11-Day Rhine Castles & Moselle Vineyards

Explore a landscape of sun-drenched vineyards, magnificent castles, and quaint villages along the Rhine & Moselle rivers.

Begin in the Netherlands with a tour of the quintessentially Dutch cities of Amsterdam and Utrecht before a visit to the traditional Kinderdijk windmills. You will then continue to Germany, traversing the wonderful countryside, stopping in Koblenz, where the Rhine and Moselle meet. After exploring the picture-perfect Moselle, travel south to the Alsatian capital of Strasbourg, followed by the serenity of Switzerland in Basel.

Amsterdam to Basel

Departing: July - September 2024

Day 1 Amsterdam

Day 2 Utrecht

Day 3 Nijmegen

Day 4 Koblenz

Day 5 Bernkastel

Day 6 Cochem

Day 7 Rüdesheim

Day 8 Mainz

Day 9 Kehl – Strasbourg

Day 10 Breisach – Colmar

Day 11 Basel – Zurich

Our suite of generous inclusions: n Airport transfers to and from your Star-Ship n 10 nights in a suite or stateroom of your choice, all with a river view n 29 meals: 10 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 10 dinners including a Welcome and Farewell Reception & Dinner n Complimentary wine, beer & soft drinks to accompany lunch & dinner on board n Complimentary tea & coffee on board n Complimentary bottled water in your suite or stateroom, restocked daily n A variety of on board evening entertainment n Complimentary Wi-Fi on board n Complimentary bicycles on board n First-class service from English-speaking crew and knowledgeable local guides n Earn EmeraldEXPLORER loyalty points n Complimentary River Cruise Cover n All port charges and airport taxes n All gratuities on board and onshore

Cruise Facts

n Distance covered (approx): 700km on the Rhine & 100km on the Moselle n UNESCO sites: 0 n Countries visited: 4 n Ports: 11 n Locks: 11 n Bridges: 70

Number of nights 10

River cruise Coach transfer Map is a guide only

EmeraldDISCOVERY highlights unique to your itinerary:

EmeraldPLUS

Canal boat tour of Utrecht and cheese tasting on board

Visit and wine tasting at Schloss Johannisberg

EmeraldACTIVE

Guided bike tour around Utrecht

Active hike to Marksburg Castle

Active Hike to Landshut Castle Ruins in Bernkastel

Cycling tour along the Moselle

Active hike to Niederwalddenkmal Monument

Canoeing on the Rhine

Included Excursions

7 excursions, including visits to UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites

DiscoverMORE

2 optional excursions, available at an additional cost

– see pages 118-121

See page 10 for EmeraldACTIVE difficulty level details travel agent

Reichsburg Castle, Cochem, Germany

Day 1 Amsterdam

Upon arrival in Amsterdam, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your innovative Emerald Cruises Star-Ship, where your friendly captain and crew will welcome your arrival.

Meals: Dinner

Day 2 Utrecht

As part of your EmeraldPLUS programme, start the day with a canal cruise through the Oudegracht or Old Canal.

EmeraldPLUS

Canal boat tour of Utrecht and cheese tasting on board

Sail the beautiful canals of the city of Utrecht, taking in the mesmerising architecture of old wharf cellars, bridges, statues, and the famous Dom Tower of St. Martin’s Cathedral. Drift peacefully along the waterways, exploring over two centuries of history, and discover the gems of the city.

Guided bike tour around Utrecht

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3 Nijmegen

Today you will visit the Kinderdijk Windmills, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This unique collection of nineteen authentic 18th-century windmills is considered a Dutch icon across the globe.

Guided tour Kinderdijk Windmills

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 Koblenz

Wonderfully maintained inside and out, Marksburg Castle boasts a selection of typical interiors, including the castle kitchen, the knight’s hall, the armoury and an inviting wine cellar. The attractive light-stoned walls of the castle are protected by an outer fortress, with a single tower peering over the turrets and castle walls, it resembles something you would find in a Brothers Grimm tale.

Visit to Marksburg Castle

Active hike to Marksburg Castle

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day

5 Bernkastel

Dating back to 3000 BC, Bernkastel is situated along the banks of the Moselle. Home to wellpreserved buildings dating back to 1416. Enjoy a guided walking tour, where you will have the opportunity to stroll through the medieval marketplace with its gabled timber-framed houses, castle ruins and town gate. Or, take part in an active hike to the Landshut Castle Ruins overlooking the Moselle.

EmeraldACTIVE

Active hike to Landshut Castle Ruins

Overlooking Bernkastel, Moselle's winegrowing centre, the ruins of Landshut Castle offer spectacular panoramic views. Hiking through the breathtaking countryside, you'll arrive at the site of an ancient fortification dating back to the 13th century.

Walking tour of Bernkastel

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Windmills in Kinderdijk, Netherlands

Day 6 Cochem

Today, you will enjoy the enchanting town of Cochem during a guided tour of its well-preserved sites. You’ll see the remains of the historic town wall with its old fortifications, alongside the town hall and its many other gems.

Guided tour of Cochem and a visit to Reichsburg Castle

Cycling tour around the Moselle

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7 Rüdesheim

Today as part of your incredible EmeraldPLUS programme, you will visit the grand Schloss Johannisberg Winery. Alternatively, participate in an active hike through vineyards to the historical Niederwalddenkmal Monument.

EmeraldPLUS

Wine visit and tasting at Schloss Johannisberg

With over one-thousand-two-hundred years of wine-growing history, Schloss Johannisberg is the birthplace of one of the oldest and noblest grape varieties. Here, on the spectacular grounds of this historical estate, you'll uncover the history of lateharvest wines before sampling some of the finest Riesling wines in production.

Active hike to Niederwalddenkmal Monument

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Mainz Cathedral, Germany

Day 8 Mainz

Your day will start with a tour of Mainz. Mainz is famous for its university, Roman heritage, and Johannes Gutenberg’s movable-type printing press, as honoured in the Gutenberg Museum.

Guided Tour of Mainz

Visit to Gutenberg Museum & workshop

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 9 Kehl – Strasbourg

This morning, we’ll dock in Kehl and take a coach to the medieval city of Strasbourg. Embark on an EmeraldPLUS traditional canal boat tour.

Vineyards near Rüdesheim, Germany

Relax as you pass through petite France, witness the covered bridges and the Vauban Dam before reaching the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Neustadt imperial quarter. This afternoon, enjoy free time to explore.

Canal boat tour in Strasbourg

Excursion to Riquewihr

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10 Breisach - Colmar

Commence your morning with a tour of Colmar. As you walk down the cobbled lanes, you’ll become spellbound by the enchanting surroundings. Alternatively, embark on a canoeing adventure on the banks of the Rhine.

Guided tour of Colmar

Canoeing on the Rhine

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 11 Basel - Zurich

After breakfast, it’s time to say farewell to your fellow guests. Disembark your Star-Ship for your transfer to the airport and take with you memories of terraced vineyards and castles you have visited.

Meals: Breakfast

This itinerary is only a guide. Our itineraries are regularly reviewed by our journey planners and may be revised once the brochure is published. Due to operational reasons, such as high and low water or local restrictions, cruise inclusions may change from those advertised. For the latest information on this itinerary please visit our website. Our full terms and conditions can be found on pages 142-145.

2024 Pricing And Special Offers

pages 118-121). For Full terms and conditions see pages 142-145