MS Verdi

The 2001-built (fka MS Verdi) cruise ship Reise Riese Classic was launched as “MS Viking Neptune” and was the second of four vessels owned by Viking River Cruises and operating in France. Her sisterships are Viking Pride (now Bijou du Rhone), Viking Spirit (now Seine Comtesse), and Viking Europe (now Carmen).

Today, the ship is owned by the German corporation Premicon AG (via the subsidiary Premicon Rhein Donau Flussschiffahrts GmbH) and operated under charter by Transocean Kreuzfahrten (Germany) and SijFa Cruises (Holland). Her SijFa fleetmates include MS Rigoletto and MS Carmen.

The ship’s last drydock refurbishment was in 2017, during which the vessel was completely renovated and renamed.

In 2020, the vessel (ENI number 4800510) was renamed from VERDI to REISE RIESE CLASSIC and chartered to Unsere Flussschiffe/Amadeus. Also in 2020, her flag state/registry was changed from Germany (MMSI 211162220) to the Netherlands (MMSI 244022108). She is currently registered in Dordrecht.

Cabins

MS Verdi staterooms (75 total) include 12 Standard and 63 Deluxe cabins, all of which are outside. All Upper Deck cabins feature French balconies—floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors opening to a balconet (false balcony). Middle Deck cabins (deck 2 midship–aft) are semi-French Balcony cabins with sliding windows.

Main Deck cabins (deck 2 forward) have non-opening panoramic windows. Lower Deck cabins measure 11 m² (120 ft²) and have two smaller, square-shaped porthole windows (non-opening) near the ceiling. Most cabins measure 14 m² (150 ft²), except for the two Junior Suites (midship, Middle Deck), each sized 18 m² (195 ft²).

All MS Verdi cabins offer as standard amenities: double bed (convertible to twins), bedside tables with lamps, under-bed storage (for suitcases), armchair, mirrored vanity table (writing desk) with chair, drawers, telephone, mini-bar fridge, wardrobe with hangers, electronic safe (in the closet), flat HDTV, individually controlled air-conditioning, en-suite bathroom (WC, glass-door shower, single-sink vanity, under-sink shelf, mirrored cabinets, hairdryer, towels, bath products, bathrobes/slippers on request), free Wi-Fi Internet (shipwide coverage), and daily replenished bottled water.

Door access and power/lighting are controlled via keycards.

Shipboard Facilities

The Verdi ship features a fore-located indoor Lounge and Bar (with panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows), an aft Restaurant (with two walls of large panoramic windows), Boutique Shop (gifts and souvenirs), Library, Card Room, and a spacious Lobby with Reception Desk. The Sun Deck offers shaded seating (retractable awnings), a sunbathing area with loungers and deckchairs, and transparent glass windbreaks.

The ship has one elevator (lift) connecting all cabin decks. There is no elevator access to the Sun Deck, which is accessible only via aft stairs. Passengers with disabilities are served by a hydraulic chairlift linking the Upper Deck and Sun Deck. The Sun Deck aft is the designated smoking area.

Note: CruiseMapper’s list of all river cruise ships and riverboats can be found in the “itinerary” section of our River Cruises hub, where all companies and their fleets are listed.