Austrian river cruise operator Amadeus by Lueftner Cruises is looking to court the North American market as it gears to launch its newest vessel, the 178-passenger Amadeus Silver, in March.
Amadeus is the first client of the newly launched sales representation, reservation and consultancy service Optriant. Preferred Hospitality Group, parent company of Preferred Hotel Group, created Optriant to represent cruise lines, destination management companies, tourism boards and airlines.
Optriant will work to enhance Amadeus’ sales efforts in the North American market.
The Amadeus Silver will be the longest ship in the Amadeus fleet at 443 feet, compared to the other ships, which measure 361 feet. The ship’s 77 standard cabins will all measure 173 square feet, and the 12 suites will be 259 square feet each.
The cabins on the upper two decks will have French balconies with drop-down glass windows, and the suites will have full balconies.
The ship’s common areas will include a restaurant, sun deck bar, putting green, a bar and lounge with a river terrace, a fitness room, massage room and an additional lounge at the aft of the ship.
The Amadeus Silver will bring the company’s European river fleet size to 11 vessels, but the company is only marketing the Amadeus Silver and the 152-passenger Amadeus Brilliant, launched in 2011, to the North American market.
The Amadeus Silver is currently under construction at the De Hoop Lobith shipyard in the Netherlands.
Amadeus Cruises is privately owned and operated by the Lueftner family. The company offers cruises along Europe’s major inland waterways, including the Danube, Rheine, Main, Rhone and Saone rivers and the Dutch and Belgian waterways.
The Amadeus Silver will be sailing the 15-day Danube itinerary Across Europe, from Budapest to Amsterdam, among other itineraries.