Five River Cultural Cruise From Vienna
This fully inclusive cultural river cruise aboard the Spirit of the Rhine takes you along the main rivers of central Europe on the Danube, Altmuhl, Main, Rhine and Moselle. Your cruise begins on the Danube, where you can explore Dürnstein on an optional walking tour with an included organ concert, visit Melk in the Wachau Valley and perhaps take a tour of the ornate Abbey, a masterpiece of high Baroque architecture. Visit the UNESCO-listed city of Regensburg, enjoy an included tour of Nuremberg, known for the war crimes trials of 1945-46, and head to the Old Town of Bamberg where the historic Town Hall sits on an island in the river before cruising onto the Main, the longest tributary of the Rhine.
An included guided tour of Würzburg with its 13th-century Fortress of Marienberg precedes a visit to Residenz Palace, where the Imperial Hall features frescoes by Tiepolo. While in Miltenberg you can head to the Brauhuas Faust for an optional beer tasting. Continue to Rüdesheim on the banks of the Rhine before sailing onto the Moselle where Cochem and Bernkastel-Kues await.
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
Cruise Host
Entertainment and activities on the ship
Historic Nuremberg
Bamberg city tour
Wurzburg and the Residenz Palace
Bernkastel panorama train and guided walk
FOOD & DRINK
32 meals: 11 breakfasts, 10 lunches and 11 dinners
Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
Drinks reception and Captain’s dinner
Day 1 UK - Vienna
Fly to Vienna and embark Spirit of the Rhine. Enjoy a welcome reception and dinner on board.
Your ship begins the overnight cruise towards Dürnstein tonight.
Day 2 Dürnstein - Melk
Early this morning you’ll arrive in Dürnstein, where you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy an optional tour followed by an organ concert in the abbey. Continue cruising to Melk this afternoon and perhaps visit the ornate Melk Abbey on another optional excursion.
Spirit of the Rhine sets sail again this evening and cruises overnight towards Passau.
Day 3 Passau
After a relaxing morning sailing, you’ll arrive in Passau, located at the confluence of the rivers Danube, Inn and Ilz, this afternoon. An optional walking tour here will reveal the baroque St Stephen’s Cathedral and old and new Bishop’s Palaces.
Begin your cruise towards Regensburg this evening.
Day 4 Regensburg - Kelheim
After breakfast on board perhaps embark on an optional walking tour through the medieval streets of Regensburg’s UNESCO-listed old town. This afternoon you may like to visit Weltenburg Abbey, a masterpiece of German baroque architecture.
Rejoining your ship in Kelheim before cruising overnight to Nuremberg.
Day 5 Nuremberg
Arrive this morning in Nuremberg for an included sightseeing tour that reveals the elegant architecture and major sights of this historic Bavarian city, from its medieval beginnings to the present. Once famous for the manufacture of toys, it achieved infamy in the 20th century as the setting for the notorious Nazi rallies, and later for the war crimes trials of 1945-46.
Continue sailing this evening and overnight towards Bamberg.
Day 6 Bamberg
Set off on an included tour of this UNESCO-listed city this morning. Visit the cathedral and walk through the historic streets to see the Old Town Hall located on an island in the river and the quaint fisherman’s houses of ‘Little Venice’. This afternoon you may like to explore the culinary traditions of Bamberg on an optional walking tour.
Your ship cruises towards Würzburg this evening and overnight.
Day 7 Würzburg
Enjoy the riverside scenery of the Main as you cruise to Würzburg, arriving this afternoon.
Set among historic vineyards, Würzburg 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 baroque buildings in the 17th and 18th centuries. Join 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 Bavarian town to see the 13th-century Fortress of Marienberg, the cathedral and old Main Bridge.
Spirit of the Rhine will begin the overnight cruise to Miltenberg this evening.
Day 8 Miltenberg
Arrive in Miltenberg during lunch and perhaps head to the Brauhaus Faust in the old town to tour the brewery and sample the beer on an optional excursion this afternoon.
Spirit of the Rhine departs later this afternoon to begin the overnight journey to Rüdesheim.
Day 9 Rüdesheim - Koblenz
Visit Siegfried's Museum of Mechanical Music on an optional morning excursion before cruising through the afternoon and overnight to Koblenz, where your ship will moor overnight.
Day 10 Koblenz - Cochem
Set sail from Koblenz during breakfast bound for Cochem, where you may like to take an optional trip on a Noddy train or join an optional tour of Reichsburg Castle. Set sail at lunchtime for an evening arrival in Rüdesheim where you may like to sample fine wines during an optional tasting.
Your ship leaves for Bernkastel-Kues this evening.
Day 11 Bernkastel-Kues - Trier
Arrive early this morning in Bernkastel-Kues for an included trip on the panorama train, followed by a guided walk.
Depart this afternoon and arrive in Trier this evening.
Day 12 Trier - UK
Disembark your ship after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
