This river ship was originally launched in 2009 as Avalon Creativity under Avalon Waterways. In 2019, it was chartered by US tour company Gate 1 under the name Monarch Princess, before in 2024, it joined German river cruise line A-Rosa Cruises, and now sails under A-Rosa Clea.
The vessel holds 140 passengers and sails the Rhine mostly from Frankfurt in 2026. Sister ship A-Rosa Alea joined the fleet at the same time and also sails the Rhine but on a round-trip from Cologne. It has the same facilities but holds 138 passengers and has four suites, versus the two that are found on board Clea, so this review can also apply.
Overall score 6/10
Style and Character 5/10
With big red lips and roses painted on the bow, Clea is instantly recognisable as an A-Rosa river ship. This is not the case inside. Instead of the bright, colourful interiors that typically set the company’s vessels apart from others on the rivers, the décor is more muted creams, browns and greys, but with splashes of orange carpet or red sofas here and there.
As with all A-Rosa river ships, two languages are spoken on board, German and English. However, since most passengers will be from Germany with just a handful of international guests on board, British guests may find this can make socialising tricky.
Cabins 5/10
Cabins on decks two and three have French balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows. Rooms are small but comfortable with lots of storage. None have room service.
Those on the All-Inclusive Premium fare get a one-litre bottle of sparkling water a day (feel free to change to mineral water and request additional bottles), along with bathrobes and toiletries in the cabin. These amenities aren’t available for those travelling on the Basic Full Board fare.
Two junior suites on deck three are half as big as the other cabins. They also have French balconies and come with perks including a noon check-in time (it’s 3pm for everyone else), champagne and canapés on arrival, free laundry services, a complimentary minibar and evening turndown service.
Eleven rooms on the lower deck have high fixed windows.
Food and Drink 5/10
There is one restaurant with pre-allocated tables for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s not ideal, as moving around tables at meal times is, in my opinion, a good way to meet others, but since space in the restaurant is limited, it’s the only way to guarantee that everyone gets a seat. It also ensures guests sit with people who speak their language.
Breakfast and lunch are buffets; dinner is a hybrid, with starters and desserts on the buffet counter, while soups and main courses are served à la carte.
On my sailing, the dinner buffet included green salads and a couple of amuse-bouche-sized specials, such as tuna salad and curry chicken with lentils. For the main course, there was a choice of meat, fish and vegetarian dishes. The food was hot and tasty, and Barbary duck in an orange and ginger sauce was a personal favourite.
Service and Facilities 6/10
The crew were cheery, quick and helpful. All speak German and English on board Clea, so language barriers are never a problem.
A “quiet” lounge at the back of the ship has an always-available coffee machine, while a gym on the lower deck has just enough room for a running machine and two bikes. The top deck has sun loungers, a heated hot tub and giant draughts and backgammon boards.
Entertainment and Excursions 6/10
Entertainment is more lively than on many other river ships. Games such as musical bingo and quizzes encouraged those of all ages and languages to join in, while outside entertainer Shelvis brought lots of energy and kept the ship rocking on two evenings, with covers from artists including Elvis, John Denver and Bill Haley. He doesn’t feature on every sailing, but it is an indication of the style of entertainment to expect.
Excursions range from walking tours to wine tastings. The provision of English-speaking guides is usually subject to achieving minimum numbers.
Value for Money 7/10
This is where A-Rosa stands out. Prices start from around €1,200 (£1,045) for seven nights based on a Premium All-Inclusive tariff (which is mostly what’s sold in the UK) and covers meals, unlimited wine, beer and coffee, and Wi-Fi.
Upgrading to add unlimited spirits, cocktails and liqueurs costs €24.50pp (£21) per day. Excursions start around €29pp (£25) for a two-hour walking tour.
Basic Full Board, which includes meals and entertainment only, is available on selected departures.
Access for guests with disabilities?
A-Rosa Clea is not ideal for those with mobility problems. A lift services the public decks, but access to the sun deck, which is sometimes the only way to get on and off the ship, is via steep steps.
Family-friendly?
Children aged 15 and under receive a 30 per cent discount on A-Rosa Clea when sharing a cabin room with at least one adult. There are no children’s clubs on board.