Jungfrau Express & The Rhine Valley in Flames

Today we meet at London St Pancras. Our holiday begins as we board the Eurostar to Amsterdam, where our magnificent ship awaits us.

This evening, we enjoy a welcome cocktail before dinner, which is accompanied by a wonderful performance from a traditional Dutch Sea Shanty choir - the perfect start to our cruise.

• Dinner

We head into Amsterdam for a guided tour this morning. From idyllic canals and large parks to contemporary art galleries and futuristic architecture, this is a lively city that's as modern as it is historic. On the tour, you'll see some of the city's most iconic landmarks, including the Rijksmuseum and Dam Square.

During a delightful lunch on board, we begin sailing upstream through the Lower Rhine, embarking on our first relaxing cruise of the holiday.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

As we approach Cologne this afternoon, we see the magnificent bridges that span the river and the imposing Cathedral. We enjoy a walking tour of the city and, as we explore its vibrant streets and lively squares, we admire the Romanesque townhouses before visiting the city's impressive Gothic cathedral which is the largest in Northern Europe. The intricate spires and detail of this UNESCO-listed landmark are captivating as we marvel at the grand architecture.

Leaving Cologne this morning, we head to Königswinter where we journey on the Drachenfelsbahn railway. This fabulous cog railway rises high into the forests, passing the fairytale Drachenfels castle - which is said to have been the inspiration for the castle in Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty'. The viewing platform at the top provides wonderful vistas, across the evergreen hills and meadows, to the meandering Rhine in the distance.

Drifting away from Königswinter after lunch, we soak up the enchanting Middle Rhine. As we sail through this captivating stretch of river towards Koblenz - characterised by lush green meadows and postcard villages - our Cruise Director narrates its intriguing history and highlights.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Waking up in Koblenz this morning, there's time as leisure to explore this historic city, once a Roman stronghold. We recommend strolling to Deutsches at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. From the viewing point, you'll be surrounded by breathtaking views in every direction including the two rivers and the Roman cityscape. After lunch back on board, we commence a highlight of our cruising experience - sailing through the romantic Rhine Gorge.

This section of the Rhine is renowned for its spectacular views and the best place to witness them is from the top deck of our ship. The riverbanks plunge deeper here, and we wind around bends surrounded by endless miles of lush green vineyards, ancient castles, and picturesque riverside towns. It's also one of the narrowest points of the river with one of the strongest currents.

As we sail, we hear the fascinating story of the legendary Lorelei Rock which soars almost 500 feet out of the water. This monument has been the inspiration for countless myths and legends, and we hear of them as we sail by.

This evening, we dock in Oberwesel for the spectacular Rhine in Flames procession. This event is a stunning procession of illuminated boats, fireworks and music along the Rhine River. It's a breathtaking display of colours, lights and sounds that brings together locals and visitors alike to celebrate summer nights with a sense of magic, romance and community.

We have a great vantage point from our ship and we celebrate as the sky lights up, the city is illuminated, and the river shimmers with vibrant colours. At the end of the procession, we begin sailing overnight.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sailing to charming Speyer, in the afternoon we step ashore and take in the sights of this historic German city and its cathedral. We then journey to the picturesque university town of Heidelberg, known for its lovely Old Town and stunning riverfront which is perfect for a relaxing stroll.

Here, we enjoy a guided tour including a visit to the magnificent ruined, red sandstone castle that towers over the city, providing amazing views of the surrounding forests, river, and cityscape. We return to our ship later for dinner and a restful overnight sailing.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, we sail into the charming French city of Strasbourg, where you have a choice between two fantastic excursions.

The first is a magical trip into the Black Forest, to witness stunning fairytale panoramas. Experience the beauty of Germany's largest nature park filled with rolling hills, picturesque villages, dense forests, and meadows dotted with wildflowers. As you explore this fairytale setting, you'll learn about the enchanting history and folklore of the region.

Alternatively, you could enjoy a city tour of Strasbourg, where you'll discover its fascinating history, admire its grand architecture and experience its unique character. The city sits on the French-German border and blends the best of the two cultures, with colourful half-timbered houses and cobbled streets. On our tour, we visit the cathedral and the quaint La Petite France district.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We enjoy our last breakfast onboard this morning before we disembark in Strasbourg and head to the stunning setting of Interlaken today. We make our way by rail to this picturesque town, set between two idyllic Alpine lakes, in Switzerland. Our hotel is well located, allowing for a leisurely stroll through the charming historic streets. When the skies are clear, the view of the valley is simply incredible, offering a panoramic vista of the stunning Bernese Oberland.

As we settle into our hotel for the next two nights, you can explore the town at your leisure or simply relax and soak up our new incredible surroundings before dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We enjoy a highlight of our holiday today, a journey to Jungfraujoch - Europe's highest station. Boarding the sensational Jungfrau Express at Kleine Scheidegg, we're accompanied by an expert guide. As the train winds its way up the mountain, we soak up the breathtaking views of the surrounding alpine landscape and pause at the halfway station.

Our guide delights us with a fascinating talk about the mountains and geology around us, and describes the history and construction of this remarkable railway line as we keep climbing, the views getting more spectacular the higher we go. When we reach Jungfraujoch, the vistas from the Sphinx viewing platform are truly awe-inspiring. At the top, we're close to the stunning Aletsch Glacier - a World Heritage wonder - which stretches as far as the eye can see.

We return to Interlaken via the scenic Swiss mountain village of Grindelwald where you have time to stroll around before dinner back at our hotel this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, it's time to bid farewell to lovely Interlaken. We make our way to the railway station and head towards Strasbourg through Basel where we catch Eurostar bound for London St Pancras. Here, we say goodbye to new friends and fellow travellers.

• Breakfast