Classical Rhine Cruise

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.

On this tour you will drive through picturesque landscape, romantic wine villages and parts of the famous wine route. One stop will be at a local winery, where you can try some of the wines during a complimentary wine tasting. Also you will drive to the beautiful 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).

Please note: The visit of the Cathedral depends on the opening hours, Holy Masses, etc.).

A comfortable coach will take you to Heidelberg, the world famous University City on the Neckar River. The town is one of the few German cities with a widely preserved baroque Old Town. Heidelberg was discovered quite early by romantics to use for diverse literature, songs and paintings. The tour through Heidelberg begins with a visit to the castle. The formerly splendid residence made of red sandstone has been a ruin, maybe the most beautiful ruin in all of Germany. The castle tour leads also into the castle garden. From the Grand Terrace you will have a wonderful view of the city and the Neckar River. The tour continues with a stroll through the enchanting old town, to the Karl-Theodor Bridge, the late-gothic Church of the Holy Spirit and the town hall.

The Biennial Federal Horticultural Show, known in German as the Bundesgartenschau or BUGA for short, is a horticultural exhibition held every two years in various cities across Germany since 1951. BUGA is especially unique as the site is intended for the event’s open-air spaces, greenery, and urban development to be used for years to come.

Fascinatingly, the core site of BUGA is the conversion area around the former Spinelli barracks. Originally used by the German Army as pioneer barracks, the U.S. forces utilized the areas as a camp after World War II.

At the heart of BUGA is sustainability. With an area of over 100 hectares, the expansive space will foster a mindful environment for innovative ideas and forward-thinking research approaches - most importantly, the event’s four guiding themes: Climate, Environment, Energy, and Food Security.

Please note: The German National Garden Show takes place in Mannheim from April 14^th to October 8^th 2023.

The unique Winzerexpress train takes you from the dock of the ship to the "Siegfried Mechanical Music Cabinet" for a musical adventure with historical self-playing instruments. Continue your guided tour with a walk through the picturesque town. Explore the heart of the old town of Rüdesheim - the Drosselgasse - where wine houses and garden taverns invite you to linger. Immerse yourself in the history of the city and visit the Eagle Tower, a part of the city wall, and the fortifications from the 15th century.

Enjoy an unforgettable tram ride on the "Winzerexpress" and discover the beauty of the Rhine Valley. Visit a typical winery and taste different wines of the region. Afterwards, stroll along the famous 'Drosselgasse', which is a narrow cobblestone street, first mentioned in the 15^th century as an alley used by the Rhine boatmen to reach their homes. Here you can still find numerous half-timbered wine houses, restaurants and shops. Immerse yourself in the history of the village before returning to the ship on the "Winzerexpress".

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.

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.

Please note: The visit of the Cologne Cathedral depends on the opening hours, Holy Masses, etc.).

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. 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.