Family European River Cruise

I know what you are thinking… a FAMILY European river cruise?! The overwhelming majority of river cruises in Europe are adults only, but A-Rosa is rewriting the narrative. A-Rosa has created a vacation that combines the magic of Europe’s charm with the convenience of a cruise, all while being inclusive of families. And bonus: children up to and including 15 years of age travel free of charge on deck 1!

Our adventure began the moment we stepped on board A-Rosa’s newest ship, Sena (the newest and largest European river cruise), being greeted with a single red rose (swoon). The E-Motion Ship can land in port in an almost emission-free manner thanks to battery propulsion. We sail on the one and only Rhine River from Düsseldorf, Germany – and quickly realized we were in for a treat the next seven nights! The on-board languages are both English and German, and maximum passengers cruising are 280 (hello, what an intimate cruise!).

The first thing people wonder about is the cabin, after all that is your home for the next week! When I say I cabin was spacious… I am not exaggerating. There was a pull-out couch, TV, sitting nook, three beds (two of which are bunk beds and adorable), a spacious bathroom, and separate room for the toilet. This was bigger than some of our hotel rooms, and impeccably clean. Our room provided enough space for our family of four, and could have easily accommodating two more. This cruise is the first that offers family suites, and they pulled out all the stops!

The first place our children went was NOT our cabin, it was the Kid’s Club (located on Deck 1, same as our cabin). According to my children, our cruise was a giant floating playground. This is the only ship in A-Rosa’s fleet with a dedicated space for kids, and they outdid themselves! My girls spent every single spare moment here. Three to four times a day there were dedicated activities – treasure hunts, hide-and-seek, arts and crafts, making their own pizza, and so much more. The Kid’s Club has a reading nook, rock climbing wall, slide, and a dedicated space for arts and crafts. There was roughly 5-15 children in the club at any given time, and my girls quickly made friends. Was there a language barrier? Yes… but did that matter? Not one bit! Children are amazing that way, and now they have pen-pals in Germany!

The Sena also has a beautiful top deck with ample seating, a bar, and two pools (one is a children’s pool with water guns that my kids loved). If you are looking for relaxation, the spa and wellness area is for you! While your children are in the kid’s club, head over the the sauna or whirlpool – or just grab your book and sit in the relaxation room for some rejuvenating alone time. I had the pleasure of getting a massage and it was an incredible experience I would highly recommend.

Now, I know you all are wondering about the food… and I don’t even know where to begin in describing the culinary experience we had on board! The A-Rosa Sena has a gourmet buffet on board serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food was phenomenal on all accounts, and there was a huge variety offered to suite all palates (including the little ones who had their own “kid’s buffets”). There every lunch and dinner had a salad bar, appetizers, soup, wide variety of fresh baked breads, hot bar, carving station, and desserts. Breakfast had a huge offering, including fresh made omelets to order. To say no one went hungry is an understatement. I am still dreaming of the food on that ship!

There is also an à la carte restaurant that I would recommend you try at least once. It is small and intimate so make reservations early. The level of service in there is unmatched and we really enjoyed having that experience as a family. All the chef’s on board have an immense level of talent in the culinary field.

There is various on-board entertainment that our family enjoyed. We loved music bingo in particular (though we did not win haha). There are also several bars for you to get refreshments (alcoholic and NA). We had the premium all-inclusive package which included all beverages, so we were able to enjoy refreshments anytime on-board. We really enjoyed coming back to the boat for lunch and enjoying a drink on the sun-deck while our children were in Kid’s Camp, resting before going back out to explore the city!

Speaking of cities, let’s talk about our cruising schedule and where we docked! We were on the Rhine Discovery Family Cruise for seven nights. Our schedule and what we did in each city is as follows:

Day One: Embark from Germany

I enjoyed a massage at the spa on our sailing day, and it was the perfect way to start our trip! I would recommend booking in advance, the spots fill up fast (especially on sailing days!).

