My cruise on Loire Princesse has come to an end. How would I rate this cruise? If you’re someone like me who has done the Danube, rode the Rhine, meandered along the Moselle, well, the Loire River presents something new, even pioneering in a way. The châteaux are beautiful and worth the trip alone. Nantes is a gorgeous city, with lots to do, and only a little more than two hours by high-speed train from Paris (or a 40-minute flight). The Loire Princesse? It is an innovative ship, with comfortable accommodations, good food and drink, and a French ambience. If a little cultural immersion is your thing, you’ll likely enjoy a cruise along the Loire as much as I did.

Loire Princesse offers six- and eight-day itineraries along the Loire River. Rates are detailed in my story Loire Princesse: Day 5, Visiting The Beautiful Châteaux of the Loire Valley.

As noted in previous posts, the new Loire Princesse is an innovative vessel designed to navigate the shallow waters of the Loire River. With paddle-wheels protruding from each side, the Loire Princesse can push upstream in water measuring only a little more than two feet deep. There’s never been a “hotel” boat on the Loire, and during our voyage, locals came out to cheer us on and snap photos. We were as much a spectacle to the people and places along the banks as they were to us. See The Crowds Come To See Something Not Seen Before: A River Cruiser On The Loire.

Owned and operated by Strasbourg-based CroisiEurope, the Loire Princesse has a decidedly French onboard ambience. I was one of two Americans on board. The other, a wealthy and well-traveled 85-year-old, said he had chosen Loire Princesse because of the quality that he felt CroisiEurope offered.

Indeed, my stateroom was comfortable, featuring a bed (on deck two) facing the balcony, a point of differentiation that Avalon hangs its hat on. Storage space was generous with two closets, and my bathroom, with its glass-doored shower, was large by river cruise standards. Loire Princesse can carry up to 96 passengers spread across two decks, with deck one featuring large windows  and deck two featuring balconies. All measure about 150 square feet each.

Dining is French-inspired, with locals wines poured, including Muscadet, a white wine from the Loire region. In fact, on CroisiEurope, wine, beer, spirits, soft drinks, speciality coffees and bottled water are served at no charge 24/7.

Loire Princesse departs Nantes, a gorgeous city on the Loire that deserves a couple of nights either pre- or post-cruise. I rented a bicycle for 10 euros a day in this bike-friendly city and explored the city and its surroundings. See Pre-Boarding Loire Princesse: Getting To Know Nantes, By Bike.

Nantes is the home to the late writer Jules Verne and the attractions known as Les Machines that are a tribute to his vivid imagination and sense of adventure.

On its six-day and eight-day itineraries, Loire Princesse heads first to the sea to visit Saint-Nazaire and its famous shipyards, about a half day’s chug downriver. Afterward, the river cruiser begins an overnight push upriver, with stops in Ancenis and Bouchemaine. Excursions are launched into the Loire region from both places.

The highlighted excursion was the full-day visit to the Châteaux of the Loire Valley, an included excursion, with lunch at a local restaurant, for all guests sailing on the Loire Princesse. We visited three châteaux, including one that inspired the fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty. See Loire Princesse: Day 5, Visiting The Beautiful Châteaux of the Loire Valley.

In the accompanying podcast, I speak with Laurence Paitel, cruise manager for the Port of Nantes Saint-Nazaire, about the new Loire Princesse and what it means to the region.

See all of our stories featuring the Loire Princesse and the Loire River.

Loire Princesse - Nantes, France, roundtrip