MS Alisa

The 2023-built MS Alisa cruise ship operates itineraries along inland waterways in Holland and Belgium, as well as on the Rhine, Main, and Moselle rivers. Departures are offered from Germany, with homeport in Cologne. The riverboat is owned by Rijfers Nautical Management BV (Holland) and currently chartered by the German tour company Phoenix Reisen.

Phoenix Reisen was founded in 1973 and began passenger shipping operations in 1988 with the charter of MV Maxim Gorky (a 1969-built Russian ocean liner, scrapped in 2009). In 1993, Phoenix Reisen launched river cruising in Europe under the brand “Phoenix Reisen Flusskreuzfahrten.”

The vessel (ENI number 2339778) is Switzerland-flagged (MMSI 269057830) and registered in Basel.

Alisa’s sisterships are the same-designed Phoenix Reisen-chartered newbuild riverboats: Amina (2024), Antonia (2021), Andrea (2020), Alena (2018), Adora (2018), and Asara (2017).

Traditionally, all Phoenix Reisen vessels have names starting with the letter “A.”

Phoenix Reisen christened MS Alisa on March 31, 2023. The ceremony was held in Bonn during the maiden voyage while the ship sailed on the Rhine from Arnhem (Netherlands) to Cologne. The ship’s godmother was Katharina Lisa Wust (Senior Manager Marketing, Social Media, and Event Management at StaTa GmbH Stadtmarketing & Standortentwicklung Taunusstein since 2021). The ceremony was attended by Johannes Zurnieden (Phoenix Reisen CEO) and Benjamin Krumpen (Phoenix Reisen Managing Director).

Itineraries

During her inaugural season (2023), MS Alisa operated voyages on two main itineraries (both roundtrips from Cologne).

One 4-night itinerary includes Bonn, Worms, Mannheim, Kehl/Strasbourg, Iffezheim Lock, Mainz, Loreley Rock/Rhine Gorge passage, and an overnight in Koblenz. The second visits Worms, Mannheim, Kehl-Strasbourg, Loreley Rock, Mainz, and Koblenz. The third includes Rudesheim, Mainz, Mannheim, Bingen, Loreley Rock, and Koblenz.

The 7-night cruises explore the Rhine and Moselle rivers. One itinerary features Konigswinter (overnight), Braubach, Loreley Rock/Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim (overnight), Koblenz, Cochem (overnight), Traben-Trarbach, Trier, Bernkastel-Kues, Winningen, and Bonn (overnight). Another visits Loreley Rock, Boppard, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Mannheim, Kehl-Strasbourg, Basel/Zurich, Breisach, Worms, and Mainz.

Decks and Cabins

MS Alisa staterooms (96 total, in 8 categories) accommodate 190 passengers on three of the ship’s four decks.

All cabins are outside-facing, including 78 with French balconies, and most measure 170 ft² (16 m²).

Cabins on Neptune Deck (deck 1) are smaller (130 ft² / 12 m²) with two fixed windows near the ceiling at water level. This deck also contains most crew cabins and machinery spaces (engines, propulsion, generators, etc.).

All cabins on Orion (deck 3) and Saturn (deck 2) feature French balconies (floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors opening to a railing).

Passenger cabins are elegantly designed with modern, comfortable furnishings.

Standard amenities include twin hotel beds (convertible to double/Queen-size), bedside cabinets, reading lamps, LED ceiling lights, en-suite bathroom (WC, glass-door shower, single-sink vanity, large backlit mirror, towels, bath toiletries), 40-inch smart HDTV (satellite reception, infotainment system, bow camera views), mini-bar/refrigerator, Nespresso coffee machine, coffee table with armchairs, dressing table (writing desk), wardrobe, electronic safe, hairdryer, direct-dial phone, radio, individual air-conditioning, and evening turndown service.

Cabin categories include:

• Triple Outside (Category A, Neptune Deck)
• Twin Outside (Category B, Neptune Deck aft)
• Twin Outside (Category C, Neptune Deck)
• Twin Outside with French Balcony (Category D, Saturn Deck)
• Twin Outside with French Balcony (Category E, Orion Deck)

Category G – Single Cabin with Windows (Neptune Deck, Double Cabin available for single use without supplement, subject to availability).

Category H – Single Cabin with French Balcony (Saturn Deck, Double Cabin available for single use without supplement, subject to availability).

Shipboard Facilities

MS Alisa has four passenger decks, the Panorama Restaurant “Vier Jahreszeiten” (“Four Seasons” Dining Room with adjacent galley), and the Lido Restaurant (aft on Orion Deck, à la carte specialty restaurant/steakhouse/bistro & bar with an outdoor stern terrace). Other public areas include the Panorama Bar Lounge (with library and forward terrace), Foyer (Lobby with Reception Desk and Tour Office/Cruise Director’s Office), Boutique Shop, and an elevator serving all cabin decks.

The Wellness complex (midship on Neptune Deck) features a Relax Room, Sauna, Steam Bath, and Gym with modern equipment. The Sundeck (top deck) offers a games area (Shuffleboard, Giant Chess), shaded seating (under four retractable awnings), sunbathing areas (with padded loungers, sofas, and chairs), a Covered Terrace (outdoor lounge with tables under a retractable roof), and an outdoor plunge pool (large whirlpool/hot tub).

Entertainment includes board and card games, dancing nights with live music, themed and quiz evenings, regional performances, language lessons, and lectures.

Wi-Fi (WLAN) and laundry services are available for a fee.

The onboard language is German, and the currency is EUR. Girocard, VISA, and MasterCard are accepted.

Smoking is permitted only in designated areas on the Sundeck.

Phoenix Reisen Alisa cruise fares include all onboard meals. Breakfasts are buffet-style, while lunches and dinners are multi-course and waiter-served, featuring traditional European and vegetarian dishes. Afternoon tea, coffee/tea, and midnight snacks are complimentary. Beers, house wines (by the glass), soft drinks, tea, and coffee are included daily from 8 a.m. to midnight.

The traditional river cruise events—the Captain’s Cocktail Reception and Captain’s Gala Dinner—are held once per voyage in the Bar Lounge and Dining Room, respectively. Upon request, vegan and special diet meals (gluten-free, lactose-free, low-fat, diabetic, etc.) are available at no extra cost.

The vessel’s construction (hull and superstructure, ENI number 02339778) was carried out at the Vahali Shipyard in Zasavica (Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia). The Dutch shipbuilding company Scheepswerf en Machinefabriek Vahali BV, founded in 1923, owns and operates multiple shipyards in Belgrade and Zasavica (Serbia), as well as in Gendt (The Netherlands). The Zasavica shipyard was officially inaugurated in 2013.

After the hull and superstructure were completed in Serbia, the cruise ship was towed to the Netherlands for final outfitting and interior finishing at Scheepswerf Vahali in Gendt.

Note: You can explore CruiseMapper’s complete list of river cruise ships and riverboats in the “Itinerary” section of our River Cruises hub, where all companies and their fleets are detailed.