Arosa Cruises

AROSA Cruises (officially A-ROSA Flussschiff GmbH, translated "A-Rosa River Ship") is a German company operating passenger riverboats on itineraries along the Main, Rhine, Danube, Rhone, Saône, and Moselle rivers.

Company history and changes

A-ROSA Cruises (website) is a Rostock, Germany-based company. As a river cruise line brand, A-ROSA has been owned since 2018 by the UK-based Duke Street Capital (headquartered in London, England). Previously, the brand was owned by Atlantis International Ltd (a Florida-based US travel company specializing in maritime services such as surveying, risk consulting, claims management, and cargo recovery). Its last owner before 2018 was Waterland Private Equity LLP (a Manchester-based investment group).

The company was founded in 2000 as a P&O Princess Cruises subsidiary to serve the German market. Alongside sister line AIDA, A-ROSA Cruises mirrored AIDA's casual concept with less-structured dining, relaxed dress codes, and an active onboard experience.

A-ROSA began operations with three ships—Blu, Bella, and Donna. Following the 2003 merger between P&O and Carnival Corp, A-ROSA was sold to the private company A-ROSA Flussschiff GmbH, managed by Lars Clasen, who originally created the A-ROSA brand. In 2009, Waterland acquired a majority stake in the company. Over the following years, A-ROSA experienced significant growth and became one of the most successful river cruise lines on the German-speaking market.

In January 2018, Waterland Private Equity LLP announced the sale of its interest in A-ROSA. The company’s new (current) owner, Duke Street Capital (founded in 1988), is a private equity firm focused on middle-market Western European companies. As of 2019, Duke Street had approximately GBP 2.6 billion in assets, with notable investments in Wagamama (restaurant chain), Gala Bingo (online), ERS-Equity Insurance Group (motor insurance), Burton’s Foods (biscuits), Esporta Clubs (fitness), GettyImages (stock media), The Original Factory Shop (retail), Marie Brizard (beverages), and Payzone UK (consumer payments).

In January 2020, A-ROSA partnered with CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) to expand into the Australia-New Zealand market. As a CLIA Australasia River Marketing Affiliate, A-ROSA gained access to a global network of premium cruise companies, travel agencies, and cruise industry service providers.

In August 2023, two Rhine voyages aboard Arosa Sena (Aug 5–12 and Aug 12–19) featured the river cruising industry’s first onboard swimming lessons. The program was offered in partnership with Wasserlust GmbH (a swimming school based in Hamburg and Düsseldorf). Lessons were available for children aged 4.5 to 7 and cost EUR 100 per child. Each course had a maximum of six participants, offering six 40–50-minute lessons per voyage, led by a certified Wasserlust instructor. Upon completion, children received Wasserlust certificates for Beginner and Intermediate levels.

The fleet’s newest vessels include Arosa Alva (2019, operating on the Douro River) and Arosa Sena/Emotion (2022, operating on the Rhine River).

This Europe-based passenger shipping company primarily targets younger, active travelers. Its riverboats boast some of the largest spas in the industry and feature sundeck swimming pools. Wellness facilities are a standout feature, staffed by certified massage therapists and trainers, offering modern beauty treatments, large river-view gyms, and saunas.

Indoor and outdoor open-seating restaurants emphasize buffet stations. The food quality is on par with other luxury vessels, with an upscale buffet experience. Cuisine is mainly Mediterranean, focusing on fresh and healthy dishes. All cocktails are included in the cruise fare.

Staterooms are located on three decks (as on most large European riverboats), with standard cabins measuring 155 ft² (14 m²). The most affordable cabins are on the Lower Deck (Deck 1) and have porthole windows located two-thirds of the way up the wall. Family staterooms include sofabeds, a rare feature in river cruising. Cabins on Decks 2 and 3 have French balconies and can be configured with twin or queen-size beds. Some A-ROSA ships also offer larger Suites.

During the day, the heart of each A-ROSA ship is the Sun Deck/top deck. This large outdoor space includes a giant chessboard, shuffleboard, loungers, deckchairs, and shaded areas with retractable awnings. In the evenings, the bow-located Bar Lounge serves as the central spot for enrichment activities and live entertainment. Most ships feature a swimming pool on the Sun Deck, and the newest vessel, Arosa Sena, includes a separate pool for children.

Complimentary bicycles are available onboard for use during shore excursions (both group and individual tours). Also complimentary are guided shore excursions in each port of call, including food and wine tours, cultural and historical tours, and leisure walking or biking tours led by professional guides fluent in German and English.

A-ROSA's fares are inclusive of airport and land transfers, taxes, onboard gratuities, and English-speaking staff. On all A-ROSA ships, children up to 15 years old (including age 15) travel free of charge when booked under the "Premium All-Inclusive" plan. Children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. During school holidays, kids enjoy complimentary onboard childcare (8 am–9 pm) and supervised activities such as pizza making, treasure hunts, dance parties, and quizzes.

