As the MS Elbe Princesse leaves dry dock in Saint-Nazaire, CroisiEurope has announced that they have placed an order for a third paddlewheel ship for delivery in 2018.

The third paddlewheel ship will be 110 metres long with 58 cabins. The name of the ship and its itineraries will be announced at a later date.

The MS Elbe Princesse has been built in two blocks and assembled over a month in Dry Dock No. 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.

The MS Elbe Princesse follows in the footsteps of sister ship, the MS Loire Princesse, and has been designed using advanced paddlewheel technology which will allow it to navigate year round the lowest waters of the Elbe

Designed by Stirling Design International in Nantes, the ship’s main propulsion will be two stern paddlewheels powered by two 300 kW hydraulic engines. Additionally, two pump-jets give the ship good  manoeuvrability at low speeds. Its shallow draft of  0.9 metres will allow it to cruise into the heart of Prague.
The MS Elbe Princesse measures 95 metres long (311 feet) and 10.5 metres wide (34.5 feet). It will have 40 outward facing 15m2 cabins, a 100m2 restaurant and a panoramic 145m2 lounge at the back of the ship. The exterior of the ship will have wood screen walls with backlighting. It can accommodate 80 passengers

Between April and November, the MS Elbe Princesse will offer 9-day cruises between Berlin and the heart of Prague visiting Magdeburg, Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Meissen, Dresden, Bad Schandau and Litomerice. Cruise only prices from £1,362 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, onboard entertainment and port taxes.

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