Arosa changes embarkation to Engelhartszell in Austria

[notamermaid]

The German river cruise company ARosa reacts to the changing situation on the Danube and customer complaints and requests by changing the embarkation port from Passau-Lindau to Engelhartszell in Austria.

 

The statement from Arosa includes this very interesting information. For 2016, in Passau there will be 17 piers, 29 docks/berths available for 2.000 river cruise ships dockings of various length. The figure is actually on the increase so in 2017 there might even be more.

 

Ships in 2015 had to be moved at short notice making planning more difficult, so ARosa has decided to move to Engelhardszell which is just a short bus ride away across the border into Austria.

 

notamermaid

Edited March 28, 2016 by notamermaid
spelling

[Squigmond]

Come on people let the trashing begin. When did this happen? When did the cruise line know it was going to happen? how have all the signed up cruisers been notified? Was this a bait and switch or something even more devious? Are the cruisers who come in early going to have a transfer? What is the compensation? Who is really behind this and what can be done about it? If we complain long and loud about it can we get our way? Come on you perennial critics and complainers lets get on this. Lets get them as if they were the Viking Cruise line. Come on no favoritism.

[JVilleGal]

Viking heavily markets to North Americans and has a huge presence on Cruise Critic. Nearly every person on this board gets Viking brochures weekly if not daily and sees their beautiful ads on the Public Broadcasting Stations.

Expectations are made based on the constant ads on PBS, and the marketing material and itineraries shown.

Arosa on the other hand is a new comer to the American market and we have Zero expectations but maybe their primary audience in Germany feels differently.

Who knows!!

Thanks Notamermaid for the interesting update.

 

PS maybe this change is a good thing? Which would be different from the Paris to Le Pecq which was a bad thing :(

Edited March 28, 2016 by JVilleGal

[Squigmond]

Good grief......and so it goes.

[JVilleGal]

Good grief......and so it goes.

 

Yes exactly! And so begins a new cruising season on the rivers of Europe! Let us all continue with the Rain Dancing (nights only please), locks that are in good repair and operating properly, no rafting, and gorgeous not too hot sailing weather!

And remember that what happens on the river, stays on the river :)

[G.M.T.]

AROSA made the decision last year see following thread - message 11

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2236887&highlight=engelhartszell

 

I think AROSA, a German company is trying to pressurise Passau town council to expand on the cruise ship berths. There is hardly any area where new docking facilities can be built in Passau, Passau's main concern at present is the new flood prevention projects.

 

Some of the information in the AROSA statement is inaccurate, they state that there are 17 berths that can accommodate upto 29 ships for cruise boat's use, but these numbers also incluse the excursion boats. Infact there 7 berths for 12 boats in the old town (day visitors) and 4 berths for 8 ships at Passau-Lindau (this facility was only built about 5 years ago).

 

The cruise companies keep churning out boat after boat with out actually taking into account berthing facilities along the rivers. In Germany building plans can take a long time to get authorisation, if at all. If the plans have an environmental impact, then there is very little chance. An example of this was the proposed dredging and straightening of the Danube between Passau and Regensburg, because of environmentalist and "voters" the Bavarian state goverment drops all plans.

 

By law, German towns along navigable rivers have to provide berths for cargo boats. Passau is considering ideas / plans for the cruise industry, in the old town there are two cargo boat berths that could be moved to the Passau Winter Harbour, but this would involve removing parking spaces which are at a premium in Passau - again the "voters". The voters say we welcome the cruise boats but at what price, they do not have to live here. Another consideration is the Passau Winter Harbour, but that is an industrial harbour.

 

AROSA is not the first cruise line to seek alternative berthing outside of Passau. AMAWaterways, ac ouple of years ago moved 20 Km upstream to Vilshofen.

 

Engelhartszell , a quaint place, not much to do if yor are waiting for a boat. Best thing about Engelhartszellis a visit to the monastery for a few beers:

 

http://www.stift-engelszell.at/cmsimple/?TRAPPISTBEER-BREWERY

 

Click on the beer type, at the bottom to get a full description in English. While reading please do not dribble onto your keyboard, Cruise Critic needs you.

[Floridiana]

The monastery also produces chocolates and a long list of liqueurs! :-)

Edited March 28, 2016 by Floridiana

[notamermaid]

Thank you G.M.T., for the insight.

 

Yes, the figures include the excursion boats. I left the details out, just thought I leave my info short.

 

Passau has certainly got a problem with the river cruise boats. Another thing they are having to deal with is the pressure to do something about the low bridge. It has caused several boat accidents in the last few years.

 

Vilshofen has been used by ARosa in the past, as well.

 

One of the things Arosa has said is that starting in Engelhartszell means they can cut out the busy lock at Jochenstein where there have been hold-ups thereby ensuring they are better able to stick to their itinerary.

 

And keep those chocolate fingers off your keyboard, too. :)

 

notamermaid

 

P.S.: If possible could our host please change the header, just a typo, it is Engelhartszell.

Edited March 29, 2016 by notamermaid

[notamermaid]

Hello JVilleGal,

 

Viking heavily markets to North Americans and has a huge presence on Cruise Critic. Nearly every person on this board gets Viking brochures weekly if not daily and sees their beautiful ads on the Public Broadcasting Stations.

Expectations are made based on the constant ads on PBS, and the marketing material and itineraries shown.

Arosa on the other hand is a new comer to the American market and we have Zero expectations but maybe their primary audience in Germany feels differently.

Who knows!!

Thanks Notamermaid for the interesting update.

 

PS maybe this change is a good thing? Which would be different from the Paris to Le Pecq which was a bad thing :(

 

I think North-American and German "audiences" differ a little in expectations, partly perhaps due to the fact that most of them live close to a river that can flood. With it I assume comes an awareness that things do not always go smoothly. I know I am treading on delicate ground here, no offence.

 

Please bear in mind that consumer laws are different in Europe as well. But do not assume that people do not complain, they do!

 

In the case with Arosa, they actually reacted to consumer complaints, which will I assume, have encluded surveying the customer questionnaires. So, the change - for the moment - is a good thing.

 

Transfer from Passau to Engelhartszell, by the way, is offered by the company.

 

notamermaid

[Host Jazzbeau]

P.S.: If possible could our host please change the header, just a typo, it is Engelhartszell.

 

Your wish is my command :)