Arosa Sena

The 2022-built Arosa Sena cruise ship (aka "Arosa E-Motion"/Emotion) is the newest riverboat in the Arosa fleet, scheduled for inauguration in May 2022 (initially planned for May 2021). The ship cruises on Rhine River and the Dutch and Belgian inland waterways (in Holland, Belgium, Germany) departing from homeports Amsterdam and Cologne, and visiting Rotterdam, Antwerp and Bruges. The itineraries are 7-day in length and offer overnight stays in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. For the first time, Arosa visits with the "E-Motion" ship the Dutch port cities Dordrecht and Utrecht.

Arosa Sena is currently the fleet's largest boat, the most technologically advanced, as well as the first on Rhine River to have 5 decks (all new European riverboats are with 4 decks). The name "Sena" was officially announced on August 11, 2021, derived from the Arabic language (a variant of "Sana") and meaning "beauty", "grace".

Arosa's E-Motion boat Sena is large (LOA length 135 m), unusually wide (17,7 m, unlike most traditional European river cruise ships with width 11,4 m) and with 5 decks (almost all new riverboats have 4 decks).

The vessel is owned by Arosa Flussschiff GmbH and constructed in Holland by Concordia Damen (shipbuilding company in Gorinchem/southern Netherlands). Like all Arosa ships, Sena/Emotion features large-sized (28 m2 ) cabins designed for families with children, also an adjacent indoor family complex with Kids Club - all located on Lower Deck. These staterooms accommodate up to 5 passengers and have a double bed (non-convertible), sofabed, lower-upper bunk beds, separate play area, large bathroom (with two sinks), ample storage.

Another fleet-first (and river cruising industry's first) feature introduced on Arosa Sena is the Sun Deck's shallow pool for kids - in addition to the heated swimming pool for adults (sized 23 m2). The boat has 121 Balcony cabins and 7 Suites with Balcony. During school holidays, kids enjoy complimentary childcare service (8 am - 9 pm) and supervised activities like pizza baking, treasure hunts, dance parties, trivia quizzes. The ship's restaurant also has a separate eating area for children. On all Arosa cruise ships, kids up to 15 years of age travel free of charge (when the cabin is booked "Premium all-inclusive") if the children are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Aft on Lower Deck (Kids Deck) are located all the ship's staff and crew cabins (also generously sized, with single- and double occupancy only, not the traditional quad cabins with lower-upper bunks) and the Mess Hall serving as dining room, bar and relaxation lounge.

Signature shipboard facilities include Dining Room Restaurant (buffet-style breakfast and lunch, 5-course dinner), wellness complex with Spa (treatment rooms for massages, heated loungers), Sauna Room, indoor Jacuzzi (whirlpool bathtub), Ice Grotto (ice room with ice fountain, cooled vapor, rain showers).

The open bar throughout the Arosa E-Motion ship offers (all the time, not only during lunch and dinner) complimentary beverages, including alcohol (beer and wine by the glass, spirits, cocktails) and soft drinks.

On Sundeck (deck 5) are located Wheelhouse (collapsible Navigation Bridge), 2 swimming pools (1 for adults, 1 for kids), poolside showers, sunbathing area (with recliners), a spacious shaded seating area (covered by retractable awnings), a relaxation area (with sunbeds and umbrellas), Light Dome (SkyLight / glass roof over the Atrium), Mobile Bar (beverage service), Activity Area (deckgames, outdoor playground).

On Upper Deck (deck 4) are located Garden Restaurant (dining room with 2 buffets, live cooking station, Galley/kitchen), Steakhouse (part of Garden Restaurant), Outdoor Restaurant (aft alfresco dining terrace), Lobby area (Reception, Shop, Tours / Cruise Director's Office), Bar Lounge (with Winebar, dance floor, stage for live performances), Outdoor Lounge (bow terrace with seating). All venues on deck 4 are with floor-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows.

On Middle Deck (deck 3) are located the upper ship entrances (portside and starboard) and a Lounge. On Main Deck (deck 2) are the lower ship entrances and Reception Desk. On Lower Deck (deck 1) are located Kids Club (indoor playground), Spa Room (Jacuzzi/whirlpool hot tub), Massage Rooms, Beauty Parlor (nail-hairdresser-barber services), Relaxation Lounge, Sauna Room, Fitness (Gym Room), staff-crew cabins, aft machinery rooms (engines and propulsion).

