The cruise ship was introduced by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines in April 2018. Credit: Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.
The Brabant cruise ship has 79 luxurious rooms spread over four decks. Credit: Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.
The river cruise ship began her maiden voyage from Amsterdam. Credit: Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.

Brabant, the latest river cruise ship in Fred Olsen’s fleet, commenced its inaugural cruise season from Amsterdam on 5 April 2018.

Chartered to Fred Olsen, Brabant was originally built under the name Amadeus Princess for operation by Amadeus River Cruises, a river cruises provider based in the US.

The new river cruise ship sailed on her maiden voyage from Amsterdam on a five-night ‘Springtime Dutch Discovery’ itinerary covering Hoorn, Kampen, Deventer, Arnhem and Nijmegen in the Netherlands, and Dűsseldorf, Germany.

It will also embark on a range of journeys on the Rhine, Danube, Moselle and Main rivers, covering popular European destinations, including Nuremberg, Budapest, Bucharest and Basel.

Brabant river cruise ship dimensions

The vessel is 110m-long with a beam of 11.4m, draft of 1.3m and a 5.8m height above water.

It is smaller than the other cruise ships in Fred Olsen’s fleet of luxury ships. The gross registered tonnage of the ship is 28,388t.

Accommodation aboard Brabant cruise ship

The cruise ship is capable of carrying 156 passengers in 79 rooms spread over four decks. The guests are served by 40 crew members.

The Juliette Balcony Suite offers furnished rooms with sliding glass doors, and facilities that include multiple options for beds, extensive wardrobe space, a flat-screen TV and a direct-dial telephone. The suites also offer a comfortable seating area, a bathroom with a bathtub and toilet, and a mini-bar.

The Juliette Balcony Room Mozart offers full-size sliding glass doors, double or twin beds, and an en-suite bathroom with a shower and toilet. The Juliette Balcony Room Strauss offers multiple options for beds, wardrobe space, a flat-screen TV, a direct-dial telephone, and a hairdryer.

The Standard Rooms on Haydn Deck feature panoramic windows. Each room on-board the ship features an individual climate control system and a safe.

Dining facilities

Fred Olsen is known for hospitality and its wide range of food offerings. In the morning, guests are offered an ‘early riser’ coffee or tea and a wide choice of pastries, followed by a breakfast buffet.

“Complimentary bicycles are provided for guests, allowing them to visit the towns and villages covered by the cruise ship’s itinerary.”

Fred Olsen offers a range of cuisines from oriental to continental. Passengers are provided with a choice of a buffet or three meal courses during lunch.

The Panorama Restaurant on-board Brabant offers afternoon tea and a five-course à-la-carte dinner. Late night snacks are also available for guests.

The carefully designed menu offers multiple options for customers, catering to the needs of each individual. The ship also considers special dietary requests for passengers.

It offers a range of red and white house wines, European lager, bitter and branded drinks at lunch and dinner.

Brabant also has a bar and lounge on the Mozart deck, which provides a relaxing setting for guests. It hosts light music and live performances by singers and pianists in the evenings.

The Amadeus Club offers desktop computers, books and newspapers, games and puzzles for passengers, while the Lido Bar out on Sun Deck stocks a collection of beverages.

Recreation venues and other facilities

The cruise ship includes a fitness centre, spa, hair salon, gift shop, and a bicycle bay.

The Sun Deck features lounge chairs, a small pool, shade awnings, giant chess board and shuffleboard. Complimentary bicycles are provided for guests, allowing them to visit the towns and villages covered by the cruise ship’s itinerary.