MS Bijou du Rhone

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

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

The vessel’s former owner was Munich-based Premicon AG, which also owns KD Cruises (Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt). MS Bijou du Rhône cruises on the Rhône River in France, with roundtrip departures from her homeport in Lyon.

Cabins

MS Bijou du Rhône offers 75 cabins accommodating up to 155 passengers. All Middle and Upper Deck cabins are outside staterooms measuring 15 m² (160 ft²) and feature a double bed, bedside tables, wardrobe, mirrored dressing table with two chairs, and an en-suite bathroom (shower, WC, wash basin). Additional amenities include a hairdryer, flat-screen TV (satellite channels), electronic safe (in the closet), onboard telephone (intercom), and individually controlled air conditioning.

Lower Deck cabins are smaller (12 m² / 130 ft²) and have two lower beds (one foldaway and one sofabed), which can be folded against the wall during the day to create more space.

Lower Deck cabins have one non-opening window (quarter-height, near the ceiling). Middle Deck forward cabins originally featured one opening window, but following the 2019 drydock refurbishment, all Deluxe staterooms (midship on the Middle and Upper Decks) were converted into French Balcony cabins with sliding glass doors opening to a railing (Juliet balcony).

Shipboard Amenities

MS Bijou du Rhône features an aft-located Dining Room Restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows, single-seating capacity, and open-seating arrangement. The restaurant offers a menu combining regional specialties inspired by visited destinations with international cuisine. Fine wines and gourmet dishes are also served. The culinary highlight of each voyage is the Gala Dinner, featuring an elegant menu and an ice parade.

On the Upper Deck, the Lobby area houses the Reception Desk (24-hour guest services and assistance), Tour Office (for excursion information and booking), and a Library with a small Gift Shop. Two staircases connect all decks. The Promenade Deck wraps around the Lounge and provides stair access to the Sun Deck. The ship has no wellness complex (Fitness Room, Spa, or Hair Salon), passenger elevator (lift), swimming pool, or Jacuzzi. The wheelhouse, railings, and awnings are retractable to allow safe passage under low bridges.

The Sun Deck features a retractable awning providing a shaded seating lounge with tables and chairs, full bar service, and an aft deck games area with a Giant Chess Set. The sunbathing area is furnished with padded loungers and deckchairs.

Located forward on the Upper Deck, the Bar Lounge features floor-to-ceiling windows, comfortable seating (round tables with armchairs), a dance floor, and a grand piano with live performances by the resident pianist. Onboard entertainment includes daily live music, cooking demonstrations, quiz games, bingo, crew shows, themed dance nights, enrichment lectures, and multimedia presentations related to the cruise itinerary’s destinations and excursions.

The cruise company offers optional shore excursions (not included in the cruise fare) at each port of call. These include sightseeing tours, city walks, cycling excursions, and bus trips to nearby attractions. Complimentary portable audio headsets are provided for all guided shore excursions.

MS Bijou du Rhône cruise fares include all onboard meals (breakfast buffet, waiter-served lunch and dinner, afternoon coffee with cake, midnight snacks), Welcome Cocktail, Welcome Dinner, Gala Dinner, onboard entertainment, ship tour, and port taxes. Not included are flights, transfers, excursions, insurance, gratuities, beverages, and personal expenses.

The Malta-flagged riverboat MS Bijou du Rhône (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 a combined power output of 2.2 MW.

Viking Pride was the third of four Viking River Cruises France ships built before the introduction of the “longship design,” alongside Viking Europe (now Carmen), Viking Neptune (now Verdi), and Viking Spirit (now Seine Comtesse).

The ship was christened by Karin Hildebrand, wife of Klaus Hildebrand (co-founder, largest shareholder, and CEO of Premicon AG – a fund management and investment company). Premicon AG is the shipowner and parent company of the German brands “Transocean” and “Premicon.” The company also operates in container shipping, real estate, and other investment sectors. The Viking Pride naming ceremony took place at the Merwede Shipyard in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, Southern Holland. The vessel was last refurbished in 2013 and sold to Mystic Invest in 2016.

Below is the Viking Pride cruisetour itinerary “PARIS and THE HEART OF NORMANDY” – a 7-day Seine River voyage roundtrip from Paris City, inclusive of six complimentary land tours and excursions:

• Day 2 – Half-day Paris city bus tour
• Day 3 – Vernon: short coach trip to Giverny (Claude Monet’s gardens and farmhouse)
• Day 4 – Scenic Seine River cruise to Rouen (overnight stay)
• Day 5 – Full-day Normandy Beaches tour (WWII-themed, including the American Military Cemetery and D-Day Museum)
• Day 6 – Les Andelys (Château Gaillard castle tour), evening arrival in Conflans (overnight stay)
• Day 7 – Conflans walking tour, optional excursion to Versailles Palace, afternoon cruise back to Paris
• Day 8 – Disembarkation, with an optional 3-night Paris luxury hotel package

“Cruising Only” packages were also offered as 5-day Paris roundtrips. Below is an example of a 6-day Paris itinerary with port dates:

• Mon Dec 07 – Paris (departure)
• 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 (arrival)

Note: You can view CruiseMapper’s complete list of river cruise ships and riverboats in the “Itinerary” section of our River Cruises hub, where all companies and their fleets are listed.