Rhine in Flames

Enjoy a discovery tour through the beautiful city of Strasbourg. After a short coach trip through the city, the tour continues with a walk through the lovely, historic old part of the town and includes a visit to the famous cathedral Straßburger Münster (not possible on Sundays and public holidays, sometimes with security check). During a boat cruise on the river, discover the famous quarter, “Petite France”. This former mill and tanner district still maintains its medieval charm. Some of the beautiful, half-timbered houses on the banks of the river Ill are up to 500 years old. You will enjoy Strasbourg’s half-timbered houses, the Ponts Couverts, the Palais de Rohan, the Council of Europe and all the other wonders that Strasbourg holds in store for you.

Please note: During the winter the boat cruise will be replaced by a visit to the Christmas Market.

Drive through picturesque landscape, romantic wine villages and parts of the famous wine route. Visit a local winery for a tasting of the local wines. Your excursion continues to the medieval village Obernai.

During a stroll through this idyllic Alsatian town, steeped in rich history, you will get to know the charm of its traditional, half-timbered houses, its Belfry and its town center.

Speyer, the time-honored imperial city on the Rhine, looks back on a rich and eventful past. Historic testimonies of ecclesiastical architecture, impressive facades of different building epochs, winding alleys and romantic squares characterize the face of the city today.

During the city tour enjoy a short guided tour of the Romanesque Imperial cathedral with its striking twin-towered portal, and visit to the beautiful baroque Church of the Holy Spirit, the Old Gate of Speyer and a visit to the medieval Judenhof, one of the most important Jewish medieval sites in Germany. The Jewish community had a storied history in Speyer reaching back over 1,000 years. View the remains of the Jewish courtyard, which was the central area of the Jewish quarter and consisted of the synagogues, and a ritual bath (Mikveh).

Welcome to the “City of Towers”, Oberwesel. From far away you can see the silhouette of Schönburg, the Church of Our Lady and its defensive wall with many towers. The medieval influence still visible in Oberwesel makes it a town like no other in the Middle Rhine Valley. Explore the monument area and learn more about the history of Oberwesel on a guided tour. You will visit the sights of Oberwesel, including the town walls, and catch a glimpse of the beautiful surrounding gardens and the former Franciscan Minorite Monastery.

Oberwesel is a town spread along the river in the picturesque Unesco Heritage Middle Rhine Valley.  High walls and 22 town towers, dating back to the 13th century, once provided protection of the city. The walls, together with numerous churches and a landscape of vineyards, form the backdrop of the town of Oberwesel. Today, 16 town towers and large parts of the town wall are still preserved, giving Oberwesel the nickname "city of towers and wine".  During this active city tour, we walk around the city on the old city wall fortifications. You will gain insights into Oberwesel's ancient history and experience magnificent views of the city and the Rhine river.

(Please note: sturdy shoes are required).

Discover Koblenz, one of the most beautiful and oldest cities in Germany with more than 2,000 years of history. During a walking tour in the romantic side streets between the Basilica of St. Kastor and the Church of Our Lady, view the most important sights of Koblenz.  Continue your excursion by cable car, built for the International Garden Show, high above the Rhine to the impressively situated Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Ehrenbreitstein Fortress is the second largest preserved fortress in Europe. The fortress dates back to 1000 AD and evolved to its present form between 1817 and 1828. Today, the fortress houses the Koblenz State Museum with its diverse exhibitions including the history of the fortress, the Army Memorial and a youth hostel. 

Located along the beautiful Moselle wine valley, the harmonious triad of unique Moselle landscape, millennia-old wine culture and history makes Cochem a popular destination. Discover the town with its narrow, winding streets during a city tour. Next visit the Reichsburg castle with its imposing complex which dominates the area landscape due to its size and its location on a rugged rock high above the town.

Enjoy the impressive view from the castle of the Moselle valley with its dreamy mixed forests and vineyards, as well as the old town. Inside the castle you will find a collection of Renaissance and Baroque furniture, as well as other treasures, carefully collected by the Ravené family who owned the castle until 1978, when it was turned over to the town of Cochem, for all to enjoy.

Visit one of the wineries located directly in the town of Cochem and learn more about viticulture and wine cellar management. The Moselle region is famous for its top wines with the most traditional grape variety being the Riesling, which is also called "the queen of white wines" and is grown directly on the sunny slopes of Cochem. During the excursion you can taste different Moselle wines and learn more about the wine making process.

