A-Rosa River Cruises UK and Ireland has appointed Sharon Wilson as regional sales manager for the north.

Wilson – who starts her new role immediately – previously worked for Royal Caribbean in various roles, including key account manager and senior training executive.

Wilson will grow brand awareness and sales through agents, covering the north of England, Scotland and Ireland. She will report to the line’s head of sales, Stephen Joyner.

Joyner said: “We are delighted to welcome Sharon to our UK team at this hugely important time for A-Rosa.

“Sharon’s expertise in the industry, combined with her excellent training skills, will be invaluable to us as we work with agents to promote our products and tell our incredible story.

“The travel trade remains at the very core of our business strategy here in the UK. As the travel industry continues to show positive signs of recovery, this new appointment couldn’t come at a better time, enabling us to expand our reach and drive sales going forward as people start to holiday again.”

Wilson added: “I am thrilled to taking up this role at a pivotal time for A-Rosa. I’m really looking forward to working closely with travel trade partners and using my training and sales experience to help push the business forward.

“This is a hugely exciting opportunity for me and I can’t wait to get involved in all things river cruise.”

A-Rosa in 2022: New ship and products

In May 2022, A-Rosa’s new ship, the 280-passenger Sena, will launch on the Rhine.

The ship will feature technology to manage energy consumption and keep emissions to a minimum. Sena will also be the first river cruise ship in Europe to generate electricity from exhaust heat, according to the line.

A-Rosa Sena will use an E-Motion concept to allow it to operate on battery power when approaching a port, thereby reducing emissions and noise.

In addition, the river cruise line plans to upgrade its entire fleet to an enhanced premium all-inclusive offering.