The romantic Rhine Valley and the rock of the Lorelei (port-to-port cruise)

The elegant spa town of Baden-Baden sits on the edge of the Black Forest. The area has been one of rest and relaxation since its founding over 2,000 years ago.  It was known as the “Summer Capital of Europe” in the 19th century, when its clientele included European and Russian royalty and notable artists. During this excursion, we’ll tour the street where the Friedrichsbad Spa is located and also visit the Old Town.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Departure for a guided tour of Koblenz. In the very heart of the picturesque regions around the Rhine and Moselle, Koblenz is surrounded by four low Rhineland mountain ranges and offers visitors a rich panel of cultural monuments and historic buildings. We will be able to see the "Liebfrauenkirche” (the Church of Our Lady) and the Deutsches Eck (German corner) from where we can see the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. We'll then take the funicular up to visit the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress from where the views over the town, the Rhine and the Moselle are breathtaking. Overlooking the mouth of the Moselle and the Rhine Valley, the fortress benefits from a real strategic location. The edifice as we see it today was constructed under Prussian rule in 1817. Return on board.

PLEASE NOTE

• Sturdy shoes are strongly recommended.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

The Treetop Walk is a canopy walkway located in the heart of the Black Forest.  The hike begins at ground level but progressively takes you into the air, culminating at a 131-foot observation tower. On our tour, our guide will take time to explain the plants and wildlife found in the region. Once atop, you’ll be able to see the Swabian Alps, the Kraichgau region, and even the TV tower in Stuttgart. And if you are really daring, you can take the 180-foot tunnel slide to the bottom! (Additional cost to be paid on site).

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Accompanied by your guides, set off to discover the majestic Mainz Cathedral(1), one of the most important religious buildings in Germany. Founded in 975, this millennium-old cathedral dominates the historic heart of the city and stands as a remarkable testament to the spiritual and political role Mainz has played over the centuries. You will admire its impressive architecture, blending Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque influences, as well as the many treasures it houses. This iconic monument, which has witnessed the passage of emperors, archbishops, and major figures of German history, remains today one of the most prestigious symbols of the Rhine Valley. During the visit, you will discover the various stages of its construction and the successive transformations that have given it its unique character. Its imposing nave, richly decorated chapels, and atmosphere of serenity make it an essential site for understanding the history and heritage of Mainz.

PLEASE NOTE

(1) Subject to religious services or special celebrations.

• Good walking shoes are recommended: the tour is on foot and the streets in the old town are cobblestoned.
• The ship will continue sailing during the excursion.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Accompanied by your guides, set off to discover the majestic Mainz Cathedral(1), one of the most important religious buildings in Germany. Founded in 975, this millennium-old cathedral dominates the historic heart of the city and stands as a remarkable testament to the spiritual and political role Mainz has played over the centuries. You will admire its impressive architecture, blending Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque influences, as well as the many treasures it houses. This iconic monument, which has witnessed the passage of emperors, archbishops, and major figures of German history, remains today one of the most prestigious symbols of the Rhine Valley. During the visit, you will discover the various stages of its construction and the successive transformations that have given it its unique character. Its imposing nave, richly decorated chapels, and atmosphere of serenity make it an essential site for understanding the history and heritage of Mainz.

PLEASE NOTE

(1) Subject to religious services or special celebrations.

• Good walking shoes are recommended: the tour is on foot and the streets in the old town are cobblestoned.
• The ship will continue sailing during the excursion.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

You will start the visit with a tour and commentary of the Rüdesheim vineyards by mini-train, during which you will discover the famous vineyards already cultivated in the Roman period. During this tour, the history of winemaking in the region will be explained and you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Rüdesheim and the Rhine. The train will then stop right before the historical Bassenheimer Hof cellar, a seigneurial residence from the 16th century, where we'll indulge in a wine-tasting*. A winemaker from the Störzel family cellar will guide you through a tasting of three different wines, from the driest to the sweetest, all the while telling you about the history of the cellar and winemaking in the Rüdesheim region, complete with local stories. Afterwards, our visit will continue on to the Museum of Mechanical Musical Instruments located 100m away from the cellar in an old building from the 15th century. The "Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett" is the first German museum dedicated to self-playing musical instruments, which holds an impressive collection of no less than 350 mechanical musical instruments dating back to the 18th century to the 20th, all spread out on more than 4000 ft². This is a vast collection, dating back three centuries, of fascinating musical instruments that function like computers, ranging from tiny, delicate music boxes to an enormous orchestrion. Tools and machines for the production of organ pipes, cardboard sheet music, rolls of sheet music and perforated disks are also on display in the collection. Whatever their age, museum visitors always take great pleasure in discovering this special music, the techniques from the past and how these instruments work. After visiting the Museum, you will have some free time to stroll through the streets of Rüdesheim ambling down the famous Drosselgasse, before making your own way back to the boat.

PLEASE NOTE

• Warm clothes are recommended for the visit of the cellar.
• After the visits, passengers will have free time in Rudesheim until they go back to the boat on foot on their own.
• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.
• *Alcohol can be harmful to your health. Please drink in moderation.

We'll go to the center of Rüdesheim to catch a gondola lift to the Niederwalddenkmal, a monument built in the 19th century to commemorate the first unification of Germany. From there, you'll have a great view of the small city, the vineyards and the Rhine. We'll hike through the vineyards to the Abbey of St. Hildegard, built in the early 20th century. You'll have some free time to explore the abbey before we return to the ship through the vineyards once more.

PLEASE NOTE

• Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes.
• 8km-hike with a 300m elevation gain.
• Times are approximate.
• The order of the visits can change.