The Award Winning Leader in Escorted Worldwide Rail Holidays
Enjoy a fantastic New Year break cruising along the marvellous Rhine. From the comfort of the luxurious 5-star MS Amadeus Silver II, we take in the stunning scenery and some of Europe's prettiest towns, and see in the New Year in style.
We depart St Pancras International by Eurostar to Brussels, travelling in Standard Premier Class, enjoying a light meal and drinks on board. In Brussels we change trains and continue on the high-speed service to Cologne. On arrival we transfer to our floating hotel for the next seven nights, the 5-star MS Amadeus Silver II. After time to settle in, we enjoy a welcome cocktail ahead of dinner, and set sail towards Koblenz.
We arrive in Rüdesheim, a picturesque wine town nestled beneath the vineyards. Here you can take a stroll through the quaint streets lined with half-timbered houses or you may wish to visit Siegfried's Mechanical Music Museum on our optional excursion. With a collection of over 300 automated musical instruments from the 18th to 20th century, the museum is a delight to wander around.
Our cruise continues to Mainz, a city established by the Romans at the confluence of the Rhine and Main rivers. Here you can enjoy an optional city tour including the Gutenberg Museum, which tells the story of printing pioneer Johannes Gutenberg. His bible was the first major printed work, and was printed in the city in the 15th century.
We spend today in the French city of Strasbourg, located on the west bank of the Rhine. Steeped in heritage, Strasbourg's town centre enjoys UNESCO World Heritage status and is a delight to explore. Admire the sights independently, or perhaps join the optional city tour. Among the city's many highlights are the delightful Old Town, the imposing, magnificent pink sandstone Gothic Cathedral and the stunning Petite France quarter, an area of picturesque half-timbered houses, dotted with mills and criss-crossed by canals from the River Ill.
Today we arrive in Basel. Here we have the opportunity of taking a guided tour of this beautiful Swiss city that stands at the point where Switzerland, France and Germany meet, and provides Switzerland with its only navigable outlet to the sea. Basel is home to many museums and art galleries including the world famous Beyeler Collection, home to works of art by Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet and Pablo Picasso. The historic Old Town contains lively shopping streets that connect the two main squares, while medieval town houses and churches line the steep lanes that lead up towards the majestic Münster, dominating the skyline from high above the Rhine. This evening we welcome in the New Year on board our ship with a wonderful New Year's Eve party, in which we enjoy a special dinner and festivities including dancing.
Enjoy a leisurely New Year's Day, as we cruise along the upper Rhine. Relax as the picturesque scenery slips past the window - giving you the opportunity to simply relax and enjoy the many on board amenities. You could indulge in a massage, or just relax in the panoramic lounge after last night's festivities.
This morning we arrive in Speyer. On arrival, an optional city walk gives you chance to see the highlights of Speyer, an imperial city with a famous Romanesque cathedral. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, the cathedral is of great importance in Germany, and is the final resting place of eight German emperors and kings. You may also wish to take in the attractive architecture of the Maximilianstrasse, before we continue our cruise to Mannheim, located at the point where the Rhine and Neckar rivers meet. Here you have chance to discover the sights of the city and its famous city squares.
This morning we arrive in Oberwesel, where you have the opportunity to discover this delightful town during an optional walking tour. After lunch we spend the afternoon cruising along the magnificent Rhine Gorge towards Koblenz, passing sleepy villages overlooked by brooding hilltop castles. In the early afternoon we arrive in Koblenz, situated at the northern end of the scenic Rhine Gorge, and the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. During your time here you can choose to join an optional guided walking tour, discovering the sights of the city including the 'Deutsches Eck', where the two rivers meet.
We arrive in Cologne this morning. Here we disembark the ship and make the short transfer to Cologne station by coach to join the high-speed rail service to Brussels. On arrival in the Belgian capital we connect with the Eurostar service back to London. Travelling in Standard Premier Class, we enjoy a light meal and drinks on board before our arrival at St Pancras International.
Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.
Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.
An escorted experience and all travel arrangements
Comfortable accommodation in your destination
Delicious meals included
Exciting excursions and free time to explore
Enhancing your tour
Your records will show that my wife and I have enjoyed several
holidays with Great Rail Journeys including the most recent one on
the Rhine over Christmas. This does give me the opportunity to
express our appreciation for the cabin upgrade which certainly made
this trip even more pleasurable.
The MS Amadeus was brilliant, owned by a company new to us. It's a
splendid vessel with friendly crew, good accommodation and
excellent food. Overall a good experience.
We thoroughly enjoyed this trip and we will continue to use your
company on future occasions. Meanwhile, we wish you all at Great
Rail Journeys a prosperous and Happy New Year.
I'm dreaming - not dreading - a white christmas with Great Rail
Journeys!
2009
Good thing you don't get significant snow before Christmas. Oops!
Wrong type of snow in France. No Eurostar trains. Panic! Panic!
Phone Great Rail Journeys. "Fear not we'll get you there somehow."
They did. Result was a happy white Christmas holiday in the Black
Forest. Well done Great Rail Journeys.
2010
Couldn't happen again two years on the trot, could it? Oops! Lots
of snow, Eurostar trains cancelled, half mile queue at St Pancras.
Panic! Panic! Phone Great Rail Journeys. "Fear not we'll get you
there somehow." They did. Result was a wonderful white Christmas on
the Rhine with the best food we've ever had - 5-star fine
dining.
In summary: thanks Great Rail Journeys. Without you we would
presumably had a somewhat different Christmas with John Betjeman at
St Pancras Station. Again, thanks. Doubt any other tour company can
top your performance on so many levels.
Yes, our holiday has ended and we are home, reflecting on our most recent Great Rail Journeys tour. The thing about GRJ is that we are guaranteed consistent quality and high standards throughout: of Tour Manager, accommodation, excursions and the whole holiday package.
We are left to enjoy, stress free, the break we have paid for. Nothing is too much trouble and the professional, knowledgeable and experienced way the Tour Manager guides us from A to B is amazing, yet we know we can relax as soon as the holiday starts.
GRJ never fail to understand their customers and they have always got it right for us. On this occasion the high level of water in the Rhine was such to necessitate an alteration in itinerary. The smoothness of such a major change went unnoticed.
Again, a tribute to the behind-the-scenes organisation and true team work. Timings on board were varied to accommodate our needs to maximise the best possible stay, and we thank you for allowing us time in Heidelberg - a lovely old town with beautiful photo opportunities that is not to be missed.
Enjoy New Year cruising along the Rhine
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