Christmas and New Year on Spirit of the Moselle 2027

Travel to Mainz and embark Spirit of the Moselle. Your all-inclusive cruise begins with dinner tonight.

Depart 2100.

Mainz is known for its medieval market square, which will be hosting the city’s main Christmas market, on the doorstep of 1000-year old St Martin’s Cathedral. Handmade toys, ceramics and candles are among the goods you can expect to find on sale here. The city’s other attractions include St Stephen’s church, which features stained glass windows by artist Marc Chagall, and Gutenberg square which features a statue of the father of modern printing Johannes Gutenberg, who was born in Mainz in the 14th century.

Included excursion

Join a walking tour into the city and browse the stalls of the Christmas market at leisure.

Sailing day.
Arrive Strasbourg, 1900.

Relax and enjoy the facilities on board Spirit of the Moselle as she sails through areas of urbanisation and industrialisation before arriving in Strasbourg this evening.

Depart 2100.

Strasbourg, the elegant capital of Alsace, features cobbled streets, medieval architecture and a Gothic cathedral with an astronomical clock. See some of the highlights of the old quarter on an included excursion and cruise along the city’s scenic canals before disembarking in the city centre for some free time. Sail overnight.

Included excursion

See some of the highlights of the old quarter on an included excursion and cruise along the city’s scenic canals before disembarking in the city centre for some free time. Afterwards, you can choose to return to Spirit of the Moselle for lunch and a relaxing afternoon on board, or remain in Strasbourg to explore further independently for the afternoon, returning to the ship using our complimentary transfer service. Coach access is restricted in Strasbourg, so there will be a walk of approximately three-quarters-of-a-mile back to the coach after your time in the city centre.

Arrive 0900.

This morning, an included excursion visits Heidelberg. In the afternoon you may choose to walk into Mannheim where the city centre has a grid-like structure and is home to the main market square with its baroque fountain and statues.

Included excursion

Enjoy a guided walk along the winding alleys of Heidelberg’s old town, with its shady squares and historic university.

Depart Mannheim, 0900.
Arrive Rüdesheim, 1700.

Enjoy a leisurely Christmas day on board, soaking up the festive atmosphere as you enjoy Christmas Dinner.

Depart Rüdesheim, 1300.
Scenic Cruise, Middle Rhine Gorge.
Arrive Boppard, 1700.

The popular wine town of Rüdesheim has a traditional old town of half-timbered houses. Among its main attractions is a long narrow street, the Drosselgasse, which is lined on both sides with traditional wine taverns and overlooked by the glockenspiel tower with its hourly chimes. Enjoy the scenery this afternoon, as your ship navigates the UNESCO-listed Middle Rhine Gorge, past a forested landscapes dotted with ancient castle ruins.

Included excursion

Step aboard the Land Train and journey through Rüdesheim to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of self-playing instruments. Accompanied by a guide, see musical pieces spanning three centuries, from music boxes to concert piano orchestrions.

Depart Boppard, 1400.
Arrive Cologne, 2200.

The waterfront of this classic Rhineland wine town is overlooked by the twin towers of St Severus Church and vineyards. There are extensive Roman remains, medieval fortifications and half-timbered buildings.

Included excursion

Enjoy an included walking tour of Boppard, uncovering a wealth of Roman history. Accompanied by a guide, walk to the Gothic-style Carmelite church, dating back to the 14th century. Enjoy a view of the two-towered church of St Severus, home to painted wall scenes built over the Roman military baths in the 13th century. This excursion covers approximately one-and-a-half miles, however a shorter included walking tour is also available.

Depart 2100.

Founded by the Romans, Cologne has long been an important trading centre and was once home to the composers Schumann and Mendelssohn. The city’s main attraction is the twin-spired Gothic cathedral which dominates the skyline. There are also baroque palaces, medieval churches and a 16th-century City Hall. The cobbled streets of the medieval Old Town are home to characteristic churches and guilds. Continue sailing this evening and overnight.

There will be a shuttle service into the city dependant on the distance of the ship’s berth.

Included excursion

Choose between an included walking tour into Cologne’s medieval Old Town, with its churches, guilds and merchants houses, or opt for an included tour of UNESCO-listed Cologne Cathedral to view the interior of this magnificent building. This walking tour covers approximately one-and-a-half miles over one-and-a-half hours.

Arrive 0800. Depart 1400.

Located on the Waal River, historic Nijmegen can trace its roots back to Roman times. One of the city’s museums, the Valkhof Museum, is situated on the site of an old Roman encampment. Other attractions include the De Waagh, the original market weigh house, located in the city centre, where the cobbled streets are also home to a number of street cafes and the distinctive tower of St Stephen’s church. This afternoon, observe the change in scenery as you cruise along the Dutch waterways towards Antwerp. Sail overnight.

Arrive 0800.

Walk from Spirit of the Moselle into the city to see some of the city’s many highlights, such as the 16th-century Market Square which is home to the famous Brabo fountain and a large Gothic cathedral. The city was a great centre for the arts in the Renaissance period, with Rubens and Van Dyck both living and working here. Antwerp is also one of the leading centres in the world diamond industry.

Included excursion

Walk from your ship with your expert local guide to explore the old town, passing the Market Square, with its gabled guild houses, the Brabo statue and the City Hall. Continue to the medieval Vlaaikensgang (Pie Alley) and the Groenplaats, home to the statue of the Belgian painter Rubens. At the end of your guided walk, you will return to your waiting ship, or you may choose to stay in the centre for free time and return later independently.

This excursion covers approximately two miles; however, a shorter included walking tour is also available.

Depart Antwerp, 0800.
Arrive Dordrecht, 1400.

Enjoy a leisurely morning sailing to Dordrecht. The oldest city in the region of South Holland, Dordrecht sits at the confluence of three waterways, the Rhine, the Meuse and the Merwede. In the early 11th century Count Dirk III built a castle here to gain control of the shipping routes, and the city grew up around it. There is a selection of fine churches, due to early links with the Protestant reformation. Other attractions include the old city hall, which spans the canal, the 13th-century Augustijnenkerk and 17th-century city gate. Spirit of the Moselle remains moored here overnight and you can enjoy New Year celebrations on board this evening.

Included excursion

Join an expert guide and walk from the ship into Dordrecht to explore the city’s rich history. See key sights such as the Big Church (Grote Kerk), the historic City Hall, and the statue of the De Witt brothers. Pass the Augustine Monastery, where in 1572 the first gathering of the Free States took place. This excursion covers approximately one-and-a-half miles, however a shorter included walking tour is also available.

Depart Dordrecht, 0600.
Arrive Amsterdam, 1400.

Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, started life as a fishing village in the 13th century. Among the most interesting sights in the city are the Royal Palace on Dam Square, the floating flower market, the Central Railway Station, which is built on thousands of wooden piles, and the grand 19th-century Rijksmuseum.

Included excursion

Enjoy an evening canal cruise to see the light festival.

Today you can explore the city further independently. Tree-shaded canals, historic bridges, colourful cafes, gabled buildings and plenty of bicycles combine to create an atmosphere that is unique to this city. As the sun goes down, enjoy an included cruise along Amsterdam’s canals to the city centre with its historic bridges and gabled houses. See the famous Skinny Bridge, the Montelbaanstoren tower and the Jewish Quarter.

Disembark Spirit of the Moselle after breakfast and begin your return journey.