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Germany & Eastern Europe
River CruiseRiver Cruise

A Tale of Three Rivers: Danube, Main & Rhine

 
4.0 stars(24 reviews)
You are viewing the 2026 itinerary. Select your departure year
202520262027
Duration
9 days
From per person
£2,799
Tour code
RMR26
Mobility Rating 2
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View Dates & Pricing
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Discover nine enchanting cities on a luxurious river cruise filled with cultural charm, historic treasures, medieval wonders and a wine-tasting experience

This nine-day river cruise featuring five-star dining and luxurious cabins, blends historical discovery with unparalleled onboard comfort.

Experience Regensburg, visit Weltenburg Abbey, Bavaria's oldest Benedictine monastery and wander through the medieval streets of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Sample fine wines in Würzburg's Baroque setting and delve into the timeless beauty of Bamberg and Miltenberg. The experience ends in Mainz, at the heart of Germany's wine country, admiring its ancient Romanesque cathedral.

Unforgettable experiences

Touring Regensburg
Touring Regensburg
Stroll through the city’s medieval architecture, Gothic spires, and historic landmarks with an expert guide leading the way in uncovering the centuries-old past of the charming streets.
Discovering Bamberg
Discovering Bamberg
Experience the beauty of Bamberg, where quaint half-timbered houses adorned with colourful flower boxes line the riverside, known as Little Venice in a bygone era of old-world elegance.
Visiting Rothenburg
Visiting Rothenburg
Travel Germany’s Romantic Road to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its well-preserved medieval walls, cobblestone streets and wooden houses.
Exploring Nuremberg
Exploring Nuremberg
Enjoy a guided tour of the city's Old Town with its majestic Kaiserburg Castle, awe-inspiring Gothic churches and Hauptmarkt square, all steeped in history and architectural splendour.
Tasting renowned wines
Tasting renowned wines
Indulge in a luxurious experience as you savour world-class wine varieties during a tour and tasting at the magnificent Würzburg Residence, learning expert craftsmanship.

Discover more amazing experiences

Explore a world of incredible destinations and travel moments, from hidden gems to iconic sights.

Fairytale Bavaria & Three Rivers Cruise

12-day holiday

Discover fairytale Bavaria, before exploring nine enchanting medieval cities on a luxurious river cruise along the lovely Rhine and Danube.

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Itinerary

DAY1A night in Frankfurt

Your holiday begins as we meet at London St Pancras to begin our journey. We ride the Eurostar to Brussels, then continue by rail to Frankfurt, the financial capital of Germany, where we spend our first night. This city is renowned for its Romerplatz, an old trading square where merchants used to sell their goods. During our first dinner together at the hotel, we look forward to the upcoming experiences ahead on our cruise.

Includes
  • Dinner
DAY2Day 2 – To Passau where we board our luxurious ship

Today, we journey by rail to Passau where our luxurious ship awaits us. We're welcomed on board with a refreshing cocktail in the lounge. After settling into your cabin and familiarising yourself with our ship, we sit down to our first dinner on board.

Setting sail into the serene Danube, we begin to see its verdant banks, filled with dense forests that seem to stretch on endlessly and villages that are scattered throughout the landscape

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
DAY3Day 3 – Visiting Regensburg and Weltenburg Abbey

Regensburg is our first port of call this morning, which we discover on a guided city walk. Exploring the historic streets, we see the Dom St Peter cathedral, a grand building with beautiful stained-glass windows.

After lunch, we visit the lovely Weltenburg Abbey. The oldest Benedictine monastery in Bavaria, it sits on a scenic bend of the Danube Gorge. The Abbey is a magnificent example of Baroque architecture, with its stunning frescoes, intricate stucco work, and grand façade.

One of its highlights is the baroque altar, which is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. The high altar is a carved masterpiece decorated with gold leaf and features a beautiful painting of the Annunciation, which is surrounded by an array of stunning sculptures.

The Abbey is also famous for its brewery, which produces some of the finest beer in the world. It is brewed using traditional methods using local ingredients and is renowned for its rich, full-bodied flavour.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY4Day 4 – A guided tour of Nuremberg

At lunchtime, our ship moors into the historic city of Nuremberg - once the unofficial capital of the Holy Roman Empire. On a guided tour, we see the imperial Kaiserburg castle, impressively situated overlooking the Altstadt marketplace. There's a unique charm here, from the figurines to the stone sculptures and murals that vividly depict the city's rich medieval history. During dinner this evening we set sail for Bamberg, cruising overnight.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY5Day 5 – The highlights of Bamberg

We moor in 9th-century Bamberg this morning. Exploring this medieval town on a guided tour, we see the stunning Bamberg Cathedral built in Romanesque and Gothic styles and the district of 'Little Venice' where quaint half-timbered houses line the riverside. During lunch onboard, we begin an overnight cruise on the River Main.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY6Day 6 – Rothenburg ob der Tauber and wine-tasting in Würzburg

Mooring in Ochsenfurt this morning, we drive along Bavaria's Romantic Road to the historic walled town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This small and picturesque city, often referred to as the 'Jewel of Germany', is filled with medieval marvels and was even featured in the classic film 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' due to its perfectly preserved medieval charm.

