MS Rhein Melodie

MS Rhein Melodie was built in 2005 in Kinderdijk (Holland) and until 2016 was owned and operated by Viking River Cruises as “Viking Sun.” The riverboat is currently owned by the Portuguese company Mystic Invest (a family-owned financial holding) and operated under charter by its subsidiary Nicko Tours (a Stuttgart-based cruisetour company).

MS Rhein Melodie cruises on the Rhine River with departures from Cologne, Amsterdam and Basel. Her sistership is Rhein Symphonie (formerly Viking Helvetia).

Cabins

MS Rhein Melodie has a total of 99 cabins accommodating 198 passengers. Upper Deck cabins are all French Balcony staterooms with floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening to a railing (false balcony). Middle Deck cabins feature one large wall-to-wall opening window (size 2 x 1.2 m). Upper and Middle Deck staterooms each measure 15 m² (160 ft²).

Main Deck cabins are the same size (15 m²) and have one non-opening half-height window (150 x 70 cm) located near the ceiling. Single cabins are smaller (12 m² / 130 ft²) and feature one non-opening half-height window and two lower beds – one sofabed (190 x 80 cm) and one foldaway / Pullman bed (170 x 80 cm).

All cabins are equipped with standard hotel beds (two twins convertible to a double, 2 x 1.6 m), bedside tables, under-bed storage space for suitcases, dimmer lighting, wardrobe, mirrored dressing table (writing desk) with chair, small table with two armchairs, and an en-suite bathroom (glass-door shower, WC, washbasin, razor plug). Additional amenities include a hairdryer, flat-screen TV (satellite reception), electronic safe (in the closet), mini-fridge, telephone (intercom / onboard only), a bowl of fresh fruit, complimentary bottled water (replenished daily), and individually controlled air conditioning.

Shipboard amenities

MS Rhein Melodie features a fore-located Dining Room Restaurant (on Middle Deck) with floor-to-ceiling windows, single-seating capacity, and open seating. The menu includes both traditional dishes inspired by visited countries and international cuisine specialties. Fine wines and gourmet delicacies are also offered. The Dining Room and the Lounge (Upper Deck) can be accessed directly from the Lobby (Middle Deck) via a grand staircase.

The Middle Deck also houses the Lobby (ship entrances) with a seating area, a 24-hour Coffee Corner (complimentary coffee, tea, fruit, sparkling water, pastries, cookies), Reception Desk (24-hour guest services and assistance), Tour Office (Cruise Director, excursions information and booking), public restrooms, and a Boutique Shop (gifts, souvenirs, magazines, convenience goods). The aft-located Library Lounge offers comfortable seating (sofas and armchairs), floor-to-ceiling windows, a selection of books (mainly history and travel themed), magazines, playing cards, and board games (including chess and backgammon). Three staircases connect all decks. The ship has no lift (passenger elevator), swimming pool (or Jacuzzi), hair salon, or wellness complex (Fitness, Sauna, Spa).

The Sun Deck features retractable awnings (shaded seating areas with 4-seat tables and chairs, full bar service), a sunbathing area (sun loungers and deckchairs), and a deck games area (Giant Chess Set). The wheelhouse, railings, and awnings on the Sun Deck are fully retractable to allow passage under low bridges.

The fore-located Bar Lounge on the Upper Deck has floor-to-ceiling windows, comfortable seating (small round tables with armchairs), a dance floor, grand piano (live performances by a resident pianist), and its own bar. Onboard entertainment includes daily live music, cooking demonstrations, quizzes, bingo, crew shows, themed dance nights, movie screenings (drop-down screen), enrichment lectures and presentations related to cruise destinations, and food and wine tasting events.

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

MS Rhein Melodie cruise fares include all onboard meals (buffet breakfast, waiter-served lunch and dinner, afternoon coffee with cake, midnight snacks), Welcome Cocktail party, Welcome Dinner, Gala Dinner, onboard entertainment, ship tour, and port taxes. Cruisetour fares do not include flights, transfers, excursions, insurance, gratuities, beverages, or personal expenses.

The Germany-flagged riverboat Rhein Melodie (ENI number 04803570) was previously operated by Viking River Cruises (Viking Flusskreuzfahrten GmbH) under the name “Viking Sun” (MMSI 211539220). The vessel is powered by two Caterpillar marine diesel engines (model C18 ACERT) with a combined output of 2.3 MW.

MS Viking Sun’s “RHINE GETAWAY” itinerary (also offered as a “German Christmas Markets” voyage) was a 7-day cruisetour sailing from Amsterdam to Basel and in reverse from Basel to Amsterdam. These itineraries covered four countries (Holland, Germany, France, Switzerland) and included six complimentary land tours/excursions. Disembarkation in Holland included an optional 2-night Amsterdam hotel package. Disembarkation in Switzerland (Basel) included an optional 2-night Lucerne hotel package (on Lake Lucerne in the Swiss Alps).

Featured port activities along the route included Kinderdijk (windmill network tour, Dutch cheese tasting, jenever/juniper liquor sampling, sjoelen/table shuffleboard), Koblenz (Marksburg Castle and museum tour), Rudesheim (Drosselgasse), Mannheim (bus tour to Heidelberg, re-embarkation in Speyer), Kehl (tour to Strasbourg), and Breisach (Black Forest open-air museum, cuckoo-clock-making workshop, with an optional excursion to Colmar). Viking Sun cruise fares included Internet (Wi-Fi), laundry, all tours/excursions, land transfers, live evening entertainment, daily lectures, food and wine tastings, 24-hour coffee/tea, and daily replenished bottled water. Transfers to/from the riverboat and airport meet-and-greet services were included only when air travel was booked through Viking.

Below are sample itineraries with port dates:

• (Sunday) 7-day from Amsterdam – Oct 18 (Amsterdam, dep), Oct 19 (Kinderdijk), Oct 20 (Cologne), Oct 21 (Koblenz), Oct 22 (Heidelberg), Oct 23 (Strasbourg), Oct 24 (Breisach am Rhein), Oct 25 (Basel).
• (Sunday) 7-day from Basel – Oct 25 (Basel, dep), Oct 26 (Breisach am Rhein), Oct 27 (Strasbourg), Oct 28 (Heidelberg), Oct 29 (Koblenz), Oct 30 (Cologne), Oct 31 (Kinderdijk), Nov 01 (Amsterdam).

Note: You can see 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.