The new vessel follows the model of the Amadeus Silver ships, but offers further innovative developments including a completely new re-engineering, based on the lessons learned from the previous vessels.
Following successful river trials, the 135mtr long vessel was handed over to Lüftner on March 23 and Amadeus Queen began her maiden voyage to Amsterdam, where she will be formally delivered during a name giving ceremony on April 4, 2018.
The vessel will operate for the entire season in Europe - mainly on the rivers Rhine, Main and Danube, along with other Dutch and Belgian Waterways.
Carrying 162 passenger in 81 suites of six different sizes, Amadeus Queen features an Art-Line interior by Frank Pieterse, characterised by the use of glossy white, many round shapes and darker coloured woods in combination light and colourful fabrics.
The 69 enlarged standard cabins feature French balconies and en-suite, king-size bathrooms with separate toilet and shower. The 12 larger luxury suites also boast an accessible exterior balcony with seating and large panoramic windows.
There is a new approach to public areas, immediately noticed when guests come aboard in the newly designed all-glass entrance-atrium, containing the reception desk on Strauss deck and the centrally placed grand staircase as well as a separate travel desk. This disruption of the structural longitudinal stiffness (usually supported by steel, now it is mostly glass) was one of the challenges the De Hoop team successfully overcame.
The aft Mozart deck is well furnished, with the full-width aft Amadeus club in luxury yacht-club style which includes a large indoor pool-area. This transversely placed pool is one of the new on-board highlights, featuring two sliding roof-parts that can be opened in fine weather.
In the evenings, this combined area can be converted to accommodate informative functions or film showings. The weight increase, caused by the redeveloped luxury aft area was a specific challenge, as the aft underwater ship does not provide much buoyancy. As such, the engine room also had to be scrutinised and completely re-engineered.
More intimate, dedicated hospitality areas
The forward area of this deck is appointed with the Panorama bar, a select number of smaller dining or lounging areas and the River terrace on the far end. This area is shielded against wind by transparent screens, and has a sun awning overhead.
With this design, De Hoop moved away from the large multi-functional open space (on some vessels with movable partition walls), and turned it into smaller, more intimate, dedicated hospitality/catering areas.
The Amadeus Queen features an ergonomically designed hull shape, combined with a straightforward propulsion system, like on the Silver series. The layout of the propulsion system and aft hull design, however, were redefined to compensate for the addition of the pool.
Increased cruise speed
This resulted in an upgraded, well-balanced and matched engine room layout, allowing for an even higher maximum cruise speed with the same machinery.
As a result, using the two Caterpillar 3508 main engines, rated at 783 kW @ 1600 RPM, the ship can achieve a service speed of 22 km/hr.
The engines directly drive two Veth Z-drives with contra-rotating propellers. These main thrusters are recessed, limiting the minimum operational draught to only 1.52mtr and allowing the vessel to cruise most European rivers where the water depths are often critical.
To further reduce the sound and vibrations in the Amadeus-Club and pool above, an air curtain buffer was installed - by blowing air in between the propeller and hull, the pressure pulses are not transmitted to the hull.
Sustainability was an imperative issue when this vessel was being (re)designed and then built at the ‘De Hoop’ shipyard.
Improvements have also been made on the climate control systems as well as the waste management systems for sewage and galley.
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