Zundert Dahlia Flower Parade Spirit of the Rhine

10 nightsFULL BOARDfrom£2099

Includes insurance and cancellation cover§ Price reduction available if not required.

Admire the floral displays of the Floriade Expo in Almere and Zundert’s Dahlia flower parade on this river cruise from Trier to Dordrecht.

aboard Spirit of the Rhine – see pages 144-149 for details No fly option

Dutch tulips

Day 1: UK to Trier. Travel by coach and Eurotunnel or ferry to Trier and embark Spirit of the Rhine.

Day 2: Trier to Bernkastel-Kues. Spend the morning in Germany’s oldest city, Trier, founded in 16BC by Emperor Augustus. Trier lies in the heart of Germany’s oldest wine region, the Moselle. Trier retains many relics of its illustrious past, as you will discover on an included tour to see the Porta Nigra, one of the best-preserved Roman city gates in the world, the city walls and cathedral. You’ll rejoin your ship in Issel before cruising through the afternoon to Bernkastel-Kues for an overnight mooring.

Day 3: Bernkastel-Kues to Traben-

Trarbach During the morning in Bernkastel-Kues you may like to take an optional ride on the panorama train. Sail on late this afternoon to the ‘twin towns’ of Traben-Trarbach, which straddle the Moselle and are linked by a bridge. This was once the second-largest wine-trading centre in Europe, after the French city of Bordeaux, and you can sample the local produce on an included wine tasting excursion. Day 4: Traben-Trarbach to Cochem This morning, sail from Traben-Trarbach to arrive in the wine town of Cochem this afternoon. With the backdrop of neo-Gothic Reichsburg Castle, which sits atop a hill cloaked entirely in vines, Cochem is one of the most visited places on the Moselle River. This afternoon a choice of optional excursions includes a ride aboard the Tourist Train or a visit to the castle with a wine tasting at a local vineyard. Your ship remains moored here overnight. Day 5: Cochem to Koblenz Depart Cochem this morning and sail on to Koblenz, arriving this afternoon. Koblenz sits at the meeting point of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, in between the famous wine regions of the Moselle and the Middle Rhine – renowned for their Rieslings. Perhaps enjoy a cable car ride from Koblenz up to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress on an optional excursion.

Day 6: Koblenz to Bonn Sail through the morning to Bonn, arriving at lunchtime. An optional walking tour will reveal some of the main sights such as the Electoral Palace and the baroque City Hall. Entrance to Beethoven's former home, now a museum dedicated to his life and work, is also included in the excursion. Your ship remains moored in Bonn overnight. Day 7: Bonn to Cologne Following an early departure from Bonn you’ll arrive this morning in Cologne, Germany's cultural capital where you can see some of the city’s attractions during an optional sightseeing coach tour. The Gothic cathedral, started in 1248 to house the relics of the three Magi, wasn’t completed until 1880! Depart this afternoon and cruise overnight to Lelystad. Day 8: Lelystad This morning, step on the shuttle bus for your included full-day visit to the Floriade Expo held in Almere. This world horticultural exhibition will last six months, and the theme for the 2022 Expo will be ‘Growing Green Cities’, focusing on how nature can be better incorporated into cities. As well as hundreds of species of flowers, plants and vegetables, there will be 40 country presentations, a greenhouse complex and a cable car across the site. A ride on the cable car will be included with your ticket. Afterwards you’ll travel back to your ship, which departs later this evening. Day 9: Lelystad An optional excursion this morning visits the lake town of Giethoorn, alternatively spend the day exploring Lelystad, a city built on land reclaimed from the inland sea, the Zuiderzee, in 1967. Perhaps visit Bataviawerf to learn more about wooden ships, spices and the long trade missions to ‘The East’ on an optional afternoon excursion. Depart for Dordrecht this evening. Day 10: Dordrecht. Travel by shuttle bus this morning to Zundert, where you’ll spend the day at the Dahlia Flower Parade. This annual Bloemencorso features colossal displays created from millions of locally grown dahlias. Local communities compete to create the most impressive display and each year the floral dioramas become more and more ambitious. You’ll return to Spirit of the Rhine by shuttle bus for dinner on board and she will remain moored here overnight. Day 11: Dordrecht to UK. Disembark Spirit of the Rhine for your return journey.

SAVE up to £250 per person on selected cabin grades FREE CABIN UPGRADE worth up to £350^

LOOK WHO’LL BE JOINING YOU ON BOARD…

Tom Hart Dyke Renowned horticulturist, gardening presenter and plant hunter Tom, shot to international prominence in 2000 when he and his travelling companion Paul Winder were kidnapped during a plant hunting expedition in the Colombian jungle.

RIVER CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS

The 2000-year-old city of Cologne

The region’s main cultural hub, the city is dominated by the twin spires of Cologne Cathedral, renowned for its gilded medieval shrine and panoramic views of the river. An optional guided tour is a great way to see some of the historic attractions.

Floriade Expo

The seventh Floriade Expo will take place in Almere between April 14 and October 9, 2022, and during these six months is expected to welcome two million visitors. This impressive horticultural exhibition covers 148 acres, and will feature a vast collection of trees, shrubs and flowers from exhibitors around the world. The Expo’s theme will explore how horticulture can provide solutions for greener and more sufcient city living, that does not have an impact on the environment and climate.

Dahlias on parade

Admire huge displays created from millions of locally grown dahlias at the annual Zundert Dahlia parade. Local communities have been competing at the Bloemencorso for over 70 years and each year the floral dioramas have become more and more ambitious. You’ll have the whole day to admire the floral floats before returning to your ship in Dördrecht.

Colourful floral displays

Porta Nigra in historic Trier

Tom Hart Dyke

SO MUCH INCLUDED…

Included travel insurance

VIP door-to-door travel service – see page 155

29 meals: 10 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 10 dinners

Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner

Cruise Host

Interactive maps and audio headsets for independent exploration.

Plus...Drinks reception and Captain’s dinner • Complimentary Wi-Fi on board • All gratuities on board • Return flights and transfers.

INCLUDED EXCURSIONS

• Trier • Traben-Trarbach wine tasting • Flowers of Floriade Expo • Zundert flower parade.

Lelystad

NETHERLANDS

Dordrecht

Rhine

Cologne

GERMANY

Bonn

Koblenz

Cochem Moselle

Trier

Traben-Trarbach Bernkastel-Kues

Prices are £s per person from: Aug 26, 2022 Lower Deck Twin (Forward - E) 2349 2099 Lower Deck Twin (D) 2499 2249 Middle Deck Twin, French Balcony (Forward - C) 2949 2699 Middle Deck Twin, French Balcony (B) 3149 2899 Upper Deck Twin, French Balcony (A) 3349 2899 Lower Deck Sole occupancy (D) 3299 3049 Middle Deck, French Balcony Sole occupancy (B) 4099 3849 Upper Deck, French Balcony Sole occupancy (A) 4449 3849 Cruise code AH615 Flowers of Floriade and the Zundart Dahlia Flower Parade. 10 nights. ^Free cabin upgrade from Middle Deck B grade to Upper Deck A grade, subject to limited availability. .§If you choose to opt out of the included insurance and cancellation cover, a reduction applies of £40 – see page 150 for details. TRAVEL OPTIONS: Prices based on return coach travel from Folkestone to Trier via Eurotunnel or ferry, returning from Dordrecht. Eurostar standard is available for a supplement departing from London St Pancras to Brussels and onward by coach, returning from Amsterdam. Flights from Heathrow to Luxembourg, returning from Amsterdam are also available for a supplement.

Be quick – to be guaranteed the best price, book early as flights can sell out and prices sometimes increase.