Each ship carries up to 154 guests serviced by 60 crew and they’ll sail the Rhine,Danube and Main Rivers.
Custom-designed by Melbourne’s award-winning architectural firm,Hecker Guthrie,in collaboration with naval engineers,the ships are being built by TeamCo Shipyard B.V,in Heusden,Netherlands.
Says Paul Hecker,of Hecker Guthrie,“We haven’t gone in with preconceived ideas about what a ship design should be. We have also had the advantage of being guided by Lou Tandy (APT co-owner) who has a very keen understanding of her client and fundamental good taste.”
The challenge was to give guests a feeling of Europe while meeting Australian sensibilities.
“There is a casualness and unpretentiousness about Australians which the quiet luxury design of this ship will really speak to,″ says Hecker.
“Ultimately,as guests will be exploring Europe,we do want the ship to feel European,but the look and feel should make guests feel as comfortable and at ease as if they were at home.”