Tauck is getting ready for two more ships in 2026, said vice president of global sales and service, Steve Spivak.

The Serene will be christened on the Seine and the Lumiere on the Rhone, according to 2026 European River Cruise Market Report by Cruise Industry News.

“For river, we’re in growth mode. We’re growing because our loyal patrons are traveling more than they ever have before with us. And there’s a demand. We are growing in a measured way,” said Steve Spivak, vice president of global sales and service at Tauck 100.

“We have a company that’s still family-owned after 100 years, still very much true to our roots, and still focusing entirely on the guest and the guest experience,” he added. “We’re marking the occasion of our 100^th with celebrations onboard. We also have a new 14-day itinerary called ‘Romantic Paris to Prague’.”

According to Spivak, the company will launch its first itinerary to visit Bordeaux, Paris and the Seine next year, which includes three nights at the InterContinental Bordeaux and visits to wineries and Saint-Émilion.

The Tauck Experience

“What sets Tauck apart is the exclusive access. Every single one of our journeys has four director-level staff onboard the ship — most cruise lines have one cruise director,” Spivak explained, adding that this personalizes the experience and helps the company identify the unique needs of individual guests.

Tauck’s largest source market is the U.S., followed by Australia, then Canada and the UK.

“We have guests from 64 different countries this year,” Sivak said, highlighting that all business since inception has been built on a loyal following, repeat and referral.

River Trends

“People want more intimate and immersive experiences, exclusive access and choice in how to experience the destination,” Spivak said, noting that personalization and making them feel important.

“We are also seeing a lot more families traveling together… guests in their 40s and 50s are finding their way to river cruising too,” he added.