Christmas and New Year Rhine Cruise

TRAVEL
VIP door-to-door travel service from anywhere on the UK mainland
Included travel insurance
Return coach travel via Eurotunnel

ACCOMMODATION
Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
All gratuities on board

EXPERIENCES
Entertainment and activities on the ship
Koblenz and Ehrenbreitstein Fortress
Heidelberg and its castle
Strasbourg's historic quarter
Visit to Bonn: Birthplace of Beethoven
Koblenz and Ehrenbreinstein Fortress
Tour of Cologne

FOOD & DRINK
40 meals: 14 breakfasts, 12 lunches and 14 dinners
Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
Traditional Christmas dinner on board
Drinks reception and Captain’s dinner

Travel by coach from Folkestone to Cologne, via Eurotunnel, and embark Spirit of the Rhine. Enjoy dinner on board and cruise overnight to Koblenz.

Arrive in Koblenz early this morning and after breakfast on board set off to explore the city on an included excursion.

Sprawled out across both banks of the Rhine, Koblenz is home to numerous cultural monuments, including a statue of Willhelm I on horseback, which marks the Rhine's confluence with the Moselle. Your excursion also includes a visit to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, a Prussian citadel that overlooks the river. Work started on it in the 11th century and it was at the forefront of a succession of conflicts right through to the end of the First World War.

Spend the afternoon and rest of the day relaxing on board as your ship cruises towards Mannheim.

Early this morning you’ll arrive in the city of Mannheim, set beside the Rhine and Neckar rivers.

From here an included excursion takes you to the historic university city of Heidelberg, with its romantic riverside setting and fairytale castle, which you will also visit. Heidelberg Castle is an iconic landmark and its ruins are among the most important Renaissance structures in Europe. Following your visit you’ll re-board Spirit of the Rhine and spend the afternoon on the water sailing towards Strasbourg.

Sail across the border into France early this morning, arriving in the capital of Alsace in time for breakfast on board and an included morning visit to the city’s historic quarter.

There are a number of very attractive sights, including the UNESCO-listed Grand Île, with its picturesque medieval half-timbered houses and the 17th-century Ponts Couverts – covered bridges – that cross the river Îll, but the city's crowning glory is its magnificent Gothic cathedral. Return to your ship for lunch on board and in the afternoon you can either make use of our included shuttle service back into the city, or perhaps join an optional excursion to the beautiful wine-producing town of Obernai.

Your ships moors overnight in Strasbourg.

Bid France a fond farewell this morning as you leave Strasbourg behind and enjoy a relaxing day sailing along the Rhine to Gemmersheim, arriving late this afternoon.

This evening your cruise continues to Speyer, arriving later tonight.

Spend a peaceful Christmas morning cruising the beautiful Middle Rhine. Then, after lunch, you're free to explore the charming town of Rüdesheim. Linger over a stein of beer in the Drosselgasse, or perhaps join an optional trip to Siegfried's Museum of Mechanical Music.

Depart Rüdesheim this morning and sail to Lahnstein, arriving at lunchtime.

A new port for River cruises, Lahnstein has a scenic setting at the confluence of the Lahn River with the Rhine. From here you can join an optional excursion to Marksburg Castle, an imposing medieval fortress set atop a hill further along the river.

This evening, Spirit of the Rhine will continue sailing towards Cologne through the night.

Spend the day in the historic city of Cologne exploring at leisure.

Perhaps go in search of the city’s 12 Romanesque churches, including the twin-spired Cologne Cathedral which is known for its gilded medieval reliquary. Adjacent to the cathedral you’ll find Museum Ludwig, where the works of masters such as Picasso are displayed, and the Romano-Germanic Museum with its Roman antiquities.

Spirit of the Rhine will continue sailing to Bonn this evening, arriving late in the evening.

This morning you’ll set off on an included tour of one of Germany's oldest cities and its provisional capital city between 1949 and 1990.

Bonn remained the seat of the German federal government until as recently as 1999. An included tour will reveal some of the highlights, which include magnificent baroque palaces and historic buildings from the 16th century when the powerful elite of Cologne chose to reside here. The city is also known as one of the country's finest centres for art, thanks to the impressive Museum of Art and the Federal Art Gallery. It is also the birthplace of famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven, whose childhood home is now part of a fascinating museum.

Spirit of the Rhine departs early this evening for an overnight cruise to Cochem.

Arrive in Cochem early this morning and spend the day exploring this charming town that sits on the banks of the Moselle. Cochem is dominated by the fairy-tale Reichsburg Castle, which sits high on a vine-clad hilltop – perhaps pay a visit on an optional excursion this afternoon.

Depart Cochem late this afternoon and arrive in Bernkastel-Kues late this evening.

Spend the morning at leisure in Bernkastel-Kues where Renaissance houses line the market square.

This afternoon Spirit of the Rhine continues along the Moselle to Tries-Karden, arriving in the late evening and mooring overnight.

Your cruise continues to Boppard, located in the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge. Arriving in the afternoon you’ll have the opportunity to join an optional visit to the ruins of Rheinfels Castle and St Goar or instead, join an optional wine tasting excursion.

Tonight bid farewell to 2021 or 2022 with mulled wine and a New Year’s Eve party on board, and enjoy the spectacular fireworks that light up the river at the stroke of midnight.

Depart Boppard this morning and cruise the short distance to Koblenz, where your ship will moor for the rest of the day and overnight, giving you plenty of time to explore.

Sail from Koblenz early this morning, arriving in Cologne late this morning.

Spend the afternoon discovering the city’s historic attractions during an included excursion which begins with a scenic coach trip in the company of a knowledgeable guide who will point out the highlights. See the pretty Altstadt, or old town, which has been sensitively restored to it's pre-World War II glory, the awe-inspiring towers of Gross St Martin, the elaborate town hall and mighty Gothic cathedral. Then set off on foot to get a closer look as you stroll along the cobbled lanes and lively squares, such as the Alter Markt.

Spirit of the Rhine continues sailing to Düsseldorf, where she will moor overnight.

Disembark Spirit of the Rhine for your return journey to the UK. If travelling by and coach and ferry, the journey time to Calais is around 5 hours 30 minutes, plus comfort stops; if travelling by Eurostar, the transfer time to Brussels Station is around 3 hours 15 minutes; if flying, the journey time to Düsseldorf airport is around 1 hour 30 minutes.