Arena River Cruises has officially launched its new flagship, MS Arena, following a two-year delay due to the pandemic.

The operator held a preview mini-cruise for a group of industry guests at the end of March, and on 4 April the ship departed for its first sailing season on a cruise from Amsterdam along the Dutch Waterways, Rhine and Danube.

MD Steve Goodenough said: “We are all really excited to finally be able to launch the MS Arena, following several unavoidable false starts resulting from the pandemic.

“All the team – both in the UK and the ship’s crew – are looking forward to welcoming passengers on board and setting sail at long last.

“Whether we are being joined by long-standing clients who have cruised with us many times before, or first-time river cruisers, we hope they will enjoy everything the MS Arena has to offer and have memorable experiences discovering some of our favourite destinations along the waterways of Europe.”

The 192-passenger MS Arena has undergone a full refurbishment, featuring a “modern, sleek style”, Arena River Cruises said.

Staterooms feature panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, French balconies and flat screen TVs, plus free wifi.

Arena River Cruises unveils trade portal

Arena River Cruises has also created a new online portal for UK and Irish travel agents.

Accessed via the homepage on the main Arena Travel website, the portal will give agents 24/7 access to search for availability or to manage existing bookings.

Agents requiring access to the portal for the first time are advised to contact the sales team to request login details.