Rhine Cruise and Glacier Express
Combine a River Rhine river cruise, taking in some of the best sites, with an exploration of Lake Geneva and the Alps, including a trip on the Glacier Express to St Moritz. Marvel at the beauty of Lake Geneva and the Alps as your action-packed holiday begins with two hotel stays in Switzerland.
Explore Chillon Castle and enjoy some local wine before you’ve even checked-in at your first hotel in Montreux. Look forward to an included visit to the Olympic city of Lausanne before spending the next two nights at a hotel in St Moritz, 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 savour the views while navigating nearly 100 tunnels and 300 bridges! Enjoy a cable-car trip into the peaks to drink in views from the Diavolezza Glacier on the final day at your hotel before heading to Basel the following morning to step aboard Spirit of the Rhine.
Cruise into Germany and moor in Breisach, from where you may choose to explore the Black Forest, before crossing into France to stroll along Strasbourg’s cobbled streets lined with half-timbered houses on an included guided tour and canal cruise. Another included excursion visits Heidelberg before you reach the beautiful Middle Rhine where you can raise a glass in the wine town of Rudesheim. See historic Koblenz and explore the sights of Cologne before your cruise concludes in Amsterdam. Enjoy an included city tour and canal cruise to see the highlights, or opt for a walking tour themed around Dutch food…
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
Chillon Castle visit and wine tasting
Lausanne tour and Olympic Museum
Excursion to Bernina Diavolezza
Strasbourg tour and canal cruise
Heidelberg and Castle visit
Amsterdam city tour and canal cruise OR Amsterdam Culinary Walking Tour
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 - Geneva - Montreux
Fly to Geneva and transfer by coach to the beautiful Chillon Castle, a water castle nestled on a rock on the banks of Lake Geneva and one of Switzerland’s most beloved historic buildings, for an included wine tasting.
After your included visit, transfer to Montreux where you will spend the next two nights at a locally rated 4-star hotel, with breakfasts and dinners included throughout. The Montreux Riviera has long inspired the artists, writers and travellers who flock there in search of beauty and tranquility.
Day 2 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 houses the unique and interesting 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 itself. After your visit cruise back to Montreux, enjoying coffee and cake en route.
After an action-packed day that involves a fair amount of walking relax at your hotel, where dinner is included.
Day 3 Montreux - St Moritz
After breakfast enjoy a morning at leisure in Montreux.
After checking out, board a coach and transfer to Brig, where you will board the Glacier Express for its journey to St Moritz. 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. After drinking in the breathtaking scenery, look forward to a sumptuous three-course dinner on board.
When you arrive in St Moritz this evening you will be transferred to a locally rated 4-star hotel where you will stay for the next two nights with breakfasts and dinner included.
Day 4 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 from where you can travel by cable car up Mt Diavolezza to a vantage point almost 3,000 metres high, from where you can enjoy the stunning view of Dialezza Glacier.
After admiring the breathtaking views return by cable car to Bernina Diavolezza and then transfer back to St Moritz and your hotel, where dinner is served tonight.
Day 5 St Moritz - Basel
Following breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to the port in Basel where you will embark your ship, Spirit of the Rhine.
Enjoy dinner on board this evening as you spend the night cruising towards Breisach.
Day 6 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 picturesque Colmar with its well-preserved old town, and the wine town of Riquewhir.
Another optional tour includes a short cruise on Lake Titisee in the Black Forest. Depart later tonight and cruise to Strasbourg.
Day 7 Strasbourg
You'll arrive before breakfast in the beautiful capital of Alsace, with the whole day to discover its cobbled streets, picturesque half-timbered houses and magnificent 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 might like to join an excursion to the pretty walled city of Obernai, where you can stroll along the ramparts and admire attractive 13th-century buildings with flower-filled balconies.
Your ship departs for Mannheim this evening.
You'll arrive in Kehl before breakfast to visit Strasbourg, the beautiful capital of Alsace, with the whole day to discover its cobbled streets, picturesque half-timbered houses and magnificent 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 might like to join an excursion to the pretty walled city of Obernai, where you can stroll along the ramparts and admire attractive 13th-century buildings with flower-filled balconies.
Your ship departs for Mannheim this evening.
Day 8 Mannheim - Mainz - Rüdesheim
Pause awhile in Mannheim this morning allowing you to join an included visit the home of Germany's oldest university, the city of Heidelberg. Highlights include the Old Bridge across the River Neckar and the ruined castle high above the city. Its rather random appearance is due to it having been added to through different periods of German architectural styles. Virtually destroyed by lightning in 1764 it was cannibalised by locals who used stones from it in their own houses!
Rejoin the ship in Mainz where you spend the afternoon. Here 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'.
Later, cruise to charming Rüdesheim, where you will moor for the night.
This evening you can take a stroll down the cobbled Drosselgasse, a narrow street lined with taverns, to enjoy a flagon of ale or perhaps join an optional excursion to a wine tasting session or an alternative visit to Siegfried’s Museum of Mechanical Music.
Day 9 Rüdesheim - Koblenz
Cruise a scenic stretch of the Rhine this morning past a collection of fairy-tale castles and villages, and the impressive Lorelei Rock, before arriving for an afternoon in Koblenz.
The city sits at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers and is an important centre for the wine industry. Stroll along the pretty riverside promenade, overlooked by the Festung Ehrenbreitstein citadel, which sits on a hill across the river. Perhaps join an optional tour which also visits the fortress. Depart later tonight and cruise overnight to Cologne.
Day 10 Cologne
A morning in Cologne, considered Germany’s cultural capital, provides the opportunity to enjoy exploring using our state-of-the-art interactive map – don't miss one of Germany’s most popular attractions, the vast Gothic cathedral, started in 1248 to house the relics of the three Magi but 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.
Around lunchtime your ship sets sail for the final time, cruising through the afternoon and overnight bound for Amsterdam.
Day 11 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 join an included excursion designed to give you the chance to get under the skin of a destination by enjoying the local food and culture.
After disembarking your ship and meeting your guide, take a tram to Central Station from where you will begin a walking tour of the city. Along the way look forward to tasting local delicacies including herring, cheese and croquettes and rounding it off with a sweet treat from a bakery. 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, which is built on thousands of wooden piles, and the grand 19th-century Rijksmuseum.
Afterwards, enjoy a canal cruise to see the city centre with its pretty bridges and attractive gabled houses up close and view such treasures as the famous Skinny Bridge, the Montelbaanstoren tower and the Jewish Quarter. This afternoon you might wish to join an optional excursion visiting Volendam, Edam and Katwoude Cheese Farm.
Remain moored in Amsterdam overnight.
Day 12 Amsterdam - UK
Disembark your ship after breakfast and travel to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
