Cultural River Cruise of the Middle Rhine and Main
The wonderful cities of Amsterdam, Cologne and beautifully preserved Bamberg are visited on this great value over-50s river cruise of the Middle Rhine and Main. Explore the lively cities and medieval towns of the Rhine and Main on this seven-night river cruise aboard our elegant new ship, Spirit of the Danube. Your holiday begins in Amsterdam where you can choose to see the city highlights on an included tour that features a cruise on the famous canals, or you can sample local delicacies such as cheese and croquettes during an included culinary walking tour.
Admire the landscapes of South Holland before your ship cruises across the border into Germany, where another colourful city awaits. Cologne, whose skyline is dominated by the twin spires of its famous cathedral, has an inspiring collection of museums and art galleries. Perhaps take a stroll along the cobbled lanes and squares, such as the Alter Markt. While in Koblenz, enjoy an included panoramic cable car ride to visit Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Cruise through the Middle Rhine with its dramatic scenery and myriad of castles before heading onto the Main to explore a host of riverside gems, from the Bavarian city of Würzburg to medieval Bamberg.
Your Tour Includes
TRAVEL
VIP door-to-door travel service from anywhere on the UK mainland
Included travel insurance
Return flights and transfers
ACCOMMODATION
Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
All gratuities on board
EXPERIENCES
Amsterdam city tour and canal cruise OR Amsterdam culinary walking tour
Koblenz and the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress
Wurzburg and the Residenz Palace
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 and travel by coach from Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport to the port (a distance of approximately 12 miles, which should take around 40 minutes depending on traffic). Depending on your flight time, you may have some free time before being taken to your ship – we will look after your luggage if this is the case. Embarkation begins from 4pm and you’ll enjoy a welcome dinner on board this evening.
Spirit of the Danube remains moored overnight in Amsterdam.
Day 2 Amsterdam
Look forward to an included excursion which highlights the vivid history of the city and includes a canal cruise to view such treasures as the famous Skinny Bridge, the Montelbaanstoren tower and the Jewish Quarter. Alternatively you may choose to join an included culinary-themed walking tour of the city with the opportunity to sample local delicacies along the way such as herring, cheese and croquettes.
Your ship departs Amsterdam after lunch and cruises south along the Amsterdam Rijnkanaal, through the flat polder landscape of South Holland, reaching the Rhine overnight en route for Cologne.
Day 3 Cologne
Enjoy an afternoon exploring some of the city’s many highlights either independently or by joining an optional guided tour.
You may like to discover the history at the Roman Germanic Museum, or admire the impressive Gothic cathedral. Building started in 1248 to house the relics of the three Magi but was not finally completed until 1880! You can see the magnificent shrine to Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar – now among the patron saints of Cologne – 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 late tonight.
Day 4 Koblenz - Rüdesheim
You'll have a couple of hours to explore Koblenz this morning during an included tour.
The city is 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. The riverside promenade and several historic churches are set beneath the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress on top of the hill, which your excursion visits via panoramic cable car. Later this morning, you'll sail along what is probably the most famous and scenic stretch of the Rhine Valley. Look out for the castles on both banks, including Stolzenfels, Marksburg and the ‘Enemy Brothers’ castles of Sterrenberg and Liebenstein.
Further south, the ruined fortress of Rheinfels, captured by Napoleon’s troops in 1797, dominates the wine-growing village of St Goar. Another highlight is passing Lorelei Rock. It was inspiration for a famous poem by Heinrich Heine, which described how the singing of the nymph Lorelei lured passing sailors to a watery death on the submerged rocks…
Continue to the wine town of Rüdesheim, famous for the 'olde-worlde' taverns of the famed Drosselgasse which you might like to visit. Or you can join an optional excursion to either a local winery, including a tasting, or to Siegfried's Museum of Mechanical Music. Your ship departs early evening and cruises towards Miltenberg.
Day 5 Miltenberg
Enjoy a leisurely morning on board as you cruise to Miltenberg, set in the attractive Main valley, between the Odenwald and the Spessart.
The oldest part of the city lies on the left bank of the Main below a steep wooded hill, crowned by a 13th-century castle. The old town, enclosed within ancient walls and gates, is home to charming streets of half-timbered houses and old wine taverns which you'll no doubt discover this afternoon as you explore independently. If beer is more your thing then why not opt to join a tour of the local brewery.
Day 6 Würzburg
Spend the afternoon in Würzburg, set among vineyards on the banks of the River Main.
It was an important city in the Middle Ages, but owes its present appearance to the prince-bishops of the Schönborn family, who erected a large number of wonderful baroque buildings in the 17th and 18th centuries. Enjoy an included guided tour of one of Europe’s most splendid baroque palaces, the Residenz, dating back to the 18th century. Admire the famous grand staircase and Imperial Hall with frescoes by Tiepolo and the extensive gardens, then continue into the picturesque Bavarian town to see the 13th-century Fortress of Marienberg, the cathedral and old Main Bridge.
Spirit of the Danube leaves Würzburg early this evening and continues past the vineyards of Franconia towards Bamberg.
Day 7 Bamberg
Today you pass from the Main into the Main-Danube Canal, the idea for which originated in 793AD with Charlemagne, although the canal wasn’t finally completed until 1992! This vast civil engineering project includes no fewer than 16 locks.
Your ship moors in Bamberg, renowned as one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Germany, after lunch. Founded in 973, this enchanting Bavarian cathedral city sits on seven hills overlooking the Regnitz River Valley.
Perhaps join an optional walking tour of the old city, nestled beneath the stunning Michaelsberg Monastery, with its cobbled streets and quaint thoroughfares lined with interesting buildings, timber-framed houses and historic museums. Visit the cathedral, a fine representation of the transition from Romanesque to Gothic architecture, and walk through the historic streets to discover the old Town Hall, the magnificent Renaissance building of Alte Hofhaltung and the quaint fisherman’s houses of ‘Little Venice’.
Alternatively you may wish to join an optional culinary-themed walking tour of the city. Back on board your ship you can look forward to tonight's farewell dinner as you sail overnight to Nuremberg.
Day 8 Nuremberg - UK
Disembark Spirit of the Danube after breakfast and travel to Munich airport – a journey of approximately two hours – for your return flight to the UK.
