Signature highlights
Four-deck river ship with a panoramic Skylounge, forward veranda, sun deck, whirlpool, shaded seating, and Green Award certification.
Excellence Countess
Excellence Countess is a 178-guest Excellence River Cruises river cruise ship. This page lists 37 upcoming departures across 13 itineraries in European River Cruises, day by day and port by port. Its live AIS position is plotted on the map below and refreshed through the day.
✓ Couples wanting a small river ship
✓ Travelers who value multiple dining venues
✓ Guests preferring French-balcony cabins
Excellence Countess at a glance
Best for
- Couples wanting a small river ship
- Travelers who value multiple dining venues
- Guests preferring French-balcony cabins
- Adults seeking a quiet wellness area
- Passengers who enjoy open-deck river views
Think twice if you want
- Travelers wanting extensive entertainment venues
- Families seeking dedicated kids facilities
- Guests needing lift access to every deck
- Passengers who prefer full private balconies
- Travelers seeking a large onboard spa
Live Position ● 2 hours ago
Heading to: Mannheim
0.0 knots
Position via AIS — updated periodically, not real-time.
About Excellence Countess
Excellence Countess is a 135-meter Swiss river ship carrying up to 178 guests in 89 river-view cabins and suites. Entering service in 2019, she operates mainly on the Rhine and the waterways of the Netherlands and Belgium. Her four-deck layout combines two restaurants, a panoramic Skylounge with bar, a small wellness area, and an open sun deck with whirlpool and shaded seating. The ship offers a relatively intimate alternative to larger river vessels, with French balconies on upper accommodation decks and attentive onboard services.
Ship at a Glance
- Operator
- Swiss Excellence River Cruise, Basel
- Builder / shipyard
- Vahali Shipyards, Zasavica, Serbia; final outfitting reported at TeamCo Shipyard, Heusden, Netherlands
- Registry / flag
- Switzerland (confirmed by the ship’s AIS identity)
- Call sign
- HE7688
- MMSI
- 269057688
- Draft
- 1.6 m
Onboard Experience
Pools, spa & wellness
Small fitness room, sauna, whirlpool, sun loungers, and outdoor relaxation areas.
Accessibility
Passenger lift service is provided between principal accommodation and public decks; a stairlift is reported between the upper and sun decks. Cabin and deck access should be confirmed for individual mobility requirements.
Environmental features
The ship carries Green Award certification, which recognizes environmental, safety, and social-performance standards.
Deck plans
Venues Cabins only Both · Tap a deck to see what's on it
Deck 4
Sonnendeck mit Liegen Sitzgruppen Schattensegel Putting-GreenDeck 3
Restaurant Rive Skylounge mit Bar 24h-Wasser/Kaffee/Tee Foyer mit Rezeption Bordshop KFL-Desk Bugveranda 2-Bett Kabine Ober-/Mitteldeck Junior Suite Ober-/MitteldeckDeck 2
Restaurant Excellence 2-Bett Kabine Ober-/Mitteldeck Junior Suite Ober-/MitteldeckDeck 1
Sauna kleiner Fitnessraum 2-Bett Kabine HauptdeckView the official Excellence Countess deck plans from Excellence River Cruises →
Cabins & suites
| Category | Type | Cabins | Size | Decks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Bett Kabine Ober-/Mitteldeck16 m²; French balcony; operator combines the middle- and upper-deck cabins in one category. | Balcony | — | — | 2, 3 |
| Junior Suite Ober-/Mitteldeck20 m²; French balcony; Nespresso machine, bathrobes, and sparkling wine and fruit on arrival. | Suite | 24 | — | 2, 3 |
| 2-Bett Kabine Hauptdeck13 m²; upper window that does not open; operator publishes 65 comfort cabins across the ship but does not allocate the total by named category. | Oceanview | — | — | 1 |
Dining, bars & venues
5 included 0 extra cost in the fare, by the line's own published policy.
Dining
Restaurant Excellence
Included
The main restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with menus and buffets.
Restaurant Rive
Included
The reservation restaurant serves a three-course lunch and dinner menu without a surcharge.
Bars & lounges
Skylounge mit Bar
Varies
A glass-roofed lounge with a bar and river views.
Where Excellence Countess sails, month by month
| Oct 26 |
Nov 26 |
Dec 26 |
Jan 27 |
Feb 27 |
Mar 27 |
Apr 27 |
May 27 |
Jun 27 |
Jul 27 |
Aug 27 |
Sep 27 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European River Cruises | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Northern Europe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
Ports it visits most
Explore This Ship
Jump from Excellence Countess sailings into the broader destination network with cruise line and region hub pages.
Itineraries & Sailings
All 13 itineraries and their departure dates
- Adventsflusszauber Rhein 29 Nov 2026, 2 Dec 2026, 5 Dec 2026, 8 Dec 2026, 28 Nov 2027, 1 Dec 2027, 4 Dec 2027, 7 Dec 2027
- City Cruise: Kunst, Design, Literatur 29 Mar 2027, 7 Oct 2027
- Die Pfalz & das Elsass 4 Oct 2027, 18 Oct 2027
- Drei Flüsse von Basel nach Passau 5 May 2027
- Drei Flüsse von Passau nach Basel 13 May 2027
- Flanderns goldene Städte 6 Jun 2027, 21 Jun 2027, 19 Jul 2027, 3 Aug 2027, 18 Aug 2027, 2 Sep 2027
- Grand Tour: Nordische Sommer-Cruise 6 Jul 2027
- Metropolen zum Staunen: Rhein & Flandern 3 Apr 2027, 19 Apr 2027, 27 Apr 2027, 21 May 2027, 18 Sep 2027, 26 Sep 2027
- Nordholland und das Ijsselmeer 14 Jun 2027, 29 Jun 2027, 11 Aug 2027, 26 Aug 2027
- Städtereise auf dem Rhein nach Mainz, Köln und Düsseldorf 11 Apr 2027, 12 Oct 2027
- Von Amsterdam nach Basel 10 Sep 2027
- Von Basel nach Amsterdam 29 May 2027
- Winter-Magie aus Licht und Eis 11 Dec 2026, 10 Dec 2027
All Upcoming Departures
Excellence Countess FAQ
What flag does Excellence Countess sail under?
Excellence Countess is registered in Switzerland.
How many passengers does Excellence Countess hold?
Excellence Countess carries about 178 guests with roughly 46 crew.
What should passengers wear onboard Excellence Countess?
The operator describes the onboard atmosphere as stylish but relaxed. Smart casual clothing is appropriate in the evening, with more elegant clothing requested on gala evenings; swimwear and beach shoes are not allowed in public rooms.
Are meals included on Excellence Countess?
The standard fare includes premium full board. Dining at Restaurant Rive requires a reservation but has no surcharge according to the operator.
Is Wi-Fi included?
Wi-Fi is provided free in the cabins and public areas. Service can be interrupted on some river sections and in locks.
How does tipping work?
Tipping is voluntary. The operator considers 8–10 euros per guest per day appropriate and asks guests to give it to the crew collectively through reception.
Is the ship accessible for passengers with limited mobility?
A passenger lift connects the main, middle and upper decks, while the sun deck is reached by stairlift. The operator warns that some port gangways can be narrow or steep and that not every area is lift-accessible.
Does Excellence Countess have dedicated children’s facilities?
The operator does not name a dedicated kids facility on this ship.