Wine Towns of the Rhine and Moselle Spirit of the Rhine

12 nightsFULL BOARDfrom£2499 14 nightsFULL BOARDfrom£2099

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

Explore Amsterdam and Germany’s riverside wine towns…

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

The vineyards of Rudesheim

Day 1: UK to Amsterdam. Travel to Amsterdam and embark Spirit of the Rhine.

Day 2: Amsterdam The Dutch capital is rightly popular for its friendly welcome, historic canals, world-class museums and galleries, and laid-back cafes and bars. This morning enjoy the local food and culture on an included culinary walking tour with a guide, alternatively opt for an included tour of Amsterdam by coach and canal to see the Royal Palace, the floating flower market, 19thcentury Rijksmuseum, the Skinny Bridge, the Jewish Quarter and more. Your ship sets sail at lunchtime and spends the rest of the day and night cruising towards Cologne. Day 3: Amsterdam to Cologne Arrive at lunchtime in Cologne, Germany's cultural capital. Enjoy an afternoon of exploring during an optional city tour or by using our state-of-the-art interactive map – don't miss the vast Gothic cathedral, started in 1248 to house the relics of the three Magi but not finally completed until 1880! Depart later this evening and cruise overnight towards Bonn.

Day 4: Bonn to Koblenz. This morning you’ll wake up in Bonn, having arrived in the early hours. Join an optional walking tour to see sights such as the Electoral Palace, the baroque City Hall, and Beethoven's former home, now a museum dedicated to his life and work. This afternoon Spirit of the Rhine will cruise to Koblenz, at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle, arriving early this evening.

Day 5: Koblenz to Rüdesheim Discover the riverside promenade and several historic churches, all set beneath the Festung Ehrenbreitstein citadel on top of the hill, which you may choose to visit on an optional excursion this morning. Early this afternoon your cruise continues through the UNESCOlisted Middle Rhine to the wine town of Rüdesheim, passing the fabled Lorelei Rock en route. This evening, enjoy an included wine tasting at a family owned winery in Rüdesheim.

Day 6: Rüdesheim to Boppard

This morning an optional excursion visits Siegfried’s Museum of Mechanical Music where over 350 self-playing instruments are displayed. Set sail over lunch, arriving in Boppard this afternoon. A choice of optional excursions include a wine tasting in one of Boppard’s historic towers or a guided tour of Rheinfels Castle. Your ship remains moored here overnight. Day 7: Boppard to Cochem Depart early this morning to arrive in Cochem this afternoon. With the romantic backdrop of neo-Gothic Reichsburg Castle, which sits atop a hill cloaked in vines, Cochem is one of the most visited places on the Moselle River. This afternoon an optional excursion visits the castle, which features the original 11th-century keep. The excursion will also visit a local vineyard for a wine tasting. Another optional tour explores the town by land train. Your ship remains moored here overnight. Day 8: Cochem to Traben-Trarbach. Set of early and cruise through the morning to the twin villages of Traben-Trarbach which straddle the Moselle. Known as the 'capitals' of the wine region, they are home to many art nouveau buildings. Enjoy an included wine tasting at a vineyard this afternoon. Spirit of the Rhine remains here overnight.

Day 9: Traben-Trarbach to Bernkastel-

Kues Cruise this morning to BernkastelKues where this afternoon you’ll have the opportunity to embark on an optional journey aboard the panorama train, which passes St Nikolaus Hospital, the parish church of St Michael and the historic market square.

Day 10: Bernkastel-Kues to Piesport. Spirit of the Rhine sets sail for the historic village of Piesport this morning, arriving shortly before lunch. Perhaps take the opportunity to sample an authentic Piesporter light white wine during an optional wine tasting excursion. Day 11: Piesport to Trier. Cruise through the morning to arrive this afternoon 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, which is home to many fine white wines and its location close to the steep banks of the Moselle River was the location the Romans first chose to plant their vines. Trier retains many relics of its illustrious past, such as the Porta Nigra, one of the best-preserved Roman city gates in the world. Day 12: Trier. Enjoy an included morning tour to see the Roman city gateway, Porta Nigra, and the cathedral, the oldest Bishop’s church in Germany which still serves its original purpose as a place of worship.

