Travelmarvel Sapphire

The 2006-built Travelmarvel Sapphire cruise ship is operated by the APT Travel-owned subsidiary company Travelmarvel (sisterbrand to AmaWaterways). The vessel's sisterships and fleetmates are Travelmarvel Jewel and Travelmarvel Diamond. Travelmarvel Sapphire cruises on the European rivers Rhine, Main and Danube.

The riverboat (ENI number 09948012/hull) is currently Switzerland-flagged (MMSI 269057623, registered in a href="https://www.cruisemapper.com/ports/basel-port-4482">Basel) and Germany-built (by Neptun Werft in Rostock).

Decks and Cabins

The large (135-m long) APT riverboat Travelmarvel Sapphire has a total of 85 staterooms (81 cabins plus 4 suites, on 3 decks) and max passenger capacity 170 (plus 43 crew/staff). Passenger cabins are in 3 categories and 2 types - French Balcony (staterooms and suites) and Porthole Window (cabins). All cabins are equally sized (16 m2 / 170 ft2) while the suites are larger (24 m2 / 260 ft2). Suites can be booked with triple occupancy, with provided single folding beds for a 3rd passenger.

Porthole Window staterooms are on Lower Deck and each has two round-shaped fixed (non-opening) porthole windows positioned at water level (near the ceiling). French Balcony staterooms are located on decks Upper and Middle and each has floor-ceiling sliding doors that open to a railing. Owners Suites are with midship location on Upper Deck and sized 24 m2 (260 ft2). Besides the French Balcony, they have an additional floor-ceiling window (non-opening). Bonus Suite amenities include sofa with chair and low (coffee) table and larger bathroom.

All Travelmarvel Sapphire staterooms as standard amenities (cruise price-inclusive) offer Queen-size bed (convertible to twins), bedside cabinets, wall-mounted reading lamps, mirrored vanity table (writing desk with chair), phone (onboard calls only - Reception Desk, passenger cabins, wake-up service, slide-opening wardrobe, electronic safe box (in the closet), minibar (refrigerator), wall-mounted flat TV (satellite reception, ship info channel, real-time bow camera views, weather forecast), en-suite bathroom (WC-toilet, glass shower, under-sink storage, magnifying mirror, hairdryer, razor socket, single-sink vanity), individually controlled air-conditioning, 220V / 110V power sockets (shaver plug in the bathroom).

Shipboard facilities and amenities

The ship has a single-seating dining room restaurant (Middle Deck, 170-seats including 10 side chairs), Bar Lounge (Upper Deck, 145-seats plus 12 bar stools, dance floor, electronic piano for live performances in the evenings, media equipment / mobile screen projector), Library (Upper Deck / reading corner in the lobby area with books, puzzles, board games), Shop (Main Deck, in the lobby), wellness area (Spa massage rooms, Gym with fitness equipment on Lower Deck), Beauty Parlor (hair salon on Upper Deck / hairdresser-barber services).

A grand staircase connects Midlle and Upper decks. The Atrium is covered by SkyLight (glass roof on Sun Deck). The Foyer / Lobby area is on 2 levels, with the Reception Desk on Middle Deck, while the Cruise Director's Office (Travelmarvel Tour Desk) and the Internet Cafe (with 2 computers and 1 printer) are on Upper Deck. The bow-located Lido Terrace (Upper Deck) is covered, with outdoor seating (15 seats) and stairs connecting directly to Sundeck (above). Lido Terrace is also a smoking allowed area. Sun Deck has shaded seating (windscreens, retractable hard roofs, 4-seat tables) and sunbathing area (with deckchairs (68), and sun loungers (96) and 4-seat tables.

The riverboat has no Lift (passenger elevator) or swimming pool/whirlpool. All decks are interconnected via Stairlift (midship) and stairs (forward, midship and aft), including a grand staircase in the Atrium (2-decks high, covered by SkyLight on Sundeck).

APT-Travelmarvel cruise passengers are mostly from Australia and New Zealand. The company offers good value-for-money vacation packages with plenty of inclusions. Cruisetour fares are inclusive of most shore excursions (sightseeing guided tours), port charges and fees, tipping (onboard gratuities), Internet/W-LAN (wireless), bicycles (carried on the ship). Tea and coffee are available 24 hours, and free of charge. Refillable water tap is also available. Lunches and dinners come with complimentary local beers and house wines (by the glass) and soft drinks.

Itineraries

Travelmarvel Sapphire itinerary program offers European river cruises on Moselle, Rhine, Main and Danube. Departures are from homeports Amsterdam and Budapest ("European Gems" itinerary) and also from Budapest and Prague ("The Delightful Danube" itinerary).