The Rhine & Moselle (Amsterdam to Zürich)

Day 1 (Sun) Amsterdam. Fly to Amsterdam where you will be met and transferred to your cruise ship for 13 nights. (D)

Day 2 (Mon) Amsterdam. There is no better way to see the city than by canal boat, cruising through the elegant grachten lined with stately homes dating back to Amsterdam’s ‘Golden Age’. There is plenty of free time to explore on your own. Your Cruise Director will have suggestions on how to make the most of your stay. (B,L,D)

Day 3 (Tue) Schoonhoven – Rotterdam – Dordrecht. Excursion to Kinderdijk. Schoonhoven, nicknamed ‘Zilverstad’, is renowned for its silver and is the home of the International School of Silver. Explore at leisure and maybe visit the Gold, Silver & Clock Museum. Next, sail to Rotterdam, a bustling city that was levelled by German bombs in World War II and now boasts the world’s busiest port. Sitting between two branches of the Rhine, charming Dordrecht inspired many painters in the 17th and 18th centuries. From here, an excursion takes you to Kinderdijk with its picturesque row of windmills. (B,L,D)

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’. (B,L,D)

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 spit of land where the two rivers converge, holds an impressive statue of Wilhelm I. The Moselle River is some 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. (B,L,D)

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. Before dinner, visit a local wine cellar and taste several of this region’s varieties. (B,L,D)

Day 7 (Sat) Trier. The venerable Episcopal city of Trier is the oldest in Germany and, some claim, even older than Rome. A house on the marketplace bears the inscription, ‘Trier was standing 1,300 years before 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. (B,L,D)

Day 8 (Sun) Remich - Excursion to Luxembourg via Schengen. This morning your ship docks at Schengen, Luxembourg, where the Schengen Agreement was signed and the Schengen Visa was born. 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, relax on board while your ship cruises slowly down the Moselle, or join us for an optional excursion to the museum of General Patton, famous from the Battle of the Bulge. (B,L,D)

Day 9 (Mon) 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. (B,L,D)

Day 10 (Tue) 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. (B,L,D)

Day 11 (Wed) Mainz. Excursion to Heidelberg. This morning your ship docks in Mainz, Germany's largest and most important wine market. Gutenberg, the father of modern printing, was born here and you'll visit the Gutenberg Museum. From here you can choose to take a full day or half day excursion to Heidelberg, Germany’s oldest university town. The ruins of the imposing red sandstone castle tower above the city. Of particular interest is the Giant Vat, an 18th century wine cask holding 49,000 gallons. (B,L,D)

Day 12 (Thu) 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 are 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. (B,L,D)

Day 13 (Fri) 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. (B,L,D)

Day 14 (Sat) Zürich. Disembark and transfer to Zürich airport for your flight to the UK. (B)