The German tour operator Phoenix Reisen was founded in 1973. In 1988 they started cruising the oceans with the charter of the ship Maxim Gorki. Starting as a pure ocean shipping company, Phoenix Reisen expanded its range in 1993 to include the popular river cruises. The four well-known ocean liners are now joined by more than 30 river ships as well as a few smaller ships for exceptional destinations. The shipping company is still in family hands and attaches great importance to a friendly and pleasant atmosphere aboard their ships.