MS Van Gogh
If you’re willing to go with the flow and want to immerse yourself in the provincial charms of France’s Rhône River, this newly renovated ship operated by French cruise line CroisiEurope is a terrific option. There’s a spare, modern simplicity to both the ms Van Gogh and its itineraries, which range from four- and five-night cruises to a full week on the Rhône and Saône. And the all-inclusive pricing (with certain wines and some spirits extra) offers exceptional value.
What We Love
The European Experience: On ms Van Gogh you’ll trade exclamations of “marvelous” for “magnifique” and “good morning” for “bonjour” (or “guten tag”). Some cruises have more Americans aboard than others, but the Croisi experience is distinctly European (don’t worry, the multilingual, international crew speaks English).
The Newly Enlarged Cabins: The ms Van Gogh received an extreme makeover in March 2018 that transformed her from a 154-passenger ship with dark, dated decor to a 105-passenger one that’s bright, airy, and inviting. The interiors are a neutral white, beige, and gray palette, and hand-painted recreations of Vincent Van Gogh’s works hang in the public spaces. Cabins are now a generous 168 square feet with brush-stroke-inspired drapery patterns in cheerful orange and blue. Beds face the windows, which feature sliding doors and French balconies on Deck 2 and three non-opening windows on Deck 1, and the bathrooms are clean and modern.
The Ship’s Range: Designed with just two passenger decks and a collapsible navigation bridge that allows the ship to pass beneath low spans on the Rhône and Saône rivers, ms Van Gogh can cruise even when water levels are too high for other ships. Reclining on a lounge chair on the top deck while passing so closely beneath the illuminated bridges of Lyon at night is an experience you’ll long remember.