During a sightseeing tour, we stroll along cobbled lanes, past brightly painted houses and characterful squares, taking in the city's history and culture. After the tour, we rejoin our ship in Würzburg for lunch before continuing to our next stop - the Würzburg Residenz, a grand Baroque palace. Here, we Indulge in a wine-tasting experience, savouring the rich flavours of the region.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY7Day 7 – The history of Wertheim and Miltenberg

This morning we arrive into the town of Wertheim for a guided tour. We see the town's ancient castle which overlooks its medieval centre and marketplace before visiting the Glass Museum. Here, we can admire its extensive collection of glass objects from the past and present.

Next, we head to Miltenberg, a town surrounded by dense green forests and gentle hills. Its medieval centre has been impeccably preserved, and we tour it with a guide. One of its most notable landmarks is the castle on a hilltop, overlooking the town. This 12th-century building has been renovated and restored over the years and now serves as a museum that showcases the town's rich history.

After a morning of exploration, we return to our ship for lunch and begin our next overnight cruise.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY8Day 8 – A morning in Mainz

In the heart of Germany's winelands, Mainz has an ancient history. We explore it today on a guided tour, seeing its 1,000-year-old Romanesque cathedral, the Mainz Dom, admiring the Marienbrunnen fountain, and walking among the city's half-timbered buildings and medieval market squares. Returning to our ship, we watch our final riverside views pass by as we set sail for our last night onboard.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY9Day 9 – Homeward bound

After arriving into Cologne, we say goodbye to our wonderful crew and head to the railway station. This cruise holiday has showcased the historic towns and cities along the Rhine, Danube and Main - from the cathedrals and castles of Regensburg, Nuremberg and Bamberg to the wine tasting in Würzburg and exploring Wertheim, Miltenberg and Mainz. Boarding the Eurostar service to London St Pancras, our holiday comes to an end.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

What’s included on the tour?

Trains & Ships

More information on the different trains and ships that are used on this tour.

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MS Amadeus Cara Cabin DS | Great Rail Journeys
Deluxe Suites - Upper Deck

Travel in luxury and style when you choose one of our Deluxe Suites. Our largest en-suite cabins, at 26.4 square metres, a walk-out balcony, walk-in wardrobe an river-view lounge area.

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MS Amadeus Cara Cabin A1 | Great Rail Journeys
Deluxe Stateroom - Upper Deck

These en-suite cabins are stylish and impressively spacious at 17.5 squre metres, with a panoramic window balcony, walk-in wardrobe and seating area.

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MS Amadeus Cara Cabin B1 | Great Rail Journeys
Deluxe Stateroom - Middle Deck

These en-suite cabins are stylish and impressively spacious at 17.5 squre metres, with a panoramic window balcony, walk-in wardrobe and seating area.

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MS Amadeus Cara Cabin C1 | Great Rail Journeys
Classic Stateroom - Lower Deck

Our Classic Staterooms offer quality, and elegance with space to relax in comfort at the end of the day. And we recognise the importance of having somewhere inviting to retire to after an engaging day of cruising or excursions. These 16 square metre en-suite cabins offer a wide picture window and large walk-in wardrobe.

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Enhance your holiday

London Hotels

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

Read more

We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.

London hotels
UK rail connections

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

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We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.

UK train tickets

Reviews

4.0 stars4.0 / 5 · 24 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (7)
  2. 4 stars
    (11)
  3. 3 stars
    (6)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

Mrs Barbara Gibson

5 stars

Submitted 16 Sep 2024

Excellent cruise. Well organised, interesting holiday. The only fault was the sun deck which was closed due to high water levels, lochs and low bridges for 5 days of the holiday. We had beautiful weather the whole time so was disappointed not to be able to sit up on sun deck. Would definitely travel with this company again if they could make them a bit more affordable for single travelers.

Collected by Trustpilot

Paul Hayes

5 stars

Submitted 15 Sep 2024

Wonderful

Collected by Trustpilot

Margo s

5 stars

Submitted 15 Sep 2024

Wonderful journey through medieval cities of Germany. Lots to, but because of the low bridge and lots of locks, the sun deck wasn't open after the first day till the last day. But a great ship, crew and lots of lovely food.

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J Pepler

5 stars

Submitted 15 Sep 2024

This was an excellent tour. Everything was first class - ship, crew, cabin, restaurant and good walking tours each day. Would highly recommend it.

Collected by Trustpilot

customer

5 stars

Submitted 12 Sep 2024

Comfortable boat. Good food. Excellent local guides.

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John Colvin

5 stars

Submitted 10 Sep 2024

Great Rail Journeys: Medieval Cities of Germany This was a new itinerary for Great Rail, and one that particularly appealed to us. It gave us the opportunity of seeing some old towns, and the attractive River Main, for the first time. All the local guides were interesting and all GR reps did an excellent job. Travelling by boat meant that the schedule of excursions wasn't too demanding The Amadeus Imperial is a relatively new and very comfortable boat. We thought the food on board very good and found all crew members friendly and helpful. Unlike on an ocean cruise, when you rarely meet other passengers more than once, we got to chat with many. The train journeys were generally fast. The train from Nuremberg to Passau runs slower and passes through attractive countryside. There were 3 minor glitches overall, only one of which GRJ might have been able to avoid. We really enjoyed this trip: one of our best GR experiences.

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River Cruise Holidays 2026

Download the brochure

Experience the magic of cruising along some of Europe’s most picturesque waterways. Glide serenely along the romantic Rhine, explore the blue Danube or meander through the enchanting Douro Valley. With our river cruises, you’ll drift through beautiful landscapes and historic towns.

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