WE BEHAVE RESPONSIBLY TOWARDS THE CITIES, TOWNS AND RURAL AREAS THAT WE VISIT.

For over fifteen years, A-ROSA has been the market leader for premium holidays on the Danube, Douro, Rhine, Rhône and Seine. What is it that makes city breaks by ship so appealing? The opportunity for guests to discover different cities, towns and landscapes. For us it’s a privilege to be able to explore iconic destinations and lesser-known locales – and we love to share it with our guests. While we will always do all we can to give our guests a care free holiday, we will always care aboutthe people and places our visits touch.

Our cruises take us right into areas where people live, which is one of the reasons why inland navigation is subject to very strict regulations – particularly compared with navigation at sea – and rigorous inspections. As a recent study shows, all things considered, inland navigation is the most environmentally friendly mode of transport, surpassing even train travel. The factors taken into account for the study included impact on the climate, air pollution, accidents and noise pollution.

At A-ROSA we’re aware that past and present environmental challenges require a long-term approach. That’s the only way we’ll be able to preserve both quality of life in urban areas and the natural environment for future generations. As a company we believe that this is our responsibility, and our actions in all areas of environmental protection put us at the very forefront of our industry.

Lasting responsibility: As part of our sustainability strategy, we review and refine the actions listed here on an ongoing basis.

AVOIDING WASTE

Forward planning and a considerate approach help us to avoid waste as well as reduce and compensate for water and energy consumption. We have an efficient waste management process on board our ships.

All waste is stored separately and then handed over to certified partner companies in selected ports. This ensures that it is disposed of correctly. Furthermore we have developed a concept for avoiding food waste together with the organisation United Against Waste.

CLEAN WATER

At A-ROSA we aim to preserve the high water quality of the rivers. Waste water undergoes a complex treatment process on board our ships via modern, certified systems.

This protects the rivers from contamination. The sewage sludge produced during treatment is disposed of at ports, by specialist companies.

PLASTIC-FREE SHIPS

We’re working on removing non-recyclable plastic from our ships. Single-use plastic products are being replaced with sustainably produced or recyclable alternatives – from the bar areas to the kitchen to the housekeeping department. We already stopped using paper towels and carrying out unnecessary wash cycles some time ago. We also installed refillable dispensers in the bathrooms and removed ready-portioned products from the buffet. The latest generation of A-ROSA ships is equipped with water dispensers, and the rest of the fleet is being adapted for them step by step – starting with the Rhône ships. This will allow us to provide all our guests with refillable water bottles in their cabins instead of disposable plastic bottles.

REDUCING EMISSIONS

Our ships meet – and in most cases exceed – the strictest standards for safety and sustainability. All of A-ROSA’s ships are equipped with an onshore power connection, and we use it exclusively at all berths where it is possible. This avoids local exhaust emissions and reduces noise pollution significantly. Our ships are powered by gas oil, which is virtually the same as normal car diesel. It has a sulphur content of around 0.001% – more than complying with the EU rules for operating in European ports – and it doesn’t contain any heavy fuel.

Our new E-Motion vessel, which is scheduled to sail the Rhine from 2021, will be the first ship in our industry with battery propulsion and a battery storage system to enter operation in Europe. It will allow us to come into port almost silently and without producing any emissions.

GREEN AWARD

Established in 1994, on a voluntary basis, the Green Award program encourages cleaner and safer maritime shipping. Since its inauguration several ships and shipping companies from across the world achieved Green Award certification in the areas of quality, safety and the environment. Effective 2011, the Green Award foundation developed a program for inland shipping, which has been a great success to date and is very popular with inland shipping companies.

Ships need to undergo a rigorous examination, on voluntary basis, conducted by a team of experts. Fuel, propulsion, fuel saving, waste management, maintenance, pollution prevention and safety are the areas tested, and ship needs to score a minimum number of points in order to be certified.

Two A-ROSA River Cruises’ ships received the prestigious Green Award in July 2020. A-ROSA AQUA and A-ROSA BRAVA underwent demanding assessment, achieving particularly high scores in the safety and environmental protection categories. With a strong focus on sustainability, the shipping company is delighted to receive the award for two of its vessels and advises that it is a big incentive to further improve clean technologies and optimise safety measures.

OUR E-MOTION SHIP

At A-ROSA sustainability is our utmost priority. That’s why, when it came to designing our new ship, relying on existing technology was out of the question. We wanted to develop something new – something better. Matthias Lutter, our Head of New Builds, is an expert in this area. Working with the Concordia Damen shipyard, he developed an E-Motion vessel that’s truly innovative, particularly when it comes to energy efficiency. Thanks to an ingenious energy management system, a battery storage system and an optimised hull design, its exhaust emissions are even lower than those of our diesel-engine ships – which are already low. The new A-ROSA ship is powered by one diesel and one electric engine, as well as a battery. The ship covers some stretches of its route using the diesel engine, and the battery is charged. When approaching a port, the ship then switches over to the electric engine, which is powered by the battery. Like all the other ships in the fleet, the new vessel will also be equipped with an onshore power connection, so that the battery can be charged overnight. This will allow us to come into port and leave again in battery mode: almost silently and without producing any emissions.

All guests under the age of 18 are to be in a cabin with an adult, and must remain supervised at all times, and their safety is the responsibility of the accompanying adult(s). Children 2 to 15 years old sail free when using the existing bedding in the cabin and are accompanied by at least 1 adult. If the accompanying adult is not a parent or legal guardian, written permission from the parent or legal guardian is required.

Please be aware that cabins with French Balconies/Full Balconies∘ may be unsafe for small children if left unsupervised and are not recommended for children under the age of 7. By confirming the reservation with payment, the guest/travel agent acknowledges that they are aware and will comply with these terms and conditions.

Please take notice and be aware that only A-ROSA ALVA and the new E-Motion ship A-ROSA SENA have elevators and that this should be taken into account when making your choice. If you have a disability and reasonable accommodation may enable you to use the services, please let them know∘ how you believe they can help. You must inform them in writing, at or immediately after making the reservation, but in any event as early as possible, of any mobility impairment or other condition, whether physical, emotional or mental, which may require accommodation or use of an assistive device during the travel.

If the impairment or condition first arises after making the reservation, you must inform them in writing as early as possible. They may consider, and may confer with you, the cruise operator, airlines, hotels and other service providers regarding possible accommodations. A reasonable effort will be made to accommodate special needs, but A-ROSA advise they are not responsible for denial of service by carriers, hotels, or other independent suppliers.

A participant, who, due to impairment, is not self-sufficient, may be required to travel with a companion who shall take responsibility for assistance needed during∘ the travel and in case of emergency. An individual with a disability that would result in a direct threat to the health∘ and safety of others or to that individual may be excluded, if it is determined there is a significant risk that cannot be eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level by reasonable accommodations, policies, practices, procedures assistive devices or services.

If you fail to timely inform them of any impairment or condition, and it is determined based on information that you should have provided, that participation poses a safety risk to you or direct health or safety threat to others, you may be excluded from parts or all of the travel. A-ROSA advise they shall have no liability to you relating to any condition, treatment, failure to inform them of an impairment, or resulting exclusion.

With regards to pregnancy: For the safety of parent and child, and depending on various circumstances, passengers who are at an advanced stage of pregnancy (after 6 months) may be subject to restrictions or exclusion∘ concerning their ability to travel and/or board a ship. Please inform them immediately, so they can assess your personal circumstances and possible accommodation.