A
voyage up “Old Father Rhine”, probably Europe’s
most important waterway, from Amsterdam on the North
Sea to Basel – gateway to the Swiss Alps. We travel
through four of Europe’s most important countries
(Holland,
Germany, France and Switzerland), see incomparable cities (Amsterdam, Cologne,
Strasbourg, and Basle), and enjoy diverse landscapes such as the cruise across
Holland’s Ijsselmeer and along the Lorelei stretch of the
Rhine with its wealth of mythological associations. The cruise on the Moselle
seeing the steep vineyards on either side of it as far as Cochem is a special
highlight of this voyage.
INCLUDED
FEATURES
- 7-night
cruise accommodation in an outside stateroom
- superb
dining with all meals included during your cruise
- coffee
and tea after lunch and dinner
- quality
red & white wines from Europe’s great
wine regions with every dinner onboard the ship
- welcome
cocktail, Welcome Dinner & Captain’s
Gala Dinner
- daily
onboard music performances by the on-board musicians
- services
of an experienced, multilingual cruise director
- programs
and features which are marked as “included” in
the itinerary
- especially
selected music program ashore and on board
- non-smoking
environment (smoking permitted only on the Sun-Deck)
- port
taxes and local taxes
- the
modern wireless audiosystem “Quietvox” for
all excursions during the cruise
NOT INCLUDED
CANCELLATION
POLICY
- 121
days or more - 20%
- 120
- 90 days - 30%
- 89
- 60 days - 50%
- 59
- 30 days - 70%
- 29
- 0 days - 100%
- Cancellations
must be made in writing.
CLASSICAL
RHINE
DAILY PROGRAM AMSTERDAM-BASEL
Day 1
You embark on the vessel in the late afternoon. Our tour manager will then
welcome you with a cocktail before the welcome dinner on board. Later this
evening you can enjoy a typical folklore group on board.The ship remains moored
overnight in Amsterdam.
Day 2
After a substantial breakfast absorb Amsterdam’s most important sights
on our Amsterdam sightseeing tour (€ 40), or get to know this interesting
and lively city better in your own time and way. On the drive through the capital
of the Netherlands you will see its most important buildings and monuments
and you will get interesting background information. Also you can enjoy the
most popular attraction of The Netherlands – a cruise through the canals
of the city. the Settled as a small fishing village in the late 12 century,
Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world during the Dutch
Golden Age, a result of its innovative developments in trade. During that time,
the city was the leading center for finance and diamonds. Today, the city has
one of the largest historic centres in Europe, with about 7000 registered historic
buildings. The ship leaves Amsterdam during lunch and crosses over the "Ijsselmeer" to
the little fishing town of Volendam where it docks in the afternoon.
You can join an excursion throught the “Holland Waterland”(€ 35),
with a visit of Volendam and Edam, that also includes a visit of a local cheese
farm. Before dinner, the cruise continues to Germany.
Day
3
After lunch you will dock in Düsseldorf, the center of the Rhine-Ruhr
metropolitan region. Undeniably, this is a city of remarkable contrasts. Just
minutes away from the super-chic boutiques of the spacious, tree-lined Königsallee,
smoke-filled beer houses and tapas bars thrive in narrow old streets. And in
the lush meadows along the Rhine, sheep graze within sight of the ultramodern
office buildings of the "Hafen", the city’s recently redeveloped
river port. After a short stop in Düsseldorf the cruise continues to Cologne.
But you can also join a city tour that includes both cities, Düsseldorf
and Cologne (€ 40). After visiting Düsseldorf, the tour takes you
through the former settlement of Colonia (dating back 2,000 years), which was
founded on the orders of the Roman Emperor Claudius. On the drive round you’ll
see the most important sights of Cologne’s old quarter, in the centre
of the city, including the cathedral, town hall, the Guerzenich, the city walls
and gate, churches and
historic squares. From the bank of the Rhine you’ll enjoy a view of the
whole of the old quarter, and then go into the cathedral, Germany’s largest
and the city’s emblem. Its art treasures include a shrine with the relics
of the Magi. The vessel stays in Cologne until midnight.
