MS VistaNova

The 2006-built (as Amadeus Princess) cruise ship VistaNova is a time-chartered riverboat currently operated by the German cruise company and travel brand 1AVista Reisen.

The shipowner is Lüftner’s Amadeus River Cruises. Amadeus Princess was first chartered in 2018 (April through November). Until 2024, the vessel was chartered to the UK-based Fred Olsen and operated under the name “MS Brabant.”

MS Brabant cruises on the Danube, Main, Rhine, and Moselle rivers, with departures from homeports Dusseldorf, Nuremberg, Budapest (Hungary), Hirsova (Romania), Amsterdam (Holland), and Basel (Switzerland).

MS Amadeus Princess did not undergo a refurbishment before Fred Olsen’s charter. However, the vessel received Brabant branding and a new hull livery. A Fred Olsen staff member was placed onboard to ensure the company’s standards were maintained, while the rest of the crew remained Lüftner Cruises employees. As Fred Olsen’s customers are predominantly British, the onboard language was English and payments were made in GBP.

In 2024, the vessel (ENI number 04804710) was reflagged from Germany (MMSI 211171530) to Switzerland (MMSI 269057099).

Ship charterer (Fred Olsen Cruise Lines)

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Ltd is a Norwegian-owned and UK-based cruise shipping company, part of the Fred Olsen Group (Fred Olsen & Co / shipowner, headquartered in Oslo, Norway). The company is headquartered in Ipswich (Suffolk, England) and is owned by Bonheur and Ganger Rolf. Founded in 1848 in Hvitsten (Norway) by the three Olsen brothers (Petter, Andras, and Fredrik Christian), the company began with the purchase of its first ships and the establishment of an international shipping enterprise. Today, the Fred Olsen Group is in its fifth family generation and operates numerous subsidiary companies specializing in cruise passenger shipping, trade, shipbuilding, aviation, and offshore industries.

The Fred Olsen Group wholly owns Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Ltd, Fred Olsen Travel Ltd (worldwide tours and vacations via independent operators), Fred Olsen Marine Services AS (shipowner and vessel management), First Olsen Ltd (tanker ships), Dolphin Drilling Holdings Ltd (offshore drilling rigs), Fred Olsen Express (Canary Islands-based fast ferries / catamarans), Fred Olsen Freight Ltd (cargo shipping and air freight), Fred Olsen Windcarrier AS (transport and installation of offshore wind turbines), Fred Olsen Production AS (offshore petroleum production), Fred Olsen Renewables AS, SeaRoc Group Ltd (offshore and marine consultancy and contracting services), ZephIR Lidar UK (wind measurement devices), and Ganger Rolf ASA (energy and shipping). Also part of the Fred Olsen Group, Bonheur ASA manages several wholly-owned companies including NHST Media Group AS (newspapers and online media) and the real estate companies Stavenes Byggeselskap, Koksa Eiendom, and Fred Olsens gate 2. Timex Group BV — parent of several watchmaking companies, including subsidiaries in the USA, India, and the Philippines — is also part of the Fred Olsen Group.

Fred Olsen river cruise itineraries

The Fred Olsen Brabant ship’s maiden voyage departed on April 11, 2018. The 5-day Amsterdam–Dusseldorf itinerary (themed “Springtime Dutch Discovery”) visited Hoorn, Kampen, Deventer, Arnhem, and Nijmegen.

Fred Olsen incorporated extensive daylight cruising into the new river cruise program so passengers could enjoy the scenery at the most picturesque times of day. Listed below are the ship’s itineraries by theme and route (ports of call), along with indicative 2019 prices in GBP per person. Early bookings included free tips (gratuities) plus complimentary dining drinks, or the promotional offer “get 3, pay 2 cruises.”

Cabins

Amadeus Princess (Brabant) has four decks — the Sun Deck plus three cabin decks named after the famous Austrian composers Haydn, Mozart, and Strauss. The riverboat has a total of 80 staterooms, including 68 cabins sized 160 ft² (15 m²) with French balconies (Juliette Balconies) and panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows. Both suites are located on the Mozart Deck, each sized 235 ft² (22 m²) and featuring French balconies. The Lower (Haydn) Deck houses 12 Porthole Cabins (160 ft² / 15 m²) with fixed, non-opening windows.

All staterooms feature standard amenities, including twin beds (convertible to a double/Queen-size bed), bedside cabinets, an en-suite bathroom (with WC, shower, single-sink vanity, under-sink storage, and hairdryer), a seating area (with coffee table and two armchairs), a wardrobe, and a mirrored dressing table (writing desk) with a stool. Additional amenities include a wall-mounted flat-screen TV, direct-dial phone, electronic safe (in the closet), an interactive infotainment system (with TV Internet and complimentary on-demand movies), and individually controlled air-conditioning. All Juliette Balcony cabins also include a mini-bar (refrigerator with payable drinks) and a larger bathroom (with bathtub and bathrobes). Suite passengers enjoy personal concierge service and complimentary morning coffee delivered to their stateroom.

Shipboard facilities

Meals are served in the Panorama Restaurant on Mozart Deck, where passengers can start the day with Early Riser tea, coffee, and pastries, followed by a buffet breakfast a little later. Lunch is offered either as a traditional sit-down meal with three courses or in buffet style, while dinners are gourmet five-course affairs accompanied by complimentary regional wines. The carefully crafted menus feature classic favorites and vegetarian options. Guests with special dietary requests should inform the staff at the time of booking. Produce is regional and fresh. Passengers can also enjoy afternoon tea and cakes or treat themselves to a midnight snack. A Dining Drinks Upgrade package is available for GBP 10 per person, per night, allowing guests to enjoy unlimited European lager, bitter and branded soft drinks, and house wines (red and white) at lunch and dinner.

Guests can spend their leisure time on the Sun Deck, admiring the passing scenery from deckchairs or practicing their putting on the putting green. MS Amadeus Princess (Brabant) also features a giant chessboard and shuffleboard. A hot tub is located aft. Other onboard amenities include a massage service, hairdresser, fitness room, Internet station, Vital Club, Amadeus Club (open 24 hours), Lido Bar, and Panorama Bar Lounge (with live entertainment). During tours and excursions, passengers may use complimentary bicycles (5 bikes available) and wireless audio systems.

Note: You can see CruiseMapper’s complete list of river cruise ships and riverboats in the “itinerary” section of our River Cruises hub. All companies and their fleets are listed there.