Rhine, Strasbourg and Heidelberg River Cruise
A scenic cruise of wonderful contrasts, from refined and historic Heidelberg to quaint Boppard and the old-world charm of medieval Strasbourg plus the enduring allure of the glorious Rhine Gorge.
What’s Included:
- Return flights from Dublin with 20kg check-in bag per person
- Return airport transfers
- 7 nights onboard the 5* Riviera River Cruiser based on two sharing
- Full board
- Superior drinks package, drinks with lunch, dinner and from 6pm until midnight
- Complimentary onboard tea and coffees
- Complimentary onboard WIFI
- All visits and excursions as mentioned in the itinerary
- Booking advice from your Travel Escapes travel advisor
Over 55 years? Join our 55Club! Click here for more info.
Middle & Upper deck supplements available on request
From Cologne, we slip our moorings and head on our journey south to Koblenz spending a morning exploring this historic town sitting at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers then continuing to the beautiful old town of Boppard for the evening.
Continuing our journey, we navigate through the outstanding beauty of the world-famous Rhine Gorge onto Mainz famous for the ‘Gutenberg’ Bibles. Next, we enjoy a guided tour of stunning Heidelberg, on the route of Europe’s ‘Grand Tour’, nestling by the picturesque river Neckar. By day five, we arrive in Strasbourg, a delightful city, from where you can choose to go to Colmar, almost embarrassingly perfect – a typically quaint medieval Alsatian town.
The following day we start our journey back downstream, stopping in Rüdesheim, one of the liveliest towns on the river, before continuing through the Rhine Gorge to Cologne. Here we enjoy a guided walking tour of the city or the inside of the stunning cathedral, with free time to explore. An excellent finale to this most wonderful cruise.
Experience more with so much included
- Explore Koblenz through its patchwork of cobbled streets, wander the promenade of Boppard and visit the lively wine town of Rüdesheim.
- Cruise through the spectacular Rhine Gorge to reach Mainz, the home of the printing press inventor Johannes Gutenberg.
- Visit Heidelberg, the German jewel sat on the River Neckar on our guided tour.
- Discover charming Strasbourg, the capital of the French Alsace region, with a choice to take the picturesque wine route to Colmar.
- Enjoy a fascinating tour of Cologne, taking in the outside of the magnificent twin-spired cathedral and the beautifully restored old town, or choose to explore the inside of the cathedral.
Agent
Booking Remarks
Optional insurance (conditions apply)A non-refundable, non-transferable booking deposit of 15% is required. Full payment if departure within 16 weeks.
Holidays & offers are subject to availability at the time of booking
These prices are guidelines only and are subject to change and availability. Pricing will be confirmed at time of booking.
Single supplement applies
Ref RIVIERA
Good to Know
Note ships may differ on various dates.Itinerary maybe in reverse depending on departure date.
Itinerary
Cologne, Germany
Fly to Düsseldorf or Cologne. On arrival, transfer by coach to your five-star cruise ship moored in historic Cologne, whose skyline is dominated by the spires of its magnificent cathedral. The dedicated English-speaking crew welcomes you on board and helps you to your cabin.
After settling into your spacious and tastefully furnished accommodation, there’s time to familiarise yourself with this splendid ship.
Koblenz, Germany
Boppard, Germany
Koblenz & Boppard
Koblenz
When you peek out from your cabin this morning, you’ll realise the ship has slipped quietly away from Cologne; the view that greets you is of vine-covered valleys sides aglow in the morning light, bidding you a warm welcome to the charms of the Rhine.
There’s nothing quite like that feeling of anticipation when gliding alongside the promenade of a river port, snatching tantalising glimpses of what lies ashore, and Koblenz – beautifully located at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers – doesn’t disappoint.
The city is immersed in two millennia of history: founded by the Romans, it was successively occupied by the Franks, chosen as a residence of the German prince electors, conquered by the French and fortified by the Prussians! All have left their marks in the city’s rich array of castles, churches and historic buildings.
Koblenz is a romantic’s dream – forest-covered hillsides dominate the skyline, while the lower slopes are strewn with pretty, half-timbered buildings so typical of the Rhineland. After a satisfying breakfast, we disembark to enjoy an insightful guided tour through ‘Old Koblenz’, a patchwork of narrow streets and squares, many lined with exquisitely restored traditional houses and cosy cafés.
There’s time to explore on your own, maybe taking in a little shopping, before ambling back to the cruise ship.
We continue upstream as we enjoy our first relaxing lunch on board and before long we arrive in Boppard, a gorgeous town on a dramatic, almost U-shaped river bend.
