Raising The Bar On The New APT Solara

Sponsored by APT

When APT co-owner Lou Tandy launched the company’s brand-new Australian-designed river ship, APT Solara, in April, she was also firing up a revolution on Europe’s storied waterways.

While almost every other river ship is the same, APT Solara is in a class of her own.

APT CEO David Cox says: “The APT Solara is everything APT stands for – timeless travel, trusted service and ongoing innovation. She’s more than just a new ship; she sets a new benchmark for how we deliver exceptional experiences on Europe’s rivers.”

Since her launch, the feedback has been hugely favourable, with passenger satisfaction scores over 9/10. APT Solara has earned acclaim for her outstanding culinary offerings and refined onboard facilities, winning fresh admiration for Australia’s favourite river cruise company.

APT Solara now sails alongside her sister vessel, APT Ostara, which joined the fleet in June, together representing APT’s bold new chapter under the refined banner “Everything to a T”. But Cox is keen to emphasise the line offers the same luxury and dependability that have made Australians love APT.

With a capacity of just 154 guests and a dedicated crew of 60, every detail has been carefully crafted, from the expansive balcony and Owner’s Suites to the Grüner Bar & Dining.

The culinary experience forms the cornerstone of the APT Solara journey, featuring six distinctive dining venues plus in-suite service, each showcasing unique regional flavours that evolve with the seasons to present the very best of Europe’s culinary offerings.

Intentionally, no single restaurant accommodates all guests – a deliberate design philosophy that provides choice and creates an experience that transcends standard river cruise offerings. This approach allows guests to curate their own journey, selecting venues that match their mood and preferences throughout the day, while naturally fostering connections with fellow travellers.

Conceived in close collaboration with Melbourne’s Hecker Guthrie design studio and culinary specialists Fellow Hospitality, APT Solara and APT Ostara redefine river cruising with their open, airy interiors, premium finishes and seven thoughtfully curated dining experiences.

For those behind the vision, seeing travellers connect with the ship in real time has been deeply rewarding.

The light filled foyer of the APT Solara.

Outdoor Conversation Lounge APT Solara — The light filled foyer of the APT Solara.

Dining elevated

Grüner Bar & Dining represents a world-first innovation in river cruising, featuring a state-
of-the-art hydraulic system that raises the entire dining venue, complete with its galley, seating and bar, offering guests unparalleled sweeping vistas. Cox likes to joke that APT has raised the bar – literally.

The audacious feat is a testament to APT’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of luxury river travel. The concept of a physically elevating venue challenged conventional river cruise ship designs.

“The whole venue raises from the Upper Deck to the Sun Deck. Imagine when you have docked in Budapest, and that becomes the star venue at the back of the ship. You can sit there at sunset and have one of our various specialty cocktails,” says Cox.

This smooth and seamless operation takes less than two minutes. The result is a transformation from an enclosed dining space to an open-air oasis, providing breathtaking vistas of the city’s iconic landmarks or the charming village outlooks along the itinerary.

“As far as we’re aware, no one else in the world has a venue with full hydraulic elevation integrated into river cruise design,” says Cox proudly, anticipating it will be “the envy of every other river cruise”.

The execution of this vision required meticulous communication between design and engineering. Hecker Guthrie’s concept for Grüner Bar & Dining pays homage to minimalist European hospitality, with warm timber panelling, soft lighting, and intimate booth and bar arrangements.

The ingenious design sets APT Solara and APT Ostara apart, promising an exquisite and exclusive onboard experience that challenges the expectations of river cruise dining.

The culinary journey on board

• Bistro Saison: “This is our upbeat all-day dining venue inspired by great, classic European bistros along the journey.”

• Owner’s Cellar 1927: “The space is a tribute to the McGeary family, the owners and founders of the brand. It’s our most exclusive and luxurious dining experience with a set menu created by Chef Stephen Seckold, serving matching wines and premium local produce.”

• Grüner Bar & Dining: “This is inspired by the local Grüner Market or fresh-food markets of Europe. It’s serving seasonal cocktails, regional wine and small share plates in a buzzy, upbeat bar that rises by hydraulics so you can get a view of the surroundings.”

• Daystar Deck: “It’s a beautiful space where, in the warmer months, we host a Mediterranean-inspired grill.”

• The Salon: “The Salon is the heart of the ship, a really comfortable lounge that you can spend all day in, whether that’s enjoying a Bistro coffee first thing in the morning or a sparkling cocktail in the evening.”

