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CroisiEurope

History, Review, Itineraries, Ships, Deck Plans, News

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Review of CroisiEurope

The CroisiEurope line brand ("Alsace Croisieres" until 1997) is a French river cruise company, which is family owned and run, and based in Strasbourg. The line specializes in river cruising and also Mediterranean coastal cruises. Mr. Gerard Schmitter founded CroisiEurope in 1976, chartering ms Alsace - his first riverboat - in 1982.

Company history

CroisiEurope is one of Europe's (and world's) largest river cruise companies. Its riverboats are deployed on Europe's main/largest inland waterways (rivers and canals). CroisiEurope's ships also cruise in Asia (Vietnam and Cambodia). The company additionally charters vessels that cruise on Volga River in Russia, on Irrawaddy River in Burma, and on Chobe and Zambezi rivers in South Africa.

CroisiEurope logo

Two of company's ships are ocean-going. Throughout the 1990s and the 2000s, Croisi underwent rapid fleet expansion. As the fleet grew, the company expanded its passenger shipping operations outside France. In 1999, Gerard Schmitter handed the management over his children.

CroisiEurope currently owns a fleet of premium category riveboats cruising on Europe’s all large rivers. Passenger capacity varies from 100 to 180 (depending on vessel design). The fleet is partially renovated (each year) and professionally maintained. Most boats are newer (built in the 2000s with many newbuilds (launched after 2010). All vessels are with Veritas certifications.

French is the primary shipboard language, although most of the staff/crew also speak English and other European languages. All onboard announcements are in English and French. What distinguishes Croisi from other river travel brands are the moderately-priced cruise fares. Like on most European riverboats, CroisiEurope deals include soft drinks, beers and wines (by the glass) with lunch and dinner. Unlimited drinks are offered during high season (April through October), including house spirits. However, one of the differences is that CroisiEurope passengers have to pay extra for shore excursions, unlike many other brands that are inclusive of guided land tours.

In addition to the Main Dining Room restaurant, ship's signature public spaces also include an indoor Bar Lounge (Salon) serving company's enrichment program with daily lectures and media presentations and evening live entertainment (ranging from traditional regional to resident musician performances and crew shows). Lobby's mezzanine (reception area) houses a small Gift Shop. The outdoor-carpeted Sun Deck has boat's Wheelhouse and shaded-seating areas (for relaxation) fitted with deckchairs and tables.

In 2006, CroisiEurope celebrated the company's 30th Anniversary. In 2007 was inaugurated CroisiMer - subsidiary company that manages the sea-going fleet (La Belle de l'Adriatique). In 2010 was created the brand CroisiYacht to manage all chartered cruises on Russia's Volga River. In 2014, CroisiEurope bought "Compagnie Fluviale du Mékong" (Mekong River Cruise Company), thus adding 4 Mekong-based boats to the fleet.

Fleet expansion (new ships)

In March 2016, CroisiEurope announced the addition of 4 new riverboats to its fleet in 2017. Their scheduled deployment was on the rivers Mekong, Douro, Rhine, and Danube. The newbuilds are in addition to the 2016-inaugurated riverboats Elbe Princesse (80-passenger paddlewheel, designed to navigate on the complicated Elbe River) and two 22-passenger hotel barges - Daniele (Burgundy rivers) and Deborah (Briare Canal in Upper Loire Valley).

The new Douro cruisers - Miguel Torga (2016) and Amalia Rodrigues (2019) - are company's 5th and 6th boats in Portugal. Each carries 132 passengers and has 3 decks and an aft-located sundeck swimming pool. Their itineraries are roundtrips from Oporto and stop in Vega de Terron, Ferradosa,Pinhao and Regua.

Also in 2017, Indochine 2 (announced in 2015) started cruising on Mekong. This is the fifth CroisiEurope Mekong ship. It carries 60 passengers in all-balcony cabins. In 2017, for Rhine and Danube shipping, the company built two new boats - Symphonie 2 (April, 106-passenger, 54 cabins) and Douce France 2 (June, 135-passenger, 68 cabins).

In 2019, to CroisiMer was added the acquired from Silversea Expeditions ship "Silver Discoverer". This 1989-built ocean-going vessel was initially named "Clipper Odyssey" and joins the fleetmate La Belle de l'Adriatique in 2020-Q1 - under the new name La Belle des Oceans.

CroisiEurope France river cruises

In 2016, CroisiEurope expanded the company's "Cruise and Bike Program" on 3 European rivers, adding Loire River to Danube and Rhine.

  • Prices for 8-day Loire River cruise and biking tour start at USD 4,880 per person. These deals are on the Loire Princesse ship (launched in April 2015) and include professional guided cycling trips on a daily basis, plus all meals, unlimited beverages, and free Wi-Fi.
  • The "Cruise and Bike Program" is operated in groups averaging 8 passengers per tour (max 14 passengers), 1 group leader (for every 4 passengers) and cycling along Loire River. Included are stops for walking tours in all local towns (along the river) and also wine tasting (ashore).
  • The program also includes 8-day "Garonne Biking Cruise" (pricing per person from USD 4,490) and 8-day "Saone and Rhone Biking Cruise" (pricing PP from USD 4,790).
  • Early booking discounts (done by October 31) are 10% per person.
  • All cruise tours are price inclusive of all meals and complimentary unlimited drinks and onboard Wi-Fi.

