Roadtesting the coolest new ship on the Rhine

The vivid Day-Glo tones A-Rosa ships are known for have evolved into a subtle palate of shades with mink, fawn and taupe exuding upmarket elegance, while blonde wood flooring and carefully-placed ornaments in toning shades add to the refined aura.

But the overriding feel is one of space and light that becomes apparent as soon as you enter the ship through the main atrium, where a spiral staircase winds its way up towards the glass roof, coiling around a striking chandelier at its centre.

A-Rosa Sena is not only the largest ship in the company’s fleet, holding up to 280 guests, it is the first vessel on the Rhine with four interior decks and a fifth level sundeck that has a swimming pool and adjacent children’s pool.

Though with this size come limitations, as the ship’s generous proportions means it is restricted to cruising a small section of the northern Rhine between Cologne and the Low Countries where it can fit through locks and under bridges.

Most of the vessel’s public areas are on the fourth deck, including the voluminous lounge with a dance floor and long sweeping bar.

But the real masterstroke is positioning dining areas up here, instead of tucking them away on lower decks, as the elevated vantage point ensures far-reaching vistas that accompany every mealtime.

I love the way the different seating areas flow into each other, past the open buffet and cooking station and into the Garden Restaurant with its light, conservatory feel.

It is free seating, though there’s a special reserved section for suite guests and a family-friendly area close to the children’s buffet.

Also tucked away in its own space is the reservation-only Sena Grill steakhouse, where we dine a la carte one evening, choosing from the three-course menu, costing 39 euros, with wine.

My entrecote steak is reasonable (though I think I should have opted for the fillet, which by all accounts was deliciously tender), but my favourite dish is the starter – a delicious sushi bowl of chicken mixed with mango, avocado and edamame beans.

The main buffet selection is rather eclectic, representing more continental tastes, and tasty with lots of white fish, cheeses and cold meats, plus a good selection of cooked dishes ranging from pasta and roast joints to Indonesian stir fries and flavoursome rabbit and duck.

With daily afternoon tea and free-flowing beverages from the drinks’ machines, life onboard is relaxed – and even more so on deck one where the spa and gym are situated. A-Rosa claims it is the biggest such facility on Europe’s rivers, with two treatment rooms, a sauna, ice grotto and hot tub plus treatments that are more reasonably priced than those on ocean ships, with a 60-minute hot stone massage costing 79 euros and a 75-minute facial at 89 euros.

Children welcome

Also tucked away on this deck is the surprisingly large children’s club stretching nearly 18 metres across the vessel’s width – acclaimed as the first such purpose-built facility on the rivers – where activities are offered for up to 50 children.

Nearby are 12 family cabins accommodating two adults and up to three youngsters with charming bunk beds built into the wall and a sofa-bed.

Our own cabin on deck three is roomy and modern in pale blue and fawn with a small seating area, balcony and modern ensuite shower with faux marble flooring.

It’s a mighty step up from other A-Rosa cabins, though one disadvantage are the wafer-thin walls that mean our neighbours’ TV-habits and crying children becomes a dubious soundtrack.

Nearly all guests on this round-trip sailing from Cologne to Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Utrecht are German, and while English is spoken onboard, the low-key entertainment of quizzes and games seems geared solely for German tastes on our sailing, with no translation.

I’m not too bothered but as these activities dominate the lounge, which fills out for these occasions, we end up retreating to the Winery – this is a venue for daytime food and drink classes, with enough space to sit in the evening.

Even when we’re tucked away in here, it’s not long before a waiter appears offering drinks, illustrating the faultless, friendly service we enjoy from the crew throughout our time on-board.

It’s another plus that wins me over and, while I recognise the homely flavour of A-Rosa’s older ships may still appeal to hardcore fans, there’s no question in my mind – the upscale ambience of this newcomer definitely makes it my sort of river ship.

Book it: A seven-night Rhine Discovery Amsterdam and Rotterdam round-trip sailing from Cologne departs on August 5, 2023. It costs from £5,260 for a family of four sharing a family cabin, including flights and transfers. The package is based on Premium All-Inclusive, which includes drinks and WiFi. arosa-cruises.co.uk