Rhine in Flames Cruise

Travel to Cologne, where you’ll board sleek A-ROSA BRAVA 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 early evening? 

Once on board, meet your host, dine when you wish at the gourmet buffet and maybe enjoy a nightcap before turning in.

Your first port of call awaits this morning as you'll be stopping in Cochem's gorgeous town centre. Nestled amongst hilly landscapes and straddling the Moselle River, Cochem's fairytale setting is complete with a gorgeous old town brimming with original timber buildings and an imposing hilltop castle overlooking the area. Enjoy a day's exploration ashore, where you'll have time at leisure to explore and settle into your new surroundings, and enjoy the day at your own pace. Perhaps pay the nearby Reichsburg a visit and enjoy panoramic views from its 11th-century walls. 

As the sun sets this evening, reboard A-ROSA BRAVA and spend the night on board. 

You'll arrive overnight in UNESCO-listed Boppard. Located on a narrow horseshoe bend of the Rhine, this former imperial town has stood guard over an 11-mile stretch of the river for thousands of years. You'll find a wealth of ways to spend your time in Boppard, from its flourishing vineyards to the remarkably well-preserved landmarks which chronicle its colourful past, and you'll have a brief stop this morning free to explore as you see fit. Why not venture into the town's riverside Altstadt (old town) where you'll find the region's history and charm on full display? 

This afternoon, step back aboard your ship as it departs for Koblenz. 

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast aboard A-ROSA BRAVA ahead of today's guided tour of charming Koblenz. Starting at the Deutsches Eck's Kaiser Wilhelm monument, an impressive memorial dedicated to the unification of Germany under Wilhelm I's rule, you'll spend the morning walking around the city's most beloved corners. Your next stops will be the Schängel Fountain, a playful bronze statue which 'spits' on unsuspecting passersby, and the Basilica St. Castor, a grand Romanesque church and the oldest original religious building in the city. Just across the road, The Church of Our Lady, a colourful, onion-domed building, concludes the morning's tour. 

You'll then have the rest of the day at leisure in Koblenz, perhaps revisiting some of your favourite spots or stopping for a coffee on the banks of the Rhine, before reboarding your ship for the next leg of the cruise.

You’ll arrive at the picturesque Rhineland city of Mainz in the early hours of the morning. Famous as the birthplace of the printing press, where Johannes Gutenberg created Europe's earliest printed book in the 15th century, Mainz was also originally a fort on the Roman Empire's northern border. You'll have the chance to discover the city's rich history and culture on an included walking tour ahead of some well-earned downtime this evening. 

As night falls, A-ROSA BRAVA will whisk you away overnight for the penultimate stop of your tour, metropolitan Frankfurt.

Following breakfast aboard, you'll have a full day in lively Frankfurt, a major hub on the Main. Enjoy one of the many optional tours of this vibrant river city or meander through the city's best sights at your own pace. Nature lovers won't want to miss a trip to the Palmengarten, one of three botanical gardens in the city which stretches over 22 hectares. If you'd prefer to soak up the city's cultural offerings, the Städel Museum showcases over 700 years worth of art while the Goethe House offers a fascinating insight into one of Germany's most celebrated writers, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. 

This evening, settle back into your cabin for an overnight sailing and the final stretch of your cruise.  

Watch the sunrise over the Rhine as you arrive in Rüdesheim this morning. Once ashore, you'll have the chance to ride the Winzerexpress railway through the Rhineland's rich wine country, gliding past its famous vineyards as you go. You'll then stop in the centre of Rüdesheim, a charming town famous for its wine-making heritage and the Reisling grapes that the region produces. Continuing on foot, you'll be able to explore the town's easy-going café-bars and will be treated to a masterclass in making the region's renowned speciality coffee, Rüdesheimer Kaffee - and, of course, try it too! 

This evening, the undoubted highlight of your cruise awaits: the spectacular Rhine in Flames experience!

The Rhine in Flames celebration dates back to 1756, with its inaugural event honouring the newly elected governor, Archbishop Johann Phillip von Walderdorff, who was staying at the mighty Ehrenbreitstein Castle in Koblenz. In 1845, when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited Koblenz on their honeymoon, they were treated to two fireworks displays as they travelled on the Rhine, and both remarked they were the best displays they had ever seen.

The tradition of a celebration of the Rhine and the communities that live on its banks continues to this day. Nowadays the festival attracts thousands of excited revellers to see the extraordinary sight of red Bengal fires on the riverbanks lighting up the sky, illuminating the mountains and castles, and creating a magical and beautiful landscape. 

When darkness comes, A-ROSA BRAVA will be part of a fleet of over 50 ships of all shapes and sizes that sail as a flotilla as part of the celebrations, culminating with the music-accompanied firework spectacular – the grand finale!

Enjoy a wonderful atmosphere on board as you take your seat on deck as the illuminated craft moves into position in preparation for the night sky exploding in a dazzling burst of fiery magic that is the unique experience of the famous Rhine in Flames – one of Europe’s most colourful celebrations.

After the fireworks, you’ll sail to Bonn overnight, bringing a wonderful week on the Rhine to an end.

Please Note: In the event that the ship is unable to join the main flotilla, at the discretion of port authorities, A-ROSA BRAVA will be moored as near to the Rhine in Flames parade as possible. 

Your A-ROSA experience ends early this morning as you arrive on Bonn's scenic riverfront. Disembark your ship and begin your journey home.