“Life is not a dress rehearsal – it is a live performance.”
That is the motto of the Premicon Queen, the 5-star luxury riverboat that operates our new 6-Day Luxury Rhine River Cruise from Cologne (part of Viator’s Rhine River tours and cruises).The meaning of that phrase becomes clear as you step aboard. The entrance area – complete with panoramic elevator, gallery staircase and glass dome – gives you a glimpse of the boat’s amazing architecture on board.
This is no ordinary ship.
Why we’re excited about this Rhine River cruise
Simply put, the Premicon Queen is state of the art. It was built in 2008 and features TwinCruiser technology; what’s the big deal, you ask? Well this ensures a vibration-free and quiet travel experience, since the engine and passenger areas are completely separate. Nice.
One of the suites aboard the Premicon Queen
The ship also takes architecture seriously. There are lots of wide open spaces and large glass windows and viewing areas, to give you near-constant stunning views of the beautiful valleys buttressing the Rhine River.
Despite being over 400 feet (122m) long, the Premicon Queen carries just 102 passengers; and with 485 sq feet (45 sq metres) per passenger, this ship has more space than any other riverboat in the world! Passengers are served by 58 obliging crew members, who personally attend to your every need. The standard of service here is incredibly high.
Sleeping & eating in luxury
The Premicon Queen also takes sleeping seriously. There’s a choice of three suites. The Junior Suites are a generous 194 sq feet (18 sq metres) in size and contain space-saving sliding doors, large mirrors and two floor-length windows opening onto a French balcony. The fully glazed marble bathroom features a shower, toilet and makeup mirror and also benefits from natural light.
The Deluxe Suite offers an extra 42 square feet (4 square metres) – and you can enjoy the Rhine River views from your diagonally positioned bed! And for a truly indulgent experience, opt for one four Queen Suites: you get 24-hour butler service, a 323 sq foot (30 sq metres) suite with separate sleeping and living areas, plus full-length glass windows that open out onto a large balcony with outside seating.
Views from the Sky Deck
The food on board the Premicon Queen is second to none, with international chefs on hand to prepare the five meals a day on offer. Breakfast, which can be taken at your table or in your suite, is followed by a la carte lunch, afternoon tea, 5-course a la carte dinner and, finally, a late-night snack.
Rhine River cruise: things to do & see
As hard as it is to drag yourself away from the Premicon Queen, you must. At least sometimes, to tour the Rhineland’s towns and attractions. You can also organize some serious sightseeing in major European cities, depending on the itinerary you book: three different Premicon Queen itineraries take you both north and south of Cologne to the most picturesque parts of Germany and the Netherlands, including Amsterdam, where you have the opportunity to explore both quaint towns and vibrant cities – all the while knowing that, at the end of the day, you will return to your new luxury floating palace – the Premicon Queen!
As you can tell, we’re excited about this new 6-day luxury Rhine River cruise. It’s truly one of a kind, and we’re very pleased to have it on the Viator website. If you’re interested here’s a video of the ship, enjoy your virtual tour.
-Viator Travel Team
Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Rhine River cruises and tours, including the new 5-star Rhine River cruise from Cologne aboard the ‘Premicon Queen’.
June 27, 2010 at 1:51 PM
Suites are huge and well maintained. Dining Room staff is great and speaks English well. Our group of 11 from U.S. accounted for one third of 33 passengers. Others were mostly German.
Concierge and Cruise Director need English language skills and, in the case of the Cruise Director, hospitality training.
Written information in English on shore excursions not available “because headquarters didn’t send it” according to the Concierge so the only way to get info was to attend a briefing he conducted. His accent was so thick and he talked so fast that we barely understood anything he said. We requested he speak slower and he did so for a couple of sentences and then raced into high gear for the remaining 30 minutes. I felt like I was speaking with computer support in India.
The Cruise Director gave highlights along the Rhine in German and English. German explanations would run a couple of minutes during which true insight to culture and history was announced, I guess. The English translation might run a couple of sentences.
When my wife went below to get a wrap she was ordered back on deck to see the Lorelei (spelling), a small statue which I guess is a big deal to Germans and Austrians.
Arriving an hour late in in port and scheduled to leave in only two hours we were told that by the Cruise Director that it would be impossible to visit the castle above the village due to time constraints. She said a cab ride would take 25 minutes and a walk to the castle at least 45 minutes.
Our group of nine was at the castle gate in 20 minutes and back at the ship in 45 as the building had closed for the day. Seems the Cruise Director would have better knowledge of the ports.
Go for the huge suites, fine food and be prepared to explore with out much help from the Concierge and Cruise Director.
July 6, 2010 at 8:28 AM
Hi Mark, Thank you for taking the time to review the Premicon Queen. We are delighted that you enjoyed the high standard of accommodation and exquisite dining on board your cruise. Your comments regarding language difficulties are also appreciated, and rest assured that we are working with the supplier to ensure that the cruise remains a top experience for all nationalities, regardless of language spoken.
- Viator Travel Team