Treasures of the Rhine – Amsterdam to Basel

This morning, fly to the canal-lined Dutch capital, Amsterdam, for the start of your Rhine holiday. Depending on your arrival time, you might have the chance here to enjoy some initial self-guided exploration, perhaps with a visit to one of the city’s world-class museums or perhaps a canal-side café.

This evening, transfer to the ship and be welcomed on board MS Symphonie by your friendly crew. Spend some time settling into your cabin ahead of a greeting from your crew, accompanied by a welcome cocktail, and dinner on board.

Your first full day on the Rhine will be at leisure and, once you’ve had breakfast, you’ll be free to spend it as you see fit. If you’d like, you can opt to explore the city under guidance on an optional canal-boat tour, taking in the gabled roofs, pavement-side cafés and stilted houses that make up this charming capital.

However you choose to spend the day, return to the ship this evening for dinner and an overnight sailing south to Nijmegen.

Wake up in the Netherlands’ oldest city today and get ready for another full day under your own steam with breakfast on MS Symphonie. You’ll be free to make the most of the ship’s amenities, perhaps with a slower-paced morning on the sundeck or a cocktail with a view at the Pianorama bar or venture out for some self-guided exploration around Nijmegen.

Alternatively, an optional visit to the Arnhem Open-air Museum will be available. Spread across 100 acres of land, the museum’s charming collection of antique houses, factories and farmland recreates the traditional ways of life that have existed in the Netherlands rural areas for centuries.

This evening, return to the ship before settling in for dinner and the onward journey into Germany.

Cologne will be yours to explore after breakfast this morning, and you’ll be introduced to its world-famous medieval landmarks on an included tour. Join an expert local guide after disembarking and head first to the city’s magnificent Gothic cathedral, Germany’s most visited landmark. This grand building, which is the tallest twin-spire church in the world, was originally envisaged in the early 13th century and is a symbol of the city. After seeing the cathedral, you’ll continue to Cologne’s medieval old town, where you’ll see the popular Farina Fragrance Museum, the oldest original perfume factory in the world.

Afterwards, you’ll have some time to roam the city at your leisure, perhaps taking in more of its medieval treasures or watching the world go by from a traditional barhaus (beer hall). Reboarding MS Symphonie a few hours later, continue to the port town of Königswinter and sail up the Rhine to Koblenz. The ship will arrive this evening, and you can enjoy a sunset stroll along the Deutsches Eck, a scenic promontory which overlooks the meeting point between the Moselle and the Rhine.

Rise early for sunrise views of the magnificent Rhine Valley this morning as your cruise takes you further south to Mainz. Upon arrival, have breakfast on the ship and disembark for another full day at leisure to explore the way you want to. If you’d prefer more guidance, an optional walking tour of the city’s major sights and the Gutenberg Museum will also be available.

Start the day at the city’s thousand-year-old cathedral before continuing on foot through the enchanting, cobbled streets of the historic centre and the market square. Your next stop will be the Gutenberg Museum, a grand building dedicated to the Father of Printing, Johannes Gutenberg. Across the museum’s collections, you’ll find the two original copies of the Gutenberg Bible, the first books printed in Europe, and exhibits chronicling the inventor’s life and work.

Reconvene on the ship later today and perhaps head down to the bar area for an evening of live entertainment and dancing before turning in for dinner and an overnight sailing to Strasbourg.

Enjoy a relaxing morning on the water today with breakfast and opportunities to view the scenic delights of the Rhine as MS Symphonie continues to Strasbourg, the delightful capital of France’s Alsace region. Mooring in the city later this afternoon, join a local guide for your cruise’s second included excursion and board a canal boat for a sailing along the waterways of the Petite France district and Grand Île. As you meander along the city’s winding waterways, you’ll be introduced to the captivating blend of German and French influences that characterise this charming city. You’ll also visit Strasbourg’s pink-sandstone cathedral, a fairy-tale building which has been a feature of the local skyline for over 600 years.

Return to the ship this evening and enjoy a gala dinner on board ahead of an overnight cruise to Breisach.

It’s the final full day of your Rhine river cruise, and you’ll have the full day to explore elegant Breisach at your own pace after breakfast. Today’s optional excursion will take you to picturesque Colmar, a nearby town on the edge of the Black Forest, which is renowned for its wine-making houses and romantic ‘Petite Venice’ district. After some time exploring this remarkable Alsatian town, you’ll visit the Unterlinden Museum, showcasing over 7,000 years’ worth of artwork, from the prehistoric paintings to modern masterpieces.

However you choose to spend your final day, return to the ship later this afternoon for the last leg of your river cruise to Basel. This evening, you can enjoy live entertainment and a final buffet dinner on board MS Symphonie, no doubt reminiscing on a truly memorable week on the Rhine.

Have your final breakfast on board and bid farewell to your hosts before stepping back ashore in Basel for your return flight to the UK.