b'THE RHINE GORGETHE MAJESTIC RHINE Day 1 - London and Basel Day 4- Rdesheim and the Rhine GorgeOur holiday begins at London St Pancras, where we join theWe sail into the classic German town of Rdesheim am Rhein, Eurostar to Paris. From here, we continue into the Swiss city ofknown for its wine-making, with its delicious Riesling wines Basel, where we board our 5-Star ship. This evening, we enjoyparticularly renowned. Enjoy free time here; perhaps take a a welcome cocktail before indulging in a delicious Swiss themedstroll by the river, or visit the famous Drsselgasse, lined with meal - an excellent opportunity to socialise with the rest of ourtraditional pubs and wine cellars. group. This afternoon we enjoy a highlight of our cruise as we travel Day 2 - Strasbourg through the Rhine Gorge. A UNESCO-listed World Heritage site, as we sail along, were immersed in a fairytale world of riverside We cruise into the French city of Strasbourg today, nestled oncastles, sloping vineyards, and ancient forests.the German-French border. The citys position means it hasFor lunch, we tuck into a themed buffet. A sucking pig serves changed hands between the two nations frequently throughoutas the striking centrepiece accompanied by several other history, and today it truly represents the best of both cultures,local dishesthe perfect way to get an authentic taste of with colourful half-timbered houses and cobbled streets.local culture. This evening, we arrive in the enchanting city of You have two choices of excursions. Your first option is a cityKoblenz. With some time to explore at your own pace, you may tour of Strasbourg. The tour takes you around the citys mostlike to visit one of the famous wine taverns.famous spots, including the Cathedral, showcasing the best of its charm and history. Your second option is to travel by roadDay 5 - The Lower Rhine and the Drachenfelsbahndeep into the Black Forest, a journey that takes in the fairytaleLeaving Koblenz this morning, we sail onwards through the panoramas of one of Germanys most iconic regions. Lower Rhine, admiring views across its lush green meadows Day 3 - Speyer and Heidelberg and postcard villages.On the way, we learn about the fascinating history of the area We arrive in Speyer this morning, where theres free time toas our Cruise Director highlights points of interest throughout explore. This town is home to one of the largest privately- the journey. We arrive in Koenigswinter, where we embark on owned collections of vehicles in the world, the Technik Museuma trip on the Drachensfelbahn railway. This rack railway climbs Speyer. Featuring an entire jumbo jet, army vehicles, emergencysteeply up the side of a mountain close to the banks of the river, vehicles, a submarine and much more, this museum is arevealing wonderful views across the Rhine-Westphalia region. treasure trove of vehicular delights and is well worth a visit.Later we have an excursion to the university town of Heidelberg,Day 6 - Colognewhich we discover on a guided tour. Heidelberg has a history asWe arrive in Cologne, a vibrant German city which we discover a city loved by poets, writers, and artists, and is famous for theon a walking tour. We see the centuries-old cathedral, a ruined castle that stands guard over the riverbanks, looking overstructure which survived 14 aerial hits during World War II. We the town below. also wander through the bustling squares and streets lined with Romanesque townhouses. Tonight, enjoy an opportunity 26 THE RHINE Visit your local Travel Agent for more information'