MS Esprit

The 2010-built MS Esprit cruise ship (fka "MS VistaPrima") operates voyages on the Dutch inland waterways and the rivers Danube, Main, Rhine and Moselle. Esprit's sisterships are the fleetmates Swiss Emerald,Swiss Sapphire, Swiss Jewel and Treasures.

The shipowner Scylla charters the riverboat Esprit to the US cruise travel company Tauck Tours/fleet and also to VIVA Cruises (Scylla-owned subsidiary and travel brand established in 2021).

The riverboat (ENI number 07001923) is currently Switzerland-flagged (MMSI 269057320) and registered in Basel.

Cabins

The 124-passenger ms Esprit has 62 cabins, all of which are outward-facing, with French balconies or panoramic windows. Modern design and state-of-the-art equipment create a unique atmosphere.

All passenger staterooms are fully equipped and provide radio, TV, phone/intercom, minibar, safe, air conditioning, shower, WC, hairdryer.

Shipboard facilities

The ship has a stylish panoramic lounge and elegant bar with outdoor terrace, lobby with reception, tour desk, shop, and Panorama Restaurant. The lift connects all decks, except the Emerald. In elegant premises on four decks, ms Esprit provides Internet room, sauna and steam room, gym, laundry service, sun deck with seating areas, sun loungers, shady spots, garden terrace with bar service and an observation deck at the bow.

The Switzerland-flagged riverboat Esprit (ENI number 07001923) in March-April 2018 was drydock refitted and refurbished. Its passenger capacity was reduced from 118 to 98 (17% reduction) and the staterooms number was decreased from 59 to 49. The ship's reconstruction created larger public areas and bigger passenger cabins. The most extensive changes were done on Ruby (middle) Deck, where the 30x cabins (sized 14 m2 / 150 ft2) were replaced by 20x cabins (sized 21 m2 / 225 ft2). The ship already had 14x suites (sized 28 m2 / 300 ft2). Following the 2018 drydock, nearly 70% of all staterooms are 21 m2. On Diamond (upper) Deck "The Bistro" restaurant was renamed "Arthur's" and upgraded with its own galley (kitchen) and dedicated chef.

The same deckplan changes were implemented to the fleetmates and sisterships MS Treasures (in 2018) and in 2017 - to Swiss Emerald and Swiss Sapphire.

Vessel's construction (hull and superstructure) was done at the Vahali Shipyard in Belgrade 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, the cruise ship was towed to Holland for final outfitting at Scheepswerf Vahali (Gendt).

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.