• Annie’s Table: “This is a relaxed, set-menu environment when you don’t want to make decisions, and
you want to eat classic European comfort food.”

The warm interiors of the Gruner Bar and Dining

The Owner's Cellar on the APT Solara — The warm interiors of the Gruner Bar and Dining

A chef’s vision to a T

Monique Lane, Director of Fellow Hospitality, has worked on some of the most hip and iconic bars and restaurants around Sydney and Melbourne: think Bar Lettera in North Sydney and Crystalbrook Riley in Cairns.

Yet creating the distinctive dining spaces aboard APT’s revolutionary river ships presented an entirely different challenge.

Lane developed the comprehensive hospitality vision for both vessels, conceiving six unique culinary concepts. How did that translate to the water? Working within a river ship’s intimate proportions while creating varied dining venues, each with distinctive character and culinary identity, required considerable ingenuity.

“The APT Ostara and APT Solara river ships are unlike anything else I’ve ever worked on. We’ve all brought our collective experience in hotels and hospitality on board, and I think we’ve created something really unique,” says Lane.

“One of the key considerations when creating these different spaces was the knowledge that our guests want variety. They’re on board for 15 days, and not every day should be the same.

“Sometimes you want to sit somewhere really relaxed and comfortable and not have to make any choices. Other times you want to feel really spoilt and special.

“We’ve designed these spaces with differentiation in mind so that each venue gives you a really different experience depending on your mood and how you’re feeling that day.

“In the hospitality industry, we always work within the seasons, and we’ve brought that thinking on board the new APT river ships. For the first time, we’re creating seasonal menus that really work with what’s freshest and locally available at the time.”

Couple relaxing Salon Lounge on the APT Solara — The relaxing Salon Lounge on the APT Solara.

A-breakfast-spread-at-Bistro-Saison on the APT Solara — The relaxing Salon Lounge on the APT Solara.

Home away from home

APT Solara and APT Ostara, the line’s newest luxury river ships, are setting a fresh standard for European voyages, offering unmatched relaxed luxury and style across the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers.

With just 154 guests with a dedicated crew of 60, service is a highly personalised experience, and the highest staff-to-guest ratio on the rivers.

Central to the design of APT Solara and
APT Ostara is a commitment to the Australian traveller, aiming to cultivate a luxurious yet familiar “home-away-from-home” experience.

This vision was meticulously brought to life through a close collaboration with Hecker Guthrie, and the design philosophy was clear.

The ultimate goal was for guests to feel “both inspired and completely at ease onboard”, directly addressing the desire for relaxed, home-like comfort. The team blended contemporary elegance with timeless allure, drawing inspiration from Europe’s waterways, seasons and locales. This fusion immerses guests in Europe while retaining familiarity.

Interiors feature “open, airy interiors, premium finishes” and a “gentle layering of texture and tone”. The ambiance is light-filled, sophisticated, yet cosy.

A couple enjoying tea in their APT Solara suite.

The APT Solara on the Danube — A couple enjoying tea in their APT Solara suite.

APT Solara and APT Ostara’s luxurious suites

Every suite on the river ships is meticulously designed for a lavish experience, with universal comforts including complimentary in-suite dining, a fully stocked mini-fridge, tea and coffee amenities, luxury bedding, ample storage and decadent Marie-Stella-Maris toiletries. WiFi and on-demand movies are also standard.

The Twin Window Suites (161 sq ft/15 sq m) on the Lower Deck evoke cosiness and calm with warm, natural tones, wooden accents and earthy linens. They feature fixed twin windows, a queen-size bed and a sitting area.

Balcony Suites (183 sq ft/17 sq m) on the Main and Upper decks boast light-filled interiors, often in white, grey and cream. Their defining feature is electric floor-to-ceiling slide-down windows, creating a French balcony for fresh air and expansive views. Each includes a queen-size bed, sitting area and luxurious ensuite with marble sinks and glass-enclosed showers. Category P Balcony Suite guests receive complimentary laundry service.

Owner’s Suites (269 sq ft/25 sq m) on the Upper Deck represent the pinnacle of onboard luxury. These lavish suites feature large outdoor balconies and panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, ensuring abundant sunlight and breathtaking riverside vistas. A separate sitting area is ideal for private in-suite dining. Exclusive benefits include complimentary laundry and pressing services, along with
a spa treatment.