CASTLES AND VINEYARDS OF THE RHINE
aboard Spirit of the Rhine
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– see pages 144-149 for details
7 nights FULL BOARD from £1449 Includes insurance and cancellation cover§ Price reduction available if not required.
Experience the best of the Rhine as you cruise from Switzerland to The Netherlands.
SPIRIT OF THE RHINE THE RHINE AND HER TRIBUTARIES
Cruise the UNESCO-listed Middle Rhine past Lorelei Rock
Day 1: UK to Basel. Fly to Basel and transfer to the port to embark your ship, Spirit of the Rhine. Enjoy a welcome reception and dinner on board this evening as you spend the night cruising towards Breisach. Day 2: 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 also known as the 'gateway to the Black Forest' and you can join an optional excursion to Colmar and the wine town of Riquewhir. Another optional tour visits Lake Titisee, in the Black Forest for a short cruise and lunch. Depart later tonight and cruise to Strasbourg. Day 3: Strasbourg This morning see cobbled streets lined with half-timbered houses and the Gothic cathedral during an included tour and canal cruise in Strasbourg. This afternoon an optional excursion visits the walled city of Obernai, where you can stroll along the ramparts and admire 13thcentury buildings with flower-filled balconies. Your ship departs for Mannheim this evening. Day 4: Mannheim to Mainz to Rüdesheim Pause in Mannheim this morning to join an included visit to the home of Germany's oldest university, the city of Heidelberg. Highlights include the Old Bridge across the River Neckar and the ruined castle above the city. Rejoin the ship in Mainz, where you can explore the city further on an optional walking tour this afternoon. Mainz has an atmospheric Old Town and a museum dedicated to its most famous son, Johannes Gutenberg, known as the 'father of modern printing' and inventor of the 'moveable type' printing press. Later, cruise to Rüdesheim for an overnight mooring. This evening join an optional wine tasting session or visit to Siegfried’s Museum of Mechanical Music.
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Day 5: Rüdesheim to Koblenz This morning cruise the Rhine past fairy-tale castles and villages, and the 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. An optional tour here also visits the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Depart later tonight and cruise overnight to Cologne. Day 6: Cologne Spend the morning in Cologne, considered Germany’s cultural capital. An optional tour will reveal more of the city, including one of Germany’s most popular attractions, the vast Gothic cathedral. Construction started in 1248 to house the relics of the three Magi but the cathedral was not completed until 1880! Around lunchtime your ship sets sail, cruising through the afternoon and overnight bound for Amsterdam. Day 7: Amsterdam This morning join an included culinary themed walking tour or an included tour by coach and canal to see the Royal Palace, floating flower market, Central Railway Station and 19th-century Rijksmuseum. This afternoon an optional excursion visits Volendam, Edam and Katwoude Cheese Farm. Remain moored in Amsterdam overnight. Day 8: Amsterdam to UK. Disembark your ship after breakfast and begin your return journey or continue your holiday with an optional two-night hotel stay in Amsterdam.
Contact your preferred travel agent
EXTEND YOUR HOLIDAY Lucerne 2 nights with breakfasts included. Before your cruise stay two nights at the locally rated 4-star Wilden Mann Lucerne Hotel, Lucerne (4Q). Amsterdam 2 nights with breakfasts included. After your cruise stay two nights at the locally rated 4-star Westcord Fashion Hotel (4Q). Please see page 143 for details.
LOOK WHO’LL BE JOINING YOU ON BOARD… Celebrity chef Nick Nairn The Ready, Steady, Cook star and celebrity chef will perform show cooking on board during a cookery-themed departure. October 25, 2021 (RH252). Jonathan Agnew MBE The BBC’s voice of cricket will no doubt preview the Ashes series Down Under which begins the following month. October 4, 2021 (RH250). Legendary DJ Johnnie Walker MBE Join the BBC Radio legend on a 60’s and 70’s musicthemed cruise, featuring live on-board performances from the resident band. October 11, 2021 (AN918). Bill Turnbull BBC broadcaster and part of the Breakfast team for 15 years, Bill will give a series of on-board talks. May 31, 2022 (RH252).
SOLO TRAVELLERS On October 18, 2021 travel in the company of other solo travellers and a dedicated Solos host, who will organise an additional drinks party. As well as your three included excursions, an additional excursion to Obernai will also be included. At Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester guests can take advantage of our meet and greet, fast track security and airport lounge included as standard on all Solos holidays. Cruise code: AF943. .
