Cruisescapes, CroisiEurope’s preferred sales agent in Ireland, has announced that CroisiEurope will be launching three new ships in April 2015 that will cruise on the Loire, Rhone and Douro rivers. Cruisescapes has also combined two of CroisiEurope’s most popular routes to create a brand new 10-day cruise along the Rhine and Rhone rivers. 
MS Loire Princesse (launching 2nd April 2015)
The MS Loire Princesse will be the first ship with overnight cabins to operate on the Loire. Thanks to innovative paddle wheel technology, the Loire Princesse will be able to navigate the shallow waters of this iconic river (the longest in France) and visit areas rich in cultural heritage, many of which are listed by UNESCO: Nantes, Saint-Nazaire, Ancenis, Angers, the Castles of the Loire, Saumur, Bouchemaine and Nantes.
The three-deck MS Loire Princesse will be 90 metres long and 15 metres wide, featuring 48 spacious outside cabins (15 sq m) accommodating up to 96 passengers. The ship will offer high levels of comfort with wi-fi available in cabins and public areas, individually controlled combined air-conditioning/ heating, plasma screen TV, radio, hair dryer, safe, mini bar and bathroom facilities.
The restaurant will accommodate all passengers for single-service dining, a lounge bar will have a central dance floor, and there will be a large sun deck with deck chairs. The MS Loire Princesse has also been designed to be environmentally and ecologically friendly as possible.
Between April and October 2015, The Loire Princess will operate six- and eight-day cruises along the Loire with prices starting from €1,195 per person for accommodation in an outside cabin with all onboard meals, complimentary beer and wine at lunch and dinner as well as open bar throughout the voyage (not including champagne, special wines or fine brandies), onboard entertainment and port taxes.
MS Camargue (launching 1st April 2015)
In April 2015, the MS Camargue will join the CroisiEurope fleet on the Rhone alongside the MS Mistral and MS Van Gogh. This new premium-rated two-deck ship will be of a similar design to the MS Lafayette, which launched earlier this year. Each of the 54 cabins – including four single cabins and one for guests with disabilities – will feature either floor to ceiling or large picture window, modern en-suite bathroom, a flat screen television, hairdryer, safe, radio and individually controlled air-conditioning and heating.
The restaurant will serve buffet breakfast as well as three-course lunches and dinners offering a variety of French and regional dishes that complement the region in which the ship travels.
Between April and October 2015, the MS Camargue will sail six- and eight-day cruises round-trip from Lyon visiting Macon, Vienne, Arles, Avignon, Viviers and Tournon. Prices from €995 per person for accommodation in an outside cabin with all onboard meals, complimentary beer and wine at lunch and dinner as well as open bar throughout the voyage (not including champagne, special wines or fine brandies), onboard entertainment and port taxes.
MS Gil Eanes (launching 17th April 2015)
In April 2015, the MS Gil Eanes will join three other CroisiEurope ships – MS Infante D. Henrique, MS Fernao De Magalhaes, and MS Vasco Da Gama – on the Douro.
This three-deck ship will be 80 metres long and 11.4 metres wide and will have 66 cabins measuring 14 sq m. The 48 cabins on the Upper and Middle decks will have French balconies while the 18 cabins on the Main deck will have two windows. Each cabin will be equipped with en suite shower and WC, flat screen television, hairdryer, safe, radio and individually controlled air-conditioning and heating.
The restaurant will serve all passengers in a single seating, while the lounge bar will have a dance floor in the centre.
Between April and October, the MS Gil Eanes will sail eight-day cruises round- trip from Porto visiting Regua, Vega de Teron, Ferradosa and Pinhao. Prices from €1,189 per person for accommodation in an outside cabin with all onboard meals, complimentary beer and wine at lunch and dinner as well as open bar throughout the voyage (not including champagne, special wines or fine brandies), onboard entertainment and port taxes.
Established 38 years ago, CroisiEurope is a French family-run river cruise company, building, owning and operating 43 ships, with average capacity of 24 to 200 passengers.
Trans-European Cruise
Meanwhle, there are three departures (in May, July and October) for the 10-day The Best of the Rhine & The Rhone cruise from €1,490 cruise only per person for accommodation in an outside cabin with all onboard meals, complimentary beer and wine at lunch and dinner as well as open bar throughout the voyage (not including champagne, special wines or fine brandies), coach transfer, onboard entertainment, selected excursions and port taxes.
This new and unique itinerary will see passengers board in Amsterdam before setting off along a scenic and culturally enriching route through some of the continent’s most treasured towns and sites of the Netherlands, Germany and France before finishing in Avignon.
While travelling the length of the Rhone before transferring on to the Rhine – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – passengers will enjoy a range of optional and complementary excursions to some of Europe’s most historical sites. From a guided tour of northern Europe’s most ancient Cathedral in Aachen to a circuit of Lyon’s Old Town and Traboules passageways, to a train journey through the Middle Age town of Tournon, in southern France, there is plenty to cater for all interests.
The cruise starts in Amsterdam and visits Xanten, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Konigswinter, Koblenz, Mainz Worms, Strasbourg, Chalon Sur Saone, Lyon, Tournon and Arles, before finishing in Avignon.
