The Majestic Rhine: Basel to Amsterdam

Your holiday begins this morning as we meet at London St Pancras before boarding the Eurostar to Paris. From the French capital, we continue by rail to Basel.

On arrival in this Swiss city close to the borders with Germany and France, we board our luxury cruise ship and are welcomed by our wonderful crew. There's time to relax into our new home on the river and familiarise yourself with the ship's excellent facilities.

This evening, we enjoy a welcome cocktail before dinner in the panoramic restaurant and set sail on an overnight cruise on the Rhine.

• Dinner

Sailing into the historic Alsace city of Strasbourg after breakfast, there's a choice of two wonderful excursions. The first is a trip into the magical Black Forest to witness stunning views. Germany's largest nature park filled with rolling hills, fairytale villages, dense forests and wildflower meadows. On an exploration of this idyllic setting, you'll learn about the enchanting history and folklore of the region.

Alternatively, you could enjoy a city tour of Strasbourg. Alsace is now in France but was once part of Germany. The grand architecture of its main city reflects this blend of the two cultures. On the tour, we visit its striking cathedral and the quaint La Petite France district. Home to tanners, millers and fishermen in the Middle Ages, this pretty area is now a UNESCO World Heritage site of cobbled streets, flower-lined canals and beautiful half-timbered houses.

Back on our ship this evening, we enjoy drinks with dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Optional Excursions

Strasbourg City Tour

On the tour, we visit its striking cathedral and the quaint La Petite France district. Home to tanners,... More

Black Forest

Explore the magical Black Forest to witness stunning views. Germany's largest nature park filled with rolling... More

During breakfast, we can admire views of the Upper Rhine as we glide northwards to Speyer.

There is a choice of excursions today, and you can opt to stay in Speyer to discover one of Germany's oldest cities at your own pace. There's a beautiful Old Town and among the highlights is the cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Alternatively, join a coach trip to charming Heidelberg for a guided tour. The university town is known for its pretty Old Town and stunning riverfront which is perfect for a relaxing stroll. Our tour includes a visit to the magnificent ruined, red sandstone castle that towers over the city, providing amazing views of the surrounding forests and river.

Returning to our ship, we enjoy dinner ahead of a restful overnight sailing upstream.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, we travel through charming Rüdesheim aboard a land train, arriving in the centre of the renowned wine town. Here, there's a choice of excursions. You could savour Rüdesheim's most famous produce with a tasting of the finest local varieties of wine or discover Europe's largest collection of mechanical instruments at Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet. Afterwards, there's time at leisure.

We begin sailing this afternoon and enjoy a highlight of the holiday - gliding through the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO-listed section renowned for its spectacular views. Winding around bends surrounded by miles of vineyards, hilltop castles and picturesque towns, we also hear the legend of the Lorelei Rock. Soaring almost 500 feet out of the water, this monument has been the inspiration for countless myths and legends, including the tale of a siren whose song has enchanted passing sailors.

Arriving in the city of Koblenz, you have time to explore. We recommend visiting Deutsches Eck at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle. Later, we make our way back to the ship, where dinner is served onboard.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Setting sail early this morning, our luxurious ship navigates the tranquil waters of the Moselle River. After a morning of relaxed cruising past the rolling hills of the Moselle Valley, we arrive in Cochem. This attractive town is a maze of slender alleys adorned with pastel-coloured buildings and half-timbered houses, dominated by the 11th-century Reichsburg Castle.

After lunch onboard, we embark on a guided tour where we admire the fairytale Reichsburg. In Cochem's Old Town, we find well-preserved sections of the ancient walls and a former monastery that now houses a cultural centre. Following the tour, there's time to explore the picturesque streets at leisure. The central square is surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and shops. It's a great place to soak up the local atmosphere.

We continue sailing after dinner on board as we journey back downstream towards Koblenz, where we leave the Moselle behind and rejoin the Rhine.

*Please note: On the departure sailing 10/06/2025, the excursion to Cochem will be by coach due to maintenance on the locks

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Docking in Königswinter this morning, we return to shore after breakfast for a fantastic trip on the Drachenfels Cog Railway. Rising high into the forests, we pass the fairytale Drachenburg Castle - whose name translates as 'Dragon's Rock' and has inspired many of the dragon-related legends still heard today. Travelling to the summit, we can admire wonderful views across the rolling hills of the Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany.

Back onboard this afternoon, we continue our cruise through beautiful scenery towards Cologne. During the approach, the city's bridges and imposing cathedral hone into view. On arrival, a guided tour introduces us to its lively squares and Romanesque townhouses before a visit the city's impressive twin-spired cathedral, the largest in northern Europe. Standing in awe of this Gothic masterpiece, we also view the stained-glass windows of this UNESCO-listed landmark.

Returning to our ship, we enjoy dinner and drinks before embarking on an overnight cruise towards the Netherlands.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We spend the early morning sailing through the Lower Rhine, with a change in scenery further downstream as we approach the Netherlands. Arriving in Amsterdam early this afternoon, we take a canal cruise sightseeing tour of Amsterdam, a cultural city that's as modern as it is historic, soaking up stunning views of the city's picturesque canals and architecture.

Alternatively, take the optional excursion - a visit to Volendam and Edam to uncover their cheese heritage. As well as being famed for Dutch cheese, Volendam is a stunning old town, with traditional houses lining serene canals and a small harbour.

Back on board our ship this evening, we gather for a gala dinner accompanied by the songs of the Dutch sea shanty choir - the perfect end to our Rhine cruise.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Optional Excursions

Amsterdam Canal Cruise

Take a wonderful canal boat tour of vibrant Amsterdam, a city famous for its pretty canals and bridges,... More

Uncovering Volendam

Visit Volendam and Edam to uncover their cheese heritage. As well as being famed for Dutch cheese, Volendam... More

Sailing from the Swiss city of Basel to the Dutch capital, Amsterdam, has showcased the changing landscapes of the Rhine, from the Black Forest to the Netherlands' tulip fields. Gliding through the stunning Rhine Gorge and along the meandering Moselle allowed us to soak up breathtaking scenes from our front-row seats.

After breakfast, it's time to disembark and say goodbye to our crew. We make our way to the railway station and head towards Brussels where we catch the Eurostar to London St Pancras. Arriving in London this evening, your delightful Rhine cruise experience comes to an end.

• Breakfast