MS Switzerland

MS Switzerland cruise ship operates cruise tour itineraries on the rivers Neckar, Moselle, Danube, Main and Rhine. Departures are offered from Germany (Cologne and Nuremberg). The riverboat is chartered by the German travel company Phoenix Reisen (established 1973). Phoenix Reisen is a travel agency with ocean ship chartering business (since 1988) and river cruise shipping operations (since 1993).

The vessel was drydock reconstructed in 2003. The sistership is MS Switzerland 2 (1991-built).

In 2020, the Switzerland-flagged boat changed its MMSI number from 269056855 to 269057682.

Cabins

All MS Switzerland staterooms are outside, tastefully decorated and with comfortable furniture. Cabin windows are either floor-ceiling (opening to French Balcony) or partially opening (only their upper section). All cabins have two separate lower beds (convertible to double / when pushed together), wall-mounted reading lamps, individually controlled air-conditioning, en-suite bathroom (washbasin, WC, shower, hairdryer), minibar (refrigerator stocked with beverages / at extra cost), flat TV (satellite reception, ship info channel, real-time bow camera views), phone (onboard calls only - Reception Desk, passenger cabins), alarm clock radio, daily newspaper, wardrobe, electronic safe box (in the closet), several 220V power sockets, mirrored dressing table (writing desk) with chair or stool. The boat has 1 suite and 3 triple occupancy cabins.

Ship's cabin categories are:

• Triple Outside with French bed (category A, on Emerald Deck) size 16 m2
• Triple Outside with French Balcony (category B, on Ruby Deck) size 17 m2
• Twin Outside, aft (category C, on Emerald Deck) size 11 m2
• Twin Outside (category D, on Emerald Deck) size 11 m2
• Twin Outside with French Balcony (category E, on Ruby Deck) size 11 m2
• Single Outside (category F, on Emerald Deck) sizes 9-11 m2
• Twin Outside with French Balcony (category G, on Ruby Deck, for single use) size 11 m2
• Mini Suite Outside with French bed (category H, on Emerald Deck) size 18 m2.

Shipboard facilities

MS Switzerland has 3 passenger decks, complimentary Panorama Restaurant (5-star dining room, also accessible via stairlift through Ruby Deck), lobby area on Emerald Deck (ship entrances, 24-hour Reception Desk, Tour Office), Panorama Salon-Bar (main lounge with dance floor), Boutique Shop (selling souvenirs, clothing, jewelry, cosmetics, toiletries, sweets), Library (reading lounge with books, DVDs, puzzles, board games), Sauna Room, Sun Deck (with retractable awning, 4-seat tables, deckchairs and sun loungers). Laundry service, wireless (WLAN) connections and Internet are available at extra cost. Onboard language is German. Smoking is permitted only at the designated area on Sun Deck.

A stairlift connects decks Ruby and Sun, as well as the Restaurant (Emerald Deck) with the Lounge (Ruby Deck). Two staircases (forward and aft) connect all decks.

Dining on the boat is complimentary and with fixed/assigned seating. Dining options include buffet breakfasts and waiter served 4-course lunches and dinners with European cuisine specialities. Desserts with coffee are served afterwards. The main course for dinner must be selected at noon, from an a la carte menu. All meals are served in common table times. Dishes for special diets (gluten-free, lactose-free, diabetics, etc) are provided upon request. Special dietary requirements, food allergies and intolerances must be notified in advance. The wait staff is well trained, friendly and attentive.

Afternoon tea, coffee and midnight snacks are also complimentary. Beers, house wines, soft drinks (mineral water, juices, cola, lemonade), tea and coffee are complimentary and offered daily between 8 am and 12-midnight. The traditional formal events Captain's Reception and Captain's Dinner are both with festive menus and gourmet specialities.

Onboard entertainment (in the Salon-Bar lounge) includes live performances (by a solo instrumentalist), crew show, playing cards and popular board games, evening dance parties with live music. Shore excursions are well organized and offered at additional cost in every port of call along the cruise tour itinerary. At each stop are complimentary provided maps and tour guide explanations.

Tipping is not compulsory but recommended (EUR 4-5 pp per day). For any onboard purchases or services, payments can be made in cash, via credit cards (VISA, MasterCard) or Girocard (connecting all German banks and ATMs).

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.