One Lift (passenger elevator) connects all cabin decks. All decks are interconnected via stairs (forward, midship and aft) including a spiral grand staircase in the Atrium.

Decks and Cabins

Most Arosa Sena staterooms are double-occupancy cabins with outdoor balconies. The number of all cabin categories is 4 (max capacity 5 guests per cabin). The ship has a total of 140 staterooms, of which 7 are Suites (category F-Balkonsuite). Balkonsuite are "twin balcony" design - with a French Balcony combined with an outdoor, step-out veranda (for all-weather use). The cheapest cabins are on Lower Deck 1 (deck 1) in category G (Familienkabine). These "family cabins" are with a large Porthole (non-opening) window and have a Queen bed (non-convertible to 2 twins) plus three additional beds (sofabed and lower-upper bunks) for 3rd/4th/5th passenger (children).

All A-Rosa Sena staterooms as furniture, price-included amenities and complimentary services offer hotel twin beds (convertible to Queen, size 200 x 160 cm, luxury bedding sets, wool blankets, bedside cabinets, wall-mounted reading lamps), ample closet and under-bed storage, power outlets (220V / 110V), USB charging ports, full en-suite bathroom (WC-toilet, glass-door shower, lighted mirror, hairdryer, premium bath amenities, bathrobes, slippers), small seating area (2-seater couch / loveseat, round-shaped coffee table, slide-opening mirrored wardrobe), writing desk with puff chair, phone (onboard connections only), electronic safe box (in the closet), complimentary bottled water (supplied daily), smart HDTV (infotainment system, satellite reception, complimentary Internet and Wi-Fi / WLAN network has shipwide coverage), individually controlled air-conditioning.

All staterooms on decks 2 and 3 are Balkonkabine categories C and D. These staterooms are equally-sized (21 m2) and with wall-to-wall and floor-ceiling windows. A sliding glass-door (from the lounge area) opens to a step-out veranda furnished with 2 padded deckchairs and 1 low table.

The largest accommodations on the A-Rosa Sena/Emotion ship are category G Family cabins (28 m2, on Deck 1) followed by the category F Balcony Suites (26 m2, on decks 2 and 4). Suite accommodations have 2 sets of floor-ceiling glass doors - one opening to French Balcony (from the bedroom), the other - to a step-out balcony (from the living room). All Suites are with a walk-in closet (2 wardrobes), larger bathroom (with daylight, double-sink vanity and separate WC-shower / no bathtub), 2-seater sofa, balcony furniture (2 armchairs, 1 low table). Suite passengers receive as bonus perks priority boarding and check-in, personal welcome aboard (from 12-noon), cocktail reception (with the ship's Hotel Manager), dedicated butler service, complimentary minibar, fresh flowers and fruits, free laundry and ironing service, complimentary Room Service.

All Arosa Sena staterooms (regardless of category) include as Welcome Aboard (upon embarkation) gifts a champagne bottle, a basket with fresh fruits and a rose placed in a vase.

Unlike almost all riverboats in Europe (excluding only Russia's river cruise ships), Arosa Sena has 5 decks (Deck 5 is the Sundeck/Pool Deck).

Itineraries

Arosa Sena's itinerary program started with the Inaugural Cruise departing on June 18, 2022. The Maiden Voyage was originally planned for May (postponed thrice). The 7-night roundtrip from Cologne/Koln Germany visited The Netherlands (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Dordrecht) and Belgium (Antwerpen).

• 4-night "Rhine Mini Cruise Metropolisis 2021" (Nov 21, 25, 29; Dec 3, 7, 11, 15, 19) roundtrip from Cologne to Rotterdam and Amsterdam - prices from EUR 720 pp.
• 5-night "Rhine City Experiences 2021" (Nov 6, 11, 16) roundtrip from Cologne to Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Utrecht - prices from EUR 1120 pp.
• 7-night "Rhine Discovery Amsterdam and Rotterdam 2021" (May 15, 22, 29; Jun 12, 19, 26; Jul 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; Aug 7, 14, 21, 28; Sept 4, 11, 18, 25; Oct 2, 9, 16, 23, 30) roundtrip from Cologne to Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Dordrecht, Antwerp - prices from EUR 1680 pp.
• 7-night "Rhine Cities and Christmas Cruise 2021" (Dec 23) roundtrip from Cologne to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Dordrecht, Antwerp - prices from EUR 1930 pp.
• 7-night Rhine Cities & New Year 2021 (Dec 30) roundtrip from Cologne, visiting Rotterdam, Antwerp, Dordrecht, and Amsterdam - prices from EUR 2190 pp.

