Passau → Cologne
8 Days
This one-week cruise combines the majesty of two great European rivers - the Rhine and the Danube. Explore the Upper Middle Rhine Valley with its numerous castles, and experience the tranquil Main meanders.
Travel the man-made Main-Danube canal - a stunning technological marvel - as you transit onto the beautiful Danube. Discover the half-timbered buildings of Miltenberg and Wertheim, along with the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Würzburg, Bamberg and Regensburg.
Due to low clearance heights at bridges and locks on the river route between Frankfurt and Regensburg, access to the sun deck might be restricted for safety reasons.
Beautiful Passau is the starting point for your 8-day European cruise. After embarkation, enjoy a Welcome Cocktail and get to know your fellow travelers during the Welcome Dinner.
This morning, your AMADEUS river vessel arrives in one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval cities. On the morning tour, immerse yourself in the historic atmosphere of this unique town, which boasts architecture from many different centuries and a 12th century bridge.
In the afternoon, choose between a visit to the 600-year-old Weltenburg Abbey, which is situated on the banks of the Danube and houses the oldest monastic brewery in the world, and a trip to the 18th century Thurn and Taxis Palace with a stop at their traditional brewery and beer tasting. This evening, enjoy a special Bavarian theme on board with regional delicacies and live traditional music.
After a relaxing morning on board, spend your afternoon in Nuremberg. Enjoy an overview of the city’s history and culture on a guided tour, and admire the romantic Old Town, lovingly restored after the destruction incurred during World War II.
Alternatively, delve deeper into the history of World War II and the Nazi era at the Documentation Center of Nuremberg. Back onboard, enjoy dinner as the vessel departs Nuremberg.
Your vessel arrives in the Imperial city of Bamberg in the morning.
This medieval town is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, which retains its medieval layout of three settlement areas, along with its historic buildings and Baroque facades, all of which you can explore on a guided walking tour. Back on board, learn about the creation and importance of the Main-Danube canal during an onboard presentation, as the ship continues along the Main river.
Today, spend the day alongside in Würzburg, a city in Bavaria known for lavish Baroque and Rococo architecture, located in the center of the Franconian wine country.
In the morning, experience the many beautiful sights of the town as well as the Residenz, a Baroque palace considered a masterpiece of that era. The tour concludes with a wine tasting in the ancient wine cellar of a local vineyard. In the afternoon, relive a bygone era on a tour of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, whose towers, city gates, walls, and half-timbered gables have remained unchanged by the hands of time, or visit Marienberg Fortress, a former prince-bishop's castle with a history that can be traced back three millennia to 1000 BC.
Today, join the excursion to Wertheim and Miltenberg, two towns famous for their architecture and museums. Both are unique in their own way and are reflective of the storied history of the area. Begin with a walking tour in Wertheim and explore the medieval streets and unique glass museum.In Miltenberg, admire the typical 16th- and 17th-century German timber-frame houses.
This evening, enjoy the Captain‘s Gala Dinner as the ship plies the waters toward our next stop.
In the morning, you arrive in Rüdesheim, a picturesque winemaking town in the Rhine Gorge where the river landscape has enchanted visitors for centuries and which is protected by UNESCO since 2002. Discover the region’s rich history on a morning walking tour and visit the fascinating Music Cabinet Museum.
Alternatively, take a tram ride through the vineyards of Rüdesheim on the “Wine Express” and stroll along the quaint “Drosselgasse”, mentioned in the 15th century as an alley used by Rhine boatmen to reach their homes.
After lunch, enjoy the fairytale landscape of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley with its many castles as your vessel cruises upriver to Cologne, where it docks late at night.
After breakfast, the entire AMADEUS crew thanks you for your patronage, bids you farewell and wishes you a safe journey home!
Would you like to start your journey from the current disembarkation port? Then follow the link to the itinerary in reversed direction:
Cologne → Passau
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Cruise your way and choose from a carefully curated selection of immersive and inspiring excursions and adventures! Select one of our packages offered at a discounted rate when purchased in advance or book individual shore excursions at regular rates on board your cruise.
Enjoy the flexibility to choose any shore excursion of the ones listed below for a discounted rate when purchased in advance.
When booking our new ALL-IN excursion package prior to departure we offer you maximum flexibility at a great value. Create your personalized shore excursion program by choosing your favorite tours from our list of exciting options in each port.
Enjoy a package of 4 pre-selected excursions for a discounted rate when purchased in advance:
Additional shore excursions can be purchased onboard at the below rate.
Cruise Passau - Cologne | Unit Price |
---|---|
Regensburg walking tour | $ 23.00 |
Thurn & Taxis Palace with brewery and tasting | $ 72.00 |
OR Visit to Weltenburg abbey | $ 43.00 |
Nuremberg - capital of Franconia | $ 50.00 |
OR Guided Tour of the Documentation Centre of Nuremberg | $ 62.00 |
Bamberg walking tour | $ 33.00 |
Würzburg with visit to the Residenz and wine tasting | $ 67.00 |
Medieval Rothenburg ob der Tauber | $ 43.00 |
OR Visit to the Marienberg Fortress (Wuerzburg) | $ 47.00 |
Miltenberg walking tour and Wertheim with glass museum | $ 46.00 |
Rüdesheim walking tour with Music Cabinet Museum | $ 32.00 |
OR Visit to a vineyard with tasting & Drosselgasse in Rüdesheim | $ 47.00 |
Prices per person if excursions are purchased on board.
You're in good hands with us from the start: Let us book you a transfer from the airport or train station to the ship port and back. The following prices apply per person per transfer.
COLOGNE (GER)
Airport - Port $ 44
Train Station - Port $ 35
PASSAU (GER)
Port - Train station $ 27
Port - Airport Munich $ 105