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River CruiseRiver Cruise

A Tale of Three Rivers: Danube, Main & Rhine

 
4.0 stars(24 reviews)
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202520262027
Duration
9 days
From per person
£2,599 £2,199
Tour code
RMR25
Mobility Rating 2
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Rail & Cruise

Discover nine enchanting cities on a luxurious river cruise filled with cultural charm, historic treasures, medieval wonders and a wine-tasting experience

Set sail on an extraordinary nine-day river cruise aboard the renowned Amadeus Imperial. Along the way, experience the enchanting allure of Regensburg and visit the historically significant Weltenburg Abbey, Bavaria's oldest Benedictine monastery. This cruise, aboard a ship featuring five-Star dining and luxurious cabins, blends historical discovery with unparalleled onboard comfort.

The holiday highlights include wandering through the medieval streets of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, sampling fine wines in Würzburg's Baroque setting, and delving into the timeless beauty of Bamberg and Miltenberg. Our experience ends in Mainz, at the heart of Germany's wine country, admiring its ancient Romanesque cathedral.

Unforgettable experiences

Regensburg
Regensburg
Discover the historic charm of Regensburg renowned for its inspiring medieval architecture.
Bamberg
Bamberg
Experience the beauty of Bamberg, where quaint half-timbered houses line the riverside, known as Little Venice.
Rothenburg
Rothenburg
Travel Germany’s uplifting Romantic Road to delightful Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a UNESCO World-Heritage site known for its well-preserved medieval walls.
Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Visit Nuremberg for a guided tour of the city’s captivating history and culture.
Würzburg Residenz
Würzburg Residenz
Savour world-class wines during a tour and tasting at the magnificent Würzburg Residenz.

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

DAY1To cosmopolitan Frankfurt

Our 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 attractive Romerplatz, an old trading square where merchants used to sell their goods and where you can find the historic Rathaus building.

Please note - For departure 3rd September (Standard Class) we will stay at the Intercity Wiesbaden hotel in Wiesbaden.

For departure 3rd September (First Class), we will stay at Maritim Wurzburg in Wurzburg.

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

We journey by rail to Passau where our luxurious ship awaits us and we're welcomed on board with a refreshing cocktail in the lounge. After settling into your wonderful cabin and familiarising yourself with our magnificent ship, we indulge in our first delicious five-course dinner on board.

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

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
DAY3Day 3 – Charming Regensburg and captivating 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 which sits on a scenic bend of the Danube Gorge - a magical setting. The Abbey is a magnificent example of Baroque architecture, with its stunning frescoes, intricate stucco work, and grand façade that is both imposing and inviting.

One of its highlights is the stunning baroque altar, which is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. The high altar is an exquisitely carved masterpiece that is richly 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. The beer, which is brewed using traditional methods, is made from local ingredients and is renowned for its rich, full-bodied flavour.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY4Day 4 – Fascinating 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 enchanting Altstadt marketplace. There's a unique charm here, from the vibrant figurines to the striking 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 – Historic Bamberg

We arrive and moor in beautiful 9th-century Bamberg this morning. Exploring this medieval town on a guided tour, we see the stunning Bamberg Cathedral and the charming 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 – Medieval Rothenburg ob der Tauber and wine-tasting in Würzburg

Mooring in Ochsenfurt this morning, we drive along Bavaria's wonderful 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 atmospheric cobbled lanes, past brightly painted houses and characterful squares, taking in the city's fascinating history and culture. After the tour, we rejoin our ship in Würzburg for lunch before continuing on 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 – Discovering 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 we visit 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 have the pleasure of touring it with a guide. As we explore, one of the most notable landmarks is the castle which sits 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 – Delightful Mainz

In the heart of Germany's winelands, Mainz has a fascinating ancient history. We explore it today on a guided tour, seeing its 1,000-year-old Romanesque cathedral, the Mainz Dom, and walking among the city's lovely half-timbered buildings. Returning to our ship, we enjoy 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 for the Eurostar service to London St Pancras where 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.

Find out more
MS Amadeus Imperial 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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Amadeus Imperial 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 Imperial Cabin B1| Great Rail Journeys
Deluxe Stateroom - Middle Deck

Deluxe Staterooms

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MS Amadeus Imperial 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.

Collected by Trustpilot

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.

Collected by Trustpilot

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

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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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