Cruise the Heart of Europe: Journey along the Rhine, Main and Danube
Day 1 – Arrival in Cologne
On arrival we transfer by coach to our ship moored in Cologne. The dedicated English-speaking crew will welcome you aboard your first-class floating hotel, ensuring you settle into your luxurious and well-equipped cabin and familiarise yourself with the ship.
Day 2 – Koblenz & Boppard
The first morning on a river cruise is always a thrill as you awake to the gentle lapping of the water and the colourful valley sides slipping effortlessly past your cabin window.
During a relaxed lunch, we cruise to Boppard, known as the ‘Pearl of the Rhine’, with free time to explore under your own steam. Wonderfully situated on a sweeping meander, it is one of the Rhineland’s most attractive villages.
Day 3 – Rhine Gorge & Rüdesheim
Today you experience one of the real highlights of your cruise – the passage through the Rhine Gorge. Here the river narrows, the current is swifter and the towering valley sides soar 600 feet, while the ruins of castles, which once held sway over passing mariners, crown every tortuous turn.
Next, we call at Rüdesheim, a true Rhine wine town surrounded by vineyards whose fruits you can sample in the many wine taverns you’ll find in its cobbled streets.
Day 4 – Mainz
his morning we take the short cruise to the town of Mainz, situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Main Rivers, for a city walking tour. An important Roman city for over 450 years with the largest amphitheatre north of the Alps, Mainz is also home to the magnificent Romanesque Saint Martin’s Cathedral and Saint Stephen’s Church, whose interior is filled with beautiful blue light flooding through stained glass windows featuring intricate biblical figures – a masterpiece by the great artist Marc Chagall.
Day 5 – Miltenberg & Wertheim
The views this morning are of dense emerald, green forests as we cruise to Miltenberg, one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval villages, where we enjoy a guided tour. It became prosperous during the Middle Ages under the protection of its castle and today its colourful half-timbered houses and market square with its octagonal Renaissance fountain are an atmospheric reminder of times past.
Day 6 – Würzburg
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning as we glide towards Würzburg, situated at the head of Germany’s Romantic Road, so called because of its spellbinding procession of captivating scenery, medieval towns, lofty castles and grand palaces.
Day 7 – Bamberg
This afternoon we visit Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s quite simply one of the most outstandingly preserved and beautiful small towns in Europe, easily on a par with Prague.
Day 8 – Nuremberg
Choose to explore Nuremberg’s medieval history with a panoramic coach tour of the city culminating in a visit to the majestic Nuremberg Castle. This fortress, symbolizing imperial power, stands as a testament to the city’s heritage, once serving as the residence for Holy Roman Emperors. Here you’ll encounter the opulence of the Knights’ and Imperial Hall, a Romanesque double chapel, and an engaging exhibit that unveils the inner workings of the Holy Roman Empire.
Day 9 – Regensburg
Before lunch, we reach our next port of call, Regensburg, formerly an important garrison guarding the most north-westerly point of the Roman Empire whose camp gate, the Porta Praetoria, can still be seen. Regensburg was spared war damage and today its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s a delight to explore.
This afternoon take in the sights of this fascinating Bavarian city on our guided tour. See the wealthy merchants’ houses, the Old Town Hall. Stroll along the iconic stone bridge; see the Altes Rathaus – the seat of the Diet, or parliament, of the Holy Roman Empire from 1663 to 1806 – and gaze in wonder at the Gothic cathedral.
Day 10 – Passau
Another day dawns as our journey brings us to Passau, the last town we stop at in Germany, nestling where the Inn and Ilz Rivers join the Danube.
After breakfast take the opportunity to explore the ‘Three Rivers City’, overlooked by the Veste Oberhaus, a 13th-century hilltop fortress on our guided tour. The old town below is known for its Baroque architecture including Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, where the world’s largest cathedral organ sounds (currently under renovation).
Day 11 – Melk
As lunch is served, we cruise downstream through the delightfully picturesque Wachau Valley before approaching our next destination: Vienna, the city of Strauss.
The main event this evening is the ‘Chef’s Dinner’, when the chef prepares his superb ‘signature’ dishes for you to enjoy in the splendid surroundings of the ship’s restaurant. Afterward, to celebrate Vienna’s wonderful legacy, we have arranged a recital on board by a quartet of talented classical musicians. Listening to this exquisite music while in the city of its creation makes a wonderful finale to the day.
Day 12 – Vienna
Imagine Vienna and you think of an elegant imperial city that’s one of the gems of Central Europe, and perhaps the world’s most musical city. Its name conjures up an image of culture, ornate architecture, resplendent cafés, aristocratic palaces and imposing cathedrals, with the romantic music of the great composers filling the air. In fact, the reality is little different and there’s an absolute wealth of things to see in this former capital of the Habsburg Empire, which held sway over much of Central and Eastern Europe for centuries until its demise at the end of the First World War.
Day 13 – Bratislava
This morning we explore Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava, which has shrugged off the greyness of the communist era and rekindled the splendour of its imperial past in its painstakingly restored Baroque Old Town.
Wander the winding streets to the main square where you’ll find the former Old Town Hall, now housing a museum dedicated to the history of the city and where you may climb the tower for some lovely views.
Day 14 – Budapest
You rise refreshed in this breathtakingly beautiful imperial capital that straddles the great Danube River, and we have a whole day to enjoy it. Dominated by its castle, Budapest has been called ‘Little Paris of Middle Europe’ and, with its truly magnificent skyline of soaring spires and grand domes, it’s not hard to see why. It’s renowned for the bewitching blend of monuments reflecting Hungary’s national culture and those of the foreign powers that have dominated most of the city’s history.
Day 15 – Return Home
It’s time to say goodbye to your crew and start the journey home.