Day Two: Amsterdam

Bike Tour with We Bike Amsterdam. We Bike Amsterdam is the only bike tour company that includes children and offers tandem bikes. Our 6-year old was on a tandem bike with my husband and my 8-year old decided to ride her own bike. If you have children, please go on a guided tour – biking in Amsterdam is not for the faint of heart (there are many rules and so many bikes and cars!). We had a great time and biked over 6 miles together while touring the city!

Day Three: Amsterdam

On our second day in Amsterdam we used our I amsterdam city card to get on public transportation and ride to the flower market. After a quick visit there we went to Rijksmuseum and wondered at all their beautiful art. After lunch, we ventured back out to the Anne Frank House. This was inspiring and my daughter became very interested in the story. She bought the book and read it throughout the rest of the trip. Buy tickets early in advance, they sell out weeks beforehand. After our day in the city we headed back to the boat for some swimming with a view of Amsterdam!

Day Four: Rotterdam

We walked off the boat after breakfast to explore Markthal, the largest indoor market of its kind in the Netherlands. It was beautiful and full of gorgeous shops and delicious food – get yourself a stroopwafel here, drool! We then walked to Kijk-Kubus, which was pretty unique cube houses. You can pay a small fee to go up and tour one, which we did. I won’t lie, we felt a little dizzy when touring them, as it is such a different shape and messes with your mind a little! We headed back to the boat for lunch, and in the afternoon we took a ferry to Kinderdijk to see the windmills. You can tour the iconic 18th-century windmills and learn some history to how they work and are used (yes they are currently still in use!).

Day Five: Dordrecht

Dordrecht is the Venice of Holland, and is a beautiful small town with winding roads to discover. One of the oldest cities in the Netherland, Dordrecht has a lovely historical city center and more than 1000 monuments. We went to Grote Kerk and climbed the 275 steps of the tower to see beautiful views of the town. After lunch, we went back out to explore Villa Augustus, which is actually a hotel with an incredibly beautiful garden. The gardens were lush and full of bright flowers, and tucked in the back was a play ground for the kiddos.

Day Six: Antwerp

After breakfast we walked into the city to explore with our Antwerp Pass. We came across Museum Vleeshuis which had not been on our plans but it looked interesting, and we were right! This interactive music museum in a monumental building in the heart of Antwerp with an internationally renowned collection, and one gentleman on staff was SO kind to us. He walked us around and gave us a tour of the place, involving our children and really taking time to give us the history of the building. Next we walked to the Cathedral of our Lady, a historic church built in the 1300s that was absolutely beautiful. After lunch on the ship, we went back out to see the renowned Antwerpen-Centraal, voted the most beautiful train station in the world (think Harry Potter vibes). It was worth the stop in! Across the street from the train station we went to Chocolate Nation, the largest Belgian chocolate museum in the world. The tour and information was interactive and captivated us… but what you will really love is the tasting at the end! Our kids were thrilled with this visit, and we bought some delicious treats and tea to bring home with us!

Day Seven: Cruising Day

It was the last day of the cruise (**tears**) and there was much to do on board. We opted to swim for most of the morning, and relax in the lounge while the kiddos went to kid’s club for the afternoon. We also played some more music bingo in the lounge that afternoon. It was a great way to unwind and relax with family and friends.

Day Eight: Back to Germany

Thankfully, A-Rosa Sena docks very centrally in all cities. We were within walking distance of the city center everywhere, making it easy to return for lunch and dinner. Overall this was one of our family’s top experiences. There is something special about being able to explore multiple countries – but having a “home base” to come back to. One that welcomes you with a smile, offers exceptional food and drinks, and a cozy room to unwind.

As we disembark from our A-ROSA family cruise, we carry with us a treasure of memories, laughter, and shared adventures that will forever bind us as a family. Whether it was exploring enchanting ports of call, enjoying the fantastic onboard activities, or simply relishing quality time together, this journey has been an unforgettable experience. A-ROSA has truly proven to be the perfect choice for families seeking a blend of relaxation and excitement.

Until next time…