"river ship"

[James A. Landau <JJJRLandau@netscape.com>]

I just received a flyer for a European tour which included a five-night cruise on the Rhine aboard the "river ship" M.S. Amadeus Princess.

Being raised on the Ohio River (Louisville KY) I was used to hearing anything that floated on the river called a "boat", e.g. "riverboat", "steamboat", "towboat".  "Ship" was used only for ocean-going vessels.

"M.S." presumably stands for "Merchant Ship".  Judging from the pictures in the flyer, the Amadeus Princess is definitely a river-only, non-ocean-going vessel.

Does anyone know if "river ship" is a European term, an invention of travel brochure writers, or what?

    - Jim Landau

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