The Moselle and Andre Rieu

After meeting your guide at the ship, embark on a walking tour, via the medieval Hellgate to visit the oldest working water mill in the Netherlands. Dating back to the 14th century, it still mills grain for the adjacent bakery and a local brewery.

Walk around the city wall, through elegant shopping streets and past the house where Andre Rieu was born. You will see several chapels and churches before your tour winds its way to grand Vrijthof Square, in the heart of the city.

Walking grade 3

Please note:Expect to walk approximately one mile over terrain which may include cobblestones and steps. There is a total walking and/or standing time of approximately one-and-a-half hours.

1½ hours

Among this tour’s sights are the St Nikolaus Hospital, the parish church of St Michael with its mighty Gothic slate tower, the birthplace of Nikolaus Cusanus and the historic market square with its centuries-old half-timbered houses in the old town.

The unique vista of the Moselle cultural landscape is your constant companion on this land train journey through Bernkastel-Kues. After your tour concludes you may walk back to your ship or perhaps choose to stay for further time to explore independently.

Walking Grade 2

Please Note: Expect to walk approximately 550 yards over paved terrain which may at times be uneven or cobbled. There is a total walking and/or standing time of approximately 20 minutes. This tour includes travel by land train, which can occasionally be bumpy and therefore may not be suitable for those with back and/or neck problems.

1 hour

Disembark your ship and travel by coach into central Trier, passing along the banks of the Moselle to see the ancient Roman Bridge. You will then explore further with a guided tour on foot to visit the largest Roman gate north of the Alps – the UNESCO World Heritage listed Porta Nigra – as well as the quaint Market Square, Cathedral and Church of Our Lady.

Walking Grade 4

Please note: Expect to walk approximately one-and-a-half miles over terrain which may at times be uneven or cobbled. There is a total walking and/or standing time of two-and-a-half hours. The exact tour duration may vary depending on the mooring location of your ship.

3½ hours

The historic heart of Roermond contains numerous buildings incorporating various architectural styles: late Romanesque, early Gothic, late Gothic, regional style, Jugendstil and Art Deco. The tour takes you past old town houses, churches, palaces and other interesting places, including the Market square, the Munster square and the Roerkade, all situated in the city centre.

Walking Grade 3

Please Note: Expect to walk approximately one mile over terrain which may include cobblestones and steps. There is a total walking and/or standing time of approximately one-and-a-half hours.

1½ hours

Travel from your ship by coach with your local Historian Ruud de Bie. Born in Arnhem and still living there to this day, Ruud has become an expert in Operation Market Garden and the role of the city in the World War Two battle. He, along with four other volunteers actively participate in a continuing project to locate, and where appropriate, recover the bodies of Airborne soldiers who are still missing.

In his company you will head to your first stop, the Airborne Museum, with commentary en route. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to explore independently and get a closer look at different artillery types including the Sherman tank, which stands on the same spot where it was left in battle. Your next stop is the Airborne Cemetery, the final resting place of 1,748 allied troops, which accompanied by personal stories and photographs is sure to be a moving and inspirational experience.

On the way back to your ship, you’ll pass the location of Operation Market Garden, which hosted the 2nd Battalion led by Lieutenant Colonel Frost in 1944. Here, with commentary from your local guide, you’ll gain insight into this four-day tragic event with overwhelming odds and as a result, many lives were lost. As you continue to where the Allies took refuge in the old church in Oosterbeek you will see the monument honouring those who fought.

Walking Grade 3

Please note: Walking at the Airborne Museum is at your discretion, as you explore independently, and is over flat ground. At the Airborne Cemetery, you should expect to walk approximately 500 yards over grass. Depending on your chosen walking distance during the museum visit you can expect this excursion to have a total standing and/or walking time of approximately two hours. This excursion can also operate in reverse starting with the Airborne Cemetery visit and finishing with the Airborne Museum.

4 hours

Dive into the most interesting facets of Cologne's past and present on this guided tour through history. First, you’ll see the grand exterior of Cologne Cathedral, recognised as a UNESCO-listed site in 1996. During independent time later on, you may choose to go inside for a glimpse into the Roman’s previous love for ornate and intricate architecture.

Then it’s time to venture into the medieval Old Town, home to characteristic churches, guilds and merchant’s houses. Stroll past the town hall and the Romanesque St Martin Church and see Cologne’s modernised and urban development. Many parts of the city have undergone a long period of restoration following heavy bombing during World War Two.

Walking Grade 4

Please note: Expect to walk approximately one-and-a-quarter miles over mostly flat ground. On the way to the Alter Markt, there is a gentle incline with some cobblestones. If a coach transfer is required for this excursion due to a less central docking location, it will add approximately 45 minutes to the overall excursion duration.

1½ hours

The Museum Ludwig is home to one of the most important collections of 20th- and 21st-century art in the world. It houses Eu­rope’s most extensive collection of Pop Art, the third-largest Picasso collection in the world, an important collection of German Expressionism, outstanding works from the Russian avant-garde, and an excellent collection on the history of photography. Unlike royal collections, the museum owes its existence to the extraordinary dedication of private citizens. The cornerstone for the founding of the museum was laid in 1976, with a donation of 350 works of modern art to the city of Cologne by collectors Peter and Irene Ludwig.

After walking from your ship to the museum you will join an expert museum guide for a 60-minute tour of the collection highlights, followed by free time to explore further at your own pace.