The cathedral city dates back over 2,000 years and is full of history, the traces of which can be seen everywhere in the Rhine region. During the walking tour, explore the area around the cathedral all the way to the old town. As you travel through the narrow, cobbled streets, and the lively squares such as the Alter Markt or the Heumarkt, you will get a feel for life in Cologne from yesterday and today. Since its completion in 1880, the Cologne Cathedral with its two 515ft high towers has been the city's landmark, as well as the most famous architectural monument and most frequently visited sight in Germany. As your excursion concludes, we invite you to enjoy a glass of typical Kölsch (beer), which is the number one beer in Cologne and large parts of the Rhineland.

During a visit to the chocolate museum, be transported on a journey through the 5000-year cultural history of chocolate. This impressive 43,000 square foot museum features the most comprehensive display of the history of cocoa and chocolate in the world. In total, this unique collection includes approximately 2500 objects surrounding chocolate. During the tour, you will learn everything about the long journey of the cultivation and harvesting of the cocoa beans in the plantations of the tropics, to the finished chocolate product. In the cultural history section "Brown Gold - Sweet Seduction", explore the cult drink of the Mayans and Aztecs in ancient America, through the luxury drink of the aristocracy in the Baroque era, to the sweet rich drink we enjoy today. In a small tasting session, sample how the taste of cocoa develops on its way to becoming a chocolate bar.

Founded as a small fishing village in the late 12th century, Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world during the Dutch Golden Age as a result of its innovative developments in trade. Today, the city has one of the largest historic centers in Europe, with about 7,500 registered historic buildings. The street pattern is largely unchanged since the 19th century. The center consists of 90 islands, linked by 400 bridges. On the city tour through the Dutch metropolis, you will see the Royal Palace, numerous canals and the Museum Quarter. Aside from touring  Amsterdam by coach, you will also stop and stroll along the flower market. As there is no better way to see the city than cruising on the water, the tour will end by a canal cruise boat trip.

Haarlem is just a short drive outside Amsterdam. Once a major North Sea trading port surrounded by defensive walls, it retains its medieval character with picturesque cobblestone streets and gabled houses. 

With spectacular monuments dating back nearly 800 years, it's no wonder so many great artists of the Golden Age wanted to capture its beauty and atmosphere. Not only is it home to some of the best museums and world-famous artwork in the Netherlands, but it is also regularly voted one of the best shopping cities in the country.

Walk with your guide through the old historic center of Haarlem with its beautiful "hofjes" (almshouses built around leafy courtyards).

Visit the Cathedral of St. Bavo, located on the Great Market in the middle of Haarlem. The church was built by Catholics in 1245 and still dominates the Haarlem skyline. The main eye-catcher in the church is the impressive organ by Christian Müller of Lower Saxony.  The organ dates back to 1738 and is the most reproduced instrument in the world. After visiting the church, you can enjoy some free time to explore the center on your own before returning to Amsterdam.

Take a drive through the Dutch Polder landscape to the old fishing village of Volendam, built on the shore of the former Zuiderzee. The Volendam houses are built very close together, forming the typical neighborhoods of Volendam. Take a stroll through the old village and see people still dressed in traditional costumes.

Board your coach and drive out of Volendam and into the countryside to visit a local cheese farm. Here, you will learn how Dutch cheese is made and sample the local product. On your way back to your ship, you will enjoy a short walk through the quaint village of Edam, famous for its cheese. Given its narrow streets, continue through the village on foot and see the Carillon tower, once part of a church that was destroyed in the 19th century. Walk to the cheese weighing house and the Dam with its 18th century town hall.

Starting April 14, 2022, Almere will host the World Horticultural Expo Floriade Expo 2022 for six months. The Floriade Park will be an experience of green and sustainable technology. New green technologies for food, energy and health will be researched and applied in this living laboratory. You will be fascinated by what you see, smell and taste. Inspiring gardens, workshops and exhibitions will alternate with impressive attractions, surprising tastings, art and culture.

Floriade Expo 2022 will inspire you to live a greener, healthier life. That's why a visit to Floriade is more than just enjoying beauty and greenery. It provides the platform for Dutch horticulture - in collaboration with over 400 national and international participants - to showcase creative green solutions that make our cities more fun, livable and sustainable: 'Growing Green Cities'.