MS Bijou du Rhone

MS Bijou du Rhone cruise ship was built in 2001 in Kinderdijk (Holland) for Viking River Cruises under the name "Viking Pride" (shipowner Pericon AG).

In 2016, the riverboat was purchased by the Portuguese company Mystic Invest (family-owned financial holding) and is currently operated under charter by its subsidiary Nicko Tours (Stuttgart-based cruisetour company).

The former shipowner was the Munich-based company Premicon AG - owner of KD Cruises (Koln-Dusseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt). MS Bijou du Rhone cruises on Rhone River (in France) with roundtrip departures from homeport Lyon.

Cabins

MS Bijou du Rhone ship has a total of 75 cabins for 155 passengers. Middle-Upper Deck cabins are all outside (sized 15 m2 / 160 ft2) and equipped with 1 double bed, bedside tables, wardrobe, mirrored dressing table with 2 chair, en-suite bathroom (shower, WC, wash basin), hairdryer, safe (in the closet), flat TV (satellite reception), electronic safe box (in the closet), phone (intercom / onboard only), individually controlled air-conditioning.

Lower Deck cabins are smaller (sized 12 m2 / 130 ft2) and with 2 lower beds (1 foldaway, 1 sofabed), which allows during the day to be folded to the wall to create more space.

Lower Deck cabins have 1 non-opening window (quarter-height, located near the ceiling). Middle Deck (forward) cabins were with 1 opening window. After drydock refurbishment 2019, all Deluxe staterooms (located midship on decks Middle and Upper) were converted to French Balcony cabins (with sliding glass door opening to a railing / false balcony).

Shipboard amenities

MS Bijou du Rhone ship has an aft-located Dining Room Restaurant with floor-ceiling windows, single-seating capacity and open seating arrangement. Dining Room menu includes both traditional dishes (itinerary-based on visited countries) and international cuisine specialties. Fine wines and gourmet delicacies are also offered. The culinary highlight of each voyage is the Gala Dinner held here, with an exquisite menu and ice parade.

On Upper Deck is the Lobby area with Reception Desk (providing 24-hour guest services and assistance), Tour Office (excursions information and booking), Library (with a small Gift Shop). Two staircases connect all decks. Promenade Deck wraps around the Lounge and allows stair access to Sun Deck. The ship has no wellness complex (Fitness, Spa, Hair Salon), Lift (passenger elevator), Swimming Pool (or Jacuzzi), The wheelhouse, all railings and awnings are retractable to allow passing under low bridges.

Sun Deck has a retractable Awning (roofed/shaded seating lounge with tables and chairs, full bar service) and aft deck games area (Giant Chess Set). The sunbathing area is furnished with padded loungers and deckchairs.

The fore-located on Upper Deck Bar Lounge has floor-ceiling windows, comfortable seating (round tables with armchairs), dance floor, grand piano (live performances by resident pianist) and is served by its own Bar. Onboard entertainment includes daily live music performances, cooking demonstrations, quiz games, bingo, crew show, themed dance nights, enrichment lectures and media presentations (related to the cruisetour itinerary's destinations, ports, excursions).

The cruise company offers optional shore excursions (not included in cruisetour fares) in each of the visited ports. Land tours include sightseeing tours, city walks, cycling tours, bus travel to nearby tourist destinations. On all guided shore excursions are provided complimentary portable audio headsets.

MS Bijou du Rhone river cruise deals are inclusive of all onboard meals (breakfast buffet, waiter-served lunch and dinner, afternoon coffee with cake, midnight snacks), Welcome Cocktail party, Welcome Dinner, Gala Dinner, onboard entertainment, ship tour, port taxes. Cruisetour deals don't include flights, transfers, excursions, insurance, gratuities, beverages, personal expenses.

The Malta-flagged riverboat Bijou du Rhone (ENI number 04800210) was previously operated by Viking River Cruises (Viking Flusskreuzfahrten GmbH) under the name "Viking Pride" (MMSI 211162210, Germany-flagged). The vessel is powered by two Caterpillar marine diesel engines (model C18 ACERT) with combined power output 2,2 MW.

Viking Pride was the third of all four Viking River Cruises France ships of the pre-“longship design" era - together with Viking Europe (now Carmen), Viking Neptune (now Verdi) and Viking Spirit (now Seine Comtesse).

The riverboat was christened by Karin Hildebrand - wife of Klaus Hildebrand (co-founder, largest shareholder and CEO of "Premicon AG" - funds management and investment services company. Premicon AG is the shipowner (and parent company) of the German brands "Transocean" and "Premicon". The company also specializes in container shipping, real estates and other businesses. Viking Pride ship’s christening ceremony was held at Merwede Shipyard (Hardinxveld-Griessendam, Southern Holland). Viking Pride was last refurbished in 2013 and sold to Mystic Invest in 2016.

Next is listed Viking Pride's cruisetour itinerary "PARIS and THE HEART OF NORMANDY" - 7-day Seine River cruises roundtrip from Paris City. These deals were inclusive of 6 complimentary land tours/excursions.

• Day 2 - half-day long Paris bus tour
• Day 3 - Vernon, short coach travel to Giverny (gardens, Claude Monet farmhouse).
• Day 4 - scenic Normandy river cruise to Rouen (overnight dock)
• Day 5 - full-day long Normandy Beaches tour (WWII-themed, visiting American Military Cemetery, D-Day Museum)
• Day 6 - Les Andelys (Chateau Gaillard castle tour), evening arrival in Conflans (overnight dock)
• Day 7 - Conflans walk tour, with optional tour to Versailles Palace, afternoon Seine cruise to Paris
• Day 8 - disembarkation, with an optional 3-night Paris luxury hotel package.

"Cruising Only" deals were offered as 5-day Paris roundtrips. Next is shown an exemplary itinerary with port dates:

• 6-day round-trip to Europe-s & Cruises from Paris - Mon Dec 07 (Paris, departing), Tue Dec 08 (Vernon), Wed Dec 09 (Rouen), Thu Dec 10 (Normandy Beaches), Fri Dec 11 (Les Andelys), Sat Dec 12 (Conflans-Sainte-Honorine), Sun Dec 13 (Paris, arrive).

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.