Rhine Highlights

Welcome to Switzerland and the start of your European cruise. Board your 5-star Scenic Space-Ship this afternoon, meet your fellow guests and raise a glass to the start of a fascinating journey ahead of you at this evening’s welcome reception. Please book your flight to arrive into Basel prior to 03:00 PM.

Your Scenic Space-Ship will dock in Kehl this afternoon, just across the border from the French city of Strasbourg, the capital of the Alsace region. Here, sherbert-coloured, half-timbered houses heave together on the banks of a complex network of canals. It’s a captivating blend of France and Germany, of a medieval past and an innovative future. Strasbourg has an infectious, youthful energy and you’ll regularly see the locals enjoying spontaneous soccer games and pop-up wine bars. Freechoice: Explore the region on one of these Freechoice excursions: Guided tour of Strasbourg: See the city’s most important sites on foot, like the cathedral, Petit France and the Grand Ile, and learn about its unique mixture of both French and German architecture and culture. (Note: this is an active walk.) Alsace wine region: Travel by coach through the pretty Alsace wine region to the village of Obernai for some free time. Then visit Mittelbergheim for a wine tasting in a local cellar. Cycling through Strasbourg’s countryside: Hop on an e-bike and explore the sights of Strasbourg and its surrounds. With more than 500 km of bicycle trails, you can discover sleepy villages, lush vineyards and charming canals.

Dock in Rastatt this morning, a Baroque town with an abundance of green spaces and two iconic palaces. It’s also the gateway to Baden-Baden, a spa town on the edge of the Black Forest. Its curative waters, thermal baths and luxurious hotels made it a favourite retreat of the European elite in the 19th century. Freechoice: Explore your way with one of these Scenic Freechoice: Walking tour of Baden-Baden: Follow in the steps of the renowned Europeans who spent summers in this famed spa town two centuries ago. See the elegant Kurhaus, built in the 1820s with a casino and luxury shopping in its colonnade, and explore the remains of the Roman baths. Baden-Baden spa visit: Relax and rejuvenate in the thermal baths of?Caracalla Spa, permanently and naturally heated by thermal waters some 2,000 metres under the Earth’s surface. Schloss Favorite: Once a hunting lodge and summer palace for 18th century aristocrats (though used for seven weeks a year), Schloss Favorite is now the oldest of the German ‘porcelain palaces’ and the only one to survive intact. Enrich One of the most magnificent historic venues in the region, the Baroque Palace of Rastatt was modelled on the Palace of Versailles and hosts an evening of grandeur unlike any other. Explore the opulent palace and gardens, before sitting down to a private performance from accomplished musicians and a soloist.

Arrive in Mannheim early this morning. A large metropolitan centre, Mannheim still runs along its recognisable 18th-century grid pattern and is known for its grand Baroque squares, fountains and palace. Your Freechoice excursions today will take you away from the city to discover more of the surrounding region. Freechoice: Choose between these immersive Freechoice experiences today: Orientation Tour of Heidelberg: Transfer by coach to Heidelberg for a brief walking tour of the city, including the Old Town, and then enjoy some free time. (Note: the walk is not too strenuous but there are some stairs and uneven ground.) Historical tour of Heidelberg: Take a guided tour of Heidelberg, then visit Heidelberg Castle, one of the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps. Admire the views from balcony and the great Heidelberg Tun, the world’s largest Wine Barrel. (Note: the walk is not too strenuous but there are some stairs and uneven ground.) Excursion to Bad Dürkheim: It’s just a short drive through stunning vine-covered landscapes to Bad Dürkheim. Visit the renowned property of Fritz Ritter, a ninth-generation family-owned vineyard that offers exceptional quality wine. Enjoy a tour and tasting.

Relax on board this morning as you cruise through the picturesque Rhine Gorge, where the landscapes could have been pulled from the pages of a fairytale. This 65-kilometre stretch of the river is dotted with some 40 hilltop castles and fortresses that span a period of 1,000 years. Look out for the Lorelei statue, dedicated to the tragic legend of a beautiful maiden. This afternoon, dock in one of Germany’s oldest cities. Koblenz was founded by the Romans more than 2,000 years ago and is brimming with history. It sits where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet and promises a mélange of French and German cultures. Koblenz is filled with parks and flowers and is the gateway to both the romantic Rhine Valley and the beautiful Moselle Valley. Freechoice: Choose to explore your way with this afternoon’s Scenic Freechoice: Walking tour of Koblenz: Join your guide to explore the old town’s winding streets, impressive townhouses, charming squares and historic churches, and visit the famed Florinsmarkt, the former political and economic centre of the city. Medieval Limburg: Travel by coach to the charming medieval town of Limburg an der Lahn. Walk the historic cobblestone streets lined with perfectly preserved half-timbered houses, visit the cathedral that overlooks the city and see  Alten Lahnbrücke, the Old Bridge that straddles the Lahn River. Cochem & Moselle Valley: Travel through the beautiful Moselle Valley to the town of Cochem. Take a walking tour through its pretty centre, where cobbled lanes are lined with half-timbered houses, then visit the grand Reichsburg Castle.

Arrive in the 2,000-year-old city of Cologne this morning. Cologne suffered extensive damage during World War II but was painstakingly restored over the following decades. Set out on a walking tour of the Old Town, admiring its historic buildings, beautiful squares and the World Heritage-listed Cologne Cathedral. This afternoon you’ll depart for Amsterdam. Make the most of your time on board your luxurious Scenic Space-Ship. Perhaps you’d like to book a calming massage^ at the spa or unwind in the exclusive Salt Therapy Lounge, with its natural anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

This morning, your Scenic Space-Ship will arrive in Amsterdam. The Netherlands’ capital is a treasure trove of architectural beauty, galleries filled with masterpieces, 16th-century canals, narrow cobbled laneways, and streets busy with cyclists. Often referred to as the Venice of the North, much of the UNESCO-listed canal system exists today as it did hundreds of years ago, lined with well-preserved houses and intersected by charming bridges. Freechoice: Discover more of the city on one of these excursions: Excursion to Keukenhof Gardens: Spring in Holland is one of the most beautiful times of the year and a visit to Keukenhof Gardens is a must. See one of the world’s largest flower gardens in bloom, awash with colour from seven million flowering bulbs including the nation’s famed tulips. Canal cruise: Amsterdam has more than 100 kilometres of canals. See some of the prettiest sights of the city on a one-hour cruise along these historic waterways. Admire Golden Age mansions, grand warehouses and narrow bridges. Walking tour of Amsterdam: Explore Amsterdam on foot, discovering the maze of canals and bridges in the city centre. Your guide will be covering history, modern lifestyle and Dutch culture. You also get to taste herring, a local delicacy not to be missed. Fabrique des Lumières: Art springs to life in this impressive digital art installation, the largest in the Netherlands. Located in a former 19th-century gas works, pieces from renowned artists are projected onto the 17-metre-high walls, accompanied  by music to create an immersive ambience. Cycling tour: Amsterdam is known as the bicycle capital of the world. Take a small ferry to the outskirts of town for a biking tour. Your local guide will be at hand to offer information about everyday life of the Dutch people, many of whom you will see getting around on two wheels.

Your cruise finishes this morning in Amsterdam. Savour one final breakfast on board before you disembark, taking with you a lifetime of memories. Please book your flight to depart out of Amsterdam after 10:30 AM. This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions.