The Esprit is a cabin passenger ship of Scylla AG in Basel that was put into service in 2010 and is used on the time charter by the American tour operator Tauck Tours for multi-day cruises on the Danube , Rhine , Main and Moselle . The ship was in service from 2010 to 2014 under the name Vista Prima .
The hull of the Vista Prima , completed at the Shipyard Vahali in Belgrade , was transferred from May 21 to the end of June 2009 from the tanker Michael and the push boat Magdalena to the Vahali main shipyard in Gendt . The ship attachments, machines and the steering system were assembled there. The interior work was carried out by the Scheepstimmerbedrijf Da-Capo in Hardinxveld-Giessendam . The Scylla AG registered the ship on March 16, 2010 under the ENI no. 07001923 in the shipping registry office in Basel. Three weeks later Vista Prima was sold to UBS Leasing Zurich and a leasing contract for the ship was concluded at the same time. It was painted in the colors of the charterer Avista-Reisen from Cologne in white and yellow. The ship was christened on May 21, 2010 in Cologne . Several children were godparents who were living in special educational residential groups of the Schulte-Schmelter Foundation at the time. The three-day maiden voyage on the Lower Rhine from Cologne to Xanten and back began the following day. After the four-year time charter with the Cologne tour operator expired, a contract was signed in 2015 with the American tour operator Tauck Tours , which had already rented several other ships of the shipping company. The ship was rebuilt according to the requirements of the new chart taking, was given a new paint job in green and white and was renamed Esprit . The number of cabins was reduced from 71 to 59.
Equipment and technology
Rear view
The Esprit is a three- deck cabin ship of the 5-star category with 38 double cabins with 14 to 15 m² space, seven 18 m² cabins and 14 suites that are 28 m². The cabins are air-conditioned and each equipped with a shower, toilet, television, telephone and safe. The cabins on the middle and upper deck have a French balcony . The cabins for the 36-person crew are located in the rear area of the lower deck. In addition to the entrance hall with reception, ship boutique and excursion office on the upper deck in the front central nave is the panorama salon with bar. Aft is the Lido bar with an outside terrace. The panorama restaurant is on the main deck. In the wellness area on the lower deck, passengers can use a sauna, a solarium and a steam bath. The sun deck is equipped with a whirlpool, sun loungers and seating groups that can be protected by awnings. The main and upper decks are connected by an elevator.
It is driven by two 8-cylinder diesel engines of the type Caterpillar 3508 C á 783 kW via two counter-rotating rudder propellers of the type Veth-Z-Drive 800A-CR , in addition the ship has a bow thruster Veth-Jet of the type CJ 1000V , which is operated by is driven by a 250 kW electric motor. The on-board power supply is ensured by three Caterpillar C18 diesel generators during port and driving operations . A Caterpillar C4.4 is installed as an emergency generator .
Individual evidence
↑ a b entry no. 05697552 in the Basel shipping register from April 6, 2010