River cruising company, CroisiEurope,  is announcing that the start of construction on the MS Elbe Princesse II, the third paddle-wheel riverboat that will join the company’s fleet, has officially begun at the STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.

This will be the third paddlewheel-propelled riverboat to be added to the fleet and second ship operating between Berlin and Prague on the Elbe and the Vltava Rivers.

After a four-month design phase, the ceremony for the first cut was held last month in Saint-Nazaire.

This ship will measure 331 feet long and 34 feet wide. Powered by paddlewheels, its cruising speed will reach between nine and almost 10 mph.

The ship’s design will be much like the MS Elbe Princesse, which launched in 2016: open spaces, large picture windows and modern colors. Ninety passengers can vacation in 45 outward-facing cabins of more than 150 sq. feet with French balconies on the upper deck. Amenities include a  restaurant, lounge and sun deck.

The MS ELBE PRINCESSE II is slated for delivery in February 2018. Like the ELBE PRINCESSE I, this new ship will cruise round-trip between Berlin and the heart of Prague. Passengers will climb aboard for a unique itinerary between Germany and the Czech Republic, including Potsdam, the gardens at Sanssouci Palace, Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Meissen and its famous porcelain, Litomerice, a charming place filled with history, and “Golden” Prague.

Visit http://www.croisieuroperivercruises.com/elbe-cruises-berlin-and-prague for itinerary details.