Sapphire returned to Seine River service from Paris, and Emerald is to resume sailing this week on the Rhone. The company's two remaining 110-meter ships, Treasures and Esprit, will undergo identical enhancements prior to the 2018 sailing season.
With the redesign, Tauck continues to prioritize larger cabins and roomier public areas. Sapphire was gutted, with its most significant change occurring on the Ruby (middle) Deck, where 20 cabins measuring 225 square feet replaced 30 150-square-foot rooms. With the total number of cabins reduced from 59 to 49, Sapphire’s capacity dropped from 118 passengers to 98.
'The reconfiguration of the ms Sapphire and our other 110-meter ships underscores our commitment to providing our guests with the most spacious cabins and the most relaxed, intimate ambiance on board,' Tauck ceo Dan Mahar said.
Fourteen 300-square-foot suites are among the accommodations on each ship.
On the reconfigured vessels cabins measuring 225 square feet or larger will now account for 69% of all accommodations, which Tauck said is the highest percentage of such cabins on any 110-meter riverboats in Europe.
Despite reducing passenger count, Tauck will continue to staff each ship with a Tauck cruise director and a full complement of three Tauck directors.
Another significant enhancement can be found on Sapphire’s Diamond (upper) Deck where a second dining venue, The Bistro, has been upgraded with its own dedicated kitchen and chef. The Bistro was renamed Arthur’s in tribute to company chairman Arthur Tauck Jr., and its expanded menu will continue to provide more casual alternatives to the fine dining selections offered in the main Compass Rose restaurant.
Tauck introduced the concept of a second riverboat dining venue in 2006, and the enhanced Arthur’s restaurant is already featured on Tauck’s four 135-meter ships.
Two sets of connecting cabins were also added to the Diamond Deck, each connecting a 183-square-foot Category 5 cabin with the adjacent 300-square-foot Category 7 suite. These connecting cabins are ideal for families, with the suites already offering pull-out couches that can accommodate younger children.
Tauck designs four river cruises for families, with Sapphire featured on 'Family Fun Along the Seine' and Emerald sailing 'Bon Voyage: France Family River Cruise' on the Rhone.
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