Tauck increases Europe river cruise ship fleet by 30 per cent

Tauck will add two new river cruise ships to its fleet in 2027.

They will sail the River in Seine and Douro in Portugal.

And a spokesperson for the company says this is “driven by unprecedented guest demand”.

Indeed, Tauck also has two new ships launching in 2026 — those four ships adding up to a 30 per cent growth for the company since 2025, which is the biggest volume increase in Tauck’s river cruising history.

The spokesperson says Tauck is also announcing its 2027 river cruise season earlier than ever before, giving guests an early start in booking preferred departures.

Jennifer Tombaugh, Tauck CEO, says: “The enthusiasm for our river cruising experiences has been extraordinary.”

And I have sailed with Tauck in Europe, and share that enthusiasm.

Jennifer explains: “Guests appreciate the intimate atmosphere fostered by our ‘small is big’ philosophy, particularly in high-demand destinations like the Douro and France, where space is naturally limited.”

Tauck’s river cruise ships limit the number of guests onboard to between 84 or 98 on smaller riverboats to no more than 130 aboard larger vessels.

Tauck is celebrating its centenary in 2025. In 1925, Arthur Tauck Senior’s first package was a road tour through the backroads of New England in the US. In its day, the idea of all-inclusive travel was a real innovation.