CroisiEurope, which operates a French-based fleet of more than 40 ships, was the first to figure out how to design a river cruise ship 295 feet long while limiting its draft to 31.5 inches so that it can navigate the tricky Loire River. To achieve this goal, designers got creative. They added two paddle wheels and shaved 300 tons off the ship in part by using aluminum instead of steel for its superstructure. The Loire, commonly known as the last wild river in Europe, follows a natural path more than 600 miles long, but it can only be navigated between its mouth in Saint-Nazaire and quaint Bouchemaine, near Angers. Loire Princesse sails in that roughly 85-mile channel.

The carefully planned interior also stands out — no nautical themes here but. Instead, you’ll see fabrics, lighting and furnishings from well-known designers like Missoni Home, England’s Tom Dixon Lighting and Rubelli, the Venetian textile maker. A soothing color palette — dusty rose, copper, iced brown, burnt orange, sandstone and Bordeaux — permeates the cabins, dining room and lounge. Lighting is used to optimum appeal and advantage. The soft lighting behind the bar in the lounge, for example, alternates artfully from one color to the next. It’s very easy on the eyes.

Because of its size, the ship is lean. You won’t find multiple dining venues or a spa, as you might on other riverboats. But designers did a nice job squeezing essentials into a small space in the cabins. And service is stellar throughout.