As is the custom at this time of year, many new river and ocean vessels have been launched in recent weeks, to the excitement of travellers who love to holiday on the world’s waterways. With Britannia, Anthem of the Seas, and Viking’s first ocean ship, Viking Star, all being welcomed to the waves in the last two months; last week it was the turn of Amadeus to introduce a new river vessel.

Amadeus River Cruises, previously operating under the name Luftner, have brought luxury and glamour to the industry for more than 30 years now, and the naming and launch of Amadeus Silver II on April the 22nd shows this is set to continue. The company is owned and ran by the Luftner family and, in keeping with tradition, it fell to the oldest daughter of Dr Wolfgang and Mrs Martina Luftner, Corina, to do the honours. The ceremony took place at the De Hoop Shipyard in Lobith, Netherlands, where the ship was built, in front of industry guests and UK agents.

Silver Sisters

Amadeus Silver II is the sister to Amadeus Silver, a ship that earned acclaim for being the ‘river vessel of the year’ when it was built, in 2013. However, as the operator is always trying to improve on their product, there have been a couple of enhancements that make this newest incarnation even more comfortable for guests. The number of staterooms has been decreased from 78 to 72 in order to make them slightly bigger. And whilst the number of suites on board (12) has remained the same, they too have been enlarged, from 24 square metres to 26.4 square metres.

Each suite and stateroom includes a minibar, hairdryer, large screen TV and individual climate control, whilst there’s also plenty of space to store your belongs in the walk-in wardrobe. The scenery found along the Danube and Rhine, the two rivers Amadeus Silver II will be sailing, can be enjoyed in various ways, depending on the grade of accommodation you choose. Staterooms on the Haydn deck have fixed windows, but those situated on either the Strauss or Mozart decks allow guests to bring the outside in via their full-width French Balconies. Opt for a suite though, and you can go one better and walk out onto your own private outdoor seating area.

Spacious Public Spaces

Away from the accommodation, there are plenty of public spaces in which you can unwind and take it easy. The Sun Deck and the onboard spa are two places where you cannot help but feel relaxed; especially when you consider the range of treatments that are available. Similarly, the Panorama Bar and lounge is the perfect place to sit back with a drink in hand and catch up with new found friends.

At mealtimes, you are sure to receive a taste of the region you are sailing through, as the chefs provide a menu that includes many local and regional options, in the Panorama Restaurant. Breakfast is served in the form of a buffet fit for a king, whilst delicious three-course lunches will keep you going throughout the day. When it comes to the evening meal though, a five-course extravaganza awaits you, accompanied by excellent red and white wine choices. Incidentally, wine, beer, and soft drinks are served with every lunch and evening meal and tea, coffee, and water are all available around the clock as part of your cruise fare.

So, whether you see yourself challenging your fellow cruisers to a game of shuffleboard on the Sun Deck, watching the world go by from the Café Vienna coffee house, or relaxing on the River Terrace; you’re sure to enjoy your time aboard the 168-passenger Amadeus Silver II. And plans are even in place for Amadeus Silver III to be built in the near future, as Amadeus River Cruises look to expand their fleet even further.

If you would like to book a Rhine or Danube river cruise on board one of river cruising’s newest vessels, call us today or contact us using the online enquiry form.