The S.S. Antoinette (long form: Super Ship Antoinette) is a cabin passenger ship of the Swiss S.S. Antoinette GmbH that went into service in 2011, which is used in the time charter by the American tour operator Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection on the Rhine.
The shell of the cabin passenger ship was built in 2010 by the Shipyard De Hoop in Lobith under construction number 441 for the ship operating company GRC Global River Cruises GmbH from Basel. The keel was laid on July 1st and the launch took place on December 30th. The interior work was then carried out at Admiraal Jacht & Sheepsbetimmeringen in Hasselt. The entry with the ENI number 07001935 was made on 7 March 2011 in the Basel shipping register. At the same time, ownership was transferred to the newly founded subsidiary S.S. Antoinette GmbH. The ship was christened in Amsterdam on 19 March 19. The godmother and naming sponsor was the daughter of the tour operator – Antoinette Tollman. Since 27 March 2011, Uniworld River Cruises has been using the ship on scheduled service between Amsterdam and Basel. The S.S. Antoinette was awarded the “Editor’s Pick Award” in 2011 as the best new riverboat.
The S.S. Antoinette is a three-deck cabin ship in the 5-star plus category with 53 double cabins of 18 m² each, 18 double cabins of 15 m² each, eight suites of 27 m² each and one suite with 36 m² of space. The cabins are air-conditioned and each equipped with a shower, toilet, television, telephone and safe. The cabins on the main and upper decks have a French balcony. The cabins for the 57-person crew are located at the rear of the lower deck. In addition to the excursion office, ship boutique, wellness area and fitness center, passengers have access to an indoor swimming pool on the upper deck and a 3D cinema with 20 seats on the lower deck. A bar has been set up aft on the sun deck, which is equipped with deck chairs, seating areas and parasols. The restaurant and panoramic salon are located in the front of the two upper decks. All decks can be reached with an elevator.
It is powered by two 12-cylinder Caterpillar C32 Acert electronic diesel engines of 895 kW each (at 1800 rpm) via two Veth-z-Drive 800A-CR contra-rotating rudder propellers. The ship has a Veth-Jet type CJ-1200 bow thruster, which is powered by a 415 kW electric motor, and a Veth Tunnel Thruster VT-150 is also available as a maneuvering aid. The power supply on board is ensured while driving by two diesel generators C32 Acert DITTA with Stamford generators type HCM 634 J2 at 675 kW and a C18 Acert with Stamford HCM 534 and 468 kW from Caterpillar.
