VESSEL REVIEW | Excellence Crown – Twerenbold Reisen's new hybrid inland cruise ship built for year-round sailings
Swiss cruise company the Twerenbold Reisen Group recently took delivery of a new river cruise ship.
The Lloyd’s Register-classed, 135- by 11.45-metre (443- by 37.57-foot) Excellence Crown is the tenth overall ship to join the current active fleet of Twerenbold Reisen's Swiss Excellence River Cruise brand as well as the first ship in the fleet to be fitted with hybrid propulsion.
The vessel is equipped with a diesel-electric propulsion system with smart peak shaving, which can store surplus energy in batteries for later use, such as for fully electric mooring in ports.
Flexible propulsion arrangement adaptable to various sailing conditions
Four EU stage V generators drive three manoeuvring thrusters to enable the ship to reach a maximum speed of just over 11 knots and a service speed of nine knots. If needed, the arrangement will allow the crew to switch from four generators to three or from three thrusters to two without loss of speed.
Solar panels integrated into the railing will support the charging system, and a shore power connection is also available. Two heat recovery systems have been installed: one using engine cooling water for central heating and one connected to the HVAC system.
The propulsion is also fully redundant, ensuring that the ship is able to continue operating even after a generator or thruster failure.
The shape of the ship's hull is hydrodynamically optimised in such a way that the average draught is only 1.35 metres (4.43 feet), allowing access to many inland ports in Europe.
A remote monitoring system will help the crew select the most efficient sailing route as well as enable the ship to sail with optimal engine settings, resulting in a fuel consumption reduction of as much as 15 per cent.
The monitoring system can also aid in maintenance by highlighting the onboard systems that are at risk of imminent failure, thus allowing the crew to schedule maintenance while maximising uptime.
Ample guest and crew amenities
The vessel features 73 single cabins and 12 suites, all with panoramic windows, en suite showers, adjustable air conditioning, and soundproofing for extra comfort.
The cabins and suites can accommodate a total of 170 guests. The upper and middle deck staterooms have floor-to-ceiling windows that can be automatically lowered.
The onboard amenities include indoor and outdoor restaurants, a lounge, a shop, a sun deck with whirlpool, a wellness area, and a bakery. Lifts provide access across all four decks.
Special attention has also been paid to crew well-being. A separate aft deck with a mess and 45 single and double private quarters – including a single cabin with office space for the cruise director – will provide comfort during longer voyages.
Design work on the interiors was undertaken by Nazly Twerenbold. Because of the high level of insulation, there is a reduced requirement for cooling during the summer and less heat loss during the winter. As a result, the vessel is able to sail year-round with minimal demand on the hotel load.
In the kitchen areas, ventilation and extraction is laser controlled for ease of use and improved climate regulation. Warm water is generated with residual heat from the vessel’s generators. Additionally, air is taken from the vessel’s fresh air systems and passed through a heat exchanger, saving up to 85 per cent on energy consumption in the lounge and restaurant areas.
Biocide-free anti-fouling paint was meanwhile used on the exterior surfaces.
