New CroisiEurope river ships roll out in April

European cruise line CroisiEurope is launching three new river ships this month -- the MS Camargue, MS Loire Princesse and the MS Gil Eanes -- marked by ceremonies on some of Europe’s most famous waterways.

Four more are planned for the 2016-17 season too.

The MS Camargue on April 1 hit the water on the Rhone River in Lyon, France. The ship features two decks that will carry 104 passengers in 54 cabins (20 on the upper deck, 34 on the main deck), according to a CroisiEurope announcement on Wednesday.

It will sail six- to eight-day trips from Lyon to French towns such as Macon, Vienne, Arles, Avignon and others.

The MS Loire Princesse followed with its debut the next day on the Loire River in Nantes. The paddlewheel-propelled ship carries 96 passengers in 48 cabins. It will offer six- to eight-day trips in the Loire Valley, stopping in places such as Ancenis, Angers and Saumur.

The third ship, the MS Gil Eanes (named for a 15th century Portuguese explorer) will debut on Portugal’s Douro River on April 17. It will carry 132 passengers in 66 cabins on three decks, offering eight-day cruises leaving from Porto and stopping at Regua, Vega de Teron, Ferradosa and Pinhao.

CroisiEurope plans to add the ships MS Elbe Princesse and the RV Princesse Apsara, and 24-passenger barges MS Daniele and MS Deborah in the coming two years.