MS Arena’s trade preview sailing departed Arnhem on Wednesday (30 March) ahead of its first departure with guests on Monday (4 April), sailing from Amsterdam.

The ship had been scheduled to launch in early 2020, but was delayed due to the pandemic.

Speaking to TTG onboard the ship, Arena chair Declan Treanor said: “This ship has been a major investment for us, with a commitment in excess of £15 million, and we’re very confident that customers will love it.

"Everybody is so excited to be here after all this time, and the ship looks fantastic.”

Treanor said forward bookings were “looking good”; sailings on the Danube are traditionally the line’s bestsellers, and that trend has continued for the MS Arena, he confirmed.

Treanor also noted a sharp increase in late bookings during 2022 across all of the line’s products. “People are getting their confidence back after not travelling for a few years – we’ve been getting bookings the week before travel.”

The 192-guest MS Arena replaces the line’s MS Serenity, and is on a four-year charter. Formerly the Flamenco, all public areas and 98 cabins of the four-star vessel have been refurbished, and the ship features a new livery.

Alongside existing Arena Travel itineraries on the Dutch waterways, the Rhine, Moselle and Danube, the ship will offer several new options. These include the seven-day Delightful Holland & Floriade departure in June, and the 13-day Ultimate Rhine & Danube cruise in July.

On Monday the line will launch the three-star, 92-guest MPS Calypso in Amsterdam. It replaces the MPS Lady Anne – one of the oldest ships operating on the Rhine and Dutch Waterways – and like its predecessor it will be captained by the line’s popular Captain Wido Arts.

Treanor said the line attracts British and Irish customers, with the majority aged 60-plus.