MS VistaNeo

MS VistaNeo cruise ship (fka "Avalon Luminary" and "Monarch Duchess") operates voyages on the Rhine River departing from homeport Cologne/Koln Germany. The boat's current deployment followed a charter deal in 2024 when the vessel was renamed from Monarch Duchess to Vista Neo.

The shipowner is MS Saar GmbH & Co KG (Hamburg) while the current ship charterer is the German travel company 1AVista Reisen/fleet.

Previously, the boat was deployed on the Danube offering departures from homeports Amsterdam (fly-cruise), Vienna, Prague, Nurnberg, Budapest, Istanbul (fly-cruise) and Bucharest. For Gate 1 Travel, Monarch Duchess also offered flight-inclusive cruisetours ("Black Sea River Cruise") leaving from Amsterdam, Vienna and Istanbul.

On March 9, 2018, Avalon Waterways announced that the three 138-passenger sisterships (Felicity, Affinity, Luminary) will leave the fleet (ending their charters with Avalon) in 2019. The three riverboats were chartered by the tour company "Gate 1 Travel" under the names Monarch Countess (Felicity), Monarch Governess (Affinity) and Monarch Duchess (Luminary). Gate1Travel's fleet also includes Monarch Princess (Avalon Creativity).

In 2024, the vessel (ENI number 02332637) changed its name (Monarch Duchess to Vista Neo). Its flagstate remained Germany (MMSI 211507510) as well as its port of registry (Koln).

Cabins

Avalon Luminary has a total number of 65 cabins (of which 28 Avalon Suite, 30 French Balcony, 11 with non-opening windows) in 5 grades.

Cabins Types, Sizes, Categories (high to low) 

• Amenities in all types of staterooms - 2 twin beds converting to queen-sized, 3-door closets with shelves, private bathroom (glass-door shower, hairdryer, bathrobes, slippers), sofa, coffee table, flat TV, vanity/writing desk, private French balcony (floor-to-ceiling sliding door), individual climate control, phone, minibar, safe, deluxe pillow menu, complimentary bottled water. Cabin occupancy - 2 guests in a room.
• Suites - 4x "Avalon Suites" (JR) - deck 3, size 258 ft2 / 24 m2.
• Deluxe Staterooms (category, number) - P (x24, deck 3), A (x18, deck 2), B (x12, deck 2), E (x11, deck 1) - sizes 172 ft2 / 16 m2.

Shipboard facilities

Shipboard restaurants are two - Panorama Restaurant (Dining Room with Buffet stations) and Sky Bistro (alfresco). The boat also has Bar Lounge (indoor observation venue with floor-ceiling windows and Bow Terrace/outside viewing deck), Club Lounge (with 24-hour beverage station), Library/Internet Corner, Atrium Lobby (glass-walled and covered by SkyLight), Hair Salon, Gym/Fitness Center.

The Sun Deck houses the Sky Lounge & Bistro, Whirlpool (outdoor jacuzzi), sunbathing area (with recliners/loungers and deckchairs), shaded seating area (retractables awnings, deckchairs, tables), deck games area (Giant Chess Set).

One elevator (glass-walled lift) connects all cabin decks.

Free Wi-Fi access and complimentary Internet are provided throughout the ship.

Gate1Travel river cruise deals are inclusive of Wi-Fi Internet, room service, all Rhine cruise tours and excursions (by certified local tour guides), motorcoach transfers, live evening entertainment (local performers), daily enrichment lectures, Afternoon Tea, Night Fare, Luminary cruise ship tour ("behind-the-scenes"), food and wine tastings, 24-hour premium coffee/tea/hot chocolate, replenished daily bottled water.

Avalon Waterways itineraries

Follows the list of Avalon Luminary itineraries operated for Avalon Waterways.

(22-nights cruising) "North Sea-Black Sea Cruise" is 24-days river cruises from Amsterdam to Bucharest (Eastbound, code WA), and the reverse from Bucharest to Amsterdam (Westbound, code WOA). The Eastbound route is also operated as 26-days cruise from Amsterdam to Istanbul (code WOAE), with a 2-night luxury Istanbul hotel package included in the Avalon deals.

(13-nights cruising) "Grand Danube Cruise" are 18-days river cruises from Prague to Bucharest (Eastbound, code WNO), and the reverse from Bucharest to Prague (Westbound, code WON). Other booking options are with added Bucharest luxury hotel package (Westbound code WONE, Eastbound code WNOE) and the "Cruising-Only" deals from Nuremberg to Bucharest (code WONO).

(10-nights cruising) "Blue Danube to the Black Sea" is 14-days river cruises from Bucharest to Vienna (Westbound, code WOV), and the reverse from Vienna to Bucharest (Eastbound, code WVO). There are also 16-days deals on cruises from Istanbul to Vienna (Westbound code WOVE) and from Vienna to Istanbul (Eastbound code WVOE), with a 3-night Istanbul luxury hotel package included in the fares. "Cruising-Only" deals are without the Bucharest-Vienna hotel packages (code WOVO).

(7-nights cruising) "The Blue Danube Discovery" are 13-days river cruises from Budapest to Prague (Nuremberg disembarkation, Westbound, code WBN). The reverse route is themed "The Legendary Danube": (7-days sailing) 11-days river cruises from Prague to Budapest (Eastbound, code WNB, Nuremberg embarkation).

(6-nights cruising) "Balkan Discovery" are 10-days river cruises from Budapest to Bucharest (Eastbound, code WBO), and the reverse from Bucharest to Budapest (Eastbound, code WOB). Other booking options are with added Bucharest luxury hotel package (Westbound code WOBE, Eastbound code WBOE) and the "Cruising-Only" deals (code WOBO, non-inclusive of Bucharest-Budapest hotel packages).

(12-nights cruising) "European Splendor" are 13-days river cruises from Amsterdam to Vienna (Eastbound, code WAV), and the reverse from Vienna to Amsterdam (Westbound, code WVA).