Castles and Vineyards of the Rhine Spirit of the Rhine

7 nightsFULL BOARDfrom£1449

Includes insurance and cancellation cover§ Price reduction available if not required. aboard Spirit of the Rhine – see pages 144-149 for details

Experience the best of the Rhine as you cruise from Switzerland to The Netherlands.

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. 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.

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. .

to £250^on selected 2022 departures

Pretty Heidelberg

Explore scenic Strasbourg by road and canal Enjoy touring iconic Amsterdam

RIVER CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS

Seek out Heidelberg

An included excursion visits the home of Germany's oldest university, the city of Heidelberg, where highlights include the Old Bridge across the River Neckar and the ruined castle high above the city. Its unusual appearance is due to it having been added to through diferent periods of German architectural styles. Virtually destroyed by lightning in 1764 it was cannibalised by locals who used stones from it in their own houses.

Cologne, Germany's cultural capital

Enjoy an afternoon exploring Cologne at your own pace using our state-ofthe-art audio guide and an 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. You can see the shrine to Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar – now among the patron saints of the city – behind the high altar.

Dutch delights

Amsterdam is rightly popular for its friendly welcome, picturesque canals, world-class museums and galleries, and laid-back cafes and bars. See the highlights on an included coach and canal tour or join an included culinary themed walking tour and sample local delicacies including herring, cheese and croquettes.

SO MUCH INCLUDED…

Included travel insurance

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

20 meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 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

• Strasbourg tour and canal cruise • Heidelberg and Castle visit • Amsterdam city tour and canal cruise OR culinary walking tour of Amsterdam.

Amsterdam

NETHERLANDS Rhine

Cologne

Koblenz

Rüdesheim

Mannheim Mainz

FRANCE

Breisach Basel Strasbourg

SWITZERLAND

Prices are £s per person from: Oct 4# , 2021 Oct 11 Oct 18# Oct 25 May 24# , 2022 May 31 Jun 21# Jun 28 Sep 19# Sep 26 Oct 17# Oct 24

Unassigned Standard Twin cabin ** 1199** 1299** 1199** 1099** - - - - - - - -

Lower Deck Twin (Forward - E) 1899 1599 1849* 1699 1599 1649 1449 2049 1849 2149 2049* 2149 2049* 2149 2049 2149 1949 2099 1899 1899 1699 1799 1599

Lower Deck Twin (D) 1999 1699 1949 1749 1799 1599 1749 1549 2149 1949 2249 2049 2249 2049 2249 2049 2249 2049 2199 1999 1999 1799 1899 1699 Middle Deck Twin, French Balcony (Forward - C) Sold out 2249* 2099* 2049 Sold out 2599 2399 2599* 2599 2399 2599 2399 2549 2449 2349 2249 2249 2049 Middle Deck Twin, French Balcony (B) 2399 2199 2349 2199 1999 2149 2049 2599 2399 2699 2499 2699 2599 2699 2499 2699 2499 2649 2449 2449 2249 2349 2149 Upper Deck Twin, French Balcony (A) 2599 2399 2549 2399 2199 2349 2149 2749 2399 2849 2849* 2849* 2849 2499 2799 2449 2599 2249 2499 2149 Lower Deck Sole occupancy (D) 2499 2449 2449*† 2249 2949 2749 3049 2849 3049 2849 3049 2849 3049 2849 2999 2799 2799 2599 2699 2499 Middle Deck, French Balcony Sole occupancy (B) 3049 2999 2999*† 2799 3349 3149 3449 3249 3449 3249 3449 3249 3449 3249 3399 3199 3199 2999 3099 2899 Upper Deck, French Balcony Sole occupancy (A) 3299 3099 3249 3249† 3049 3599 3149 3699* Sold Out Sold Out 3699 3249 3649 3199 3449 2999 3349 2899 Cruise code RH250 AN918 RH250 RH252 RH250 RH252 RH250 RH252 RH250 RH252 RH250 RH252 Castles and Vineyards of the Rhine. 7 nights. *These grades have limited availability. †Sole occupancy prices on Oct 18, 2021 are based on Solos cruise code AF943. ^Free cabin upgrade from Middle Deck B grade to Upper Deck A grade, subject to limited availability. ** For full details see pages 150-155. §If you choose to opt out of the included insurance and cancellation cover, a reduction applies of £20 – see page 150 for details. TRAVEL OPTIONS: Prices based on flights from Heathrow to Basel, returning from Amsterdam with the scheduled services of British Airways, except on departures marked # where the itinerary is reversed.

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