Damen Builds New River Cruise Ship for A-ROSA

European river cruise specialist A-ROSA has signed a contract with Concordia Damen for a newbuild river cruise ship. The new vessel, which will be delivered in spring 2021, will operate in the northern Rhine region, including trips from Cologne to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp and Bruges. The design is intended to take A-ROSA’s "city trip" concept to the next level of leisure and sustainability.

“With this we will usher in a new era of travel that offers the perfect blend of experience and relaxation," said Jörg Eichler, managing director of A-ROSA. "It offers more space, not only to meet the expectations of our clients, but to exceed them. With Concordia Damen we have found the ideal partner for this project because it is a traditional, and at the same time, innovative shipyard that stands for quality and reliability."

The vessel will have 140 cabins, including two-person cabins with a balcony and separate living and sleeping areas. To cater for families, the vessel will feature a number of generous family cabins measuring 28 square meters each. On the sun deck, next to a large adult swimming pool, will be a smaller, children’s pool with shallow water. The design also features a separate children’s eating area in the restaurant.

For adult guests, in addition to a high quality restaurant serving five course meals, there will be a spa and wellness area with sauna, whirlpool, ice grotto, heat bench and treatment rooms. The staff receive their own generously spaced cabins along with - for the first time - their own rest and relaxation area where they can unwind before and after working hours.

The partners did not specify the vessel's sustainable features, but Damen referenced its past experience with new and emerging vessel technology. “Our work on innovations such as zero emissions battery propulsion, hull optimisation and air lubrication finds a natural resonance with such a forward thinking client," said Concordia Damen Managing Director Simon Provoost.