MS Amadeus Cara

The 2021-built/2022-inaugurated Amadeus Cara cruise ship is a 170-passenger riverboat (fleet's 17th) owned by the Austrian company and shipowner Luftner Cruises and operated via the Luftner-owned travel brand Amadeus River Cruises.

Like the sisterships Amadeus Silver 2 (2015), Amadeus Silver 3 (2016), Amadeus Imperial (2020), and Amadeus Riva (2023), Amadeus Cara cruises on Moselle, Rhine, Main, and Danube river itineraries, including Danube Delta voyages (to the Black Sea).

Amadeus Cara's itinerary program is based on homeporting in Passau Germany, Amsterdam Holland, and Basel Switzerland.

The Maiden Voyage (8-day Rhine Cruise) was initially scheduled to depart from Basel (on June 10, 2022) and end in Amsterdam (on June 18th). However, due to a construction/delivery delay, the boat's inaugural cruise (8-day itinerary) departed from Cologne/Koln (Germany) on July 2nd. Prices started at EUR 2000 (~GBP 1690) per person with double occupancy.

The vessel (ENI number 2339509) is currently Germany-flagged (MMSI 211867530) and registered in Cologne.

Cabins

MS Amadeus Cara has four decks - Sun Deck (open-air) plus 3 interior passenger decks named after famous Austrian composers - Haydn, Mozart, Strauss. The riverboat has 12x Amadeus Suites (27 m2, with step-out balconies), 54x French Balcony cabins (18 m2) plus 18x Window cabins (18 m2, with non-opening windows).

All staterooms offer as standard amenities twin beds (convertible to Queen-size double bed), mirrored vanity table with chair, wardrobe, electronic safe box (in the closet), direct-dial phone, LCD TV, seating area (2 armchairs with round-shaped coffee/dining table), floor-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows (slide-opening to French Balcony), en-suite bathroom (WC, single-sink vanity, shower, hairdryer).

Suites additionally offer fully-stocked minibars (not complimentary), corner sofa (daybed), walk-in wardrobe, step-out balcony.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

On Amadeus Cara ship, all meals are served at Panorama Restaurant (located forward on Strauss Deck 2). The Restaurant offers light bites (early breakfast) and buffet breakfast. Lunch is either buffet-style or sit-down (waiter-served). All dinners are 5-course gourmet dining affairs with complimentary regional wines. All produce is locally-sourced and seasonal. Guests can also indulge in Afternoon Tea & Cake service, midnight snacks, and 24-hour coffee/tea station.

The best place on the boat for spending leisure time is the Sun Deck (deck 4). It provides top-deck views of the riverside scenery, plenty of sitting (deckchairs, sun loungers, shaded seating areas covered by retractable awnings), putting green (mini-golf course), Giant Chessboard, Shuffleboard. The sundeck area is served by Lido Bar (light snacks and beverages). Sun Deck's fore-located Navigation Bridge (called "Wheelhouse" on riverboats) is passenger accessible and telescopic (can be lowered for passing under low bridges).

• (Mozart Deck 3 forward) Panorama Lounge & Bar is the ship's show lounge with floor-ceiling windows, comfortable furniture, full-service Bar. The Lounge also serves the cruise company's enrichment program with port talks, destination/itinerary-themed lectures and media presentations, themed parties, crew show, live music and dance performances by local artists boarding the ship.
• (Mozart Deck 3 aft) Amadeus Club is a stylish wine bar with Internet stations. It also doubles as ship's Library.
• (Mozart Deck 3 midship) Cafe Vienna is the ship's bakery/patisserie/coffee house serving Austrian specialty coffees, fresh-baked homemade cakes, tarts, light pastries, and other gourmet desserts.
• (Mozart Deck 3 bow) River Terrace is a glass-shielded room (wind-rain-protected outside lounge) accessible via Panorama Lounge or via stairs from Sun Deck.
• Spa (massage room), Hair Salon (hairdresser), Gym (fitness room)

The ship has no swimming pool or outdoor Jacuzzi. One elevator (passenger lift) connects all cabin decks. Wi-Fi costs extra and is with shipwide coverage.

On all tours/shore excursions are offered complimentary bikes (mounted on the Sun Deck) and wireless audio systems.

The vessel (ENI number 2339509) was constructed at TeamCo Shipyard (in Heusden, North Brabant/Netherlands). The ship's name (Cara) has a Latin origin and translates as "precious" (valuable). The name was chosen to underline Luftner's 40-year family business that results in one of Europe's largest passenger shipowners (riverboat fleets) internationally popular as a 5-star travel brand and top-rated cruisetour company.

The shipbuilding order with TeamCo Shipyard BV was signed on January 10, 2020. The ship (Luftner's 17th) was initially scheduled for delivery in March 2021 but eventually postponed to July 2022. The original Maiden Voyage (in 2021) was an 8-day itinerary (themed "Danube Rhapsody") and had to leave roundtrip from Passau (Germany).

The vessel's construction started on April 8, 2020, with the keel-laying ceremony held at TeamCo Shipyard.

Amadeus Cara officially joined the fleet on June 29, 2022, in Cologne, when was also held the christening ceremony led by godmother Anna Luftner (Luftner Cruises' Director of Marketing & Public Relations).

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 companies and their fleets are listed there.