Southern Rhine Explorer – Cruise

Itinerary

Itinerary

Day 1: We travel into France and through Belgium before arriving at the delightful centrally located Maritim Hotel, Cologne in time for dinner.

Day 2:  Today is free at leisure to explore Cologne. One of Germany’s oldest and most beautiful cities there is a vast array of attractions from its famous cathedral to its numerous museums and galleries. Lined with a bustling wide promenade and criss-crossed with bridges, your first glimpse of the mighty Rhine in Cologne is destined to be a memorable one. You'll find ancient walls and medieval churches rubbing shoulders with modern quarters, narrow streets filled with traditional old houses, breweries, beer halls, cafes and shops. We embark our ship at 16:00 today before we set sail at 18:00 and enjoy a delicious welcome dinner.

Day 3:   Rudesheim, Germany – ARR 11:00. DEP 18:00.

After a morning of sailing on the scenic Upper Middle Rhine with its breath-taking river landscapes, we arrive in Rudeshiem mid-morning. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore this delightful town with its traditional half-timbered houses, backed by terraced vineyards. At the heart of the old town is the famous Drosselgasse a 15^th century cobbled street dotted with quaint restaurants, cafes, wine bars and taverns serving regional dishes. Sample a glass of wine or two along the way whilst enjoying an abundance of live music.  Perhaps catch the cable car to the Niederwald Monument and enjoy the spectacular panoramic views across the Rhine and the sweeping vineyards. Another popular attraction in the town is Siegfried’s Museum of Mechanical Music, showcasing more than 400 self-playing musical instruments spanning three centuries. We depart early this evening and cruise throughout the night.

Day 4: Germersheim, Germany ARR 08:00. DEP 19:00.

Today, you'll find yourself in Germany's enchanting Upper Rhine, nestled in the heart of Europe with some of the most awe-inspiring views you'll see from the river, with terraced vineyards, expansive forests, high peaks and nature trails just waiting to be explored. Our port today will be Germersheim, where you'll discover rich German hospitality and history. One of the town’s most notable and impressive landmarks is the Germersheim Fortress, dating back to the 17^th Century and the town itself is the perfect place to spend a day of laidback discovery. Alternatively why not join an optional excursion* to nearby Speyer or to the ancient city of Heidelberg.

Day 5: Breisach, Germany. ARR 14:00. DEP 23.59.

Make sure you have your cameras to hand as we sail into our next port. Perched on a steep cliff above the Rhine, Breisach is picture-perfect with 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 amongst them. Painstakingly reconstructed after almost total devastation in WWII, this pretty port is made for leisurely exploring. We recommend making the climb uphill to St Stephen Cathedral, the town's major landmark and offering extraordinary views across this beautiful region.

Day 6: Basel, Switzerland. ARR 08:00. DEP 19:30

Uniquely positioned where France, Germany and Switzerland meet, Basel dances to the beat of its own drum with a strong and proud identity, bustling arts scene and dual language. You'll discover all of the fascinating quirks of Basel, with a day to stroll around its pretty old town, admiring the awe-inspiring cathedral and enjoying its cosmopolitan way of life. Perhaps start your day at the Münsterplatz, where the 1,000-year-old cathedral towers over the square, before soaking up the spectacular views over the Rhine from the Pfalz (viewing platform). Choose to enjoy the afternoon in the city's famous zoo, or cherry-pick your favourite museum - there's everything from natural history to the world's largest collection of stuffed teddy bears.

Day 7:  Strasbourg, France (or Kehl, Germany). ARR 11:30. DEP 18:00.

Treading the tightrope between Germany and France, Strasbourg is a city straight out of the storybooks with the river itself forming the border of the two countries. The elegant capital of Alsace with its higgledy-piggledy, colourful houses and twisting streets offers a delightful blend of the two countries. Head down to the canals of Petit France and hole up in one of the traditional cosy winstubs (wine lounges), or Alsatian taverns, they're the perfect place to get your bearings of this quirky city before hitting the tourist trail. Strasbourg Cathedral is a must-see. For 227 years, this spellbinding sandstone structure was the tallest building in the world, and it's still well worth a trip to the top of the tower where views stretch as far as the Black Forest, some 30km away. Please note: If mooring in Kehl there is a short 10 minute tram ride to Strasbourg (to be booked and paid locally approx. 4euros). 

Day 8: Mainz, Germany. ARR 06:00. DEP 12:00

At the very heart of the Rhineland's wine growing region, sophisticated Mainz is the perfect mix of history, culture and high-living. Wander the cobbled streets of the Old Town, and lose yourself among half-timbered buildings housing colourful bars, traditional shops and great eateries. This area is most famed for its fantastic Riesling and Silvaner wines, so it would be remiss not to sit, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy a perfectly chilled glass of this top tipple. There's much more than just excellent vintages to this pretty city though. The Altstadt also plays host to the impressive 1,000-year-old Mainzer Dome, a masterpiece of Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque styles, as well as the fantastic Gutenberg Museum, commemorating Mainz's illustrious printing past.

Sail the Lorelei Valley

Today is the highlight of our voyage through the Lorelei and UNESCO World Heritage Middle Rhine Valley. The Lorelei Valley is Rhine river scenery at its most majestic and romantic, so today’s sailing is sure to be a crowning point of your cruise. We recommend letting one of the crew bring you a coffee as you sit on the Sun Deck of your elegant A-ROSA ship and let the views unfurl in front of your eyes. And what views they are. Each gentle bend in the river delivers something new to admire, steeply-terraced vineyards plunging down towards the river, storybook villages replete with half-timbered houses and Gothic church steeples, fairy tale castles perched on hilltops, rugged cliffs and lush green forests. The Lorelei Valley is river cruising exactly as you imagined it.

Day 8: Koblenz Germany. ARR 18:30 DEP 21:30

Where the mighty Rhine meets the Moselle, Koblenz is the perfect pit stop for exploring the gorgeous scenic surrounds and rich history of the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley. Its strategic location has made it the focus of battles over the centuries, with 2,000 years of glorious and bloody history under its belt. Sailing past its iconic headland, Deutsches Eck (German Corner) and famous Kaiser Wilhelm statue, with views of the majestic Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, our final port of call is sure to be truly memorable.

Day 9: Cologne. ARR: 05:00

We disembark after breakfast this morning and travel through Germany and into France for our return journey back to the UK.

Rhine River

The Rhine

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Accommodation

A-ROSA SILVA

This 135m long and 11.40m wide ship is an intimate sized premium ship spread over 4 decks. The sun deck is an ideal place to relax and admire the landscapes with comfortable loungers, sunshades and a heated outdoor pool. The panorama lounge offers a bar and dance floor. The restaurant with its panoramic views offers varied buffets and live cooking. All cabins are en-suite with TV, hairdryer and safe.

A Grade cabins are on deck 1 with a picture window. C Grade cabins are on deck 2 with a Juliette balcony. D Grade cabins are on deck 3 with Juliette balcony.  Leisure facilities include an outdoor pool, fitness centre, sauna and spa.

*Optional Excursions
A-ROSA offers a range of optional excursions at additional cost that can be pre-booked or booked on board. Please contact us for more details.

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