MS VistaBelle

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

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

VistaBelle is homeported in Cologne/Koln Germany.

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

Crucebelle cruises were on the Danube, Main and Rhine, with itineraries leaving from homeports Mainz, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Vienna and Amsterdam.

Cabins

VistaBelle staterooms (total 77) are 2 types and in 5 categories - Standard cabins with Windows (Main Deck, Middle Front Deck) and Deluxe cabins with French Balconies (Middle Deck, Upper Deck). French Balcony cabins are with floor-ceiling windows (glass doors) opening to a railing. Main Deck cabins are with a half-height window (non-opening) located near the ceiling. Middle Front Deck cabins are with large Picture Window (non-opening). All staterooms are double-occupancy (max 2 passengers per cabin), except the boat's largest (Deluxe Cabin #218, forward-midship on Middle Front Deck) which is with triple-occupancy.

French Balcony cabins (DLX categories on Middle and Upper decks) have a lounge area with a coffee table and two armchairs. All DLX Upper Deck cabins are with double bed (non-convertible to twins).

Cabin sizes vary between 11 m2 (120 ft2) and 14 m2 (150 ft2, French Balcony). The ship has no connecting cabins (that can be combined to a Suite).

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

Shipboard facilities

The 160-seat Dining Room Restaurant is located aft on Upper Deck and hosts a buffet-style breakfast, single open-seating lunch and dinner. Meals are cooked by European chefs and provide a mix of local (itinerary-based) specialities and traditional international dishes. Occasionally, there are also theme dinners. Waiter-served are the 3-course lunches and 4-course dinners. Complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks are served with lunch and dinner. Tea and coffee are complimentary served in the Bar.

Bar Lounge (fore-located on Upper Deck) features floor-ceiling wraparound windows (for 270-degree views), comfortable seating (sofas and armchairs) and serves the cruise company's enrichment program with daily lectures and media presentations, crew show (once per voyage), live music performances (by local artists), themed dance nights. Also on Upper Deck are the Lobby area (with 24-hour Reception Desk), Library, Gift Shop and the Promenade Deck (open-air deck for walking and observation). Wi-Fi coverage is shipwide but costs extra.

On Sun Deck are located the Wheelhouse (Navigation Bridge), sunbathing area (spa pool, sun loungers), shaded seating area (awnings, 4-seat tables, deckchairs), deckgames area (Giant Chess Set). All structures on Sun Deck (Wheelhouse, awnings, railings) are collapsible and lowered when the boat passes under low bridges.

All decks are interconnected via 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

Next are the VistaBelle itineraries listed in the ship's inaugural schedule 2024-2025) by 1AVista Reisen.

• 5-day "Trial trip to Strasbourg 2024" itinerary Cologne-Rudesheim-Meinz-Strasbourg
• 5-day "Trial trip to Holland 2024" (Rotterdam-Amsterdam-Nijmegen-Cologne)
• 8-day "Rhine Magic" (Amsterdam-Nijmegen-Cologne-Rudesheim-Meinz-Strasbourg)
• 8-day "Rhine Romance 2025" (Cologne-Rudesheim-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-Rudesheim-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", B2B voyage 15-day "Holiday cruise Christmas & New Year’s Eve"

1avista Reisen cruise deals are inclusive of:

• river cruising, stateroom
• shipboard dining - breakfast (buffet), waiter-served lunch and afternoon coffee-tea (with pastries), waiter-served dinner, late-night snacks
• Captain's Dinner (special menu), Welcome Cocktail Party (Bar Lounge)
• Unlimited beverages (between 8 am - 12-midnight) - house wine, draft beer, soft drinks (cola, lemonade, juices, mineral water, coffee, tea
• onboard facilities and live entertainment program
• German-speaking tour guide
• luggage transport (embarkation and debarkation)
• all Gov taxes and port fees

Not included in 1avista cruise fares are arrival-departure and transfers (to/from the boat), personal expenses, tours (shore excursions), gratuities (recommended EUR 7 pp per day).

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.