A-Rosa Aqua, 4 Night Rhine Christmas Markets 2026 ex Cologne, Germany Return

4 Nights from Cologne to Rüdesheim, Mainz, Frankfurt, Loreley Valley and Koblenz to Cologne.

Day 1: Cologne
We will set off on our exciting Rhine cruise from here, heading for the northern or the southern Rhine. But you shouldn’t miss out on the opportunity to explore this cathedral city, with its wealth of monuments and attractions. The best way is to arrive the day before your cruise departs, so that you can relax – or simply extend your stay in Cologne after the cruise has ended.

Day 2: Rüdesheim
The town describes its biggest attraction, the world-famous Drosselgasse, as ‘144 metres of joie de vivre’. This centre of Rhine Romanticism once inspired poets and musicians – it was here that Brahms composed his Symphony No. 3. Rüdesheim is the best-known spot in the Rheingau and has plenty of cultural attractions, including stately homes and fortifications. And no visit to the towns and countryside of this area of the Rhine would be complete without a Rüdesheim coffee, which was invented here.

Day 2: Mainz
Mainz bleibt Mainz (or ‘Mainz is always Mainz’) is more than a carnival motto. It is an expression of the easy-going way of life that makes the locals proud of their city, makes it easy for non-locals to settle in and helps visitors to enjoy their stay here. With 2,000 years of history, Mainz is not just one of the oldest cities in Germany – it is also a place where you can see history come alive wherever you turn.

Day 3: Frankfurt
Welcome to Goethe’s birthplace! Here’s another historical fact while we’re at it: this is where the first German national assembly met in 1848. Today, the metropolis on the Main is home to the headquarters of major banks and is also one of Germany’s most important centres of business and commerce. Frankfurt is also known for its many futuristic-looking high-rises. You’ll get a closer view of them when your Rhine cruise takes you along the Main river.

Day 4: Frankfurt
Welcome to Goethe’s birthplace! Here’s another historical fact while we’re at it: this is where the first German national assembly met in 1848. Today, the metropolis on the Main is home to the headquarters of major banks and is also one of Germany’s most important centres of business and commerce. Frankfurt is also known for its many futuristic-looking high-rises. You’ll get a closer view of them when your Rhine cruise takes you along the Main river.

Day 4: Loreley Valley
The Ijsselmeer is an inland lake that was created by diking the Wadden Sea and the Zuiderzee bay. This is where you’ll find the lovely little town of Hoorn – make sure you explore it during your cruise along the northern Rhine.

Day 4: Koblenz
Discover Koblenz during your Rhine cruise. Its history dates back over 2,000 years, making it one of Germany’s oldest cities – and one of its most picturesque, with a wealth of sights and cultural attractions. Marvel at Koblenz’s palaces, stately homes, grand townhouses, narrow lanes and romantic corners. And watch as our A-ROSA ship sails close to the famous Deutsches Eck headland.

Day 5: Cologne
We will set off on our exciting Rhine cruise from here, heading for the northern or the southern Rhine. But you shouldn’t miss out on the opportunity to explore this cathedral city, with its wealth of monuments and attractions. The best way is to arrive the day before your cruise departs, so that you can relax – or simply extend your stay in Cologne after the cruise has ended.

The modern cruise ships of A-ROSA offer a lot of open space. At 125 to 135 metres, the ships spend space for various activities and a generous design of the public areas. The roomy cabins are air-conditioned, sometimes with French balcony, elegant and comfortably furnished.

Whether your idea of luxury is a round of golf on deck or a comfortable room, A-ROSA offers exclusive relaxation to suit every taste. In the spacious cabins, with an area of up to 16.5 m², you can relax completely and enjoy the view from the French balcony. If you haven’t had enough of basking in the pleasure of doing absolutely nothing, you can relax on the sun deck by the pool or in the SPA-ROSA. There is also no shortage of culinary treats on board. The extensive selection of delicacies includes Mediterranean cuisine and regional specialties, and they are always presented perfectly – with display cooking or dinner on deck. In a nutshell, the state-of-the-art river boats offer you indulgence of the highest order.

Enjoy simply drifting along on the expansive sun deck. Comfortable loungers and a large sun canopy make it the perfect place to relax. While you lean back and read a book, the crew will pamper you with refreshing drinks. You also have the option to remain active: you can swim in the pool as the landscape drifts by, improve your handicap on the putting green or play a round of shuffleboard with other guests. There are countless options for ways to spend your days on deck – and your nights too.

Cruising on a river and the countless meanders of Danube, Douro, Rhine, Rhône and Seine are not the fastest way to get from A to B. But that is precisely what we want to give you: a little time for you to relax.

With an innovative concept consisting of casual but stylish feel-good holidays, a richly diverse program and luxurious facilities, the modern A-ROSA premium ships offer cruises on Europe's rivers Danube, Rhine, Rhône and Seine.

Make yourself comfortable in your cozy cabin or simply daydream in SPA-ROSA with sauna, fitness and beauty treatments. Enjoy the ever-changing panorama on the extensive sun deck. Everyday, you can enjoy culinary surprises with regional and seasonal specialties from our buffet with its live cooking station. And during one of our many stops, you will have plenty of time to get to know the country better. Welcome on board your A-ROSA cruise ship.

We are pleased to offer international cruises on selected cruise ships.

Our international ships:
Danube: A-ROSA DONNA, A-ROSA SILVA
Rhine/Moselle/Main: A-ROSA AQUA, A-ROSA FLORA, A-ROSA SILVA
Rhône/Saône: A-ROSA STELLA
Seine: A-ROSA VIVA

The official languages on board our international ships are both German and English and the ship announcements and all written information is provided in English. As well, our international ships are accompanied by an "International Host" who is your contact person for our international guests and responsible for making sure that you enjoy your cruise to the fullest.

We cannot guarantee this bilingual service on any of our other cruise ships. We kindly ask you to keep in mind while you are browsing through our wonderful cruise programme, that we cannot guarantee this bilingual service on any of our other cruise ships.