MS Swiss Sapphire

The 2008-built MS Swiss Sapphire cruise ship is owned by the Switzerland-based passenger shipping company SCYLLA AG. Swiss Sapphire's sisterships are the fleetmates Swiss Emerald/VIVA Beyond, Swiss Jewel, Esprit and Treasures.

Currently, the shipowner Scylla charters Swiss Sapphire to the US cruise travel company Tauck Tours/fleet.

The riverboat (ENI number 0 7001858) is currently Switzerland-flagged (MMSI 269057270) and registered in Basel.

The itineraries are on the European rivers Rhine, Main and Danube, with departures from homeports Kehl-Strasbourg, Prague, Amsterdam, Brussels. On some itineraries, passengers can use the ship's complimentary bicycles to ride along the river and meet up with the boat at the next call port. Between tour-packed port days, onboard are provided enrichment lectures, crew show, themed dance parties, playing bingo, quizzes, cards, board games.

Shipboard facilities

All cabins on Swiss Sapphire are outside facing and most feature French balconies. Amenities include flat-screen TVs, L'Occitane toiletries, plush bathrobes. Wi-Fi is complimentary, and available from bow to stern. A light Italian meal, an alternative dining option, is available nightly in the Lido Bar with 180-degree retractable glass wall. 

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.

In March-April 2017, Swiss Sapphire was drydock refitted and refurbished. The boat's passenger capacity was reduced from 118 to 98 (17% reduction) and the staterooms number was decreased from 59 to 49. The ship's reconstruction created larger public areas and bigger passenger cabins. The most extensive changes were done on Ruby (middle) Deck, where the 30x cabins (sized 14 m2 / 150 ft2) were replaced by 20x cabins (sized 21 m2 / 225 ft2). The ship already had 14x suites (sized 28 m2 / 300 ft2). Following the 2018 drydock, nearly 70% of all staterooms are 21 m2. On Diamond (upper) Deck "The Bistro" restaurant was renamed "Arthur's" and upgraded with its own galley (kitchen) and dedicated chef.

The same deckplan changes were done to the fleetmates and sisterships Swiss Emerald/VIVA Beyond (in 2017) and in 2018, to MS Esprit and MS Treasures.