MS Léonard de Vinci: 105 metres instead of 110, and a name CroisiEurope spells two ways
The MS Léonard de Vinci is 105 m long by 11.40 m wide, has 2 decks and 70 cabins, and carries 139 passengers with 25 crew. Built in 2003, completely refitted in 2011, rated 4 anchors. She sails the Rhine.
Five metres shorter, and nobody says so
The CroisiEurope Rhine fleet is built on 110 m hulls, the maximum length of the Rhine locks. This boat is 105 m. Five metres look like nothing in a brochure, but against capacity they give 1.32 guests per metre, against 1.45 on the MS Modigliani and 1.62 on the MS Beethoven. On board that means a little more room on the sun deck and a few fewer people at disembarkation.
Two names for one boat
CroisiEurope titles her page MS Léonard de Vinci and writes MS Leonardo Da Vinci in the text on that same page. Our own database carries the French form. This is not idle detail: a customer searching "Leonardo Da Vinci CroisiEurope" and another searching "Léonard de Vinci" have to land on the same boat, and an advisor checking a ship assignment needs to know both names mean the same hull.
Two decks, so no lift
CroisiEurope fits lifts only to its three-deck boats. This one has two, so she has none. The restaurant is on the upper deck, where all meals are served, with large picture windows; the lounge bar with dance floor is there too, and the sun deck carries the loungers. A main deck guest will climb the stairs at every meal.
Decoration that nods to the painter
Beige and taupe lifted with gold pick up the artist's palette. That is incidental, except for a traveller choosing between three boats that look identical on paper: on the Rhine, the feel of a boat comes as much from its materials as from its figures.
Where she sails
The Rhine, between Amsterdam and Strasbourg via Cologne, Rüdesheim, Heidelberg and Mannheim. Dates and direction change from season to season, and we have them confirmed by the operator before any booking.
Amsterdam is a non-stop flight from Montreal-Trudeau. Strasbourg needs a connection through Paris, Frankfurt or Brussels. Choosing the direction of the itinerary around the flight saves half a day.
Choosing a cabin
The 70 cabins sit on two decks in categories A, B and C. Cabin size is not published for this boat, while CroisiEurope states it for the MS Modigliani (11 m²) and the MS Monet (11.50 m²), built to the same range. Our advisors request the official deck plan rather than assume. On a boat with no lift, the upper deck is worth paying for first to avoid the stairs.
What the fare includes and what it does not
Included: full board, drinks with meals and at the bar, Wi-Fi, port taxes and onboard entertainment. Not included: shore excursions, gratuities, the premium wine list and transfers.
Who this boat is not for
Anyone who cannot manage stairs. Anyone who wants cabin size confirmed before paying, since it is not published. Anyone expecting a 5-anchor rating, since she is rated 4. And anyone who wants a balcony, a pool or a gym, none of which are on board. Our CroisiEurope page gathers the whole fleet.
