MS VistaBelle

The 2000-built MS VistaBelle (formerly Crucebelle) is a passenger vessel (ENI 04608430) that was initially owned by Viking River Cruises AG and operated as “VIKING SKY”. In 2002, she was renamed “VIKING BURGUNDY” and deployed in France. In 2010, the riverboat was sold to Premicon AG and renamed “MS MARIBELLE”. She was renamed “MS BIJOU” in 2014, and again “MARIBELLE” (2015-2019). In 2019, the ship was sold to Navibelle Shipping AG, and in 2020 she was drydock remodeled and fully refurbished.

Currently, the vessel is Malta-flagged (MMSI 248334000) and registered in Valletta. Between 2020-2024, she was chartered to Crucemundo under the name “CRUCEBELLE”. In 2024, she was renamed “VISTABELLE” and chartered to the German tour operator 1AVista Reisen.

VistaBelle is homeported in Cologne/Köln, Germany.

The former charterer, Crucemundo SL (fleet), is a Barcelona-based river cruise company (founded 2008) with tour offices in Spain (Barcelona, Madrid), Italy (Genoa), Turkey (Istanbul) and Russia (Moscow, St Petersburg). Sisterships include the same-designed Crucestar (2000/Viking Rhone), River Harmony (1999), River Rhapsody (1999), MS Vivienne (2001/River Concerto), and MS Aurora (1999-built/2020-refitted, MMSI 244660956, ENI 02002173).

Crucemundo itineraries operated as Crucébelle cruises on the Danube, Main and Rhine, departing from homeports such as Mainz, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Vienna and Amsterdam.

Cabins

VistaBelle staterooms (total 77) are offered in two types and five cabin categories: Standard cabins with windows (Main Deck, Middle Front Deck) and Deluxe cabins with French Balconies (Middle Deck, Upper Deck). French Balcony cabins feature floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening to a railing. Main Deck cabins have a half-height, non-opening window located near the ceiling, while Middle Front Deck cabins have a large, non-opening Picture Window. All staterooms accommodate two passengers (double occupancy), except the ship’s largest cabin (Deluxe Cabin #218, forward-midship on Middle Front Deck), which is triple-occupancy.

French Balcony cabins (DLX categories on Middle and Upper Decks) include a lounge area with a coffee table and two armchairs. All DLX Upper Deck cabins are furnished with a fixed double bed (not convertible to twins).

Cabin sizes range from 11 m2 (120 ft2) to 14 m2 (150 ft2, French Balcony). The ship has no connecting cabins.

Regardless of category, all passenger staterooms offer standard (complimentary) amenities including hotel beds (200x160 cm, twin-bed configuration, some convertible to a double), wall-mounted reading lamps, wardrobe with hangers, mirrored dressing table (writing desk with chair), en-suite bathroom (glass-door shower, WC, hairdryer), electronic safe (in the closet), phone (intercom), thermostat-controlled air-conditioning, 220V power outlets, and HDTV (satellite reception, ship information channel, and “View From the Bridge” real-time webcam views).

Shipboard facilities

The 160-seat Dining Room Restaurant, located aft on Upper Deck, offers buffet-style breakfast and single open-seating lunch and dinner. Meals are prepared by European chefs and feature a mix of local (itinerary-based) specialties and international dishes. Theme dinners are held occasionally. Lunch (3 courses) and dinner (4 courses) are waiter-served. Complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks are offered with lunch and dinner. Tea and coffee are served complimentary in the Bar.

The Bar Lounge (forward on Upper Deck) features floor-to-ceiling wraparound windows providing 270-degree views, comfortable seating (sofas and armchairs) and hosts the cruise company's enrichment program with daily lectures and media presentations, a crew show (once per voyage), live performances by local artists and themed dance nights. Also on Upper Deck are the Lobby area (with 24-hour Reception Desk), Library, Gift Shop and the Promenade Deck (an open-air walking and observation deck). Wi-Fi is available shipwide at an extra cost.

The Sun Deck includes the Wheelhouse (Navigation Bridge), sunbathing area (spa pool, sun loungers), shaded seating (awnings, 4-seat tables, deckchairs) and a deck games area (Giant Chess Set). All Sun Deck structures (Wheelhouse, awnings, railings) are collapsible and lowered as needed when passing under low bridges.

All decks are connected by stairs. One lift (midship passenger elevator) connects Decks 2 and 3 only. Outside staircases and a stairlift connect Decks 3 and 4.

1AVista VistaBelle itineraries

Below are the VistaBelle itineraries featured in the ship’s 2024-2025 inaugural schedule for 1AVista Reisen:

• 5-day “Trial Trip to Strasbourg 2024” (Cologne–Rüdesheim–Mainz–Strasbourg)
• 5-day “Trial Trip to Holland 2024” (Rotterdam–Amsterdam–Nijmegen–Cologne)
• 8-day “Rhine Magic” (Amsterdam–Nijmegen–Cologne–Rüdesheim–Mainz–Strasbourg)
• 8-day “Rhine Romance 2025” (Cologne–Rüdesheim–Mainz–Worms–Mannheim–Speyer–Germersheim–Strasbourg–Breisach–Basel)
• 8-day “Holland and Belgium” (Rotterdam to Cologne)
• 8-day “Mosel Romance” (Cologne to Trier)
• 5-day “Advent Trip” (Cologne–Rüdesheim–Mainz–Strasbourg)
• 4-day “Mini Cruise Holland” (Amsterdam–Nijmegen–Cologne)
• 15-day “Rhine Total 2025”
• 8-day “Christmas Cruise” and 8-day “New Year’s Eve Cruise”, offered as a 15-day B2B “Holiday Cruise Christmas & New Year’s Eve”

1AVista Reisen cruise deals include:

• river cruising and stateroom accommodations
• shipboard dining – buffet breakfast; waiter-served lunch; afternoon coffee/tea with pastries; waiter-served dinner; late-night snacks
• Captain’s Dinner (special menu) and Welcome Cocktail Party (Bar Lounge)
• Unlimited beverages (8 am–midnight) – house wine, draft beer, soft drinks (cola, lemonade, juices, mineral water), coffee, tea
• use of onboard facilities and participation in the entertainment program
• German-speaking tour guide
• luggage handling during embarkation and debarkation
• all government taxes and port fees

Not included in 1AVista cruise fares: arrival/departure transportation and transfers (to/from the ship), personal expenses, tours (shore excursions) and gratuities (recommended EUR 7 per person per day).

Note: CruiseMapper’s full list of 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.