Day 2
After a morning of sailing on the scenic Upper Middle Rhine, you’ll arrive at the town of Rüdesheim (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), for centuries renowned the world over for its outstanding wines. Make sure you take a walk through the charming little streets of the old town where you’ll find Drosselgasse, an alleyway with half-timbered façades, which is known as ‘The World’s Longest Wine Bar’. Enjoy an included guided tour of Rüdesheim with a ride on the Winzerexpress train.
Day 3
Today, you’ll sail through the historical heart of Europe, enjoying some of the most picture-perfect sights. You’ll see terraced vineyards, expansive forests and high peaks.
Spend the day in the relaxed riverside town of Germersheim or opt to travel to nearby Speyer, one of Germany’s oldest cities and the once centre of the Holy Roman Empire. You can see traces of this past in the delightful old town, with its romantic lanes leading to the imposing Cathedral, a UNESCO-protected World Heritage Site.
Day 4
Make sure you have your cameras to hand as you’ll be perched on a steep cliff above the Rhine, admiring picturesque Breisach with its pastel-hued buildings set in beautiful rolling vineyards. Where the Black Forest spills into the Alsace region, this German town shares a lot with its French neighbours – its love of good food and good wine among them. Take an optional guided walking tour, including a visit to a local Champagne cellar with tastings.
Day 5
Uniquely positioned where France, Germany and Switzerland meet, Basel retains a strong and proud identity, with a thriving arts scene and bilingual culture. Spend the day exploring its pretty old town, the awe-inspiring cathedral, and dipping in and out of the excellent museums. Optional excursions enable you to explore more of Switzerland.
Day 6
The capital of the Grand Est region, formerly known as Alsace, Strasbourg sits on the border (the river itself being the border) with Germany. An included excursion involves exploring the old town with quaint colourful houses and twisting cobbled alleys, the canals of Petit France, and the magnificent Strasbourg Cathedral. For 227 years, this imposing sandstone structure was the tallest building in the world and at its summit, the views stretch as far as the Black Forest, some 30km away.
Day 7
Today, you’ll visit Mainz in the Rhineland’s wine-growing region, famed for its Riesling wines. Wander the cobbled streets of the old town, and lose yourself among half-timbered buildings housing colourful bars and traditional shops. Visit the impressive 1,000-year-old Mainzer Dome, a masterpiece of Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque styles and the impressive Gutenberg Museum, celebrating Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press.
You’ll continue sailing through the scenic Lorelei Valley, one of the highlights of your cruise. Take your place on the sun deck and admire the views of steeply terraced vineyards plunging down towards the river, picture-perfect villages, fairy-tale castles perched on hilltops, rugged cliffs and lush green forests. Located at the confluence of the mighty Rhine and the Moselle rivers, Koblenz is easy to explore independently. We recommend the Baroque town hall, the old town and a cable car ride with wonderful views over the Rhine. Enjoy an included walking tour of Koblenz, followed by your last dinner on board.
Day 8
You’ll wake up this morning back in Cologne, as your unforgettable cruise on the Rhine ends. Disembark and transfer to the airport to begin your journey home.
2025
Departures
The following itinerary is for all 2025 departures.
Day 1
Fly from the UK to Frankfurt and transfer to your ship for the week, A-ROSA AQUA. You'll have the rest of the day free to explore this vibrant west-German city, where you'll find a wide variety of museums, art galleries and impressive churches to explore.Â
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Day 2
After a morning sailing on the scenic Upper Middle Rhine, we arrive at the town of Rüdesheim (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), for centuries renowned the world over for its outstanding wines. Make sure you take a walk through the charming little streets of the old town where you will find Drosselgasse, an alleyway with half-timbered facades, which is known as ‘The World’s Longest Wine Bar’. Enjoy an included guided tour of Rudesheim.
Day 3
Wake up along the banks of the Upper Rhine, with a stop in UNESCO-listed Speyer, Germany's oldest planned medieval town. Strategically important and well-placed along the Rhine's main trade routes, this former Roman city boasts a colourful history stretching back over 2000 years and is home to a number of interesting landmarks built throughout the Holy Roman Empire. A visit to Speyer Cathedral, the largest remaining Romanesque cathedral in the world, won't disappoint with its stunning architecture, ruined abbey and imperial burial grounds.Â
Day 4
Make sure you have your cameras to hand as perched on a steep cliff above the Rhine, admire picturesque Breisach with its pastel-hued buildings set in beautiful rolling vineyards. Where the Black Forest spills into the Alsace region, this German town shares a lot with its French neighbours - its love of good food and good wine among them. Take an optional guided walking tour including a visit to a local champagne cellar including tastings.
Day 5
Uniquely positioned where France, Germany and Switzerland meet, Basel retains a strong and proud identity, with a thriving arts scene and bilingual culture. Spend the day exploring its pretty old town, the awe-inspiring cathedral and dipping in and out of the excellent museums. Optional excursions enable you to explore more of Switzerland.
Day 6
The capital of the Grand Est region, formerly known as Alsace, Strasbourg sits on the border (the river itself being the border) with Germany. Included excursion exploring the old town with quaint colourful houses and twisting cobbled alleys, the canals of Petit France, magnificent Strasbourg Cathedral - for 227 years, this imposing sandstone structure was the tallest building in the world and at its summit, the views stretch as far as the Black Forest, some 30km away.
Day 7
Today we visit Mainz in the Rhineland's wine-growing region, famed for its Riesling wines. Wander the cobbled streets of the old town, and lose yourself among half-timbered buildings housing colourful bars and traditional shops. Visit the impressive 1,000-year-old Mainzer Dome, a masterpiece of Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque styles and the impressive Gutenburg Museum, celebrating Johanes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press.
We continue sailing through the scenic Lorelei Valley, one of the highlights of your cruise. Take your place on the sun deck and admire the views of steeply-terraced vineyards plunging down towards the river, picture-perfect villages, fairy tale castles perched on hilltops, rugged cliffs and lush green forests. Your cruise director will bring to life the legends that make this part of Germany so fascinating - a glass of included sparkling wine in hand.
Enjoy the evening aboard A-ROSA AQUA before a final dinner with your fellow guests.Â
Day 8
You'll wake this morning back in Frankfurt, as your unforgettable cruise on the Rhine ends. Disembark, and begin your journey home.