Complimentary bicycles (onboard bikes) can be used on shore excursions (group and individual land tours). Also complimentary are provided Shore Excursions in each of the visited call ports along the cruisetour itinerary route. These offers include also "food and wine" tours, culture-history and leisure (walking/biking tours) lead by local professional guides (speaking both German and English). A-Rosa river cruise deals are also inclusive of airport and land transfers, taxes, onboard tips (gratuities), English-speaking professional staff service.

Due to 2020's Coronavirus crisis, the A-Rosa E-Motion boat's delivery was rescheduled from May 2021 to June 2022. The delay was mainly due to disruption to the supply chain for the shipbuilder. The vessel's construction started in Romania (at Santierul Naval Severnav/shipyard in Drobeta-Turnu Severin).

The vessel's hull (ENI 2339241) was completed in April 2021. On April 28th, YACHT EXPRESS (2007-built Heavy Lift Vessel, IMO 9346029) departed from Constanta Romania loaded with the boat's hull en route to Holland (Concordia Damen Shipyard in Werkendam/near Gorinchem) where the construction continued with the boat's outfitting.

The Arosa "E-Motion" ship Sena has an alternative battery power system that allows emission-free navigation in call ports along the river cruise itinerary route. The battery storage system is in addition to another innovative technology - air lubrication system that generates a layer of air bubbles (injected into the water beneath the hull) which significantly increases fuel efficiency (with ~8%) and reduces emissions. To optimize the hull design, the boat's fuel tanks are reduced in size (storage capacity). The air bubble technology (DACS) is patented by Concordia Damen Werft.

While cruising at optimal speeds, the ship's diesel engines (part of the diesel-electric propulsion system) are in fuel reduction (low power production) mode. The excess of the generated electricity is stored in the batteries. When operating in battery mode, the boat moves emission-free and almost noiselessly. Like all Arosa ships, Sena is equipped with shoreside power connectivity system that allows the batteries to be recharged while the vessel is berthed.

On December 15, 2017, was officially established Concordia Damen - Werkendam-based joint venture company between Damen Shipyards Group and Concordia Group. Both parties (as part of Concordia Damen) signed an agreement for the design and construction of new class inland cruise vessels. The deal was signed by Chris Kornet (Concordia Group's CEO), Simon Provoost (Damen Shipyards Gorinchem's Product Director), Jan-Wim Dekker (Damen Shipyards Gorinchem's CPO) and Kommer Damen (Damen Shipyards Group's Chairman).

On April 2, 2019, the shipowner Arosa Flussschiff GmbH (Rostock-based) signed with Concordia Damen Shipbuilding an order for one vessel, specifically designed for deployment on northern Rhine River. The ship was planned for delivery in May 2021. The deal was signed by Jorg Eichler (Arosa's CEO) and Simon Provoost (Concordia Damen's Managing Director). Bookings for Arosa Emotion cruises were opened on December 9, 2019.

The ship's Maiden Voyage and the christening ceremony were originally scheduled for May 2022 (postponed thrice - May 14, May 21, May 28), and to be held in homeport Cologne/Koln (Germany). The event was to be led by godmother Yvonne Catterfeld (1979-born German actress, singer, TV personality) and supported by AROSA's "future generation" ambassadors Clara Katharina Eichler (14-yo) and Enna Marie Kate Sandmann (10-yo) - the daughters of the company's managing directors. However, the riverboat was officially named in Dusseldorf on June 18th (prior to the Maiden Voyage) and christened by Clara Eichler (daughter of Jorg Eichler/AROSA's CEO).

The cancellations of the Maiden Voyage were due to shipbuilding issues - mainly COVID-related (supply chain disruptions, COVID cases among employees, suppliers, service providers) as well as due to shortness of supplies intensified by the Ukrainian crisis.

On two Rhine voyages on Arosa Sena in August 2023 (Aug 5-12, and Aug 12-19) were offered the river cruising industry's first onboard swimming lessons. The program was via Arosa Cruises' partnership with Wasserlust GmbH (swimming schools in Hamburg and Dusseldorf). The onboard lessons were for children (between 4,5 and 7 years of age) and cost EUR 100 per kid. Each course had max capacity 6 participants. Per voyage were offered a total of 6 swimming lessons (duration 40–50 min each) led by a qualified, Wasserlust-certified instructor. After completing the course, the kids received Wasserlust Certificates for Beginner and Intermediate levels.