Boppard
Known as the ‘Pearl of the Rhine’, Boppard is renowned for its storybook medieval atmosphere of cobbled streets and ancient houses. Here we’ll enjoy free time to explore highlights including the beautiful white stone St. Severus and Carmelite churches, the marketplace with the ruins of the fortress and the old town with its charming winding alleys and half-timbered houses.
The early evening is an ideal time to wander along the town’s attractive riverside Rheinallee promenade before thoughts turn to tonight’s menu. After dinner, delight in the upbeat sounds of Rhenish folk music with a live performance on traditional instruments.
Included experiences:
- Guided tour of Koblenz
- Visit to Boppard
- A live folk music performance on board
The Rhine Gorge, Germany
Mainz, Germany
Rhine Gorge & Mainz
Rhine Gorge
Slipping our moorings in Boppard we cruise through the Rhine Gorge, where the waters narrow to one-fifth their normal width and flow more swiftly. Sheer valley walls soar and magnificent birds of prey glide on the thermals above.
Teutonic knights built the numerous redoubtable castles as symbols of their power and to extract tolls from ships, but the fortresses now stand as silent ruins on forested hillsides as reminders of how fortunes change with the passage of history. This really is the magical Rhine of our imagination, so find a comfortable spot on the Sun Deck or in the forward observation lounge and enjoy the experience of cruising this famous stretch of water.
Mainz
We leave the ship and embark on a guided tour of Mainz’s historic old town, a fascinating journey through its charming cobblestone streets. Our guide will share intriguing stories and insights about the town’s rich history and architectural highlights along the way. The tour will end at the exquisite St. Stephan’s Church, renowned for its captivating Chagall windows, which we’ll have the opportunity to admire up close.
After exploring the church, we’ll have some free time to wander the vibrant market square, where local vendors showcase a variety of goods. You can also visit the magnificent St. Martin’s Cathedral, an architectural gem that is a prominent feature in Mainz’s cityscape and is over a thousand years old.
Included experiences:
- Scenic morning cruise through the Rhine Gorge
- Guided tour of Mainz
Heidelberg, Germany
Heidelberg
Heidelberg
Overnight we cruise further downstream, and, after breakfast, we take a short drive to Heidelberg, undoubtedly one of Germany’s most perfect architectural treasures and all the more remarkable because it escaped bombing during the Second World War.
Set in an almost idealised German landscape, this jewel sits on the banks of the River Neckar, surrounded by forests and with an imposing castle dominating the church spires and terracotta gabled roofs of the compact Aldstadt – the romantic Old Town. Its 14th-century university, one of the most prestigious in Europe, lends Heidelberg a genteel atmosphere rather similar to its ‘twin’ town – Cambridge. During the 19th century it was the centre of Germany’s Romantic Movement, on the route of the ‘Grand Tour’ and visited by many artists including JMW Turner, who captured its splendours for eternity.
There are few more delightful places to explore, as you’ll discover on our guided walking tour, which reveals its principal attractions – including the magical stone bridge with its twin white towers, its imposing castle that stands guard over its romantic old town – and local secrets. Afterwards, you’ll have time to explore on your own before returning to the ship for lunch.
The afternoon is free for you to relax on board or explore Mannheim.
Alternatively, you can choose to extend your stay to explore more of Heidelberg. Enjoy the local cuisine for lunch at your leisure and then return to Mannheim in the mid-afternoon for some free time.
Included experiences:
- Option 1: Morning visit to Heidelberg with guided tour and some free time
- Option 2: Extended visit to Heidelberg with guided tour and free time to explore, with lunch at leisure
Strasbourg, France
Colmar, France
Strasbourg & Colmar
By breakfast we’ve arrived in France and the charming city of Strasbourg, capital of the Alsace region. The city is a complete delight – its centre a mosaic of winding alleys and lanes lined with quirkily crooked, half-timbered houses largely unchanged since the 14th century. During its history Strasbourg has been both German and French, and you see influences of both in its language, cuisine and appearance, creating a truly individual ambience.
This morning, you have a couple of exciting choices.
Strasbourg
Explore this delightful city on a walking tour with a local guide leading us to its enchanting centre – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – taking in the Petite France quarter of pretty canals lined with classic pastel-coloured houses crisscrossed with timbers and with flower-filled window boxes, the famous multi-towered Ponts Couverts, or covered bridges, and, of course, the stunning Gothic Notre-Dame Cathedral, which Victor Hugo memorably described as a ‘veritable tiara of stone’.
We return to the ship for lunch and this afternoon you are free to explore Strasbourg further.
Alternatively, join our full day excursion, starting with a drive along the legendary Alsace wine route to Colmar, passing through a string of picturesque villages, wine-producing towns and exceptional landscapes. We enjoy all this on a splendidly scenic drive, soon arriving in the medieval town of Colmar, the best-preserved in Alsace.