Itinerary of CroisiEurope

CroisiEurope operates on Europe's major waterways. Among the line's specialties are the France river cruises, including on luxury hotel barge ships. The company owns and operates the following vessels:

Note: Mekong cruises (in Cambodia and Vietnam) are operated between August and April.

CroisiEurope is the only cruise tour company that offers 6-day Douro River itineraries in Portugal. These voyages include towns that are usually not listed in other companies' itineraries, among which are Folgosa and Ferradosa, as well as Senhora da Hora and Leverinho (both in the Porto Metro City district).

CroisiEurope Ocean Cruises

After cruising between homeports Singapore and Phuket Thailand (fall 2019), the liner La Belle des Oceans offers a series of global / repositioning voyages before the summer homeporting season on Canada's St Lawrence waterway (starting June 2020). Passengers can book three global voyages - 11-day itinerary (Around India and Sri Lanka), 9-day itinerary (Abu Dhabi to Muscat) and 10-day Suez Canal (Asia to Mediterranean).

  • (January 11, 2020) India and Sri Lanka cruise visits Madras, Colombo, Trincomalee, Cochin, Mormugao-Goa, Mumbai-Bombay, with shore excursion options Mahabalipuram (Madras), Goa's churches and convents, Bombay's Elephanta Island. Prices start at USD 6,065 pp (double occupancy cabin rates).
  • (January 27, 2020) from Abu Dhabi to Muscat, passengers can experience Louvre Abu Dhabi, Oman’s fortresses' route, meet with an Omani family in Al Hamra, swim in Wadi Bani Khaled, drive a 4x4 through Wahiba Sands desert, visit Burj Khalifa (aka Burj Dubai skyscraper - currently world's highest tower). Prices start at USD 5,237 pp.
  • (February 17, 2020) cruise through Suez Canal is offered as relocation from Red Sea to Mediterranean Sea. The itinerary visits Jordan, Egypt, Israel, Cyprus. Shore excursions include Wadi Rum desert, Petra, Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Jerusalem, Galilee, Acre. Prices start at USD 6,700 pp.

"Petite Seine Cruise" (France hotel barge itinerary)

In 2018, CroisiEurope introduced a new cruise barge itinerary in France - a 6-night / 7day roundtrip from Paris along Petite-Seine River (Seine's tributary).

  • The new itinerary visits the capital city's outskirts (the neighboring Evry, Melun, St Mammes) and also offers to explore the magnificent Paris City itself. There is also excursions to the chateaus Vaux-le-Vicomte and Fontainebleau, town tour in the medieval Troyes and champagne wine tasting in Champagne.
  • "PetiteSeine Cruise" prices started from USD 3,175 pp. The fares are inclusive of all onboard meals (served on the hotel barge), all shore excursions, beverages (at the barge's bar), as well as port fees and travel insurance.
  • The 2018 departures were scheduled for October 6, 13, 20 and 27.
  • The itinerary is also available in 2019 (September and October).

Follows the list of ports of call along the new barge cruise itinerary from Paris.

  • (DAY 1) PARIS - 6 pm embarkation at Grenelle wharf, onboard dinner, Paris canal cruising, overnight at Bercy wharf.
  • (DAY 2) PARIS - EVRY - morning coach travel and foot tour of Paris City, visiting Place de la Republique, grand boulevards, Palais Garnier, Madeleine Church, Place Vendôme, Louvre museum. Walk tour leaves from Palais-Royal. Follows afternoon cruising to Evry, onboard dinner
  • (DAY 3) EVRY - MELUN - ST MAMMES - morning cruising towards Melun, afternoon tour of Fontainebleau Palace and gardens, Melun town tour, onboard dinner, overnight port stay
  • (DAY 4) ST MAMMES - Troyes / Champagne route - MELUN - coach travel to Troyes, local restaurant lunch, Champagne route scenic cruising, visiting a wine cellar (Champagne tasting), overnight in Melun
  • (DAY 5) MELUN - EVRY - PARIS - coach travel to Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte, afternoon cruising towards Paris (overnight Orsay wharf stay).
  • (DAY 6) PARIS CANAL ST MARTIN - morning cruising across Canal Saint-Martin, afternoon guided tour (Saint-Germain-des-Pres district), onboard gala dinner
  • (DAY 7) PARIS BASSIN DE LA VILETTE - onboard buffet breakfast, disembarkation at 9 am.

CroisiEurope cruise ship tracker

Our CroisiEurope cruise ship tracker is a function integrated into all CroisiEurope river cruise review pages. At page-bottom in each page, you'll find a map with the boat's current location (AIS position). All the real-time tracking data is provided by VesselFinder. It's all about convenience - you will find where is your CroisiEurope ship cruising today and now along its current itinerary! Enjoy the "luxury France" river cruising on your CroisiEurope vacations!

Note: You can see the CruiseMapper's list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub. All river passenger shipping line companies and their fleets are listed there.

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