ms Loire Princesse

The 2014-built MS Loire Princesse cruise ship sails on the Loire River through the Loire Valley wine region in northwest France, operating roundtrip itineraries from her homeport in Nantes (Brittany, France).

The CroisiEurope-owned vessel is powered by two side paddle wheels. This innovative propulsion system makes her the only large cruise ship capable of navigating the Loire River’s shallow waters.

Although the Loire Princesse features a paddlewheel design reminiscent of traditional American riverboats, she is specially engineered to navigate safely in water depths as shallow as 1 meter (3 feet). CroisiEurope designed this unique vessel to operate on the Loire—France’s longest river—where water levels fluctuate significantly with tides and weather.

Decks and Cabins

The riverboat has three decks and 48 passenger cabins (each measuring 160 ft² / 15 m²) in three categories, including one wheelchair-accessible stateroom designed for guests with reduced mobility. Main Deck cabins (18 doubles) feature non-opening riverview windows, while all Upper Deck cabins (30 doubles) have private balconies with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and are furnished with two deckchairs.

Standard in-room amenities include a queen-size bed (convertible to two twins upon request), bedside cabinets, smart HDTV (satellite reception), radio, internal phone, small table with stool, compact wardrobe, electronic safe box, and an en-suite bathroom with wall-mounted toilet, mirrored single-sink vanity, shower cubicle, hairdryer, and toiletries. Each cabin also has individually controlled air conditioning.

Shipboard Facilities

Onboard facilities include a lounge with a dance floor and bar, a dining room (restaurant with patio terrace), a sundeck relaxation area furnished with chaise loungers and deckchairs, a gift shop, and a library. Complimentary bicycles and free Wi-Fi Internet access are also available. The ship’s Loire River itinerary departs from Nantes, following the scenic route of France’s longest river.

The Loire flows north from Nevers to Orléans, then west through Nantes before reaching the Atlantic Ocean at Saint-Nazaire. CroisiEurope’s gourmet dining and themed wine and food tasting excursions allow Loire Princesse guests to savor regional French cuisine and fine Loire Valley wines along the journey.

CroisiEurope Loire River Cruise Itineraries

MS Loire Princesse offers two main itineraries: the 6-day “The Loire, a Royal Legacy” and the 8-day “The Loire, a Royal River.” Both include overnight stays at every port of call.

Tours and excursions along CroisiEurope’s Loire itineraries include:

• Nantes (Day 1) – Embarkation between 6–7 pm, welcome cocktail, dinner, and onboard party. An optional excursion offers a cruise along the Erdre River.
• Nantes (Day 2) – Optional guided city tour (including Graslin Theatre, Passage Pommeraye, and the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany). After lunch, an optional bus tour to Saint-Nazaire includes a visit to the shipbuilding yard. Guests reboard in Saint-Nazaire for dinner.
• Saint-Nazaire (Day 3) – Morning departure and afternoon arrival in Ancenis. Optional “Muscadet Wine Route” excursion includes visits to La Chapelle-Heulin, a Loire château, vineyards, and wine cellars for white wine tasting, as well as the town of Clisson. Return to the ship for dinner.
• Ancenis (Day 4) – Morning departure toward Bouchemaine with an optional excursion to Angers (capital of the Anjou region). Return to the ship for dinner.
• Bouchemaine (Day 5) – Morning departure to Ancenis. A full-day “Castles of the Loire Valley” excursion includes visits to Azay-le-Rideau (on the River Indre), Villandry (with lunch and free time), and Rigny-Ussé Castle. Reboard in Ancenis for the Gala Dinner and cruise overnight to Nantes.
• Nantes (Day 6) – Disembarkation at 10 am.

CroisiEurope Loire Princesse cruise prices are per person, based on double occupancy. These indicative rates may vary depending on booking conditions, travel agency promotions, group discounts, and last-minute offers. CroisiEurope cruises in France include all beverages (coffee, tea, juices, soft drinks, wine, and beer with lunch and dinner), while shore excursions are optional and available at an additional cost.

The Loire Princesse cruise ship sails on the Loire River in France, operating round-trip itineraries departing from Nantes.

The vessel is designated as a “Green Ship,” having been designed with a strong commitment to environmental sustainability. One of the newest members of the CroisiEurope fleet, the riverboat was christened in Nantes, France, on April 2, 2015, with two godmothers (the Mayors of Nantes and Saarbrücken) and one godfather (the General Manager of STX France).

CroisiEurope, the ship’s operator, is a family-owned company based in Strasbourg, France. Founded in 1976, this premium cruise line manages every aspect of its operations—from vessel design and construction to onboard cuisine and hotel services. CroisiEurope is one of Europe’s largest and most established river cruise companies.

CroisiEurope river cruise fares include soft drinks and alcoholic beverages (wine and beer served with lunch and dinner year-round). During Europe’s high season (April through October), the line offers packages with unlimited drinks. However, unlike most river cruise lines, CroisiEurope charges an additional fee for shore excursions.

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