Colmar
Little known outside the area, it’s a magical concoction of canals, former merchants’ houses, ancient religious buildings and antique shops.
The cathedral quarter is surrounded by pastel-coloured half-timbered houses displaying the intricate wrought-iron hanging signs so typical of this area of Europe. We’ve plenty of time here to sit, enjoy a coffee and a lunch at leisure, watch the world go by or just wander.
We return to Strasbourg for a guided tour of the Petit France quarter, after which you are free to explore at leisure.
We return to the ship for dinner, and afterwards unwind to a medley of live music and songs performed on board by a professional duo.
Included experiences:
- Option 1: Morning guided tour of Strasbourg
- Option 2: Full day excursion with guided tours of Colmar and Strasbourg with lunch at leisure
- A live music performance on board
Rüdesheim am Rhein, Germany
Rüdesheim
Cruise towards Rüdesheim
As we started our journey back downstream, after a leisurely breakfast head up to the sun deck and take in the views from the comfort of a sun lounger or retire to the lounge to chat over a coffee with newly made friends. Watch the idyllic scenery slipping past through the panoramic windows: rolling hills and fertile vineyards, home to the Liebfraumilch wines of the region, oxbow lakes, long deserted by the river flow and now havens for bird and wildlife.
Rüdesheim
After a relaxing morning cruise, we arrive in Rüdesheim after lunch for free time to explore – if you imagine a typical Rhine town, then this would be it. Narrow crooked streets lead down to the sweeping river with a backdrop of wooded and vine-covered slopes. Riesling is the speciality grape here and Rüdesheim has many atmospheric Weinstuben where you can sample local wines produced from the surrounding vineyards.
Alternatively, you can choose from one of our included experiences:
Consider exploring Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet, where you delve into the fascinating realm of automatic musical devices. You’ll encounter an incredible assortment of instruments that operate like machines, from intricate, delicate music boxes to a grand orchestrion.
If you’d rather embrace nature, you could take a scenic ride in a two-person cable car above the renowned vineyards of Rüdesheim, soaking in the exquisite views of the Rhine River and the idyllic countryside. Once you reach the summit, the scenery becomes even more spectacular, and you can enjoy a leisurely walk around the Niederwald monument, which commemorates the unification of Germany by the Prussians in the 1870s, providing a tranquil spot to gaze upon the town below.
On board tonight, we enjoy a culinary spectacular – 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 – a truly memorable experience.
Included experiences:
- Free morning sailing towards Rüdesheim
- Afternoon option 1: Rüdesheim with visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet
- Afternoon option 2: Rüdesheim with cable car to Niederwald Monument
Cologne, Germany
Rüdesheim
Cruise towards Rüdesheim
As we started our journey back downstream, after a leisurely breakfast head up to the sun deck and take in the views from the comfort of a sun lounger or retire to the lounge to chat over a coffee with newly made friends. Watch the idyllic scenery slipping past through the panoramic windows: rolling hills and fertile vineyards, home to the Liebfraumilch wines of the region, oxbow lakes, long deserted by the river flow and now havens for bird and wildlife.
Rüdesheim
After a relaxing morning cruise, we arrive in Rüdesheim after lunch for free time to explore – if you imagine a typical Rhine town, then this would be it. Narrow crooked streets lead down to the sweeping river with a backdrop of wooded and vine-covered slopes. Riesling is the speciality grape here and Rüdesheim has many atmospheric Weinstuben where you can sample local wines produced from the surrounding vineyards.
Alternatively, you can choose from one of our included experiences:
Consider exploring Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet, where you delve into the fascinating realm of automatic musical devices. You’ll encounter an incredible assortment of instruments that operate like machines, from intricate, delicate music boxes to a grand orchestrion.
If you’d rather embrace nature, you could take a scenic ride in a two-person cable car above the renowned vineyards of Rüdesheim, soaking in the exquisite views of the Rhine River and the idyllic countryside. Once you reach the summit, the scenery becomes even more spectacular, and you can enjoy a leisurely walk around the Niederwald monument, which commemorates the unification of Germany by the Prussians in the 1870s, providing a tranquil spot to gaze upon the town below.
On board tonight, we enjoy a culinary spectacular – 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 – a truly memorable experience.
Included experiences:
- Free morning sailing towards Rüdesheim
- Afternoon option 1: Rüdesheim with visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet
- Afternoon option 2: Rüdesheim with cable car to Niederwald Monument
Cologne, Germany
RETURN HOME
It’s time to say goodbye to your crew and transfer to Brussels airport for your return journey home.
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