Rhine and Moselle Cultural and Flower Show Cruise
This over-50s cultural river cruise aboard the Spirit of the Rhine, travelling along the Moselle and Rhine rivers, features the floral displays of Floriade and Zundert. Explore Germany’s oldest city Trier before cruising the Moselle to the ‘twin towns’ of Traben-Trarbach where you can sample locally produced wine on an included excursion. Continue to vineyard clad Cochem, backed by the neo-Gothic Reichsburg Castle, and Koblenz where a panoramic cable car trip precedes a visit to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress on an optional excursion.
Then sail the Rhine to Bonn, birthplace of Beethoven, and Cologne, where the twin spires of its UNESCO-listed cathedral dominate the skyline. Two days in Lelystad gives you time to explore the city and spend a day at the Floriade Expo in Almere, where you’ll see a vast collection of flora from around the world. The last port on your itinerary is Dordrecht, from here an included excursion takes you to Zundert to admire the incredible floral displays of the annual Dahlia Flower Parade.
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
Trier
Traben-Trarbach wine tasting
Flowers of Floriade Expo
Zundert flower parade
FOOD & DRINK
29 meals: 10 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 10 dinners
Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
Drinks reception and Captain’s dinner
Day 1 UK - Trier
Travel to Trier and embark Spirit of the Rhine.
Enjoy a welcome reception and dinner on board as you remain moored here overnight.
Day 2 Trier - Bernkastel-Kues
Spend the morning in Germany’s oldest city, Trier, founded in 16BC by Emperor Augustus.
Trier lies in the heart of Germany’s oldest wine region, the Moselle, which is home to many fine white wines and its location close to the steep banks of the Moselle River was the location the Romans first chose to plant their vines. Trier retains many relics of its illustrious past, as you will discover on an included tour to see the Porta Nigra, one of the best-preserved Roman city gates in the world, the city walls and cathedral.
You’ll rejoin your ship in Issel before cruising through the afternoon to Bernkastel-Kues for an overnight mooring.
Day 3 Bernkastel-Kues - Traben-Trarbach
Spend the morning in Bernkastel-Kues where you may like to take an optional ride on the panorama train.
Sail on late this afternoon to the ‘twin towns’ of Traben-Trarbach, which straddle the Moselle and are linked by a bridge. This was once the second-largest wine-trading centre in Europe, after the French city of Bordeaux, and you can sample the local produce on an included wine tasting excursion. The steep slate slopes around Traben-Trarbach produce exquisite wines and the town itself is home to a number of grand villas by the Berlin architect Bruno Möhring built for the wealthy wine merchants who prospered from the vines.
Day 4 Traben-Trarbach - Cochem
Sail from Traben-Trarbach this morning, to arrive in the picturesque wine town of Cochem this afternoon.
With the backdrop of neo-Gothic Reichsburg Castle, which sits atop a hill cloaked entirely in vines, Cochem is understandably one of the most visited places on the Moselle River. This afternoon a choice of optional excursions includes a ride aboard the Noddy Train or a visit to the castle. Although most of the castle was rebuilt in the 19th century, the original 11th-century keep still survives. The excursion will also visit a local vineyard for a wine tasting. Another optional tour explores the town by land train.
Your ship remains moored here overnight.
Day 5 Cochem - Koblenz
Depart Cochem this morning and sail on to Koblenz, arriving this afternoon. Koblenz is nestled at the point where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet, in between the famous wine regions of the Moselle and the Middle Rhine – renowned for their Rieslings.
Perhaps enjoy a panoramic cable car ride from Koblenz up to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress on an optional excursion. The fortress houses a museum dedicated to the wines of the region and the 2,000 year heritage of winemaking in the Rhineland Pfalz.
Day 6 Koblenz - Bonn
Sail through the morning to Bonn, arriving at lunchtime. An optional walking tour will reveal some of the main sights such as the Electoral Palace and the baroque City Hall. Entrance to Beethoven's former home, now a museum dedicated to his life and work, is also included in the excursion.
Your ship remains moored in Bonn overnight.
Day 7 Bonn - Cologne
Following an early departure from Bonn you’ll arrive this morning in Cologne, Germany's cultural capital where you can see some of the city’s attractions during an optional sightseeing coach tour.
The Gothic cathedral, started in 1248 to house the relics of the three Magi, wasn’t completed until 1880! It houses the shrine to Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar – now among the patron saints of Cologne – behind its high altar.
Depart this afternoon and cruise overnight to Lelystad.
Day 8 Lelystad
This morning, step on the shuttle bus for your included full-day visit to the Floriade Expo held in Almere.
This world horticultural exhibition will last six months, and the theme for the 2022 Expo will be ‘Growing Green Cities’, focusing on how nature can be better incorporated into cities in innovative and sustainable ways. As well as hundreds of species of flowers, plants and vegetables, there will be 40 country presentations, a greenhouse complex and a cable car providing views across the site. A ride on the cable car will be included with your ticket.
Day 9 Lelystad
This morning an optional excursion visits the lake town of Giethoorn, alternatively spend the day exploring Lelystad, a city built on land reclaimed from the inland sea, the Zuiderzee, in 1967.
It’s the capital of the province of Flevoland which is essentially a man-made island joined to the mainland by bridges. This land wasn't always under water, but gradually the peat was washed away creating the Zuiderzee (Southern Sea). Making the best of the situation, the Dutch traders of the time used this as a route between Amsterdam and the cities of the Hanseatic League which dominated trade between the 13th and 15th centuries. Perhaps visit Bataviawerf to learn more about wooden ships, spices and the long trade missions to ‘The East’ on an optional afternoon excursion.
Depart for Dordrecht this evening.
Day 10 Dordrecht
This morning you’ll travel by shuttle bus to Zundert where you’ll spend the day at the Dahlia Flower Parade.
This annual Bloemencorso, which has been running for over 70 years, features colossal displays created from millions of locally grown dahlias. Local communities compete to create the most impressive display and each year the floral dioramas become more and more ambitious.
You’ll return to Spirit of the Rhine by shuttle bus for dinner on board and she will remain moored here overnight.
Day 11 Dordrecht - UK
Disembark Spirit of the Rhine after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your return journey to the UK.
