CroisiEurope orders third paddle-wheel ship

CroisiEurope has announced it placed an order for a third paddle-wheel ship for delivery in 2018 just as MS Elbe Princesse left dry-dock in Saint-Nazaire.

The third paddle-wheel ship will once again be designed by Stirling Design International in Nantes and will be 110 metres long with 58 cabins. The name of the ship and its itineraries will be announced at a later date.

MS Elbe Princesse had been constructed in two blocks and was recently assembled over the course of a month in Dry Dock 1 in Saint-Nazaire. The fitting out will now continue at the Penhoët Docks in Saint-Nazaire and delivery is expected in mid-February 2016, less than a year after the launch of the MS Loire Princesse.

Like her sister ship, MS Elbe Princesse has been designed using advanced paddle-wheel technology which will allow it to navigate the lowest waters of the Elbe year round – something that vessels with regular propulsion are unable to do.

The ship’s main propulsion will be two stern paddle-wheels powered by two 300 kilowatt hydraulic engines. Additionally, two pump-jets will give the ship excellent manoeuvrability at low speeds. Its shallow draft of just 90 centimetres (35 inches) will allow it to cruise right into the heart of Prague.

The 80-passenger MS Elbe Princesse measures 95 metres (311 feet) in length and 10.5 metres (34.5 feet) in width. It will have 40 outward-facing cabins, a restaurant and a panoramic lounge at the rear of the ship. The exterior of the ship will have wood screen walls with back-lighting.

Between April and November, MS Elbe Princesse will sail nine-day cruises between Berlin and Prague visiting Magdeburg, Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Meissen, Dresden, Bad Schandau and Litomerice. Cruise-only prices start from £1,362 per person based on two sharing an outside cabin. The price includes all on-board meals, complimentary beer and wine at lunch and dinner as well as open bar throughout the voyage, on-board entertainment and port taxes.

(Image credit to CroisiEurope)