Travelmarvel Rigel

The 2026-built Travelmarvel Rigel cruise ship is the 4th newbuild riverboat operated by the APT Travel Group-owned subsidiary company Travelmarvel. The vessel's sisterships and fleetmates are the 2021-launched Travelmarvel Capella, Travelmarvel Polaris, and Travelmarvel Vega. All these riverboats are operated under charter (via APT's subsidiary ATG Tour Europe Ltd).

The vessel Travelmarvel Rigel (ENI number 02341029/hull) is currently Switzerland-flagged (MMSI 269057202, registered in Basel) and Holland-built (by Scheepswerf Den Breejen Shipyard in Hardinxveld-Giessendam).

The ship is named after Rigel - one of the brightest and largest stars, part of the Orion constellation.

The riverboat is powered by two Caterpillar marine diesel engines (model C32 Acert) with total power output 1,5 MW. The propulsion system is based on two Veth propellers plus one bow thruster (Veth-Jet). Onboard energy supply is provided by three diesel generator sets (310 kVA, model Cummins KT-1150-G) and solar panels.

The shipowner PCE River Cruiser AG is a Basel-based subsidiary of the Hamburg-based PCE Fondsmanagement GmbH (PCE Premium Capital Emissionshaus GmbH & Co KG). The 2015-founded company specializes in business management (mainly in river cruise shipping) and property investments. The subsidiary PCE Fondsverwaltung GmbH (fund management company) is also responsible for the passenger shipping business supervision.

APT-Travelmarvel cruise passengers are mostly from the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. The company offers good value-for-money vacation packages with plenty of inclusions. Cruisetour fares are inclusive of flights, port charges, tipping (onboard gratuities), Internet/W-LAN (wireless), and bicycles. 10 to 20 bicycles are carried on the ship and offered free of charge to passengers (subject to availability) for individual or group biking ashore.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

The APT-Travelmarvel ship Rigel has the following venues and facilities, reviewed by deck.

On the Lower Deck (1st floor) is the wellness complex - Spa (massage room), a Gym (with modern fitness equipment), and a Hair Salon (hairdresser-barber services). Aft and forward are located staff and crew cabins, the Mess Hall (crew dining room/bar lounge), and service areas (aft machinery rooms/engines and propulsion).

On the Main Deck (2nd floor) is the Constellations Restaurant. The Dining Room has floor-to-ceiling windows and offers complimentary buffet Breakfasts and Lunches and waiter-served Dinners (4-course). The venue is open-seating (no fixed/allocated seating). Coffee and tea are table-served. Open bar and table drinks, such as draft beers, house wines, soft drinks (sodas, juices, mineral water), tea, and coffee, are provided complimentary (included in the cruise fares) with lunches and dinners. The traditional Captain's Dinner (gala dinner menu) is a formal event held in the Restaurant.

Adjacent to the Restaurant is the Galley (Kitchen and storage rooms for provisions). Aft is a crew-only area housing the machinery (propulsion) and the Laundry room (with laundromats). The full-service laundry and pressing are handled by the ship's housekeeping staff for a fee.

On the Upper Deck (3rd floor) is the Alfresco Lounge with Bow Terrace - a bow-facing outdoor lounge with a small seating capacity. A stairway from the Bow Terrace connects directly to the Constellations Restaurant (below) and to the Sun Deck's Skylounge (above).

The True North Lounge & Bar is the boat's show lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows, comfortable seating, a dance floor, an electronic piano, a large TV, media equipment, and direct access to the Verandah. The Salon Bar also serves the cruise company's onboard enrichment program with entertainment - music performances, crew shows, playing cards and board games, bingo, popular quizzes, skat tournaments, napkin folding lessons, and themed dance parties in the evenings. The traditional Captain's Reception (cocktail party) is a formal event held in the True North Lounge.

Midship on the Upper Deck is the Lobby Hall (Foyer, with two ship entrances - portside and starboard), the Reception Desk (24-hour assistance, information, purser services), the Travel Desk (tours and excursions information, onboard cruise booking), and the Boutique Shop and Library (reading corner with books and board games).

Aft on the Upper Deck is McGeary's Bar (Pub / Lido Bistro) - an alternative casual dining venue served by its own Bar. It features floor-to-ceiling windows and a large TV. The venue serves light Lunch and Dinner (from a pub-style menu).

The Sun Deck houses the hydraulic Navigation Bridge/Wheelhouse (passenger-accessible). the Skydeck Terrace (Alfresco Lounge & Bar with outdoor seating), sunbathing areas (with padded garden loungers and deckchairs), midship shaded seating area (with retractable awnings) surrounded by a Walking Track, and an adjacent to the Wheelhouse Pool Deck (Jacuzzi / outdoor Whirlpool tub, sunbathing area, small seating area).

All structures on the Sun Deck (Wheelhouse, awnings, windscreens, railings) are collapsible and lowered when the ship passes under low bridges.

One Lift (passenger elevator) connects all cabin decks. All decks are interconnected via stairs (forward, midship and aft), including a grand staircase in the Atrium.

Smoking is permitted only at the Bow Terrace (Verandah) and at Sundeck's Alfresco Lounge (Garden Terrace).

Tea and coffee are available 24 hours a day and free of charge. A refillable water tap is also available.

Lunches and dinners come with complimentary local beers, house wines (by the glass) and soft drinks.

Shore excursions (sightseeing guided tours) are optional ("select experience" or premium excursions that cost extra) and complimentary (included in the base package).

Decks and Cabins

The large (135-m-long) APT riverboat Travelmarvel Rigel has a total of 89 staterooms (all outside) and 4 decks (3 with cabins). All double cabins are equally sized (16 m2 / 170 ft2). Main Deck cabins are smaller (15 m2 / 160 ft2) and available for single-occupancy booking (without single supplement, subject to availability).

Most staterooms (75 total, or 84%) have a French Balcony (floor-to-ceiling sliding electric windows opening halfway down). Only Main Deck cabins have a non-opening upper window at water level (positioned near the ceiling). Owner Suites are larger-sized (24 m2 / 260 ft2).

All Travelmarvel Rigel cabins offer as standard (base cruise price-inclusive) amenities en-suite bathroom (single-sink vanity, WC-toilet, shower, under-sink storage, magnifying mirror, hairdryer, shaver socket), hotel beds (Queen-size bed convertible to twins, with premium bedding sets/plush linen and pillows), bedside cabinets, wall-mounted reading lamps, LED ceiling lights, wall-mounted TV (satellite reception, infotainment system, movies, Internet, ship info channel, real-time bow camera views), phone (onboard calls only - Reception Desk, passenger cabins, wake-up service), mirrored vanity table with drawers/writing desk and chair, round table with 2 armchairs, mirrored wardrobe, minibar (refrigerator), digital safe box (in the closet), 220V power sockets, individually controlled air-conditioning.