A-Rosa River Cruises’ new river ship A-Rosa Sena departed from Cologne on its maiden voyage on 18 June.

The ship sailed out of the city emission free because of its hybrid propulsion E-Motion system, which enables it to switch to battery power when arriving and departing from ports.

A day before departure, A-Rosa Sena was christened by Clara Eichler, the daughter of A-Rosa CEO Jörg Eichler, in Dusseldorf.

The ship was scheduled to launch earlier in May but the inaugural cruise was delayed due to supply chain disruption.

A-Rosa Sena ‘paves way for the future’

A-Rosa UK & Ireland MD Lucia Rowe said: “This is what we have all be waiting for – our next-generation ship has set sail, paving the way for our future fleet.

“She is like nothing seen before on the rivers and we are so very proud of what we’ve achieved. We’ve been telling agents about her and what makes her so different for some time now, and finally she is here and sailing on the Northern Rhine.

“Her sustainability credentials demonstrate to the industry just what can be done.

“Her hybrid propulsion system, exhaust gas purification filters and her ability to turn exhaust gas into electricity are just some of the incredible things that set her apart from anything we’ve seen previously.”

A-Rosa Sena will now sail a seven-night itinerary from Cologne, calling at Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Dordrecht and Antwerp.

The ship is the first river vessel on the Rhine to feature four decks of interior public areas.

It also has large spa with a Finnish sauna, jacuzzi, treatment rooms, gym, relaxation room and an ice grotto with ice fountain, plus various dining options.