Amadea

The 1991-built (as "MS Asuka") MS Amadea cruise ship is one of Phoenix Reisen's chartered ocean liners, together with the fleet mates Albatros, Artania and Amera (ex Prinsendam). The ship's namesakes (Asuka II and Asuka III) are still operated by NYK Cruises (1985-founded subsidiary of the Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha/NYK Line).

The vessel (IMO number 8913162) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 308445000) and registered in Nassau.

History - construction and ownership

The German cruise tour company Phoenix Reisen (shipowner) started cruise operations under its own brand in 1988, with the chartered for 20 years liner TS Maxim Gorkiy (1969-2009 scrapped, owned by USSR's Black Sea Shipping Company / later privatized and renamed Sovcomflot). In 1993, Phoenix Reisen added a second cruise liner - SS Albatros (1957-built as RMS Sylvania, 2004-scrapped as SS Genoa). The vessel was chartered from V-Ships for 10 years (1993-2003). Today, Phoenix Reisen (travel agency and cruise brand) has a large fleet of chartered and owned ocean ships and riverboats.

MS Amadea cruise ship is a vessel owned by Amadea Shipping Company and managed under charter by the Phoenix Reisen company, which is based in Germany. She was originally launched in 1991 by the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard in Nagasaki, Japan as MS Asuka cruise liner for Nippon Yusen Kaisha. In 2006 she was sold to her current owners and entered service with Phoenix Reisen cruise ship company.

The 29,008-ton, 624-passenger cruise ship Amadea is the cruise ship on the German market to fill a unique niche, as she provides exceptional individual space for each of her guests. Due to her small size, this ship provides extraordinary routings to many exciting harbours, never visited by other lines.

Cruise itinerary program

Amadea itinerary program is based on exotic itineraries in popular regions like the Mediterranean, Norwegian Fjords, Iceland-Greenland, South America, Southeast Asia, South Africa, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand. The ship offers Panama Canal transits and transatlantic repositioning crossings.

Cabins

Amadea has 8 passenger decks and a total of 254 cabins (all Outside, 42 Suites, 106 Balcony, 2 cabins for disabled) in 33 grades. A unique feature of ms Amadea ship is the fact that she offers only exterior staterooms (the minimum size is 16m², relatively spacious, though). All rooms provide amenities like a DVD player and satellite TV, safe, mini-bar, WC and shower/bath-tub, bath-robes and hairdryer. Several cabins feature private balconies. The staterooms are being cleaned two times daily and the staff can respond to any problems promptly.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

MS Amadea has two Dining Rooms: Four Seasons and Amadea. There are two different breakfast seatings offered, lunch is served buffet-style while dinner is a-la-carte. After-dinner snacks are also served, as well as coffee during evening hours.

The dining venues' menu is international, and might or might not include some local kitchen. Other options include Lido Cafe with outdoor seating. 

During refurbishment 2024, Amadea received a new complimentary dining venue - Pichlers Restaurant (deck 8) while Harry’s Bar was enchanced with a permanent buffet station for casual snacks.

MS Amadea can’t surely be defined as a modern “party-ship”. The atmosphere on board is calm and life isn’t too formal. Formal clothes are expected only on festive evenings during the voyage. The crew is friendly and takes care of all the guests’ wellbeing. 

The only language used officially on ms Amadea is German, and therefore most of the passengers are from German-speaking countries. There is usually personnel who speaks English, but no services in English (tours, menus, etc.) are provided. It’s strongly recommended to know a bit of German if you decide to travel on MS Amadea.

MS Amadea entertainment options include: Vista Bar & Lounge, Kopernikus Bar & Night Club, Jupiter Bar, Harry's, Atlantik Show Lounge, Havanna Club, Jamaica, Internet Cafe, 2 Bars, Wellness Area, Fitness Center, Beauty Salon, Amadea Spa, sauna, steam bath, Golf Garden, table tennis, shuffleboard, Sport Deck, whirlpool, pool, Captain’s Garden, Boutique, all-around promenade, Boutique, cinema, Photo/Video Shop & Gallery.

MS Amadea cruise ship was built in Nagasaki Japan for the NYK cruise line (Nippon Yusen Kaisha) as "ms Asuka". The vessel was sold in 2006. This is a privately owned vessel (asset of Amadea Shipping Company), currently operated under time charter by Phoenix Reisen GmbH (major German travel agency and tour operator company).

German is the only language that is officially used on board. This is why most Phoenix Reisen customers are from German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland). There is personnel speaking English, but no services in English are provided.

Refurbishments review

During numerous refits and drydock refurbishments in the period 2006-2013, the former Asuka ship was remodeled for the needs of the European market. Public areas were rearranged and redesigned in order to fulfill the demands of German guests. The whole project was managed by Cubik3 Innenarchitekten GmbH (German design company).

During the drydock in 2022, MAN PrimeServ Augsburg (a division of MAN Energy Solutions) retrofitted Amadea's dual SCR systems (Selective Catalytic Reduction, aka scrubber) for both marine diesel engines (MAN model 7L58/64). During the boat's previous technical drydock, MAN PrimeServ Augsburg retrofitted the engines' turbochargers to reduce CO2 emissions.

Both projects upgraded the vessel's IMO status/emission level from "Tier 0" to "Tier 3"/highest, and resulted in ~90% reduced NOx emissions.

MS Amadea's last drydocking for an extensive refurbishment was in 2024, conducted at Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven. The project (~EUR 10 million) included general machinery overhaul (powerplant upgrades, new exhaust system and freshwater piping, waterplant/adding a second osmosis unit), hull and superstructure cleaning/repainting, outdoor decks/teak renovation. The works also included the renovation of interior public spaces (new carpeting, furnishings, upholstery, new beds and mattresses in all passenger staterooms. All suites were redesigned. The wellness complez/spa zone received new windows and air-conditioning. A new complimentary dining venue (Pichlers Restaurant/deck 8) was added. Harry’s Bar received a permanent buffet-type snack station.

World Voyage 2025

Next table shows Phoenix Reisen's World Voyage 2025 scheduled for Amadea, featuring 12 overnight port stays.

The 146-day itinerary was also available in several smaller segments, including 28-day Bremerhaven to Panama City, 19-day Panama City to San Francisco, 30-day San Francisco to Tokyo, 19-day Tokyo to Hong Kong, 24-day Hong Kong to Cochin, 26-day Cochin to Trieste.

World Voyage 2024

Next table shows Phoenix Reisen Amadea's World Voyage 2024, featuring 9 overnight port stays.

The 128-day roundtrip from Germany was also available in several smaller segments, including the 72-day itinerary from New Zealand to Germany (Auckland to Bremerhaven).

World Voyage 2023 (Die grose Entdecker-Weltumrundung)

In 2023, Amadea Phoenix Reisen operated the 153-day World Voyage "Die grose Entdecker-Weltumrundung" ("The great discovery tour around the world").

The voyage featured 15 overnight port stays and provided a unique opportunity for tourists to enjoy a 5-month long cruise leaving roundtrip from France.