By
Rebecca Gibson |
River cruise operator Tauck is to introduce two ships, a new Rhine itinerary and more exclusive onshore dining experiences in 2016.
Named Grace and Joy, the two Inspiration Class riverboats will join the fleet next spring and sail on European rivers. Grace, which will launch in April, will sail exclusively on the Rhine, while Joy will launch in June and sail on three Tauck voyages along the Danube.
Grace will sail on Tauck’s new ten-day ‘The Rhine, Swiss Alps & Amsterdam’ itinerary, which will include a two-night stay at the five-star Bellevue Palace in Bern, Switzerland. While in Bern, guests will be able to participate in a walking tour of the city or a full-day excursion into the Bernese Alps to Europe’s highest railway station, the Jungfraujoch. The next day, passenger can take a walking tour in Lucerne’s medieval Old Town before continuing on to Basel, where they’ll board their Tauck riverboat for a seven-night cruise along the Rhine.
On their journey from Basel to Amsterdam in the Netherlands, guests will have the opportunity to learn about art in Colmar, France; the history of Porsche automobiles or Germany’s 2,000-year-old winemaking traditions in Stuttgart; archaeology in Cologne; and windmills in the Dutch village of Kinderdijk. Upon arrival in Amsterdam, guests will enjoy a city sightseeing tour, as well as a canal boat tour that includes a visit to the Rjiksmueum.
One of the highlights of the Rhine itinerary is a Tauck-exclusive private cocktail reception, dinner and live musical performance at Schloss Ehreshoven in Engelskirchen, Germany. Usually closed to the public, the 14th century castle is the former home of the Nesselrode family and will also be featured on Tauck’s ‘The Romantic Rhine’ itinerary in 2016. It is also one of several new onshore dinner venues being featured on Tauck’s river cruises next year.
Other highlights featured on Tauck’s 2016 itineraries include Chateau Bizy in Vernon, France, which was inspired by the Palace of Versailles and constructed in 1740. The castle, which is currently owned by Napoleon’s descendants, will be featured on the ‘Cruising the Seine plus Versailles, Paris & London’ voyage, enabling guests to enjoy a garden and estate tour, a champagne reception with hors d’oeuvres and a three-course dinner with live musical entertainment.
Meanwhile, former Benedictine monastery and palace of a Prince-Abbot, the Schloss Johannisberg in Geisenheim, Germany, will host Tauck guests sailing on the ‘The Rhine & Moselle’ itinerary. While at Schloss Johannisberg, guests will be able to visit its historic wine cellar, enjoy a reception featuring wines from the castle’s vineyards, and a three-course dinner paired with local wines and musical performances.