98 and the total number of cabins will fall from 59 to 49.
Tauck will also upgrade the casual, second dining restaurant on the boats.
CEO Dan Mahar said: "From day-one our approach has always been to limit passenger capacity and, by doing so, provide a more intimate, club-like atmosphere and more spacious cabins for our guests."
Tauck’s 110-metre Jewel Class ships include the MS Swiss Emerald, MS Swiss Sapphire, MS Swiss Jewel, MS Esprit and MS Treasures.
The European riverboat fleet also includes four 135-metre Inspiration Class ships: the new MS Grace and MS Joy launching later this year, and the MS Inspire and the MS Savor.
Tauck’s two-phase plan will see its riverboats in France, the MS Swiss Emerald and MS Swiss Sapphire, reconfigured, renamed and re-launched next winter in time for the 2017 operating season.
In the second phase, scheduled for winter 2017/2018, the remaining three Jewel Class ships will undergo identical transformations in time for the 2018 operating season.
As well as launching two new 135-metre ships, Tauck is also introducing a new 10-day Rhine river cruise.
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Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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