Cruise line
Phoenix Reisen
Phoenix Reisen is the family-owned travel company based in Bonn whose current ocean fleet comprises Amadea, Amera and Artania. Johannes Zurnieden founded the business in 1973; ocean cruising followed in 1988 with a long-term charter of Maxim Gorki. The founding year and the beginning of cruise operations are therefore separate milestones. This profile covers the ocean product rather than adding the company's much larger river programme to the fleet count.
Quick facts
- Parent company
- Family-owned Phoenix Reisen GmbH
- Country
- Germany
- Headquarters
- Bonn, Germany
- Founded
- 1973
- Active fleet
- 3
- Cruise style
- Traditional, German speaking, Destination focused
- Onboard languages
- German
- Onboard currency
- EUR
- Official website
- www.phoenixreisen.com
The fleet requires a current-date check. Deutschland's final Phoenix summer season was 2026, and the ship is no longer part of the present ocean offer. Alvara is a future addition announced on 22 October 2026, with Phoenix service planned from November 2027. It currently sails as Insignia for Oceania Cruises. Neither an old four-ship list nor a booking page for the future Alvara is evidence of four Phoenix ships operating today.
Language is a defining practical feature. Phoenix publishes German as the onboard language and provides a German-speaking tour-management team. An English or Spanish description of the company does not turn that service into a bilingual shipboard programme. International guests should consider their own comfort with German announcements, organised activities and destination information before comparing only price or embarkation port.
The onboard account uses euros. Full board is central to the ocean offer, including table wine and the juice of the day at main meals, alongside a published programme of meals and refreshments. This is not a promise that every drink, excursion or other purchase is included. Read the offer for the specific ship and route, especially when combining a long cruise with additional transport or shore activities.
Phoenix's ship descriptions identify BSM for vessel management and sea chefs for hotel operations. Those roles should be distinguished from the Bonn travel company selling the holiday. A familiar brand can bring a common hosting style without making the three ships technically identical or placing all their operations in one legal entity.
The product suits a comparison centred on itinerary, onboard language and a more traditional cruise routine. Check actual room category, dining arrangements and the daily programme rather than expect the activity mix of a recently built megaship. Older construction dates are useful context, while subsequent maintenance and current facilities determine the experience offered on the selected departure.
Fleet reference
Active ships and actual construction projects are listed separately. A dash means a value has not been independently verified.
Active fleet
Ports in this reference
Published port programmes support these connections. Individual sailings and terminals can change.
Last checked:
Sources
- Phoenix Reisen — companyhistoryandfamilyownership — Accessed
1973companyfoundation,1988oceancharting; family-ownedexplicit.
- Phoenix Reisen — legaloperatorandBonnseat — Accessed
- Phoenix Reisen — currentoceanandriverdirectory — Accessed
Amadea/Amera/Artania current; Alvara separatefuturebookingpage nottodayoperatingfleet. Riverexcluded.
- Phoenix Reisen — lastDeutschlandsummercharter — Accessed
2026lastseasonexplicit; currentdescriptiongoneandnotcurrentfleet. Noclaimvesselscrapped/outofserviceglobally.
- Phoenix Reisen — 22October2026Alvaraannouncement — Accessed
InsigniaCURRENTLYOceania;PhoenixonlyNov2027,existing1998hullnotnewbuild. FutureAlvarapageexcludedcurrentfleet.
- Phoenix Reisen — currentoceaninclusions — Accessed
Fullboard,tablewine/juiceatmainmeals; activitiesvaryship/voyage.
- Phoenix Reisen — Amadeaserviceandcurrency — Accessed
German/EUR;BSMmanagement/seaChefshotel notPhoenixcorporateparent.
- Phoenix Reisen — Ameraserviceandcurrency — Accessed
- Phoenix Reisen — Artaniaserviceandcurrency — Accessed