Rhine Cruise and Glacier Express to Montreux
After a cruise along the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel, this great value over-50s Central European holiday takes you on the Glacier Express from St Moritz. See the iconic sights of the Dutch capital before joining Spirit of the Rhine as she cruises into Germany to visit the historic city of Cologne and the wine towns of Koblenz and Rüdesheim. Look forward to included excursions to Heidelberg and its Renaissance castle and medieval Strasbourg, capital of Alsace. After disembarking your ship in Basel you’ll travel by train to St Moritz for a two-night stay at the locally rated 4-star Hotel Reine Victoria nestled at the foot of the Swiss Alps. From here you’ll enjoy an included trip to Bernina Diavolezza to travel by cable car up Mt Diavolezza. From a vantage point almost 3,000 metres high you’ll be able to see Dialezza Glacier.
Your next two-night stay is in Montreux, and there is no better way to get there than an eight-hour journey through the Alps aboard the Glacier Express – the slowest express train in the world, which means you have ample time to admire the Alpine views while navigating nearly 100 tunnels and 300 bridges! You’ll stay at the locally rated 4-star Hotel Eden Palace Au Lac, from where you’ll enjoy included excursions to Lausanne and the Olympic Museum and Chillon Castle.
Your Tour Includes
TRAVEL
VIP door-to-door travel service from anywhere on the UK mainland
Included travel insurance
Return flights and transfers
ACCOMMODATION
7 nights Full Board aboard the ship, 4 nights Half Board in hotels
Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
All gratuities on board
EXPERIENCES
Cruise Host
Amsterdam city tour and canal cruise OR Amsterdam culinary walking tour
Heidelberg and Castle visit
Strasbourg tour and canal cruise
Excursion to Bernina Diavolezza
Lausanne tour and Olympic Museum
Chillon Castle visit and wine tasting
FOOD & DRINK
28 meals: 11 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 11 dinners
Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on board the ship
Drinks reception and Captain’s dinner
Day 1 UK - Amsterdam
FLY to Amsterdam and embark Spirit of the Rhine.
Enjoy a welcome drink reception and dinner on board as your ship remains moored here overnight.
Day 2 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 you can either join an included culinary-themed walking tour of the city with the opportunity to taste 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, and the 19th-century Rijksmuseum before embarking on a canal cruise to the city centre with its historic bridges and gabled houses. Look out for the famous Skinny Bridge, the Montelbaanstoren tower and the Jewish Quarter.
This afternoon Spirit of the Rhine will begin the overnight journey to Cologne.
Day 3 Cologne
This afternoon you’ll arrive in Cologne, considered Germany’s cultural capital. Perhaps join an optional tour or explore using our state-of-the-art interactive map – see the Gothic cathedral, started in 1248 to house the relics of the three Magi but not finally completed until 1880! The shrine to Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar – now among the patron saints of Cologne – sits behind the high altar.
Your ship sails for Koblenz late this evening.
Day 4 Koblenz - Rüdesheim
Following an early arrival in Koblenz, which sits at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers and is an important centre for the wine industry, perhaps join a morning tour which includes a visit to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, set on a hill across the river.
Depart later this morning and cruise overnight to Rüdesheim, arriving late this afternoon. This evening you may like to visit Siegfried’s Museum of Mechanical Music or enjoy a wine tasting on optional excursions.
Day 5 Rüdesheim - Mainz - Mannheim
Spirit of the Rhine will sail early this morning to arrive in Mainz before breakfast.
Spend the morning at leisure in Mainz, where you can use your interactive map to explore the atmospheric Old Town and famous Gutenberg Museum, dedicated to Johannes Gutenberg. Born in the city he was the inventor of the 'moveable type' printing press, and is known as the 'father of modern printing'. An optional city walk will also be available this morning.
This afternoon an included excursion visits the city of Heidelberg, home of Germany's oldest university, and its Renaissance castle. See the landmark Old Bridge and take the funicular railway up to the peak of Konigstühl – the ‘King’s seat’ – for panoramic views before rejoining your ship in Mannheim before sailing overnight to Strasbourg.
Day 6 Strasbourg
You'll arrive in the capital of Alsace this morning, with the whole day to explore its cobbled streets, picturesque half-timbered houses and cathedral.
This morning an included city tour and canal cruise will help you get your bearings, then this afternoon you can explore further independently. Alternatively, you may like to join an excursion to the walled city of Obernai, where you can stroll along the ramparts and see 13th-century buildings with flower-filled balconies.
Your ship departs for Breisach this evening.
Day 7 Breisach
Arrive in the early hours with a day to explore Breisach, an important medieval town of the Holy Roman Empire during the 16th century.
It's overlooked by a 12th-century cathedral – St Stephansmünster – set high on a hilltop above. It's also known as the 'gateway to the Black Forest' and you'll have the chance to join an optional excursion to Colmar with its well-preserved old town, and the wine town of Riquewhir. Alternatively, another optional tour visits Lake Titisee, in the Black Forest for a short cruise and lunch.
Depart later tonight and cruise to Basel.
Day 8 Basel - St Moritz
Disembark your ship after breakfast and travel by coach to St Moritz (a journey of approximately four hours).
You spend the next two nights at the locally rated 4-star Hotel Reine Victoria at the foot of the Swiss Alps in St Moritz.
Day 9 St Moritz
After breakfast at the hotel this morning make the short journey into the city centre for some time to explore at your leisure.
Late morning board a train for the short ride to Bernina Diavolezza and travel by cable car up Mt Diavolezza to a vantage point almost 3,000 metres high, from where you can see Dialezza Glacier. Return by cable car to Bernina Diavolezza and then transfer back to St Moritz and your hotel, where dinner is served tonight.
Day 10 St Moritz - Montreux
After breakfast enjoy a morning at leisure in St Moritz.
After checking out, board a coach and transfer to Brig, where you will board the Glacier Express for the journey to Montreux. Dubbed the world’s slowest express train, the journey across the Alps takes around eight hours and passes through 91 tunnels and crosses 291 bridges. Enjoy the alpine scenery and look forward to a three-course dinner on board.
When you arrive in Montreux this evening you will transfer to the locally rated 4-star Hotel Eden Palace Au Lac, where you will stay for the next two nights. The Montreux Riviera has long inspired the artists, writers and travellers who flock there in search of beautiful scenery and tranquility.
Day 11 Montreux
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the station to board a train bound for Lausanne.
The second-largest city on Lake Geneva is officially known as the Olympic Capital as it was the original home of the International Olympic Committee and now houses the Olympic Museum, as well as the headquarters of many global sporting bodies. Explore the city before boarding a funicular down to the lakeside to visit the iconic Olympic Museum. Then enjoy a relaxed boat cruise back to Montreux where dinner is included at the hotel tonight.
Day 12 Montreux - UK
Check out of your hotel after breakfast and enjoy an included visit to Chillon Castle and wine tasting.
Continue to Geneva Airport for your return flight to the UK.
