Each year, river cruise lines attempt to improve their services by adding new ships to their fleet. Not only does this give cruisers more choice in regards to the type of holiday they are looking for and where they want to go; it also means that exciting new facilities and technological advancements can be introduced.

Some ships will be almost exact replicas of vessels that are already in operation, whereas other may offer something totally different. Here are a few ships that we are looking forward to seeing for the first time in 2015.

AmaSerena – AmaWaterways

This year AmaWaterways will welcome three new ships into their award-winning fleet, one of them being AmaSerena. This ship has a lot to live up to as she will be the sister of Berlitz rated number one river vessel operating in Europe; AmaPrima. By the sounds of it, though, the brand new AmaSerena will be more than a match for her sibling.

A cutting edge design, swim-up bar, and staterooms which feature twin balconies are just a few of the facilities that guests can look forward to. There will also be the popular ‘infotainment’ system in all cabins and, of course, Ama’s famous fleet of bicycles will enable a whole host of explorative opportunities in each port.

AmaSerena will sail along the Rhine in 2015. The other two new ships, AmaVista and AmaDara, will grace rivers in Europe and Asia’s Mekong River respectively.

Avalon Myanmar – Avalon Waterways

2015 is the year that Avalon Waterways will venture further into Asia by launching their first ship to offer Myanmar river cruises on the Irrawaddy River. Like many of Avalon’s ships, the new addition will be an ‘all-suite’ vessel. Not only does this mean that you will get to travel in complete luxury; there will also only be around 30 other guests accompanying you on your journey.

Furthermore, Avalon Myanmar features the impressive open-air balconies that are also present on some of their other ships. Your suite doors will open a full nine feet wide to give the illusion that, wherever you sit, you are outside. The ship is also designed so that it can navigate the Irrawaddy all year round, something that larger vessels cannot do.

Avalon will also be launching three other ships this year. Avalon Siem Reap will travel through Vietnam and Cambodia, whilst the slightly larger Avalon Tranquillity II and Avalon Tapestry II will both sail within France. The latter of which will also grace the Rhine.

Amadeus Silver II – Luftner Cruises

The Amadeus Silver II is set to be almost a carbon copy of the original Amadeus Silver, but with a few new features. This is only the second ship from Luftner Cruises to be 135 metres long and will feature popular public areas such as Café Vienna and the beautiful River Terrace.

Innovative new features include an option to lower the cabin’s panoramic window so that the whole room feels like a French balcony. The number of cabins has also been reduced from 90 to 84 so that everyone receives more space within their accommodation and the public areas could also be expanded. Amadeus Silver II will be sailing the Rhine and Danube.

S.S. Maria Theresa – Uniworld

Following the success of S.S Antoinette, launched in 2011, and S.S Catherine, launched last year, Uniworld will be unveiling their third ‘Super Ship’ in the form of S.S Maria Theresa. Everything that makes these vessels so luxurious will be present, including Savoir of England beds topped with 100% Egyptian cottons, a heated swimming pool, and delicious restaurant options.

All guests staying in a suite will also benefit from comprehensive butler service, plush robes and slippers, fully stocked mini-bar and much more. S.S Maria Theresa will spend her time on the Rhine, Danube and Main.

Viking Astrild – Viking River Cruises

Viking River Cruises have a reputation for launching more new vessels each year than everyone else combined. In fact, last year they broke their own Guinness world record by launching 14 different ships simultaneously across Europe whilst also christening two that they didn’t get round to officially recognising the year before. It’s just the 12 new vessels for 2015 though; 10 of their now famous Viking Longships and two that have been specifically designed for Germany’s Elbe River.

One of these two is Viking Astrild. Design modifications include making the ship’s draft smaller so that she can effortlessly navigate this beautiful river that runs through the heart of Hamburg and Dresden.

MS Charles Dickens – Riviera Travel

Luxury line Riviera Travel will be launching two new ships this year that will be sisters of the already successful MS William Shakespeare. MS Charles Dickens is a large ship but with a capacity for just 140 guests; allowing much more space for those on board and a more favourable staff to guest ratio. The elegant décor features luxuriously thick carpets, polished stainless steel, and plenty of glass. The main hull is also built using sustainably sourced hardwoods.

Additional innovative features include sound absorbing paint on the ceiling of the restaurant so that diners can enjoy a quieter eating environment. All of this and more means that MS Charles Dickens and MS Jane Austin (the other ships launching in 2015) are sure to be two of the most luxurious river ships in operation.

If you would like to book your river cruise on any of these new ships, or the many other ships currently in operation, Fred. can help tailor-make an experience to your requirements. Call us today or fill in an enquiry on our website.