The Rhine & Moselle 2012

Day 1 (Sun) Amsterdam. Fly to Amsterdam and transfer to your cruise ship for 12 nights. Before dinner, meet your crew at a welcome reception.
Day 2 (Mon) Amsterdam – Volendam. Excursion to Edam. There is no better way to see the city than by canal boat, cruising along elegant grachten lined by stately homes dating back to Amsterdam’s Golden Age. An excursion takes you north of the city to Ijsselmeer and Volendam, a lakeside town with a unique open harbour and a maze of fishermen’s houses built on poles. Continue to Edam, whose cheese of the same name has become famous worldwide and where cheese markets are still held in the summer months. The old town centre, especially the Kwakelsteeg, still has lovely characteristic Waterland houses. Rejoin your ship, and this evening, cruise across Lake Ijsselmeer, the former Zuider Zee.
Day 3 (Tue) Cruise the Gelderse Ijssel – Arnhem. This morning, relax on board as you cruise a branch of the Rhine known as the Gelderse Ijssel, which flows from just east of Arnhem into the Ijsselmeer. This afternoon, enjoy a choice of activities in Arnhem, either joining a guided city sightseeing tour or visiting the fascinating Airbourne Museum Hartenstein, a hotel during WWII that served as the headquarters of the British 1st Airborne Division during the famous Battle of Arnhem.
Day 4 (Wed) Cologne. Cologne is the capital of the Rhineland and one of Germany’s largest cities. The soaring twin steeples of the magnificent gothic cathedral dominate the skyline. The Germano-Roman Museum next to the cathedral is a must for history buffs. Alternatively, the Old Town abounds with taverns, cafés, and shops, where you may wish to try a Kölsch, the favourite local beer, or shop for a bottle of 4711, the original ‘eau de cologne’.
Day 5 (Thu) Koblenz. Situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, 2,000 year old Koblenz is the cultural and business centre of the Middle Rhine region. The Deutsches Eck, located on a tongue of land where the two rivers converge, holds an impressive statue of Wilhelm I. The Moselle River is 312 miles long, rising in the Vosges Mountains of north-eastern France and entering Germany at Trier. The entire Moselle Valley is famous for its beautiful and tranquil scenery.
Day 6 (Fri) Bernkastel. In the middle of the Moselle region is the charming wine village of Bernkastel with its well-preserved half-timbered houses that surround the beautiful market place. Wine growers in this area look after Germany’s largest expanse of vineyards, the most celebrated of the vintages being the Bernkasteler Doktor. Visit a local wine cellar and taste several of this region’s varieties.
Day 7 (Sat) Remich. Excursions to Luxembourg & Trier. A short drive away is Luxembourg, the capital of the Grand Duchy of the same name. The city boasts a large array of historical and cultural sights, which come to life as you visit the city with your Local Guide. This afternoon, visit the venerable Episcopal city of Trier, the oldest in Germany and, some claim, even older than Rome. The Porta Nigra is the only surviving fortified gate from the original Roman settlement and gives access to the town centre. See this and more on the included sightseeing tour.
Day 8 (Sun) Cochem. Today, visit Reichsburg Castle, which sits atop a vine-clad hill. From here the views of Cochem town and the river valley below are splendid. Cruising the wide, peaceful curves of the river, it quickly becomes obvious that the Moselle is an important wine-growing region. Most notably, the Riesling grape is cultivated, producing a dry to sweet, floral white wine.
Day 9 (Mon) Rhine Gorge – Rüdesheim. The dramatic Rhine Gorge is an incredibly beautiful stretch of river. Pass the legendary Lorelei Rock, where it is thought the sweet songs of sirens lured enchanted sailors to their doom. Rüdesheim is the perfect example of a Rhine Valley wine town – enjoy an included visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, as well as free time to explore the Drosselgasse.
Day 10 (Tue) Mainz. Excursion to Heidelberg. This morning your ship docks in Mainz, Germany’s largest and most important wine town. Gutenberg, the father of modern printing, was born here and after a visit to the Gutenberg Museum, head to Heidelberg, Germany’s oldest university town. Enjoy a photo-stop at the ruins of imposing Heidelberg Castle, built of red sandstone and towering above the city, before free time to explore.
Day 11 (Wed) Strasbourg. Situated on the border of France and Germany, Strasbourg is influenced by the culture of both countries and is the capital of the Alsace region. It is the seat of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. Noteworthy sights include the Gothic Cathedral, the lovely Petite France district, Place Kléber and Place Gutenberg with its statue of the inventor of the printing press. An optional excursion to the Alsace wine region is available today.
Day 12 (Thu) Breisach. Excursion to the Black Forest. Located at the foot of Kaiserstuhl Mountain on the French-German border is the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest region, an area of unrivalled natural beauty with its forests of thick pine trees. The region is best known for its Black Forest ham and Black Forest Gateaux.
Day 13 (Fri) Basel – Zürich. Disembark and transfer to Zürich airport for your flight to the UK.