Built in 2015 in Saint-Nazaire, CroisiEurope’s Loire Princesse is famed for being the first French ship to sail on the Loire, the last “wild river” in France. The vessel was designed with a very low draft and a rare side paddle-wheel propulsion system, allowing it to access areas that traditional cruise vessels can’t reach.
Standard itineraries travel through the Loire Valley, stopping at the historic riverside towns Saint-Nazaire, Ancenis, Chalonnes-sur-Loire and Angers, with excursions to stunning château regions and vineyards along the way. Most cruises last from four to seven nights, depending on the itinerary, with the most common being a four-night, round trip that returns to Nantes at the end of the journey.
Overall score 7/10
Style and Character 7/10
With its traditional triple-deck river ship design and central paddle-wheel feature, the Loire Princesse is unique in being able to negotiate the shallow waters of the Loire. The other 49 ships of the Croisi fleet are similarly designed to navigate the waters they sail on – from bijou canal barges to roomy ocean ships.
The style on Loire Princesse is functional French chic: don’t expect any bells, whistles or pretensions. Rather, Loire Princesse is all about comfy interiors, good food and somewhat quirky entertainment.
Cabins 7/10
The standard cabins are basic but still charming. Most twin or double beds face towards the picture windows – particularly relaxing when sailing past a reel of orchards, vineyards and glorious Renaissance châteaux. Pale wooden furniture and white and ochre soft furnishings make the rooms feel airy despite their compact size, and each has a small shower room/toilet with basic amenities.
You won’t find any international channel options on the cabin’s wall-mounted TV, but who goes on a cruise to watch the box?
Food and Drink 8/10
All three daily meals are served in the main restaurant on the lower deck with seating in groups of four to six. A central table loaded with self-service continental breakfast options means a morning bun fight, but hot options (such as omelettes) can be made to order.
Three-course set lunches and dinners feature locally sourced wines and produce, hearty dishes and indulgent puddings. All the classics made an appearance on my sailing, from beef bourguignon to duck a l’orange, plus plenty of great cheeses.
Traditionally, on the gala night, a huge Baked Alaska is paraded around by the restaurant team to the tune of La Marseillaise while diners wave French flags and cheer. Meanwhile, the buzzy upstairs bar serves whatever you fancy until whatever time you choose to retire for the night.
Service and Facilities 5/10
Service onboard is fair to good, but don’t expect the fawning intensity of your average ocean cruise ship crew. Smiles seem rationed – although if you have a query or a problem, it will be sorted quickly and efficiently. Case in point? The receptionist was happy to lend me her own personal hairdryer, “as the ones in the rooms aren’t very good”.
Facilities are adequate for a river ship, but without any frills. The sun deck is just that: chairs, a bit of shade and a few loungers, but nothing else.
Entertainment and Excursions 8/10
A daily programme of events consists either of morning excursions followed by a return to the ship for lunch and sailing, or a full day out with lunch provided.
As a Loire Valley river ship, tours on my itinerary were tailored to wine-making and local town visits, including Nantes and Saint-Nazaire, with a full-day excursion to the chateaux of the Loire Valley included in the fare. Translators were available for every language onboard. In our case, most guests spoke French, although a Spanish translator was also provided for a mother and daughter from Alicante.
Evening entertainment revolved around pre- and post-dinner drinks, quizzes (with bilingual questions) and lots of dancing – everything from the polka to the twist. On our sailing, we also enjoyed a great local three-piece band from Brittany, followed by a well-attended disco.
Value for Money 9/10
All meals and drinks are included in the price, as are wi-fi and port fees. Gratuities are neither included nor expected. Excursions cost from £68pp.
Access for guests with disabilities?
Loire Princesse has one accessible cabin – however, there’s no lift, so guests will still need to be able to use the internal stairs. And although there are ramps to get on and off the ship, a certain level of mobility is needed to access all areas.
Family-friendly?
Children are welcome on certain sailings along the Loire, Douro, Rhone, Rhine, Guadalquivir and in Bordeaux and Venice. On these cruises, children under the age of 16 sail for free, but don’t expect to find any kids’ club, children’s menu or interconnecting cabins onboard.