Monday to Friday 9am – 6pm

Saturday 9am – 3pm

Monday to Friday 9am – 6pm | Saturday 9am – 3pm

Discover castles, vineyards, rolling hills and ancient cities

A SOUTHERN RHINE CRUISE THROUGH GERMANY TO SWITZERLAND

5/5

8 night / 9 day Cruise by First class rail

8 night / 9 day River Cruise by First class rail

7 night Premium All-Inclusive* cruise, 1 night in Cologne

River view cabin on the cruise, with all drinks included**

Visiting Cologne, Rudesheim, Speyer, Breisach, Basel, Strasbourg, Mainz, the Lorelei Valley, and Koblenz

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A SOUTHERN RHINE CRUISE

Departures between April & October

A-ROSA ALEA & CLEA

Fall in love with Europe’s greatest river as you sail on the Rhine from Cologne to Strasbourg and onto Basel in Switzerland. Discover the history and beauty of the UNESCO Middle Rhine Valley with scenic landscapes, castles and legends. Delve into German history at ancient Speyer, wine culture in Rudesheim, Strasbourg’s canals and cathedral and the delightful cities of Mainz and Koblenz (where a guided walking tour is included). Explore independently or take an optional excursion, perhaps to a champagne cellar in Breisach or a tour of Strasbourg.

Enjoy all-inclusive drinks*, flexible dining, and relax on the vast sun deck where al fresco dining is a delight.

This is a unique opportunity, travelling by First Class rail from London to Cologne for an overnight stay before you join the A-ROSA ALEA or CLEA for your 7-night Premium All-Inclusive cruise* in a category S cabin. Relax in your cabin or head out on deck to enjoy the perfect the beautiful riverscapes of gently rolling hills, small towns and villages as well as the ancient cities you can explore en route.

The itinerary enables you to visit Cologne where you stay overnight prior to the cruise. The iconic UNESCO protected gothic cathedral is a must.

A Southern Rhine Cruise

Your holiday includes:

  • Return First Class rail from London to Cologne (Standard Premier Class on Eurostar)
  • Overnight stay in Cologne in a 4 star hotel on your outbound journey on a bed and breakfast basis
  • 7-night cruise on a Premium All-Inclusive* basis:
    • S grade outside cabin with window and river views and private bathroom
    • Extensive gourmet buffet style breakfast, lunch and dinner
    • Option to enjoy waiter service at dinner
    • Special welcome and farewell dinners
    • Regional specialities and afternoon tea
    • Tea, coffee and water available 24 hours
    • Extensive menu of cocktails, mocktails, spirits, wines, beers, soft drinks and speciality teas and coffees served 11am to midnight as per the A-ROSA bar menu**
    • Included walking tour of Koblenz and speciality dinner on board ship in the evening
    • Up to 2 cultural performances during the week
    • Nightly entertainment in the lounge
    • Use of all on-board facilities including the A-ROSA SPA, sauna, swimming pool, relaxation and gym
    • 15% discount on spa treatments
    • FREE Wi-Fi
    • All port taxes

Additional benefits of an A-Rosa cruise

  • The A-ROSA APP that gives you extra information to enhance your journey
  • Room service
  • Bathroom products, bathrobe and slippers
  • Use of on-board e-bikes for independent exploration (selected times, subject to availability)

Your Southern Rhine Cruise Holiday Itinerary

DAY 1 - LONDON TO COLOGNE

Your holiday begins as you arrive at London St Pancras International. Take the time to admire the “cathedral of steam” before you join the Eurostar and travel to Brussels.

Enjoy the light meal and drinks served at your seat in Standard Premier Class as you reach speeds of up to 186 mph during the journey.

In Brussels you change trains and continue into Germany, travelling to Cologne, where you check-into the Hotel Mondial am Dom (4 star) or similar, located close to the station for your overnight stay on a bed & breakfast basis.

DAY 2 – FREE-TIME IN COLOGNE AND JOIN YOUR CRUISE ABOARD A-ROSA ALEA OR CLEA

This morning after breakfast you have time to explore Cologne at your leisure and if possible include a visit to the impressive Gothic cathedral.

In the afternoon, take an included transfer from Cologne railway station and embark the A-ROSA ALEA OR CLEA.

Set sail and enjoy a welcome dinner on board tonight.

DAY 3 - RÜDESHEIM

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’.

Speyer

DAY 4 - SPEYER

Today, we sail through the historical heart of Europe, enjoying some of the most picture-perfect sights you’ll see on your Rhine river cruise with terraced vineyards, expansive forests and high peaks.

Spend the day Speyer, one of Germany’s oldest cities and once the 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 5 – BREISACH

Make sure you have your cameras to hand so you can admire and capture picturesque Breisach, perched on a steep cliff above the Rhine 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 (supplements apply) including a visit to a local champagne cellar including tastings.

DAY 6 – BASEL

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 7 – STRASBOURG

The capital of the Grand Est region, formerly known as Alsace, Strasbourg sits on the border (the river itself being the border) with Germany.

Your A-ROSA ship moors on the France side, making it easy to explore; It’s a leisurely stroll across the bridge into Strasbourg, or take a local bus, taxi or optional excursion. 

Explore 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.

Strasbourg is also near Colmar, world-renowned for its Alsacian architecture, where you can visit on an optional excursion.

DAY 8 - MAINZ, THE SCENIC LORELEI VALLEY & KOBLENZ

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.

The A-ROSA Destination Scout is on hand to help you get the most from your time in Mainz.

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, fairytale 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.

Arrive in Koblenz at 18.30 (depart 2130) for our final evening.

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 and speciality dinner on board in the evening.

DAY 9 – COLOGNE TO LONDON – HOMEWARD BOUND

All to soon your cruise comes to an end, enjoy your final breakfast on board before your included transfer to Cologne’s main railway station.

You travel by German ICE train to Brussels and then on board Eurostar in Standard Premier Class back to London St. Pancras Station and the final leg of your journey home.

Your Southern Rhine Cruise Holiday Itinerary

Further information

A-ROSA ALEA AND CLEA

The new additions to the A-ROSA fleet offer a more classic style of river cruising, with only 69 cabins accommodating a maximum of 138 passengers on A-ROSA ALEA and 70 cabins (140 passengers) on A-ROSA CLEA.

The unique size of these two ships allows them to sail into new ports such as Strasbourg or Trier. Each ship has a large sun deck with recliners and awnings and a giant chessboard. Guests can also enjoy the whirlpool and gym and relax in a choice of three panoramic lounges including an outdoor area on the bow of the ship. The ships also have a lift between decks 1 and 3.

The spacious air-conditioned cabins (deck 1 14 square metres, decks 2 & 3 15 square metres) have picture windows on the main deck (deck 1) and Juliette balconies on the upper decks (decks 2 & 3).

Meals are served in the Market Restaurant, with a buffet for breakfast and lunch, whilst for dinner, starters and deserts are chosen from the buffet and therein course is conveniently served at the table

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