MS Asara

MS Asara cruise ship operates European cruise tour itineraries on Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. Departures are offered from Germany (homeports Cologne and Passau). The German cruise tour company Phoenix Reisen was established in 1973 and started passenger shipping operations in 1988 with the charter of MV Maxim Gorky (Russian ocean liner built in 1969 / scrapped in 2009). In 1993, Phoenix Travel started to offer river cruises in Europe.

Launched in 2017, among Asara's Phoenix Reisen fleet mates are also the newbuild riverboats Adora (2019) and Alena (2018).

Cabins

MS Asara has a total of 74 cabins. All MS Asara staterooms are oceanview, tastefully decorated and comfortable. The accommodations feature two separate beds, that can be placed together. The large and friendly staterooms have individually controlled air conditioning, a bathroom (with shower and WC), colour TV with the onboard program, telephone, radio, safe, minibar, daily newspaper and hairdryer. Cabins located on the Orion and Saturn decks have private French balconies, on the Neptun deck - small, not opening windows. The twin cabins onboard are about 12-17m2 (129-183ft2) in size.

Cabin categories include:

• Triple Outside (category A, Neptune deck)
• Twin Outside (category B, Neptune deck, aft)
• Twin Outside (category C, Neptune deck, front)
• Twin Outside, French balcony (category D, Saturn deck)
• Twin Outside, French balcony (category E, Orion deck)
• Twin Deluxe Outside, French balcony (category F, Orion deck)
• Twin Outside for single use (category G, Neptune deck)
• Twin Outside, French balcony, for sole use (category H, Saturn deck).

Shipboard facilities

MS Asara has 4 passenger decks, Panorama Restaurant "Vier Jahreszeiten" ("Four Seasons"), Specialty Restaurant, Barbecue, elegant Panorama Lounge with Bar, foyer with excursion office and reception, small boutique, library and lift (connecting all decks, except the Neptun deck). In addition, the vessel has a spa area with small whirlpool, shower, sauna, fitness equipment, shuffleboard. The large sundeck has sun loungers, seating and shady areas. Guests can play board and card games, as well as dance with live music in the evening. Entertainment options also include themed and quiz evenings, regional events, language courses and lectures. Laundry service is offered onboard, as well as wireless LAN (WLAN), for a fee. Onboard language is German, the currency is EUR. Girocard, VISA and MasterCard are accepted. Smoking is only permitted in the designated area on the ship's Sun Deck.

Guests aboard MS Asara benefit from all-inclusive meals. Breakfast includes a rich buffet, lunch and dinner are multi-course, featuring European and vegetarian cuisine. Afternoon tea, coffee and midnight snacks are also offered. Beers, house wines, soft drinks (mineral water, juices, coke, lemonade), tea and coffee are included daily between 08:00-24:00. The traditional captain's reception and captain's dinner both feature festive menus and complete the culinary offer. Dishes for special diets (gluten-free, lactose-free, diabetics, etc.) are provided upon request.

Vessel's construction (hull and superstructure, ENI number 02337042) was done at the Vahali Shipyard in Zasavica (Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia). The 1923-founded Dutch shipbuilding company (Scheepswerf En Machinefabriek Vahali BV) owns and operates yards in Serbia (Belgrade, and Zasavica) and in Holland (Gendt). Vahali Shipyard Zasavica was officially opened in 2013. Following the construction in Serbia, the cruise ship was towed to Holland for final outfitting at Scheepswerf Vahali (Gendt).

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