Riviera’s Rhine Gorge & Cologne Discovery
Sail through the Rhine Gorge, one of the most scenic stretches of river in the world, and visit two historic yet distinctly different German ports: Rüdesheim and Cologne.
What’s Included:
- Booking advice from your Travel Escapes travel advisor
- Return flights from Dublin with 20kg check-in bag per person
- All Airport taxes, charges, and transfers
- 3 nights onboard the 5* Riviera River Cruise MS Resplendence, based on two sharing
- Full board dining
- Complimentary drinks throughout your cruise
- Complimentary onboard WIFI
- 4 included experiences
Highlights
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Sail along the mighty Rhine River and marvel at views of the magnificent Rhine Gorge.
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Explore the charming town of Rüdesheim with a visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet or enjoy a guided walking tour.
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A short visit to the historic City of Koblenz, accompanied by an orientation walk in the morning.
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Discover historic Cologne on a guided tour with a local expert.
Holiday Highlights
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.
Ref RIVIERA
Itinerary
Cologne, Germany
On arrival you will be transferred to your ship for boarding.
The Rhine Gorge, Germany
Cruising the Rhine Gorge and Rüdesheim
Marvel at views of the Rhine Gorge from the water and explore Rüdesheim.
- Afternoon option 1: Visit Rüdesheim Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet
- Afternoon option 2: Rüdesheim guided walking tour
Cruise through the Rhine Gorge
Today, you’ll get your first real taste of sailing – and it’s truly a highlight of the trip.
After a leisurely breakfast on board, we highly recommend heading to our panoramic lounge or the sun deck to enjoy the outstanding natural beauty of the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Each dramatic turn of the river unveils new castle ruins precariously clinging to towering valley slopes – the home of long-gone princes to display power and extort tolls from passing river traffic. The gorge is home to medieval legends, tales of mysterious happenings and dark deeds, and by mid-morning, we will pass one of the most famous. Lorelei – or ‘murmuring rock’ – is said to have lured passing boats onto the rocks with its irresistible song. What better way to mark the occasion than a glass of Rüdesheimer coffee, a local delicacy around these parts?
Rüdesheim
After a delicious lunch on board, we’ll dock in the charming town of Rüdesheim where you can visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet or enjoy our guided walking tour. A delightful marketplace lined with pastel facades and cosy taverns lies at Rüdesheim’s heart, overlooked by Brömserburg Castle. As you wander the maze of streets, don’t miss the impressive Klunkhardshof, one of the town’s finest 15th-century homes with its traditional timber frame and gabled roof.
Alternatively, you can simply experience the town at your own pace, wandering through a tangle of crooked houses, winding cobbled alleys and perusing curious little shops. Set amongst vineyard-clad slopes, this pretty town is famous for its winemaking. Riesling is the region’s speciality grape, and you’ll find a wealth of Weinstuben (a wine bar) where you can sample locally produced wines and perhaps pick up a bottle to take back home.
Tonight, we’ll enjoy our special Chef’s Dinner – a celebration of the chef’s signature dishes. As we dine, our ship will set sail for Koblenz, where we will dock for the night.
Koblenz, Germany
Koblenz & Cologne
After a morning orientation walk of Koblenz, relax sailing along the Rhine before taking a guided tour of Cologne.
Koblenz & Morning sailing
If you’re up early this morning, why not take a guided short walk through Koblenz – it’s a great excuse to see some of the fascinating statues and sculptures. Following breakfast, we will set sail once more, making our way to our final destination, Cologne.
Cologne
Arriving mid-afternoon, we disembark for a guided walking tour of this majestic city.
The cathedral’s famous spires tower above the old town’s maze of cobbled streets, where our expert guide will bring the city’s fascinating history to life. We’ll pass the cathedral, the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe, a miraculous survivor of Second World War bombing and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It took six centuries to complete this iconic masterpiece, and among its many treasures are the magnificent stained-glass windows and gilded sarcophagus said to contain the remains of the three kings from the Nativity story. Then, you’ll have time to explore the vibrant old town, beautifully restored and boasting an abundance of excellent shopping and cosy bars, some of which still brew their own beer.
Back on board, we’ll enjoy another four course, a la carte dinner, and why not make full use of our included drinks package and raise a toast to a fabulous short break with your fellow travellers?
Following dinner, we will enjoy a live music performance.
Cologne, Germany
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your return flight home.