New Year Rhine Cruise

Travel to Cologne, where you’ll board your sleek A-ROSA vessel at the quayside. Depending on the time of your flight, you’ll have time to explore the city of Cologne under your own steam, with its 2,000-plus years of fascinating history, famous twin-spired Gothic cathedral and lovingly restored Altstadt (old town), before your ship departs in the late afternoon. The historic Altermarkt square is the perfect spot for a bit of people watching. When the time comes, board your ship, dine when you wish at the gourmet buffet, maybe enjoying a nightcap before turning in.

This morning you’ll arrive in Rüdesheim, the Rhine’s most celebrated wine town, where you’ll have a blissful day exploring the narrow streets, the most celebrated of which is the Drosselgasse, lined with bars and weinstuben (small, traditional wine bars – the perfect place to get cosy!). Why not join the optional shore excursion and enjoy a ride on the scenic Winzerexpress train? Your ship will depart for Strasbourg in the late afternoon.

This morning you’ll moor up at Alsace capital Strasbourg. Head into the heart of the city, where you’ll discover and explore the ancient Petite France quarter, a maze of narrow streets of medieval buildings, criss-crossed by canals. Strasbourg is especially popular at this time of year thanks to its famous Christmas market, which is the oldest in Europe, started in 1570. Enjoy a full day spent exploring this charming city of half-timbered houses on an included city tour, before transferring back to your ship in the evening.

You’ll arrive in the picturesque Rhineland city of Mainz around 8am. Step ashore to discover this historic city, which is capital of the Rhineland-Palatinate and the hometown of Johannes Gutenburg, the father of the printing press. Mainz is over 2,000 years old and home to a six-towered cathedral, Gutenberg Museum and a delightful Altstadt of half-timbered houses, which is all the more impressive dressed in festive finery. This evening, enjoy a special New Year’s Eve meal on board and then head to the deck at midnight to celebrate 2023’s arrival with a wonderful view of the fireworks, which will light up the Rhine. 

Overnight you’ll slip into the Main River, tying up in the morning beneath the glittering ‘Mainhattan’ skyline of Frankfurt, birthplace of the famous German writer and poet Goethe. Step ashore to explore or to join the optional guided city tour this afternoon. North of the river is Frankfurt's historic Altstadt, centred on Römerberg Square and surrounded by the remnants of ancient fortifications. Close by, the towering façade of the Kaiserdom church dominates the Altstadt's eastern end, only to be dwarfed in turn by the sky-piercing buildings of the Frankfurt Financial District to the west. Your boat will moor up for the night in Frankfurt, giving you the chance to enjoy dinner in this lively city.

Your ship will depart Frankfurt in the night and head north to pretty Koblenz, which sits spectacularly at the meeting point of the Rhine and Moselle. A strategic stronghold for over 2,000 years, Koblenz is dominated by the imposing mass of the mighty Ehrenbreitstein Fortress on the far bank. Step ashore for an included walking tour and then explore under your own steam, maybe by taking a stroll along the riverside promenade to Deutsches Eck, where the rivers converge, and pausing at a weinstuben to reflect on a wonderful cruise before departing later this evening.

Your A-ROSA experience ends this morning, as you arrive back in Cologne early, disembark and begin your journey home.