Day 13: Trier to UK. Disembark Spirit of the Rhine after breakfast for your return journey

on selected cabin grades and departures FREE CABIN UPGRADE worth up to £550^

Enjoy a wine tasting Charming Cochem

Amsterdam

NETHERLANDS

GERMANY Rhine

Cologne

Bonn

Cochem

Koblenz Boppard Rüdesheim Bernkastel-Kues Traben-Trarbach Piesport TrierMoselle

EXTEND YOUR HOLIDAY

Amsterdam 2 nights with breakfasts

included. After your cruise stay two nights at the locally rated 4-star Westcord Fashion Hotel (4Q). The hotel has great links to be able to explore at your leisure – located close to the tram which arrives into Amsterdam Central 15 minutes later. Available only when you fly or travel by Eurostar. Please see page 143 for details.

LOOK WHO’LL BE JOINING YOU ON BOARD…

Graham Mitchell Graham is a wine expert, broadcaster, writer and after-dinner speaker. July 5, 2022 departure. Joanna Simon Joanna is a wine expert who specialises in pairing food with wine. October 31, 2022 departure.

RIVER CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS

Bonn: Birthplace of Beethoven

In Bonn an optional excursion charters the 2,000-year history of the former capital city, in which Beethoven was born 250 years ago. The tour reveals highlights like the Beethoven monument, the Romanesque Minster Cathedral, the University of Bonn and the baroque City Hall.

Koblenz and Ehrenbreitstein Fortress

The Prussians constructed Festung Ehrenbreitstein in the early 19th century but despite being Europe’s second largest fortress, after Gibraltar, it played no part in either World War. You can join an optional excursion and enjoy a panoramic cable car ride from Koblenz up to the fortress.

The Roman traditions of Trier

Trier lies in the heart of Germany’s oldest wine region, the Moselle, which is home to many fine white wines and its location close to the steep banks of the Moselle River was the location the Romans first chose to plant their vines. Trier has retained a number of relics from the 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.

SO MUCH INCLUDED…

Included travel insurance

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

35 meals: 12 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 12 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 coach travel via Eurotunnel or ferry.

INCLUDED EXCURSIONS

• Amsterdam city tour and canal cruise OR culinary walking tour of Amsterdam • Rüdesheim wine tasting • Traben-Trarbach wine tasting • Trier walking tour.

Prices are £s per person from: Jul 5, 2022 Oct 31 Lower Deck Twin (Forward - E) 2799 2499 2499 2099 Lower Deck Twin (D) 2979 2679 2699 2299 Middle Deck Twin, French Balcony (Forward - C) 3499 3199 3299 2899 Middle Deck Twin, French Balcony (B) 3749 3449 3599 3199 Upper Deck Twin, French Balcony (A) 3999 3449 3899 3199 Lower Deck Sole occupancy (D) 3849 3549 3649 3249 Middle Deck, French Balcony Sole occupancy (B) 4799 4499 4749 4349 Upper Deck, French Balcony Sole occupancy (A) 5299 4499 5299 4349 Cruise code RH283 RH284 Wine Towns of the Rhine and Moselle. 12 nights (RH283). 14 nights (RH284). ^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 Amsterdam via Eurotunnel or ferry (returning from Trier on Jul 5, 2022 departure). Eurostar standard is available for a supplement departing from London St Pancras direct to Amsterdam (returning from Brussels on Jul 5, 2022 departure). Return flights from Heathrow to 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.

Please note:Some of the highlights may only be seen on optional excursions at an additional cost, or by exploring independently. October 31, 2022 departure follows a 14-night itinerary and also visits Winningen, Andernach, Düsseldorf and Utrecht. Cruise code: RH284.