Reasons To Love A-ROSA Family Cruises

A-ROSA River Cruises are the perfect option for families looking to explore interesting European cities during their vacation. The luxury A-ROSA riverboat is like a floating hotel, transporting you from one exciting destination to the next.

While most other river cruises are aimed at adults, A-ROSA cruises are made specifically for families.

We took our kids to her A-ROSA Sena for a week and we had the best time. I wish more families, especially British families, knew what a good option this was. That’s really true, and it’s such a shame that more and more people don’t think about river cruises when planning family vacations.

Read on to find out why you should consider A-ROSA Family Cruises for your next adventure…

1. The Great Choice of Ships and Destinations

A-ROSA has 14 river cruise ships, with two more coming in 2024. Since this is a German company, German is the only onboard language on her five of these ships. However, the rest are international ships. Both English and German are spoken on board and your international host will be happy to assist you. Many reviews of A-ROSA also mention the friendliness of the staff.

A-ROSA’s international ships sail on five European rivers:

• The Douro: A-ROSA ALVA
• The Danube: A-ROSA BELLA, A-ROSA DONNA, A-ROSA FLORA, A-ROSA MIA and A-ROSA RIVA
• The Rhine: A-ROSA ALEA*, A-ROSA AQUA, A-ROSA BRAVA, A-ROSA CLEA*, A-ROSA FLORA, A-ROSA SENA and A-ROSA SILVA
• The Seine: A-ROSA VIVA
• The Rhone / Saone: A-ROSA LUNA and A-ROSA STELLA

For an unforgettable family vacation, choose between a short 3- or 4-night city trip or a longer 7- or 10-night cruise.

*Her two new ships in the fleet, A-ROSA ALEA and A-ROSA CLEA, will sail the Rhine only in the 2024 cruise season. In 2025, cruise lines will have more cruise options, with one company offering cruises on the Seine and the other on the Gironde and Garonne rivers near Bordeaux.

2. Kids Cruise Free

A-ROSA Cruises does not charge children up to the age of 15. One child rides free for every paying adult.

Most other river cruise companies charge adult prices for children, making A-ROSA a great value option for families.

Please note that the free cruise offer for kids is valid on the cruise only. You will also have to pay for the flight or train to get to the ship. This does not apply to Douro River cruises as this ship is much smaller. At this river children get her 25% discount.

3. Family Cabins Are Available

Depending on the ship, there are many cabin options available. B. Cabin with extra bed, family cabin for 4 or 5 people, or cabin with connecting door.

Children cruise free, so for a family of four she only pays for one cabin, but may be assigned two cabins.

Each cabin is spacious and has river views. Some cabins also have French balconies, but they are not recommended for children under 7 years of age.

The A-ROSA SENA cruise had a real exit balcony, which is rare on river ships.

If you want something special, choose a suite and enjoy not only butler service but lots of great extras, including welcome champagne, daily fresh flowers and fruit, and complimentary laundry service .

4. The Kids’ Club

During the school holidays, A-ROSA offers a free kids club for children aged 4 to 15.

Sessions run up to three times a day and include a variety of activities tailored to the child’s age, interests and weather.

Examples of A-ROSA kids’ club activities include:

• Pirate Day
• Treasure hunts
• T-shirt making
• Arts and crafts
• Singing and dancing
• Face painting
• Board games
• Mocktail workshop with the bartenders
• Pizza making with the head chef
• Question time with the captain
• Look behind the scenes of the ship
• Interviewing guests and crew and writing the onboard newspaper
• Evening games for teenagers

My kids loved the kids club and would ask every day, “Is it time to go?” They liked the flexibility of being able to choose to participate in activities or just play.

5. Family-Friendly Activities

As well as the organised activities of the kids’ club, there’s lots of things for families to enjoy together onboard A-ROSA’s ships.

Family-friendly activities on A-ROSA cruises include:

• Swimming in the swimming pool or whirlpool
• Outdoor games like shuffleboard, cornhole, boules, mini-golf or giant chess
• Visiting the Bridge to meet the captain
• Seeing the ship going through locks
• Watching nightly shows in the lounge
• Excursions are designed with families in mind

6. Family-Friendly Dining

A-ROSA offers flexible dining, so you can arrive at the ship’s restaurant anytime and sit wherever you like.

Dinners are themed according to the region visited and feature local specialties prepared using fresh local ingredients. We also have a special menu for children, and our buffet restaurant always offers a wide range of family dishes.

7. Everything is Included

A-ROSA cruises for UK passengers are all-inclusive so everything is taken care of for you.

Here’s what’s included on an A-ROSA cruise:

• Accommodation on the ship
• Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
• All drinks
• Wifi
• Bathrobe and toiletries
• Onboard entertainment and activities

8. Nobody Will Get Lost!

Each of A-ROSA’s river cruise ships has a capacity of 240 people. This means kids can have fun on board without fear of getting lost, like on a large cruise ship sailing the open ocean.

9. There’s a New Eco-Friendly Ship

The A-ROSA SENA runs on the North Rhine and is equipped with the “E-Motion” concept, which allows it to switch to battery power when driving into the city and arrive without emissions.

This new vessel is specifically designed for multi-generational families. A-ROSA SENA is the first ship on the Rhine with her five decks and is larger than other ships in the A-ROSA fleet.

The larger size of this new riverboat allows guests to enjoy a spacious cabin for up to five people. Each family cabin has a toy box filled with age-appropriate toys, and the bunk beds have curtains and round viewing windows to make bedtime fun.

A-ROSA SENA has a dedicated kids’ club area and a kids area in the restaurant, where children can enjoy a meal with their friends. There are also two swimming pools, one for adults and one for children.

10. You Can Explore Ashore in the Evening

A-ROSA designs itineraries to allow as much time as possible at each port of call. Many itineraries include an overnight stay in the port, allowing you to enjoy an evening stroll after dinner.

Cities with overnight stays include:

• Vienna
• Budapest
• Amsterdam
• Avignon
• Rouen
• Antwerp
• Belgrade
• Porto
• Paris

In The End

A-ROSA Family River Cruises is one of the best options for British families looking to enjoy a luxury river cruise on Europe’s waterways.

A-ROSA’s river cruise ships are specially designed for families and offer lots of fun for kids. We also offer great deals as children travel free and parents enjoy all-inclusive drinks.

I traveled aboard her A-ROSA DONNA (the oldest ship in the fleet) and her A-ROSA SENA (her one of the newest ships). All her A-ROSA ships are suitable for children, but A-ROSA SENA is by far the best choice.

We also have a kids club, shallow pool and a great food selection.