Arosa Alea

The 2009-built Arosa Alea cruise ship (formerly "Monarch Governess" and "Avalon Affinity") operates voyages along the Moselle and Rhine rivers, as well as the inland waterways of Holland, France, Belgium, and Germany.

The vessel (ENI number 2330846) is currently Germany-flagged (MMSI 211457570) and homeported in Cologne/Köln, Germany.

On March 9, 2018, Avalon Waterways announced that its three 138-passenger sisterships—Felicity, Affinity, and Luminary—would leave the fleet in 2019. The vessels are now chartered by the tour company Gate 1 Travel under the names Monarch Countess (Felicity), Monarch Governess (Affinity), and VistaNeo (Luminary). Gate 1 Travel's river cruise fleet also includes Monarch Princess (Avalon Creativity).

In 2024, Arosa Cruises chartered two Avalon Waterways-owned ships—Monarch Princess/Avalon Creativity (renamed "A-ROSA CLEA") and Monarch Governess/Avalon Affinity (renamed "A-ROSA ALEA"). The announcement was made on September 21, 2023. Both 2009-built sisterships had been out of service since 2019.

Unlike AROSA's purpose-built vessels, Alea and Clea have a classic riverboat design. The main restaurant is located on the Middle Deck, with a forward-facing bar lounge (including a Bow Terrace) and an aft-facing lounge on the Upper Deck. The Sun Deck features an outdoor whirlpool. Both ships are smaller in size (LOA 110 m) and have a maximum passenger capacity of 138.

Arosa Alea began revenue operations for AROSA in April 2024 out of Cologne, with her maiden voyage on April 5th. Arosa Clea followed on April 14th. Both ships were deployed on the Rhine River. In 2025, Arosa Clea will be redeployed in France for Seine River cruises from Paris, replacing Arosa Viva (which will return to the Rhine). In 2026, Arosa Alea will be redeployed to Bordeaux for cruises on the Gironde and Garonne rivers.

Cabins

Arosa Alea staterooms (70 in total) are well-appointed and spacious, with most featuring a large floor-to-ceiling sliding-glass door opening to a French Balcony. Of all passenger cabins, 2 are Suites, 30 have French Balconies, and 11 have non-opening windows.

Cabin Types, Sizes, Categories (from high to low):

• All cabin types include: two twin beds convertible to a queen, 3-door closets with shelving, private bathroom (glass-door shower, hairdryer, bathrobes, slippers), sofa, coffee table, flat-screen TV, vanity/writing desk, French Balcony (in applicable cabins), individual climate control, telephone, minibar, safe, deluxe pillow menu, and complimentary bottled water. Occupancy: 2 guests per cabin.
• Suites – (x4, category JR), size 258 ft² / 24 m²
• Deluxe Staterooms – categories P (x24), A (x18), B (x12), E (x11); size 172 ft² / 16 m²

The vessel has 4 decks, including 3 cabin decks.

Shipboard Facilities and Amenities

The ship has two restaurants: the Market Restaurant (main dining room with buffet stations) and the Sky Bistro (alfresco dining). Other facilities include a Bar Lounge (indoor observation venue with floor-to-ceiling windows and Bow Terrace), Club Lounge (with a 24-hour beverage station), Library/Internet Corner, Atrium Lobby (glass-walled with a SkyLight), Hair Salon, and a Fitness Center.

The Sun Deck features the Sky Lounge & Bistro, an outdoor whirlpool (jacuzzi), sunbathing area (with loungers and deckchairs), shaded seating (with retractable awnings), and a deck games area with a Giant Chess Set.

One glass-walled elevator connects all cabin decks.

Complimentary Wi-Fi and Internet access are available throughout the ship.

Gate 1 Travel’s river cruise packages include Wi-Fi, room service, all shore excursions (led by certified local guides), motorcoach transfers, live evening entertainment (local performers), daily enrichment lectures, ship tours ("behind-the-scenes"), food and wine tastings, and 24-hour premium coffee, tea, and hot chocolate service. Bottled water is replenished daily in all cabins.

AROSA Cruise Itineraries

Arosa Alea's itinerary program launched with her maiden voyage on April 5, 2024. The 7-day Rhine and Moselle cruise (roundtrip from Cologne/Köln) visits German and Swiss ports including Rüdesheim, Speyer, Breisach, Basel, Kehl/Strasbourg, Mainz, and Koblenz.

In her inaugural 2024 season, Arosa Alea operated several themed itineraries, all roundtrip from Cologne: (5-night) Rhein Romantik, Mosel Erlebnis, Rhein Adventszauber; and (7-night) Mosel Romantik, Rhein Erlebnis Süd, and Rhein Erlebnis Nord.

AVALON River Cruise Itineraries

Below is a list of Avalon Affinity itineraries when the vessel was operated by Avalon Waterways:

• (3-night cruising) "A Taste of the Danube" – 8-day Danube voyages from Vienna to Budapest (Eastbound, code WVB) and reverse (Westbound, code WBV)
• (7-night cruising) "Capitals of Central Europe" – 10-day Danube voyages from Prague to Budapest (Eastbound, code WPB) and reverse (Westbound, code WBP), with bus transfer Prague-Passau; "Cruising-Only" from Passau to Budapest (code WPBO)
• (7-night cruising) "Romantic Rhine" – 8-day voyages from Zurich to Amsterdam (Northbound, code WZA) and reverse (Southbound, code WAZ); "Cruising-Only" from Amsterdam to Basel (code WAZ)
• (5-night cruising) "Austrian Highlights and Bavaria" – 9-day voyages from Munich to Vienna (Eastbound, code WPV) and reverse (Westbound, code WVP), with hotel package; "Cruising-Only" from Vienna to Passau (code WVPO) and from Passau to Vienna (code WPVO)
• (12-night cruising) "The Rhine and Moselle" – 13-day voyages from Zurich to Amsterdam (Northbound, code WZRA) and reverse from Amsterdam to Basel (Southbound, code WARZ)
• (7-night cruising) "Tulip Time Cruise" – 8-day spring-themed voyages in Belgium and Holland, roundtrip from Amsterdam (code WAA)

The riverboat belongs to the same vessel class as the Avalon ships Felicity (Monarch Countess), Luminary, Creativity, and Scenery. This river cruise ship design incorporates the "French Balcony" stateroom concept. Suites offer a French Balcony in the seating area, complemented by a large floor-to-ceiling window for enhanced panoramic views.

Each vessel in this class is powered by two Caterpillar Marine diesel engines (model "C32 ACERT") with a total output of 1420 kW / 1930 HP. The propulsion system is diesel-electric, featuring an azimuth thruster and an SDS ("Silent Drive System"), which isolates engine noise from the passenger staterooms to ensure a quieter onboard experience.

The Avalon Affinity cruise ship was christened on May 9, 2009, in Volendam, Holland, by godmother Suzanne Hall, Senior Director of the "Ensemble Travel Group"—a North American member-owned organization of independent vacation travel agencies based in the USA and Canada.

Note: You can view CruiseMapper's full list of river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub, where all companies and their fleets are listed.