(Coronavirus crisis) passenger shipping pause 2020–2021

Due to the COVID pandemic, A-ROSA River Cruises suspended operations across its entire fleet, canceling all voyages scheduled from March 14, 2020, through early July 2021.

Initial plans to resume service in 2020 included Rhine River cruises on June 17, Danube on June 20, French rivers on July 11, and the Douro on October 28. Ultimately, all 2020 sailings were canceled.

The 2021 schedules were also affected, with A-ROSA Bella restarting on March 8, A-ROSA Luna on March 20, and A-ROSA Viva on March 28, 2022.

All affected bookings were fully refunded, including pre-purchased A-ROSA Flusskreuzfahrten packages and services. Rebookings included a EUR 50 per person onboard credit and a 30% discount on a future cruise booking.

The list of destinations operated by A-ROSA Flussschiff includes Europe's major rivers—Danube and Rhine—as well as the Main, Moselle, and France's Rhône and Saône rivers. Currently, A-ROSA exclusively owns and operates a fleet of riverboats cruising across Europe.

Below is the list of all A-ROSA river cruise ships. Launch years (in brackets) show the fleet’s growth, with one new ship introduced almost every year since 2009:

• A-ROSA Alva (2019)
• A-ROSA Aqua (2009)
• A-ROSA Bella (2002)
• A-ROSA Brava (2011)
• A-ROSA Donna (2002)
• A-ROSA Flora (2014)
• A-ROSA Luna (2005)
• A-ROSA Mia (2003)
• A-ROSA Riva (2004)
• A-ROSA Silva (2012)
• A-ROSA Stella (2005)
• A-ROSA Viva (2010)
• A-ROSA Sena/E-Motion (2022) – new class, 5-deck riverboat with two swimming pools (for adults and children)

In 2024, a charter agreement begins with Avalon Waterways for the multi-year chartering of two vessels: A-ROSA Alea (formerly Avalon Affinity) and A-ROSA Clea (formerly Avalon Creativity). Both sisterships were built in 2009 and are smaller-sized (LOA 110 m, max capacity 138 passengers).

2026 River Cruise Season

The 15-vessel fleet will operate over 60 distinct itineraries across major European rivers, including the Rhine, Main, Moselle, Danube, Seine, Rhône, Saône, and Douro.

Coinciding with ITB Berlin, A-ROSA has released its 2026 Booking Preview, detailing the upcoming season’s itineraries, including short cruises, Wine & Gusto sailings, and festive-themed voyages. The Premium All-Inclusive fare remains a cornerstone, now enhanced under the A-ROSA Premium fare structure, allowing guests to personalize their experience by adding travel arrangements, hotel stays, transfers, excursions, or the Premium Plus beverage package.

While many established routes continue, select itineraries have been refined based on guest feedback. Highlights for the 2026 season focus on the Danube and Rhine, with a stronger emphasis on “Relaxed Cruising”—offering a more immersive and leisurely experience. The popular 9-night Danube Panorama cruise sees a significant increase in departures, operated by A-ROSA Flora. This itinerary includes extended stops in Vienna, Budapest, and Bratislava, plus calls at Tulln, Linz, and Esztergom. Additionally, Melk and Durnstein—two highly requested ports—are included in various Danube itineraries such as the 4-night Danube Christmas Markets cruise, operated by four of A-ROSA’s five Danube-based ships.

On the Rhine, six A-ROSA ships will offer over 30 distinct itineraries, making it the most diverse sailing region in the fleet. The 7-night Northern Rhine sailings feature extended stays in major cities in the Netherlands and Belgium. The Northern Rhine Experience itinerary includes overnight stops in Antwerp and Nijmegen, along with visits to Ghent, Rotterdam, and Duisburg. The Rhine Experience Netherlands & Belgium voyage features an in-depth visit to Brussels, combined with stops in Willemstad and Vlissingen. The Rhine Experience Ijsselmeer cruise blends coastal fishing villages with a stay in Amsterdam, while the Rhine Experience Amsterdam & Rotterdam is tailored for travelers wanting to explore the nightlife of the Dutch capital.

A-ROSA Sena continues her popular itinerary featuring an extended evening stay in Amsterdam, with additions of Nijmegen and Düsseldorf in 2026. Long stops in Rotterdam and an overnight in Antwerp remain part of the schedule. A new itinerary for the season is the 7-night Rhine Wine & Gusto cruise aboard A-ROSA Silva, starting September 25. This cruise highlights the Rhine’s renowned wine regions, featuring onboard vintner menus and curated tastings.

This section provides access to all A-ROSA itineraries and schedules with dates and prices. Additionally, you can track A-ROSA riverboats via our VesselFinder map, integrated into every ship’s page. This tool shows each ship’s current location in real time, along with voyage dates and pricing details.

Note: You can browse the complete CruiseMapper list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the "Itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub. All river cruise companies and their fleets are listed there.