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The Loire Valley, a Royal legacy

Aboard MS Loire Princesse with CroisiEurope

Departure Date

2 August 2025

Duration

5 Nights

Cruise Only From

£1,397pp

Cruise Reference

ART-1THCR20

Cruise Overview

Embark on a cruise on the Royal Loire River whose beauty is legendary.

Visit Nantes and The Machines of the Isle of Nantes, a gallery that recreates the imaginary world of the famous writer Jules Verne.

Discover Saint-Nazaire and admire its shipyard and the Escal'Atlantic which immerses you in the world of steamships from the beginnings of theirgigantic construction to life on board.

Soak up the magical castles of the Loire such as Brissac, the highest castle in France whose monumental facades rise up from its large landscaped park.

Cruise Itinerary

The gateway to the Atlantic Ocean and the country’s seventh largest city, Nantes is located on the north bank of the Loire River. Although officially no longer the capital of Brittany since Nantes was included in the Pays de Loire administrative region, many of the city’s inhabitants regard themselves still an integral part of Brittany. During medieval times, much of the city’s prosperity resulted from colonial expeditions and the slave trade. Today Nantes is the most important commercial and industrial centre in west-central France, and appears as a particularly well-managed city with fine museums and carefully tended parks and gardens. One of the museums is dedicated to Jules Verne, born here in 1828. The Loire, foundation of Nantes’ riches, has dwindled from the city centre. As recently as the 1930s the river crossed the city in seven separate channels. However, they were filled in after World War II but, fortunately, left the area’s 18th-century mansions intact. They once were the trademark of rich merchants who made their fortunes from the slave trade. French influence was brought to Nantes by the Loire and its trade from the end of the 18th century when the city became known as "Little Paris." The Place Royale and the Place Graslin were first laid out during that time. One of the most impressive landmarks is the Chateau des Ducs, most of which is preserved in its original form built by the last two rulers of independent Brittany, Francois II, and his daughter Duchess Anne, born here in 1477.

Aboard MS Loire Princesse

Launch Year: 2015 Length: 80 Width: 11 Currency: EUR Capacity: 96 Crew Count: 24 Deck Count: 3 Cabin Count: 48

The design of this ship is exclusive to CroisiEurope since it is the first French ship to sail on the Loire, the last "wild river" in France. Built in 2015 in Saint-Nazaire, its specificity lies in its side paddle wheels and shallow-draft. The noble burgundy and pearly colours mingle with copper elements, which give a prestigious

character to the interior decoration. A “royal” atmosphere to discover the Loire châteaux from the water. A nod to the famous “inexplosibles” that once crisscrossed the Loire: a large fireplace is located in the middle of the lounge.

The welcoming public spaces have large window areas and the cabins on the upper deck have terraces with outdoor furniture. All meals during the cruise are served in the restaurant on the main deck. Onboard fun, music and dancing happen in the lounge / bar on the upper deck, where a cozy patio also provides great landscape views. The sun deck has deck chairs and sun loungers ideal for relaxing. In the reception area you can admire the mechanism of the paddle wheels during navigation.

MS Loire Princesse Facilities

The only "floating" hotel structures of its type in France, CroisiEurope reigns supreme over the kitchens on its boats. In charge of the company's Chefs, Alain Bohn manages and designs his cuisine and specific menus in the pure tradition of French cooking with his passionate kitchen teams. From time to time, CroisiEurope joins forces with a number of renowned Chefs such as Paul Bocuse, Marc Haeberlin or Emile Jung to organise gastronomic cruises full of taste and flavour.

Dining aboard a CroisiEurope cruise is always a pleasure. Food is taken seriously and it shows. You'll soon become firm friends with your waiter and you'll quickly come to admire the choices made by world-renowned sommelier, Serge Dubs.

MS Loire Princesse Includes

Reservations from minors shall not be accepted by the travel agency but must be made by the parents or other adults of more than 18 years of age with the necessary authorisations. Minors of under 18 years of age are not permitted to travel on board unaccompanied. They must be accompanied by parents or adults of more than 18 years of age. No alcoholic beverages shall be served to minors on board. Proof of the customer’s age may be requested by the ship’s personnel.

Cabin Details

Enjoy the comforts of home onboard with CroisiEurope. Cosy, tastefully decorated cabins greet passengers like a home from home. After dinner, retire to your private cabin in comfort for the night: all cabins are tastefully decorated and are equipped with all amenities required for your comfort.

UPPER DECK: 30 cabins with furnished terrace, sliding panoramic windows

  • Cat. A : 19 double cabins
  • Cat. B : 1 double cabin
  • 1 PRM cabin
  • Cat. C : 9 double cabins

MAIN DECK: 18 cabins with high windows

  • Cat. A : 8 double cabins
  • Cat. B : 2 double cabins
  • Cat. C : 8 double cabins

AMENITIES

  • TV
  • Telephone (for internal calls only)
  • Bathroom with shower and toilet
  • Towels
  • Safe
  • Independent air-conditioning
  • Electricity 220V
  • Wi-Fi

Please note that there is no laundry service on board the ship.