8 days Cologne-Cochem-Strasbourg-Cologne

Day 1: Cologne

Cologne: Casting off 5:00 p.m.
Fly or rail from London to Cologne and transfer to vessel. Embarkation from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Day 2: Cochem / Bernkastel

Cochem: Mooring 8:00 a.m. – Casting off 2:00 p.m.
Journey through time through eight centuries on an excursion to the imposing Eltz castle. Afternoon cruising along the Moselle.

Today’s bus excursion will take you to Burg Eltz castle, which survived all the wars during the 17th and 18th century unscathed and was never destroyed. On the tour through Burg Eltz castle with its many steps, you’ll experience a journey through time through eight centuries of cultural history, which is impressively reflected in the design and construction of its rooms. The treasure chamber houses over 500 exhibits from the 12th to 19th centuries.

Bernkastel: Mooring 9:15 p.m.

Day 3: Bernkastel

Bernkastel: Casting off 2:00 p.m.

Wine adventure trip on the Moselle including wine tasting session.

Day 4: Middle Rhine / Valley Mainz

Middle Rhine:
Early morning passage of the famous Loreley.

Valley Mainz: Mooring 2:30 p.m. – Casting off 11:30 p.m.
Mainz city tour with the magnificent St.Augustine’s Church and visit to the Grand Mainz Saint Martin Cathedral.

Day 5: Mannheim / Ludwigshafen

Mannheim: Mooring 6:30 a.m. – Casting off 3:00 p.m.
Automotive history up close on the themed excursion themed excursion “Bertha Benz” through Mannheim.

When Bertha Benz set off for Pforzheim in 1888 with the Benz Patent motorcar from Mannheim, she wrote automotive history. This first successful overland trip by car laid the foundation stone for a future-oriented movement and set the course for the economic success of the company. Go on a tour and find out more about the exciting background story of the Benz couple, who lived in Mannheim for many years and thus helped the city along the Rhine gain historical fame. Mannheim is still regarded today as the automobile’s hometown.

Day 6: Strasbourg / Kehl

Strasbourg/Kehl: Mooring 4:00 a.m. – Casting off 7:00 p.m.
City tour/walk through Strasbourg with a visit to the Cathedral of Notre-Dame.

Idyllic half-timbered alleys, cosy wine cellars and, of course, the impressive cathedral makes a visit to this historical city an experience. With so many European institutions based here, including the European Council, the European Parliament and the European Court of Human Rights, the wind blowing through this border town on the Rhine is political. The whole city centre of Strasbourg was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988 due to the vast array of different architecture. In Republic Square, you can admire the Palace of the Rhine, the national library and the opera house. Then take a stroll through the picturesque tanner quarter. On the way into the historical city centre, you’ll get to encounter the warmth of the people of Alsace. The excursion will take you past the old guest houses and delicatessens and onto the Notre-Dame Cathedral. Your tour guide will explain the cathedral’s special features and tell you countless different interesting stories all about its construction and architecture. And then in the cathedral itself, it gets really exciting: You’ll be there when the astronomic clock strikes on the hour, breathing new life into the different figures on the clock. After visiting the cathedral, you’ll have some time to yourself, after which the bus, which will be waiting nearby, will take you back to the ship.

Picture perfect idyll on the excursion to the peaceful region of Alsace with its half-timbered houses, wine taverns and quaint atmosphere.

Day 7: Middle Rhine / Valley Koblenz

Middle Rhine:
Passage of the famous Loreley.

Valley Koblen: Mooring 1:30 p.m. – Casting off 8:00 p.m.
Guided tour through Koblenz, the city on the “Deutsches Eck” (German Corner), and a cable car ride to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress with a fantastic panoramic view.

With a history dating back more than 2,000 years, Koblenz is one of the oldest cities in Germany. Its original Latin name Confluentes (i.e. the confluence) can be traced back to the city’s location. Koblenz lies on the estuary tip of the Moselle and Rhine, known as the “Deutsches Eck” (German Corner). Go on a tour and get to know the historical old town. The idyllic lanes between the St. Kastor Basilica, the oldest church building in Koblenz, and the Church of Our Lady give Koblenz a special charm. The tour brings you to another of the city’s landmarks, the Schängel Fountain by the town hall, which serves as a monument to the Koblenz “Schängel” (a term historically used to refer to children born in Koblenz), a scallywag. Your tour ends with a highlight: a cable car ride over the Rhine to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Experience Koblenz from a bird’s eye view and then take a leisurely walk through the fortress park.

Day 8: Cologne

Cologne: Mooring 1:00 a.m.
Disembarkation until 9:00 a.m. Transfer to Cologne Airport/Station or add a city stay (prices on request).