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The Majestic Rhine

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You are viewing the 2024 itinerary. Select your departure year
20242025
8 days From £1,895 per person
4.3 stars(121 reviews)
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Rail & Cruise

Experience the breathtaking beauty of the majestic Rhine on a luxurious cruise.

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Free cabin upgrade worth up to £600pp on July & August 2024 sailings, when you book by 2nd April 2024. This is a Call Only Offer, quote CABIN at time of booking.

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2024 Tour code: RLR24

About the tour

Experience the spectacular scenery of the Rhine river, including the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site adorned with stunning castles, lush forests, and sprawling vineyards. Sail by forested valleys and charming riverside towns while exploring remarkable cities and medieval towns in France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Discover the sights of enchanting Strasbourg, the magical allure of the Black Forest, and the timeless elegance of Heidelberg.

Interested in this tour but haven't found a date that works for you?
You might also like our similar tour The Romantic Rhine!

Unforgettable experiences

Rhine Gorge
Rhine Gorge
Journey through the enchanting, Romantic Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site with spellbinding castles, verdant forests, vineyard-clad slopes, and the dramatic Lorelei Rock.
Rüdesheim
Rüdesheim
Explore Rüdesheim and the famous Drosselgasse, a quaint narrow alleyway lined with traditional pubs and wine cellars.
Drachenfelsbahn cog railway
Drachenfelsbahn cog railway
Reach the summit of the majestic Drachenfels on the exhilarating Drachenfelsbahn cog railway to enjoy the splendid views.
Amsterdam and Medemblik Steam Train
Amsterdam and Medemblik Steam Train
Immerse yourself in Amsterdam, a melting pot of cultures or ride the Medemblik Steam Train through the Dutch countryside.
Heidelberg
Heidelberg
Visit the ‘Jewel of Germany’, Heidelberg on a guided tour, delving into the highlights of this picturesque riverside city.
Cologne
Cologne
Discover the lively streets of Cologne and its Gothic cathedral, a timeless masterpiece.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 – To Strasbourg where we board our luxurious ship

Our holiday begins as we meet at London St Pancras before boarding the Eurostar to Paris, this morning. From here, we continue by rail to the enchanting city of Strasbourg, where our magnificent ship awaits us.

As we settle into our home on the river, we're warmly greeted with a welcome cocktail before dinner.

 

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 – The enchanting Black Forest or striking Strasbourg

Today, there's a choice of two wonderful 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.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 –Traditional Heidelberg and Lovely Speyer

Waking to views of charming Speyer, you can choose to enjoy a guided tour of Heidelberg today. The picturesque university town is known for its lovely 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, river, and cityscape. If you'd prefer to stay in Speyer, you can discover the city at your own pace. There's a beautiful Old Town and among the highlights is the city's cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Returning to our ship for lunch, we enjoy a scenic afternoon cruise. Sailing downstream, we pass the famous Roman city of Mainz and spa town of Wiesbaden and arrive in Rüdesheim early this evening. After dinner, you could enjoy the sounds and sights of the captivating town, famous for its delicious white wine, especially the dry Riesling variety.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 – Charming Rüdesheim, the magical Rhine Gorge, and picturesque Koblenz

This morning, we have time at leisure to explore Rudesheim and wander its cobbled streets and see the charming half-timbered houses, quaint shops, and enticing wine bars in the Drosselgasse alley. Later we enjoy a highlight of our cruising experience - sailing through the romantic Rhine Gorge. This section of the Rhine is renowned for its spectacular views. 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.

Our journey through the Rhine Gorge comes to a close, and we moor in the town of Koblenz, located at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. You have time to explore and we recommend strolling to Deutsches Eck where you'll be surrounded by inspiring vistas including the mighty Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Later, we make our way back to the ship, where dinner is served onboard.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 - The magical Middle Rhine and the wonderful Drachenfelsbahn

During breakfast this morning, we cruise the enchanting Middle Rhine, sailing by riverbanks lined with lush green meadows and pretty villages as our Cruise Director narrates the region's history and highlights points of interest along the way.

In the afternoon, we dock in 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'. We experience wonderful views across the Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany as we climb higher.

Back onboard, we continue our cruise through delightful scenery toward Cologne. As we approach the striking city just before dinner, admire the fantastic cityscape of magnificent bridges that span the river and the imposing Cathedral.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 – Lively Cologne

Our views this morning are of vibrant Cologne where we enjoy a tour of the city after breakfast. 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 magnificent stained glass windows of this UNESCO-listed landmark are captivating as we marvel at the grand architecture.

We then head back to our cruise ship for a relaxed lunch before beginning our cruise through the Lower Rhine, with a change in scenery as we sail downstream towards Holland. As the ship glides along the river, we enjoy another evening of delicious food and drinks onboard.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 – Vibrant Amsterdam and the Medemblik Steam Train

We arrive in Amsterdam where we spend the full day and have the choice of two exciting excursions. The first is a city tour of Amsterdam, a vibrant 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. You'll also get to explore the famous Flower Market and enjoy a canal boat cruise, soaking up stunning views of the city's picturesque canals and architecture.

Alternatively, you could journey through the enchanting Hoorn countryside aboard the Medemblik Steam Train. Admire the picturesque landscape of tulip fields, windmills, and charming villages - the epitome of Dutch culture.

We return to our ship for a final dinner accompanied by the delightful songs of the Dutch Sea Shanty Choir - the perfect end to our magnificent cruise.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 – Homeward bound

After breakfast, it's time to disembark and say goodbye to our wonderful crew. We make our way to the railway station and head towards Brussels where we catch the Eurostar to London St Pancras. Here, we say goodbye to new friends and fellow travellers.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Info - Travel Options

We offer a Standard Class and First Class rail options for departures on this tour. You can find out which class each departure is by clicking on the information button in the pricing grid. (Look for S - Standard Class and F - First Class)

Departure times

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.

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.

Trains

Drachenfels Railway
Eurostar
Medemblik Steam Train
Thalys

Ships

MS Amadeus Imperial
MS Amadeus Star

Enhance your holiday

Upgrades

London Hotels
UK rail connections

Reviews

4.3 stars4.3 / 5 · 121 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (63)
  2. 4 stars
    (45)
  3. 3 stars
    (7)
  4. 2 stars
    (3)
  5. 1 star
    (3)

Robert

5 stars

Submitted 14 Oct 2023

Modern boat with competent staff and excellent cuisine. Good balance with excursions and free time to relax and excellent value for money. Helpful and customer focused on board tour manager..

Collected by Trustpilot

Mr James Emerson

4 stars

Submitted 14 Oct 2023

Cruise and the boat deserve five stars. Food superb. Excursions less so (two stars). Apart from Amsterdam the guides were not well prepared and appeared to have given little thought to what they should be saying and when they should say it. Why you should be suggesting the steam railway beggars belief. A complete waste of time when there was so much to enjoy in Amsterdam

Collected by Trustpilot

Roger Arlidge

4 stars

Submitted 13 Oct 2023

The cruise through the Rhine Gorge was perfect.

Collected by Trustpilot

John Lawson

5 stars

Submitted 09 Oct 2023

A great holiday that was relaxing and informative. The staff were attentive and friendly and the food was well served and of a very high standard. Our Cruise Manager worked really hard to ensure that everything went well without being pushy or overpowering. Everything ran to time and they even managed to give us good weather.

Collected by Trustpilot

David Smith

4 stars

Submitted 09 Oct 2023

Great cruise but rail connections unsatisfactory. Departure times too late, too much wasted time during transits. One leg was downgraded to second class because of "overbooking"!

Collected by Trustpilot

MR LOCKWOOD

5 stars

Submitted 09 Oct 2023

The trip was very well organised, the ship, its staff and the food were very good. We particularly liked the fact that shore excursions guides were grouped into four speeds, catering for the elderly as well as the predominantly fit middle-aged passengers. At no time did we find ourselves stressed on the slow walking tours. The scenery was beautiful for most of the trip. Thoroughly recommended! One small organisational detail: One reports to the GRJ office in St Pancras and is given a plan of its location but this relies on referring to a major store location. There are two such branches in St Pancras and the plan does not specify adequately which one. Additionally the GRJ office is only identified by a smallish portable sign several feet inside the office out of hours.

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