Signature highlights
Intimate four-deck river ship with a river lounge, sun deck, shaded seating, glass-enclosed winter garden, and panoramic French river scenery.
Excellence Rhône
Excellence Rhône is a 140-guest Excellence River Cruises river cruise ship, in service since 2006. This page lists 37 upcoming departures across 8 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-ship river cruise
✓ Travelers who value French-balcony cabins
✓ Guests seeking included full-board dining
Excellence Rhône at a glance
Best for
- Couples wanting a small-ship river cruise
- Travelers who value French-balcony cabins
- Guests seeking included full-board dining
- Passengers who prefer a quiet lounge-focused ship
- Adults combining sightseeing with relaxed deck time
Think twice if you want
- Families needing children’s facilities
- Travelers seeking pools or active recreation
- Guests requiring fully documented accessible facilities
- Passengers wanting multiple dining venues
- Travelers preferring large entertainment spaces
Live Position ● 2 days ago
Heading to: AVIGNONCurrently on: Beaujolais und Burgund (4 nights)
9.0 knots
Position data may be outdated.
Position via AIS — updated periodically, not real-time.
About Excellence Rhône
Excellence Rhône is a compact Swiss river ship designed for scenic cruising on France’s Rhône and Saône rivers. Built in 2006, it combines a restaurant, river lounge with bar, reception area, lift access, and a sun deck with shaded seating and a glass-enclosed winter garden. The ship accommodates up to 140 guests in 68 cabins and two suites. Its intimate scale, French-focused itineraries, and German- and English-speaking service make it well suited to relaxed regional exploration.
Ship at a Glance
- Operator
- Swiss Excellence River Cruise GmbH
- Builder / shipyard
- Vahali, Gendt, Netherlands; outfitted by De Gerlien–van Tiem, Druten, Netherlands
- Registry / flag
- Switzerland (confirmed by the ship’s AIS identity)
- Call sign
- HE7226
- MMSI
- 269057226
- Draft
- 1.5 m
- Previous names
- Excellence
Onboard Experience
For families
No dedicated children’s facilities or family programming are published. The ship’s small scale and quiet river-cruise format are oriented primarily toward adult travelers.
Pools, spa & wellness
The sun deck provides loungers and outdoor seating. No dedicated spa, fitness center, or swimming pool is published.
Accessibility
A lift connects the middle and upper decks. Further accessibility features are limited in the operator’s published ship specifications.
Environmental features
The operator presents Excellence Rhône as part of its environmentally focused fleet and includes a climate-protection contribution in its cruise package.
Deck plans
Venues Cabins only Both · Tap a deck to see what's on it
Deck 4
Verglaster Wintergarten Sonnendeck mit Liegen Sitzgruppen SchattensegelDeck 3
Riverlounge mit Bar Bordshop 24h-Wasser/Kaffee/Tee Foyer mit Rezeption KFL-Desk 2-Bett Kabine Ober-Mitteldeck Mini Suite mit Privatbalkon OberdeckDeck 2
Restaurant Excellence 2-Bett Kabine Ober-MitteldeckView the official Excellence Rhône deck plans from Excellence River Cruises →
Cabins & suites
| Category | Type | Cabins | Size | Sleeps | Decks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Bett-Kabine Hauptdeck12 m²; upper window that cannot be opened; two single beds. | Oceanview | — | — | 2 | 1 |
| 2-Bett Kabine Ober-Mitteldeck16 m²; French balcony; panoramic windows with sliding door. | Balcony | — | — | 2 | 2, 3 |
| Mini Suite mit Privatbalkon Oberdeck18 m²; private balcony; arrival sparkling wine and fruit, bathrobes and Nespresso machine. | Suite | 2 | — | 2 | 3 |
Dining, bars & venues
2 included 1 extra cost in the fare, by the line's own published policy.
Dining
Restaurant Excellence
Included
The ship's main restaurant serving breakfast, meals and menus or buffets.
Bars & lounges
Riverlounge mit Bar
Varies
A lounge and bar with seating and drinks service.
History & sister ships
Other River cruise ship ships
Excellence Royal Excellence River Cruises · 2010
A-ROSA Donna A-ROSA · 2002
A-ROSA Mia A-ROSA · 2003
A-ROSA Riva A-ROSA · 2004
VIVA Voyage VIVA Cruises · 2004
A-ROSA Luna A-ROSA · 2005
A-ROSA Stella A-ROSA · 2005
VIVA Tiara VIVA Cruises · 2006
A-ROSA Aqua A-ROSA · 2009
AMADEUS Brilliant Amadeus River Cruises · 2011
A-ROSA Silva A-ROSA · 2012
A-ROSA Flora A-ROSA · 2014
Where Excellence Rhône 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 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Ports it visits most
Explore This Ship
Jump from Excellence Rhône sailings into the broader destination network with cruise line and region hub pages.
Itineraries & Sailings
All 8 itineraries and their departure dates
- Beaujolais und Burgund 29 Oct 2027
- Burgund, Provence, Camargue 18 Apr 2027, 2 May 2027, 16 May 2027, 30 May 2027, 13 Jun 2027, 22 Aug 2027, 5 Sep 2027, 19 Sep 2027, 3 Oct 2027
- Camargue, Provence, Burgund 25 Apr 2027, 9 May 2027, 23 May 2027, 6 Jun 2027, 29 Aug 2027, 12 Sep 2027, 26 Sep 2027, 10 Oct 2027
- Frankreichs leuchtender Süden 31 Mar 2027, 6 Apr 2027, 12 Apr 2027, 17 Oct 2027, 23 Oct 2027
- Fête des Lumières. Alles leuchtet! 3 Dec 2026, 3 Dec 2027
- Fêtes des Lumières. Alles leuchtet 7 Dec 2026, 7 Dec 2027
- Sommer in Frankreichs Süden 27 Jun 2027, 5 Jul 2027, 13 Jul 2027, 21 Jul 2027, 29 Jul 2027, 6 Aug 2027, 14 Aug 2027
- Wenn es Winter wird auf der Rhône 29 Nov 2026, 11 Dec 2026, 11 Dec 2027
All Upcoming Departures
Excellence Rhône FAQ
What flag does Excellence Rhône sail under?
Excellence Rhône is registered in Switzerland.
How many passengers does Excellence Rhône hold?
Excellence Rhône carries about 140 guests.
How old is Excellence Rhône?
Excellence Rhône entered service in 2006.
What is the dress code on Excellence Rhône?
Daytime onboard dress is relaxed. Evenings call for long trousers and smart-casual clothing; gala evenings call for elegant dress, with a jacket optional for men.
Is dining included on Excellence Rhône?
The standard Excellence package includes premium full board. Meals are served in Restaurant Excellence, with breakfast, main meals, snacks and selected beverages described in the onboard package.
Is Wi-Fi included on Excellence Rhône?
Free Wi-Fi is available in public areas and cabins. The operator notes that the connection can be interrupted on some stretches and in locks.
Are children allowed on Excellence Rhône?
Children may travel with an accompanying adult in the same cabin. The operator states that children’s or baby menus, high chairs and baby cots are not available onboard.
Is Excellence Rhône accessible for passengers with reduced mobility?
The ship has a lift between the middle and upper decks. The operator does not publish a complete accessibility specification for the ship, so passengers should confirm their requirements before booking.
How are gratuities handled on Excellence Rhône?
The operator treats gratuities as a voluntary expression of appreciation and considers 8–10 euros per guest per day appropriate, normally handed to the reception.