Waterland took a majority stake in A-Rosa in 2009 and contributed significantly to the company's expansion, according to A-Rosa CEO Jörg Eichler. Under Waterland, the fleet grew from six to 11 vessels.
German river industry insiders see the ownership change as another step on A-Rosa's road to a major fleet revamp. Talk of plans for a new generation of ships began circulating in the German travel market last spring, with Eichler confirming the operator was indeed looking for additional capacity.
Eichler said A-Rosa seeks a design incorporating more and larger cabins, additional entertainment options and restaurants, as well as a dedicated family area in order to appeal to new audiences and, perhaps, serve new destinations.
Talks have been under way between A-Rosa and Neptun Werft, which have a long-standing partnership since 2000 when the shipyard, part of the Meyer Group, re-entered the newbuilding sector. Neptun's first reference—and a breakthrough in the river segment—were four A-Rosa vessels for the Danube River.
A-Rosa's new owner, Duke Street, could be a suitable partner to support the operator—which mainly serves the German-speaking source markets—on its further expansion course.
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