All-suite boutique luxury river cruise

New company Jewel River Cruises will launch what it describes as the world's only all-suite boutique luxury river cruise, on May 15th this year. Their flagship, Jewel Imperial Blue, is the first of six planned vessels and she will travel the Seine on seven or ten day itineraries between Paris and Rouen.

The ship will offer a luxury restaurant, spa, wine bar, cigar lounge and accommodates 80 guests in 40 spacious suites ranging in size from 215 to 473 square feet. Planned excursions include private and behind the scenes tours of the Louvre and Opera Bastille, a personal culinary class with a Michelin chef (he or she has three stars apparently) private vintage wine tastings with master winemakers, according to the company’s prospectus. Jewel River Cruises intends to launch two similar ships, one in 2009 and one in 2010. Fares start at £2,500 per person