MS Annabelle

The 2020-built/2021-inaugurated MS Annabelle cruise ship operates itineraries in France exclusively (on the rivers Rhone and Saone) with roundtrip departures from homeport Lyon. The vessel is owned by the Swiss company Scylla AG (Basel-based) and operated under charter by Phoenix Reisen Flusskreuzfahrten ("river cruises").

Annabelle's sisterships are the same-designed riverboats and fleetmates Anesha (2015), Anna Katharina (2019), Annika (2020). Traditionally, all Phoenix Reisen cruise ships have names starting with the letter "A". The German cruisetour company Phoenix Reisen was established in 1973 and started passenger shipping operations in 1988 with the charter of MV Maxim Gorky (Russian ocean liner 1969-built/2009-scrapped). In 1993, Phoenix Travel started to offer river cruises in Europe via the brand "Phoenix Reisen Flusskreuzfahrten".

The vessel (ENI number 07002113) is currently Switzerland-flagged (MMSI 269057697) and registered in Basel.

Phoenix Reisen MS Annabelle cruise deals are inclusive of all shipboard meals. Breakfasts are buffet-style, while lunches and dinners are multi-course and waiter-served, featuring traditional European and vegetarian cuisine specialties. Afternoon Tea service, coffee and midnight snacks are provided complimentary. Beers, house wines (by the glass), soft drinks (mineral water, juices, sodas, lemonade), tea and coffee are offered complimentary daily (between 8 am and 12-midnight). The traditional for river cruise ships Captain's Cocktail Reception and Captain's Gala Dinner events are held once per voyage, respectively, in the Bar Lounge and the Dining Room Restaurant. Upon request are complimentary provided vegan and special diet dishes (gluten-free, lactose-free, fat-free, diabetic, etc).

Decks and Cabins

MS Annabelle staterooms (90 total, in 9 grades) accommodate 184 passengers on 3 decks (out of 4). All cabins are outside (including 74x French Balcony), tastefully decorated, with modern and comfortable furniture. As standard amenities, all passenger staterooms offer hotel twin beds (convertible to a double bed/Queen-size), wall-mounted reading lamps, LED ceiling lights, en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, single-sink vanity, large backlit LED mirror, towels, bath toiletries), 40-inch smart HDTV (satellite reception, infotainment system, bow camera real-time views), mini-bar/refrigerator, Nespresso coffee machine, round glass-top table with 2 armchairs, mirrored dressing table (writing desk with an armchair), wardrobe, electronic safe box (in the closet), hairdryer, direct-dial phone, radio, individual air-conditioning, evening turndown service.

Cabins on decks Orion and Saturn are with French balconies (sliding floor-ceiling glass doors open to a railing / false balcony). All cabins on Neptun Deck (deck 1) are with two fixed (non-opening) windows located near the ceiling (at water level). Most cabins are with double-occupancy and equally sized (17 m2 / 185 ft2), only the Suites are larger (19 m2 / 200 ft2) and with triple occupancy.

Cabin categories include:

• Twin Outside Single (category H, Neptune Deck)
• Twin Outside (category B, Neptune Deck-aft)
• Twin Outside (category C, Neptune Deck)
• Triple Outside with French Balcony (category A, Saturn Deck)
• Twin Outside with French Balcony (category D, Saturn Deck)
• Twin Outside with French Balcony (category E, Orion Deck)
• Twin Suite with French Balcony (category F, Saturn Deck)
• Twin Suite with French Balcony (category G, Orion Deck)
• Twin Outside Single with French Balcony (single-occupancy cabin category I, Saturn Deck)

Shipboard facilities

MS Annabelle has 4 passenger decks, Panorama Restaurant "Vier Jahreszeiten" ("Four Seasons" Dining Room), Lido Specialty Restaurant (Orion deck), Barbecue (a-la-carte Restaurant/Steakhouse/Bistro & Bar with an outdoor Lido Terrace), Panorama Lounge with Bar, Foyer (lobby area with Reception Desk and Tour Desk / Cruise Director's Office), small Boutique Shop, Library, Lift (passenger elevator connecting all cabin decks). In addition, the vessel has a wellness complex with Spa (massage room, indoor Jacuzzi/whirlpool hot tub), Steam Room, Sauna Room, Gym Room (with modern fitness equipment), Sundeck with games area (shuffleboard and mini-golf putting green). The large sundeck has shaded seating areas (covered by 5x retractable awnings, with deckchairs and tables), sunbathing areas (with loungers and low tables), an outdoor swimming pool.

Shipboard entertainment options include playing cards, popular board games, bingo, trivia quizzes, dancing and live music performances (at the Bar Lounge), themed quiz and dance nights, daily lectures with media presentations (itinerary-based), port talks, language lessons, cooking demos. Laundry service is provided at extra charge. Wireless LAN (WLAN) is available but also costs extra. The onboard language is German (some crew also speak English), the ship's currency is EUR. Girocard, VISA and MasterCard are accepted for onboard payments. Smoking is permitted only on the Sun Deck (deck 4) at a designated area.

River cruise itineraries

On MS Annabelle, Phoenix Reisen offers the following France cruisetour itineraries, all of which are roundtrips from Lyon.

• 10-day "Rhone und Saone hautnah" (Rhone and Saone Up Close) itinerary visits Tournus, Chalon-sur-Saone (overnight), Lyon, Tournon (overnight), Avignon (overnight), Tarascon (overnight),  Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhone, Viviers (overnight), La Voulte-sur-Rhone (Erik Borja Garden, steam-train travel), Tournon-sur-Rhone, Vienne (overnight), Lyon (overnight).
• 7-day "Hohepunkte auf Rhone und Saone" (Highlights of the Rhone and Saone) itinerary visits Tournus, Chalon-sur-Saone (overnight), Lyon, Tournon-sur-Rhone (overnight), Le Pouzin, Viviers, Avignon (overnight), Tarascon (overnight), Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhone (overnight), Viviers, La Voulte-sur-Rhone, Tournon-sur-Rhone, Vienne (overnight), Lyon (overnight).

The vessel's construction (hull and superstructure, ENI number 07002145) was done at the Vahali Shipyard in Zasavica (Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia). The 1923-founded Dutch shipbuilding company (Scheepswerf En Machinefabriek Vahali BV) owns and operates yards in Serbia (Belgrade, and Zasavica) and in Holland (Gendt). Vahali Shipyard Zasavica was officially opened in 2013. Following the construction in Serbia (2018), the cruise ship was towed to Holland for final outfitting at Da Capo BV Shipyard (in Hardinxveld-Giessendam). The riverboat was officially delivered to Scylla AG in June 2019.

The riverboat is powered by two "Caterpillar" marine diesel engines (model 3508C-DITA, total power output 1590 kW / 2130 HP). The ship's propulsion is based on two controllable pitch propellers and one bow thruster (Veth-Jet) which is an in-hull mounted azimuthing propulsion unit with power output 400 kW (530 HP).

MS Annabelle's christening ceremony was held on July 5, 2021, in Chalon-sur-Saone France. The naming ceremony was led by godmother Uta Worms - one of Phoenix Reisen's loyal customers (a regular cruiser for 15 years). The new boat (mastered by Captain Michael Fouquet) was blessed by Pastor Gilbert Lepee.

Note: You can see the 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.