By
Rebecca Gibson |
River cruise operator Tauck christened its latest newbuild, Grace, at a ceremony in Maastricht, Netherlands on 3 April.
Following remarks from Tauck CEO Dan Mahar and Maastricht mayor Annemarie Penn-te Strake, Grace was officially christened by three long-time Tauck employees. They included Katharine Bonner, senior vice president of Tauck River and Small Ship Cruising; Rebecca Sellet, director of worldwide operations of River and Small Ship Cruising; and Michelle Lavrado, product manager for European River Cruising.
“The christening of this beautiful new ship is a wonderful opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to all of the people who work so hard to make Tauck river cruises the best in the world,” said Mahar. “We’re thrilled to honour not only Katharine, Rebecca and Michelle, but also the many incredible partners who’ve joined us for this great occasion.”
Able to carry 130 guests, the 135m Grace features 22 suites measuring 300 sq ft. These will be furnished with two French balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows, a pull-out couch, walk-in wardrobes and a bathroom with a rain shower. In addition, the newbuilds will have 32 cabins measuring 225 sqft, as well as 13 cabins ranging from 150 to 190 sqft. Four of these 13 cabins will be reserved for single travellers.
Located on the lower Emerald Deck, eight of Tauck’s 225 sq ft loft cabins feature a raised platform seating area located against the ships’ hull/outer wall with a correspondingly higher ceiling. This has enabled the line to include a taller window than can normally be incorporated into lower-level cabins of riverboats, while the middle of the window can be opened electronically.
All suites and cabins will feature in-room movies, mini bar, individual heating and cooling controls, Molton Brown toiletries, and luxury bedding with 100% goose down pillows, 400-thread-count linens and pillow-top mattresses.
The vessel also offers Compass Rose, the main dining room, and Arthur’s, a casual dining venue named after the company’s chairman Arthur Tauck Jr.
Following her naming ceremony, Grace embarked on a celebratory three-night cruise to Amsterdam, which includes shore excursions in Antwerp, Dordecht and Kinderkijk. Grace will then sail itineraries on the Rhine and Moselle Rivers.
Tauck will christen a second new vessels, Joy, this June, bringing its European river cruise fleet to a total of nine vessels. This is more than double the four vessels it operated in the region at the start of 2014.