Phoenix Reisen offers a low-key, laid-back cruise experience, which fits well with the middle-aged to retired German demographic that it targets.
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Phoenix Reisen is similar to Germany’s other major cruise line, TUI Cruises, in that it is a large travel agency that also has an ocean-going cruise arm.
The cruise line was established in 2008 when Phoenix Reisen chartered SS Maxim Gorkiy. The Soviet-built classic ocean liner, complete with steam turbines, was placed on a 20-year charter that was not renewed in 2008.
Instead, Phoenix Reisen chose to focus on modernising its fleet, while still keeping those timeless elements of the cruise experience that appealed to its target market (older, affluent German speaking guests).
As such, its three small to mid-size cruise ships are all second-hand tonnage, built in the previous century.
The 28,000-gross ton Albatros, a regular caller to Dubai, was built in 1973 and carries around 800 passengers.
Artania is the largest of the three ships in the Phoenix Reisen fleet.
The 1984-built Artania, with a passenger capacity of 1,200 and a gross tonnage of 45,000 is the largest ship in the fleet, she is regularly deployed on grand voyages that call in Cape Town, South Africa.
Then there is the smallest ship in the fleet, the 1991-built, 29,000 gross ton, 620-passenger Amadea, which also frequently features Dubai as a departure point on her annual cruise itineraries.
Phoenix Reisen destinations and itineraries
Phoenix Reisen’s annual cruise itineraries are extremely dynamic considering the small size of its fleet.
The cruise line sails from Germany to Western Europe, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Eastern Europe and France.
Most of its cruise departures each year are from Bremerhaven and Hamburg, especially during the summer, but it also offers a number of fly cruises during the winter from cities as far flung as Dubai, Cape Town, Auckland, Hong Kong and Buenos Aires.
Forward observation lounge aboard Artania.
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The Phoenix Reisen cruise experience
Phoenix Reisen offers a low-key, laid-back cruise experience, which fits well with the middle-aged to retired German demographic that it targets.
All ships have a spa with cosmetics, massage and sauna, and all have a fitness centre, promenade deck for jogging and shuffleboard, darts, and table tennis.
Aboard Artania there is also an Outdoor Fitness Park.
Every night there are cabaret-style lounge shows after the first sitting dinner, or before the second sitting in true cruise tradition, and after the show the ships’ bars are usually quite lively with those looking to dance or chat late into the night.
Aboard Artania the main nightclub is the Casablanca Lounge, while aboard Amadea it is the Copernicus Bar, and aboard Albatros it’s the Casablanca Bar.
All three ships have a small shopping area with two or three boutiques, and all three also have a cinema where different movies are shown throughout the day and night.
Phoenix Reisen in media material particularly points out its libraries and internet cafes as “places to linger” during the day, suggesting the type of passengers to whom they appeal.
Set entertainment during the day revolves around lectures about upcoming ports (the country, people, botany, history or other fields of knowledge), and painting, photography and cooking courses.
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Dining aboard Phoenix Reisen
There is food aplenty aboard Phoenix Reisen, but only at set meal times and snack breaks.
The cruise line has limited specialty restaurants, instead choosing to focus its efforts on the main dining options.
Coffee and pastries are served at the buffet from 6am, followed by a full breakfast buffet from 7am onwards.
Soup is served at 11am and from 12 noon lunch is served at the buffet and in the main dining room.
Between lunch and dinner there is an afternoon tea with coffee, tea, cakes and pastries, followed by dinner and then a midnight snack that changes every night.
Types of passengers aboard Phoenix Reisen
As one would expect, Phoenix Reisen is a traditional German cruise line for the slightly older cruise passenger, looking for an affordable, paired-down, traditional cruise experience.
Its marketed exclusively to the German market, so there are few if any international passengers, and with no kids’ facilities and no kids program, its rare to see any young families.
Cruise ships in the Phoenix Reisen fleet:
Albatros
Amadea
Artania
Categories: Cruise Line Focus
