Tauck has announced the godmothers for its two newest riverboats, ms Lumière and ms Serene, both set to join the company’s European river cruise fleet in spring 2026.
The ms Lumière, which will sail on the Rhône River, will be christened on March 27, 2026, while the ms Serene will sail on the River Seine and be christened a few days later.
Serving as co-godmothers of the ms Lumière are long-time Tauck employees, Kristen Mack, Vice President of Tauck Director Operations, and Brenna Shay, Tauck Director Manager. Jennie Norman, Vice Chair of Tauck’s Board of Directors, will serve as godmother of the ms Serene.
“Kristen, Brenna, and Jennie embody the depth of experience, care for people, and commitment to excellence that define Tauck,” said Tauck CEO Jennifer Tombaugh. “Each brings a deep understanding of our culture and our guests, and each has played a critical role in shaping the experiences we deliver overall, and especially on Europe’s waterways. We’re honored to have them serve as godmothers to these beautiful new ships as we look ahead to Tauck’s next century of river cruising.”
Ms Mack has spent nearly three decades with Tauck, beginning her career as a Tauck Director and leading journeys in destinations ranging from New England and Alaska to Antarctica, the Galápagos, Greece, and Turkey. With an academic background in political science and history, and a lifelong passion for travel, tour directing was a natural fit, combining her education with the opportunity to share the world with others. She now leads the global Tauck Director Operations team, overseeing Tauck Directors worldwide and supporting the delivery of Tauck’s guided experience across land journeys, river cruises, and small ship cruises.
Ms Shay joined Tauck in 2011 as a Tauck Director, leading journeys in Europe and Japan before moving into Tauck Director Operations. She holds a master’s degree in modern history and brings a global perspective shaped by her early career experiences in Europe and Japan. In her current role, she manages and supports Tauck’s European river and small ship cruising teams. She played a key role in supporting Tauck’s European riverboat teams through the post-Covid rebound, and the successful launch of Tauck’s Douro River operations aboard ms Andorinha.
Ms Norman has served as Vice Chair of Tauck’s Board of Directors for twenty years, where she also serves as Chair of the Human Capital Committee and as a member of the Governance and Nominating Committee and the River Steering Committee. A retired senior executive, her twenty-year career at family-owned Markem Corporation included roles as Division President and Executive Vice President of the Corporation. In addition to the Tauck Board, Norman serves as a Board Director of Cakebread Cellars, a second-generation family-owned business in Rutherford, California, and just completed a ten-year term as Board Chair and Governance Committee Chair for United Electric Supply in New Castle, Delaware. She is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the Senior Executive Management Program at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.
TWO NEW RIVERBOATS DEBUT ON THE RHÔNE AND SEINE
The ms Lumière and ms Serene were designed with extensive input from Tauck guests, Tauck Cruise Directors, and Tauck guides. Both ships reflect Tauck’s continued focus on innovation and delivering a superior onboard experience to its guests with thoughtfully designed spaces emphasizing comfort, flow, and amenities.
Sailing on the Rhône River, the 135-meter ms Lumière accommodates a maximum of 130 guests and features twenty-two 300-square-foot Tauck Suites on the upper Diamond Deck, each with two French balconies. New and expanded amenity spaces include the Sun Deck, complete with a swimming pool, full-service bar, shaded day beds, and comfortable seating for open-air dining and relaxation. The ship also debuts The Retreat, a wellness area relocated to the Diamond Deck to allow for floor-to-ceiling windows, abundant natural light, and river views, and includes a fitness center, massage treatment room, and lounge space. The ms Lumière will sail on Tauck’s Rhône River itineraries beginning in spring 2026, including Savoring France: Paris, Lyon & Provence.
The slightly smaller 125-meter ms Serene, sailing on the River Seine, will host up to 124 guests and offers most of the same design enhancements as her sister ship. Accommodations include twenty 300-square-foot Category 5 Tauck Suites, along with spacious cabins across the Ruby and Emerald Decks. On both ships, 180-square-foot Category 1 cabins are 20% larger than those found on Tauck’s other riverboats. Like ms Lumière, the ms Serene features an enhanced Sun Deck and the Diamond Deck wellness area designed to maximize natural light and river views. The ms Serene will sail on Tauck itineraries along the Seine, including Family Fun Along the Seine: Paris to Normandy and the new-for-2026 journey Bordeaux, Paris & the Seine.
