by Ralph Grizzle

Just announced: There's soon to be a new ultra-luxury cruise line on European rivers. On April 5, 2008, a brand new company known as Jewel River Cruises, launches the maiden voyage of the ms Jewel Imperial Blue along France's River Seine. As the only all-suite river cruise ship, the Jewel Imperial Blue will accommodate 90 guests in 45 suites with a 2:1 guest-to-crew ratio. Measuring 237 square feet, the suites are the largest of any river cruise ship and rival those found on both large and small ship luxury ocean liners. Two Owners Suites will each be an expansive 473 square feet. The river cruiser will also feature a full spa, open-seating dining and two restaurants. "In a nutshell what we are doing is replicating a small cruise ship on the river," says Albert Peter, the new cruise line's chairman and CEO (Peter was CEO of Silversea Cruises from 2000-2007). "Many of the good things which we invented in ultra-luxury cruising have yet to be implemented in river cruising." Jacques Wulffaert, the new company's president, comes with a broad background in the luxury cruise sector, both as a hotel director at Crystal Cruises and a senior executive at Crystal Cruises. Jewel River Cruises launch in spring 2008 will be followed by a fleet expansion with two new builds planned for 2009 and 2010. The company will begin accepting reservations in January 2008.