Rhine & Main Cruise to Bavaria

Travel to Cologne, where you’ll board your sleek A-ROSA vessel at the quayside. If you arrive in time, why not explore the city 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? 

When the time comes, board your ship, dine when you wish at the gourmet buffet, maybe enjoying a nightcap before turning in. Overnight, you’ll sail south on the Rhine, arriving at Koblenz by early morning.

Step ashore at Koblenz this morning, 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, where you can take an optional cable car ride to the fortress, or simply stroll along the riverside promenade to Deutsches Eck, where the rivers converge.

Return to the boat around midday, and enjoy a scenic afternoon’s cruising as you sail south, past the mighty, UNESCO-listed Lorelei and to Frankfurt, arriving the following morning. Legend has it, the Lorelei was formed when a beautiful maiden threw herself into the Rhine in despair over a faithless lover, and was transformed into a siren that lured fisherman to a fatal end.

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 join the optional city tour or optional trip to the market with the boat’s head chef. 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. Enjoy a whole day in Frankfurt, as you depart in the early evening.

The following day, your ship will continue along the Main until it arrives at the ancient Wertheim around midday, a town of winding streets, half-timbered houses and spectacular castles. This town is known for its glass-blowing, and the optional afternoon tour includes a visit to the local glass-blowing factory, where you will have the opportunity to watch the craftsmen at work. Set sail in the early evening, enjoying a delicious meal and some evening entertainment on board.

The next morning, your ship will tie up at quaint Würzburg, a small city nestled amongst the Bavarian Hills, straddling the Main River. The city is an old seat of bishops and the centre of the Franconian wine-making industry. The highlight of this stop is an optional tour of Marienburg Fortress, which dates back as far as the 8th century, with Renaissance and Baroque additions, and the pretty old town, with its ornate buildings. You’ll depart Würzburg in the early evening, giving you the chance to enjoy dinner and a relaxing evening on board.

After a relaxing morning on the water, you’ll arrive at Bamberg in the mid-afternoon. Bamberg is a UNESCO-listed city whose medieval architecture has somehow remained untouched throughout the turbulent centuries. It is home to the stunning Altes Rathaus, one of the country’s most famous buildings. Join the included tour to discover this historic city, with its cathedrals, monasteries, bridges, narrow streets, half-timbered houses and Baroque facades, before returning to your ship in the evening.

Today you’ll have the whole day to explore Nuremberg, with its lovingly-restored medieval streets. You’ll tie up in the morning, and stay overnight, giving you plenty of time to make the most of this fascinating city. Nuremberg is Bavaria’s second-largest city after Munich, and is famous for being the city of Wagner’s Mastersingers and for the distinctive Nuremberg sausages, together with the imposing Imperial Castle and ornate St Lorenz Church. Join the included guided walking tour of the city in the morning to discover its most famous sites. This evening, you can dine on board or at one of the city’s wonderful eateries – a fitting end to the last day of your tour.

Disembark your A-ROSA vessel this morning at the end of a wonderful cruise on the Rhine and Moselle.