If you’re lucky enough to arrive to Cologne, Germany by river cruise at night, you’ll be treated to a wonderfully lit up city that shines in the moonlit sky. So much history awaits in Cologne!

90 percent of the city was destroyed during World War II and somehow the Cologne Cathedral survived – many Germans call it the miracle!

On the 2019 AAA WCNY Member Appreciation Trip aboard Uniworld, travelers could choose from a variety of walking tours through Cologne and one eager group even decided to climb the spiral staircase 533 steps to the top of the cathedral for an aerial view of the city. Many of the buildings you look down on are modern since most were built post war.

If you’re wondering if cologne, the fragrance, is from Cologne, the answer is yes! The world’s oldest fragrance factory, Farina-House, is located here and you can visit the retail shop as well. There is plenty of shopping to be done in Cologne – you’ll often find 15,000 people in the shopping zone making it the most popular in Germany. 

After you’re done, quench your thirst at a German beer garden - Gaffel and Fruh are two of the most popular near the cathedral.

Travelers on the AAA trip had the morning to explore Cologne before returning to the ship to set sail on a beautiful afternoon. The captain purposely sailed passed Cologne to give everyone on the ship a picture perfect view of the cathedral and the famous Hohenzollern Bridge that crosses the Rhine River.

It was such a sunny day that many travelers chose to enjoy lunch on the sun deck while they soaked in wonderful scenery on their last day of sailing on the weeklong journey.

It’s hard to believe that the 2019 AAA WCNY Member Appreciation Trip is coming to a close, but one thing is certain – every traveler on board the chartered ship is leaving with wonderful memories made along the Rhine River.

Read all about Day 8 here.

Plans for the 2020 Member Appreciation Trip are already in place.