Christmas and New Year on Spirit of the Rhine

Depart 0000. 

Travel to Nijmegen and embark Spirit of the Rhine. 

Sail overnight.

Arrive 1300. 

Düsseldorf is famed for its Old Town. The narrow backstreets are home to the Gothic St Lambertus church with its twisted tower and the Burgplatz (square) features a Schlossturm (palace tower). Nearby, the Rhine embankment promenade offers a sweeping view of Düsseldorf’s skyline and the Oberkassel Rhine banks.

Included visit

Enjoy the delicious aroma of roasting almonds as you browse the stalls of Düsseldorf’s Christmas market independently.

Arrive 1300. 

Bonn was capital of West Germany from 1949 until 1999, when Berlin was restored as capital of the reunified country. The sights of this compact city, birthplace of famous composer Beethoven, include the Beethoven monument, Romanesque Minster Cathedral and the University of Bonn. 

Included visit 

Head to the centre of the city to explore Bonn’s Christmas market independently.

Arrive 1900. 

Spend the morning in Bonn, followed by a relaxing afternoon aboard Spirit of the Rhine.

Depart 2000. 

Koblenz, meaning ‘merging of the rivers’, is situated on the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. At the exact point where the two rivers meet, the Deutsches Eck, there is a monument with a huge equestrian statue of Emperor Wilhelm I. Above the town sits the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, a citadel built by the Prussians between 1816 and 1832. Spirit of the Rhine will moor overnight in Boppard. 

Included excursion 

Join a local guide for an included walking tour of Koblenz, taking in highlights such as the Deutsches Eck, or German Corner, the Old Town and the Schängel fountain, which stands in the courtyard of the Town Hall. This excursion covers approximately one-and-a-half miles, however a shorter included walking tour is also available.

Scenic Cruise, Middle Rhine Gorge
Arrive Rüdesheim, 1300. Depart 2000. 

Admire the scenery of the UNESCO-listed Middle Rhine Gorge before arriving in the popular wine town of Rüdesheim, where the traditional old town has 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 Spirit of the Rhine 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.

Arrive Strasbourg, 1900.

Enjoy a leisurely day sailing through natural landscapes and areas of urbanisation. 

Depart 1700. 

Strasbourg, the elegant capital of Alsace, features cobbled streets, medieval architecture and a Gothic cathedral with an astronomical clock. Sail overnight. 

Included excursion 

See some of the highlights of the old quarter on an included excursion and cruise along the city’s canals before disembarking in the city centre for some free time. Afterwards, you can choose to return to Spirit of the Rhine 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 Heidelberg, 0300. Depart 1400.
Arrive Mainz, 2000. 

The city of Heidelberg is home to Germany’s oldest university. Highlights include the Old Bridge across the River Neckar and the ruined castle high above the city. Its unusual appearance is due to it having been added to through different periods of German architectural styles. Virtually destroyed by lightning in 1764 it was ransacked by locals who used stones from it in their own houses. Your ship will be moored approximately an hour’s drive away from Heidelberg. 

Included excursion 

Travel by coach for approximately one hour to the medieval city of Heidelberg. Visit Heidelberg Castle, perched above the city, and join an expert local guide to tour the inner courtyard and castle garden, as well as the residence ruins and the famous giant barrel. Enjoy a guided walk through the old town, where you can see the historic university and the Church of the Holy Spirit. This excursion covers approximately one-and-a-half miles, however an alternative with reduced walking will also be available.

Depart Mainz, 1800. Arrive Frankfurt, 2300. 

Mainz is known for its medieval market square, which is home to 1000-year old St Martin’s Cathedral. 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 Old Town of Mainz, which is home to one of the city’s most famous landmarks Mainz Cathedral. Continue past medieval houses to view the exterior of the Gutenberg Museum, a building dedicated to the work of one of the city’s most famous former inhabitants, Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of movable type and book printing. This excursion covers approximately one-and-a-half miles, however a shorter included walking tour is also available.

The bustling city of Frankfurt sits beside the Main River and, depending on your mooring, can be reached using our complimentary transfer service. The medieval old town, in the heart of the city, is lined with half-timbered buildings, boutiques and quaint apple-wine taverns. In the central square, Römerberg, you can see the medieval Römer complex with their distinctive stepped gables and opposite is the Old St Nicholas church. 

Included excursion 

See more of Frankfurt by coach and on foot during an included excursion this morning and, depending on the distance of your ship’s mooring, a complimentary shuttle service will be available for you to return to the city to explore independently this afternoon.

Depart Frankfurt, 0700. Sailing Day.
Arrive Cologne, 2200.

Enjoy a relaxing New Year’s Day on board Spirit of the Rhine sailing towards Cologne for an overnight mooring.

Depart 0000. 

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 medieval Old Town features characteristic churches and guilds, and continuing uphill over cobblestones you can reach the old market square, which dates from the 10th century. 

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. The Cologne City Walk covers approximately one-and-a-quarter miles.

Arrive 1200. 

Arnhem, located on the banks of the Nederrijn and St Jansbeek rivers, is best known for its connection to one of the famous battles of World War Two and the subject of the epic war film A Bridge too Far. 

Included excursion 

Join an included walking tour into the centre of the city to see the traditional Dutch architecture lining the cobbled central square. This excursion covers approximately one-and-a-half miles, however a shorter included walking tour is also available

Disembark Spirit of the Rhine and begin your return journey.