Chamber Music on the Rhine
As you cruise along the Rhine, visiting Amsterdam, Cologne and Bonn, talented young musicians from the Royal Academy of Music will perform five classical concerts. This classical music themed holiday aboard the Spirit of the Rhine sails from Amsterdam and back, visiting Düsseldorf, Bonn, Rüdesheim, Koblenz and Cologne along the way. Look forward to a series of talks from our expert lecturer, live chamber music from the Royal Academy of Music musicians and enjoy an exclusive evening concert in Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, one of the world’s finest concert halls.
Your Tour Includes
TRAVEL
VIP door-to-door travel service
Included travel insurance
Return flights and transfers
ACCOMMODATION
Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
All gratuities on board
EXPERIENCES
Cruise Host
Expert Lecturer
Five on-board concerts from musicians of the Royal Academy of Music
Düsseldorf walking tour
Cologne city tour
Sightseeing tour of Amsterdam OR culinary walking tour of Amsterdam
Exclusive concert in Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw
FOOD & DRINK
20 meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners
Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
Drinks reception and Captain’s dinner
Day 1 UK-Amsterdam
Fly to Amsterdam or journey by coach to your ship (a journey of approximately four hours and 30 minutes from Calais).
Enjoy a welcome dinner on board this evening as Spirit of the Rhine begins the journey to Düsseldorf.
Day 2 Düsseldorf
Look forward to spending the afternoon in Düsseldorf, where Robert Schumann held the position of Municipal Director of Music from 1850 to 1857, during which time he composed Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major Op. 97, the ‘Rhenish Symphony’. The fourth movement of which was later praised by Tchaikovsky as "brilliant a monument to the greatness of the human spirit… as Cologne Cathedral itself".
While here enjoy an included tour of the famous Old Town – a square kilometre full of churches, art and more than 250 pubs, bars and cafes in the heart of the city. Join a guide on a stroll through the backstreets and discover why the Gothic St. Lambertus church has a twisted tower. See the Burgplatz (square) with the Schlossturm (palace tower) and from here, it's a short walk to the Rhine embankment promenade which offers a view of Düsseldorf's skyline and the Oberkassel Rhine banks.
Set sail this evening and cruise overnight.
Day 3 Bonn
Arrive early this morning in the former capital city and perhaps join an optional excursion exploring the highlights this morning. The tour takes you to the banks of the Rhine near the Bonn Opera House to see the imposing view of Germany‘s oldest nature park, Siebengebirge and seven hills.
You’ll also visit Beethoven’s birthplace, which includes a museum, archives and chamber music hall where you can learn more about the life and work of the great composer. This afternoon you may like to witness the world’s highest cold-water geyser on an optional excursion to Andernach.
Day 4 Bonn - Rüdesheim
Following an early sailing from Bonn, you’ll arrive mid morning in the wine town of Rüdesheim, famous for the 'olde-worlde' taverns of the famed Drosselgasse.
Perhaps join an optional excursion this afternoon to either a local winery for a tasting, or to Siegfried's Museum of Mechanical Music. Your ship remains moored here overnight.
Day 5 Rüdesheim - Koblenz
This afternoon you’ll sail into Koblenz, situated at the point where the Rhine meets the Moselle and it's one of Germany's oldest towns with a history spanning 2,000 years. Stroll the riverside promenade where you’ll see several historic churches, all set beneath the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress on top of the hill. Perhaps take a cable car up to the fortress on an optional excursion.
Day 6 Cologne
Enjoy a morning exploring some of the city’s many highlights on an included guided tour. See the Altstadt, or old town, which has been sensitively restored to it's pre-World War II glory, the towers of Gross St Martin, the town hall and Gothic cathedral. Building started in 1248 to house the relics of the three Magi but was not finally completed until 1880! The shrine to Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar – now among the patron saints of Cologne – sits behind the high altar.
Cologne has also given its name to the world’s most famous toilet water – Eau de Cologne – manufactured here since the 18th century.
Depart Cologne later this afternoon.
Day 7 Amsterdam
The Dutch capital is rightly popular for its friendly welcome, picturesque canals, world-class museums and galleries, and laid-back cafes and bars. This morning perhaps enjoy the local food and culture on an included culinary walking tour with a guide. You’ll take a tram to Central Station from where you’ll begin a walking tour of the Dutch capital while tasting local delicacies including herring, cheese and croquettes along the way.
Alternatively, you could join an included tour of Amsterdam by coach and see the Royal Palace on Dam Square, the floating flower market, the Central Railway Station, which is built on thousands of wooden piles, and the 19th-century Rijksmuseum.
Afterwards, enjoy a canal cruise to see the city centre with its historic bridges and gabled houses and view such treasures as the famous Skinny Bridge, the Montelbaanstoren tower and the Jewish Quarter.
This evening take your seat in the recital hall of The Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam for an exclusive performance of classical music.
Day 8 Amsterdam-UK
Disembark Spirit of the Rhine after breakfast for your return journey to the UK.
