MS Excellence Princess

The MS Excellence Princess cruise ship was launched in 2014 as a larger version of her 2010-inaugurated sisterships, Excellence Queen and Excellence Royal. The riverboat is owned by the German travel company Swiss Excellence River Cruise GmbH, based in Basel (a subsidiary of Twerenbold Reisen), and operated by Excellence Flussreisen (travel brand) through Reiseburo Mittelthurgau AG (marketing and sales).

The ship operates exclusively on the Danube River. Of the same design are her sisterships Excellence Countess (2019) and Excellence Empress (2020). Excellence Princess accommodates up to 186 passengers, while Countess and Empress carry a maximum of 178 guests. These large riverboats (length 135 m) feature floor-to-ceiling windows throughout decks 2 and 3, a glass-roofed Bar Lounge, a spacious main restaurant, and a specialty Steakhouse.

Cabins

Excellence Princess staterooms (a total of 93) are mostly French Balcony cabins (81), with only the Main Deck staterooms featuring high windows. Each cabin includes standard amenities such as a wall-mounted HDTV (with satellite reception, ship information channel, and real-time bow camera views), telephone, wardrobe, electronic safe (in the closet), minibar (refrigerator), double bed (convertible to twins), bedside tables with reading lamps, writing desk (mirrored vanity) with padded stool, bottled water, and an en-suite bathroom (single-sink vanity, under-sink storage, WC, glass shower, magnifying mirror, hairdryer, towels). All cabins have individually controlled air conditioning.

All Comfort cabins on decks 2 (Middle) and 3 (Upper) measure 16 m² (170 ft²) and include a French Balcony accessed via sliding glass doors (floor-to-ceiling opening windows). Main Deck cabins measure 13 m² (140 ft²) and have non-opening windows located near the ceiling. The 12 Junior Suites are French Balcony cabins measuring 20 m² (215 ft²). Suite privileges include a DVD player, premium bathrobes, and welcome gifts of sparkling wine and fresh fruit upon arrival.

The ship offers two wheelchair-accessible Suites on the Upper Deck (cabins 301 and 302), designed for guests with reduced mobility. Both are conveniently located near the Lobby area and the ship’s elevator.

Shipboard facilities

The Excellence Lounge (the ship’s main bar lounge, located forward on Deck 3) features comfortable seating and a small Bow Terrace (with limited seating). It also hosts the formal Captain’s Cocktail Reception (welcome aboard event). The Bar Lounge offers live entertainment and enrichment programs, including crew shows, cooking demonstrations, guest performances, quiz games, themed and dance nights (often with live music), language lessons, and lectures on folklore or regional history related to the cruise itinerary.

The Lobby Hall (midship on Deck 3) includes the Reception Desk (24-hour guest services), Tour Desk (Cruise Director, itinerary details, excursion bookings), Gift Shop, and the ship’s entrances (port and starboard). At the stern of Deck 3, the Aft Lounge serves as a Library, Cocktail Bar, and evening Steakhouse (à la carte restaurant) with its own bar (Bordbar).

The spacious Sun Deck (Deck 4) features a mini-golf course (putting green), heated Jacuzzi (outdoor whirlpool), small fitness area, sunbathing zones with loungers and deckchairs, and shaded seating areas (canopy-covered). Forward are the outdoor Sky Lounge (BBQ and Bar with 4-seat tables) and a small SkyLight (glass roof over the Bar Lounge on Deck 3). All Sun Deck structures (wheelhouse, awnings, railings) are collapsible and lowered when passing under low bridges. The wellness area (midship on Deck 1) includes a sauna and gym room.

Excellence Princess’s dining options include a rich breakfast buffet, afternoon tea service (complimentary pastries with coffee and tea), and a wide selection of European dishes for lunch and dinner, including vegan and vegetarian options. The fore-located Panorama Restaurant (Deck 2) features a show kitchen (open galley with live cooking stations). It offers a buffet breakfast (hot and cold items), buffet-style lunch (salads, starters, desserts) with waiter-served main courses, and a five-course dinner. Daily themed buffets feature international cheese specialties and gourmet grilled dishes. Premium wines (by the glass) accompany all main meals. The restaurant also hosts the formal Gala Dinner.

The attentive crew and experienced tour guides are always available to assist guests. The onboard language is German. The ship has one passenger elevator interconnecting decks 1-2-3 (Main, Middle, Upper) and a stairlift linking decks 3 (Upper) and 4 (Sun Deck).