Delights of the Rhine to the Danube

Local departure by coach or Home Connect service, then to Cologne where we join our ship.

Relax on board our ship as we cruise along the Rhine, which leads us through the Rhine Gorge and past the legendary Lorelei. This afternoon, we arrive at the quaint wine town of Rüdesheim. Here, you can enjoy the town’s many highlights on our optional excursion, including a cable car ride offering panoramic views across the Rhine Valley.

This evening we sail overnight to Frankfurt.

We arrive in Frankfurt this morning, where there’s the opportunity to join our optional city tour in the company of a local guide. Located on the River Main, Frankfurt boasts a long, rich history and a vibrant city centre. Along with its lively centre, fantastic museums and shops, the city also retains some of its pre-war centre; Römerberg is the area that escaped most of the bombing during the war, giving the city a wonderful contrast.

We return to the ship for lunch on board and onward sailing to Freudenberg.

We arrive in Freudenberg this morning. Freudenberg is a quaint medieval town known for its unique black-and-white half-timbered houses, which are lined up close together and form an impressive backdrop. The most beautiful vantage point of Freudenberg and the half-timbered houses is from Kurpark, and you’ll have free time this morning to explore at leisure.

This afternoon, we set sail for Würzburg.

This morning we arrive in the city of Würzburg, which served as the home of powerful prince-bishops for centuries. Join our optional excursion to visit Würzburg Palace – one of the finest pieces of Baroque art in the world – and its 8th-century church, and the Fortress Marienberg.

This evening, enjoy a relaxing evening on board as we set sail for Schweinfurt.

We arrive in Schweinfurt at lunchtime. Schweinfurt is a city with a 1,200-year-old history, and during your free time you’ll have the chance to take in historic buildings that used to be the homes of some of the most innovative people of their times. You can also explore the heritage of famous poets such as Friedrich Rückert, one of Germany’s best-known authors of the 19th century. With a mixture of historic buildings and bold, modern architecture, there’s no shortage of things to see and do!

Later this evening, we set sail for Bamberg.

We arrive in the beautiful Bavarian town of Bamberg, which is located at the start of the Main-Danube canal. Surrounded by seven hills, it boasts the most intact centre in Germany with the Old Town listed as a world heritage site because of its authentic medieval appearance. Join our optional tour of the city to take in the main sights including the cathedral, Altenburg Castle, the Old Town Hall, and the former Benedictine Monastery.

This evening we enjoy dinner on board and set sail for Nuremberg.

This morning we arrive in Nuremberg, Bavaria’s second largest city after Munich. Most of the city walls still stand, and inside the city you can explore the fascinating juxtaposition of medieval and modern life in an area filled with Gothic churches, aristocratic houses, fountains, memorials and romantic corners, all dominated by the Kaiser Castle. Why not join our optional guided sightseeing tour and make the most of your visit?

This afternoon, we cruise towards Regensburg.

We arrive in Regensburg at lunchtime. Regensburg is located at the northernmost point of the Danube and at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers. You’ll have the opportunity to join our optional city tour this afternoon – the perfect way to take in one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval centres, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

This evening, relax on board as we sail overnight towards Linz.

On arrival in Linz, you will have free time to explore at your own pace.

Alternatively, you can join our optional excursion to Salzburg, Mozart’s famed birthplace and the ‘Sound of Music’ city. The centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and our guided tour takes in some of the highlights of this historic city with its Baroque architecture, stunning scenery, and atmospheric squares where you can relax with a typical Austrian coffee and cake.

We rejoin our ship in Linz and set sail for Melk this evening.

This morning’s discovery is of charming Melk, an Austrian town which is filled with cobbled streets and attractive buildings. It is also overlooked by one of the most splendid monastic houses in Austria – the Benedictine Abbey – which you can visit on our optional excursion.

We return to the ship for lunch before we set sail towards Passau.

We bid farewell to our captain and crew this morning and continue by coach to Germany for an overnight stay.

We depart Germany and continue to Belgium for an overnight stay.

Return home.