Day 4
Spend the morning enjoying the scenery along the Rhine. Arrive in Cochem after
lunch and take a walking tour (€ 30) of this quaint village. See its medieval
town gate and marketplace, then visit a winery and taste some local vintages.
Return to your ship for dinner and an evening departure.
Day 5
Wake up in Koblenz, at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers. A walking
tour (€ 15) shows you the highlights of the city. Situated in the picturesque
landscape of the Rhine and Moselle and surrounded by four low mountain ranges
is the 2000-year-old town. Its abundance of cultural monuments and historic
buildings, its cosy lanes and narrow alleyways, the relaxed and happy atmosphere
of its squares and river promenades make Koblenz a friendly town where its
guests feel right at home. This afternoon you sail through the glorious Middle
Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, passing charming villages, many
castles and the legendary Lorelei Rock. Before dinner, the vessel arrives in
the picturesque Rüdesheim, where you can spend a pleasant evening in the
city’s Drosselgasse, a pedestrian-only street lined with shops and pubs.
You may join a walking tour of the town (€ 20), with a visit to Siegfried’s
Music Museum, where you can see all kinds of mechanical instruments from barrel
organs and music boxes to horn gramophones. The ship sails from Ruedesheim
in the late evening.
Day 6
In the morning the vessel is docked in Mannheim that is situated at the confluence
of the rivers Rhine and Neckar. The city is unusual among German cities in
that its central area is laid out in a grid pattern (called Quadrate, squares),
much like many North American cities. Accordingly, its nickname is Quadratestadt
(German: for "town of the squares"). The main route through the squares
leads to an enormous 18th-century palace. This former seat of the Electors
of the Palatinate now houses the University of Mannheim. This morning you can
choose between a city tour of Mannheim (€ 30) and an city tour of Heidelberg
(€ 35). Heidelberg, home to Germany’s oldest university, was founded
in 1386. A guided tour features imposing Heidelberg Castle,
a red sandstone ruin overlooking the Neckar River. Continue with a walking
tour through the Old Town and marketplace. Return aboard for lunch and afternoon
cruising to Speyer. In 2011, Speyer will simultaneously celebrate three anniversaries
of extraordinary significance: (1) 950 years since the consecration of the
Cathedral, (2) 900 years since the coronation of Emperor Henry V and (3) 900
years since the conveyance of certain rights to Speyer’s citizens, marking
the first step in Speyer’s elevation into a Free Imperial City. The Diocese
as well as the City of Speyer and the Historical Museum of the Palatinate will
honor this threefold Salian Year 2011
with numerous events and a big exhibition, “The Salian Dynasty”.
You can see the city during a guided city walk (€ 15), that also includes
a visit of the cathedral. In the evening the vessel sails towards France. On
the second-last evening of your Danube cruise, the captain will be delighted
to welcome you to the Captain’s Gala Dinner. The ship’s indefatigable
orchestra will make the final evening one to treasure, with tunes and rhythms
to suite all tastes.
Day 7
After breakfast, take a guided tour (€ 35) of Strasbourg. See the European
Parliament and enjoy a guided visit inside the city’s famed cathedral.
With its monumental cathedral featuring carvings as delicate as any piece of
lacework, Strasbourg is one of Europe’s most attractive cities. Thanks
to the richness and sheer density of its heritage sites, the entire city centre
has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Strasbourg is definitely well
worth a visit, to discover its history, its cuisine and its unique atmosphere.
Join our excursion “Alsace and wine” (€ 45) in the afternoon,
and get to known the a picturesque landscape, romantic wine villages and parts
of the famous wine route in the Alsace. In a local winery you can also try
some of the wines during an
included wine tasting. In the evening you will leave the city for the last
part of this cruise.
Day 8
Arrival in Basel in the morning. Disembarkation after breakfast. End of the
program.
