Concordia Damen has successfully delivered a cruise vessel, a CDS River Cruise 135 type. The Excellence Crown has been handed over to Swiss shipping company Twerenbold Reisen Group, which christened the vessel on 5 May in Basel. The 135-metre-long ship features hybrid propulsion and was designed and built by the shipyard in Werkendam, the Netherlands. It meets the highest standards in sustainability, luxury, and energy efficiency.

The Excellence Crown was officially christened on 2 May in its home port of Basel during a gala ceremony attended by 650 guests. It is the tenth ship in the fleet of Swiss Excellence River Cruise, part of Twerenbold, and the first to feature hybrid propulsion. Its delivery marks a major milestone for both Twerenbold and Concordia Damen.

Innovative design for sustainable cruising

The vessel is equipped with a diesel-electric propulsion system with smart peak shaving – a system that stores surplus energy in batteries for later use, including fully electric mooring in ports. Solar panels integrated into the railing support the charging system, as does shore power. In addition, two heat recovery systems have been installed: one using engine cooling water for central heating, and one connected to the HVAC system.

“With this vessel, we are setting a new standard in sustainable river cruising,” says project manager Johan Muilenburg of Concordia Damen. “Excellence Crown is built according to the Green Award Gold standard, incorporating high insulation values, laser-controlled ventilation, and the use of environmentally friendly materials. Personally, I think the integrated solar solution in the railing is one of the most beautiful innovations.”

Luxury on board – also for the crew

The vessel features 73 passenger cabins and 12 suites, all with panoramic windows and soundproofing for extra comfort. In addition to an atrium, spa, restaurants, and lounges, special attention has been paid to crew wellbeing. A separate aft deck with mess room and private quarters provides comfort during longer voyages.

The interior was designed by Nazly Twerenbold, who masterfully translated the Swiss ‘boutique grand hotel’ feel into a maritime setting with great attention to detail.

New boost for the river cruise market

The delivery underscores Concordia Damen’s growing momentum in the river cruise segment. To meet rising demand, the yard recently began building hulls on stock and invested in a dedicated quay with space for three 135-metre vessels side by side. The facilities are also being used for refits and sustainability upgrades.

According to the shipping company, the Excellence Crown fits perfectly with its strategy to further develop sustainable tourism. Stephan Frei, CEO of Twerenbold Reisen: “We want to inspire our guests with examples of how nature conservation and innovation can go hand in hand – from the Biesbosch to the green rooftops of Rotterdam.”

A ship is built together

Chris Kornet, Managing Director of Concordia Damen, is proud: “After the success of the A-Rosa Sena, we took a close look at this market and how we can – and importantly, want to – build river cruise vessels. That’s what we set out to do. One of our decisions was to approach every project in this segment as sustainably as possible. Combined with our choice to build on stock and invest in an extra quay, this led, among other things, to this contract. We are very grateful to the Twerenbold family!”

“Furthermore,” Chris adds, “I think it’s important to say that a ship is never built by the yard alone. We always do this with high-quality partners. I want to thank them as well for their unwavering commitment to bringing this ship into operation.”

For the Excellence Crown, the family business partnered with, amongst others: CCM3, Hoogendoorn 1961, Technisch Installatiebureau Oechies bv, Breman Shipping Installation, Sun Roestvaststaal B.V., Metaglas Group, PureBlue Water, Tischlerei und Alubau Wessels GmbH, De Ruyter Dieseltechniek BV, and Lloyd’s Register.