RHINE AND DINE

ARRIVING at the dock, I looked around to see if I could recognise her from her description - but there was no mistaking the big red lips gripping a single red rose.

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The other giveaway was that she was 443ft long and 58ft wide - this was the family-friendly riverboat A-ROSA Sena with the German line's distinctive logo painted on her bow.

As I stepped on board in Cologne, I was offered a real rose by the crew while I admired the wide wooden staircase spiralling up the central atrium.

River ships tend to be quite blocky in design, but this one has modern sweeping curves and softly lit circles in muted colours. Above the stairwell, sunlight flooded in through a round window. I climbed some steps to the top deck and found not one but two pools - one a paddling zone for children.

A-ROSA Sena is built around families, with one deck dedicated to 12 cabins that sleep parents with up to three kids - that's two in a bunk and one on the sofa.

There are neat touches like a desk area for the little ones and a separate shower room and toilet. Better still, children aged 15 and under staying in a family room sail for free.

While the youngsters have supervised fun in a large pirate-themed playroom called Treasure Island, adults can enjoy a bit of “me” time in a spa with sauna, hot tub and two massage rooms.