After your time in the museum you will walk back to your ship with your Saga Team, or you may choose to stay in the city centre into the evening to explore independently and make your way back to the ship at your leisure.

Walking Grade 4

Please note: There is a walk of approximately half-a- mile each way between your ship and the museum, over terrain which may be cobbled and include steps. Walking during your free time at the museum is at your discretion. On June 5, 2024 departure only, the distance to walk between the ship and the museum will be approximately three-quarters-of-a-mile each way along the picturesque Rhine Promenade.

3½ hours

Straight from the disembarkation of your ship, the tour begins as you join a knowledgeable guide on foot, to explore some of the town’s main attractions. One of the first sights you’ll see is the Beethoven monument, overlooking the city as a proud reminder of the iconic composer that was born here. Next, you’ll pass the Romanesque Minster Cathedral and the University of Bonn, which was formerly the Elector’s Palace and the grand baroque City Hall.

The tour then takes you to the banks of the Rhine near the Bonn Opera House to see the imposing view of Germany‘s oldest nature park, Siebengebirge, or Seven Hills in English. After enjoying the mountainous greenery, your tour ends with a visit to the Beethoven House Museum. Here, you’ll learn more about the composer himself, along with his work and early life in this charming German city.

Walking Grade 4

Please note: Expect to walk approximately one-and-a-half miles over mainly flat terrain with the possibility of cobblestones. The Beethoven House Museum, whilst compact, is split across several floors with some steep stairs in between. This tour has a total standing and/or walking time of approximately two-and-a-half hours.

2½ hours

Depart the ship by coach for your journey to the fairytale Eltz Castle, widely considered to be one of the most beautiful castles in Germany, partly due to its hillside setting surrounded by woodland.

The 850-year-old castle is now in the possession of the 34th generation of the von Eltz family and is one of the only complexes in Germany that has never been conquered in conflict and was able to survive the wars of the 17th and 18th centuries and the social upheavals of the French Revolution unscathed.

The treasure chamber in the cellar vaults houses more than 500 masterpieces of art from the 12th-19th centuries. You will explore the castle and discover more about its unique history in the company of an expert guide.

Walking Grade 5

Please Note: As Eltz Castle has an elevated position there is a moderately steep downhill walk of approximately half a mile on arrival and half a mile uphill on your return via a tarmac path. Inside the castle there are frequent steps, no lifts are available, and you should expect to walk approximately 550 yards. The terrain can be uneven in places and during wet weather some of the stone paths can also be very slippery, so we recommend that sturdy footwear is worn. This tour has a total walking and/or standing time of approximately two hours. This tour is not suitable for those with limitedmobility.

4½ hours

In the centre of Koblenz city, underneath the main building of the former Deinhard sparkling wine cellar, is the Koblenz Wine and Sparkling Wine Museum, founded in 1969. After a walk from the ship, join a guided tour through the historic museum, stepping into the vaults to learn about how the local wine used to be made with the original equipment before being exported. Then, enjoy a tasting of three Sekt wines, giving you more of a flavour of Deinhard before heading back to the port.

Walking Grade 3

Please note: Expect to walk approximately one mile in total over flat ground with a total standing and/or walking time of approximately one hour. There are some steps to negotiate inside the venue, leading down to the vaults.

2 hours

Depart your ship by minibus and head up the hillside to Reichsburg Castle where you’ll learn about its colourful history and see a panoramic view of the Moselle valley and river below. During this castle visit, you’ll be accompanied by a guide who will delve deeper into it’s interesting past revolving around its rescue and restoration into a grand 19th-century neo-Gothic wonder. Today, it is a showcase for Renaissance and Baroque furniture which you can see for yourself as you explore the rooms before later heading down to the town for a short, guided walk. 

Walking Grade 4

Please note: Expect to walk up to approximately three-quarters-of-a-mile over level but cobbled terrain. On arrival at the castle, there is a walk of approximately 220 yards on a steep incline between the minibus drop-off point and the entrance. Inside Reichsburg Castle there are frequent steps and the paths are uneven; there is no lift access. This tour has a total standing and/or walking time of approximately two hours.

2½ hours

Step aboard the land train from the pier and enjoy a guided tour around the town. Starting at the old Mosel Bridge, you'll be taken through the old town and across the new bridge into the Cond district, which offers a great view of Cochem and Reichsburg.

Then, head to the Moselstrabe and alongside the vineyards, which ascend the valley. After your sightseeing tour you'll have some free time to spend in Cochem, before rejoining the land train for your return journey to the ship.

Walking Grade 2

Please note:Walking and/or standing on this tour is during your free time only and this is at your discretion. This tour includes travel by land train which can occasionally be bumpy and therefore may be unsuitable for those with back and/or neck problems.

1½ hours

Join a leisurely walk through the traditional Moselle town of Traben-Trarbach. Stroll through the old town which is renowned for its Art Nouveau villas and Belle Epoque splendour.

In the early 1900's, the town was the largest wine trading centre in Europe after Bordeaux. Discover the town's many secluded alleys and traces of bygone days, whilst your guide highlights the historical tales and modern day life in this delightful town.

Walking Grade 4

Please note: Expect to walk approximately one-and-a-quarter miles over level but cobbled terrain. Expect to be walking or standing for the full duration of this excursion.

1½ hours