VESSEL REVIEW | Alisa – River cruise ship handed over to Germany’s Phoenix Reisen

German travel agency and cruise company Phoenix Reisen recently expanded its fleet with the acquisition of a new river cruise ship built by Vahali Shipyards of Croatia. Named Alisa, the vessel is owned by Netherlands-based Rijfers Nautical Management and is being operated under charter by Phoenix Reisen with technical management provided by Rijfers Nautical's sister company Rivertech.

The newbuild has a length of 135 metres, a beam of 11.4 metres, a draught of 1.6 metres, a crew complement of 50, and accommodations for a maximum of 190 guests in 96 cabins – with floor areas ranging from 12 to 17 square metres – on two decks. Many of the cabins are fitted with French balconies though all have amenities including en suite toilets with showers, minibars, coffee makers, and satellite TV. Access between decks is also possible via lift.

The interior spaces are noteworthy for using lightweight materials. Marianne Hendriks, managing director of Rivertech, said the incorporation of such materials helps keep the ship's displacement as low as possible to ensure reduced fuel consumption. LED lighting is used throughout the interiors as an additional energy-saving measure. Work on the interiors was done by Hoogendoorn and Vista Interior Projects.

Other facilities include a restaurant, a spacious sun deck with individual seats, and a retail shop. A shore connection is also available to shoulder some of the electrical power requirements while the ship is at berth.

Power is provided by four Scania DC13 EU Stage V engines that each produce 368 kW at 1,800 rpm and drive Veth thrusters. A fifth Scania DC13 is fitted at the bow and functions as a lateral manoeuvring thruster. The engines generate only minimal vibrations and noise and are also fitted with Discom exhaust aftertreatment systems to help reduce emissions. Electrical power for the onboard systems is drawn from three Scania 400kVa generators.

The wheelhouse can be raised or lowered to enable the ship to easily sail underneath bridges. The lifting mechanism for the wheelhouse was supplied by Alubouw de Mooy. The wheelhouse electronics were installed by Novio Nautic and include a complete Van Tiem Elektro package with two radars, a rudder indicator, a depth sounder, an AIS, and VHF radios. Scheepvaartwinkel Marine meanwhile supplied safety equipment including lifejackets, fire extinguishers, and O2 breathing equipment.

Alisa sails under the Swiss flag and has already begun spending the 2023 cruise season on the Rhine, Main, Danube, and Moselle Rivers with four- and seven-day itineraries.

Click here to read other news stories, features, opinion articles, and vessel reviews as part of this month's Passenger Vessel Week.