Cultural Cities of the Rhine
The Rhine and her Tributaries
from
£5,699 per person
7 nights
Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction of £24 if not requiredHow our discounts work
Read moreHow our discounts work
On all cruises we set aside a number of cabins within each level at a discounted fare, with the highest discount of 35% for ocean cruises and 25% for river cruises available on selected levels. These cabins are sold on a first come, first served basis. As cabins are sold, the discount begins to reduce, and continues to reduce until those selected cabins are sold.
This means that the earlier you book, the higher the chance of securing a greater discount. Our price panels clearly show the full cruise price, along with the current discount fare.
Please note: During busy periods for holiday bookings, the early booking discount can reduce rapidly. We recommend that you book early to benefit from the best booking discounts and to secure your preferred cabin.
When promoting new cruises for the first time, we contact customers on our Advanced Registration list first, allowing then to secure the cabin of their choice and benefit from the best savings. Our brochures are then sent out to loyalty club members first, followed by past cruise goers and then everyone else.
- Return UK travel service
Explore the historic towns and cities of the Upper Rhine
Join Spirit of the Rhine in Mainz for an all-inclusive 7-night river cruise in 2025 stopping to visit the historic towns and cities of the Upper Rhine.
Spend your first day cruising the Rhine river, with plenty of time to settle in to your cabin and enjoy the facilities on board before arriving in Breisach. Take our complimentary transfer service into the medieval town of Breisach, overlooked by 12th-century St Stephan’s Cathedral, and spend the day exploring independently. Sail overnight to Basel and, in the morning, join an included coach and walking tour through the city’s cobbled old town.
After an overnight sailing, awaken in Strasbourg and enjoy an included cruise along the city’s scenic canals lined with traditional timber-framed buildings. Continue your river cruise to Mannheim, where an included excursion visits Heidelberg for a walking tour through the winding alleys of the old town and Jewish Quarter and up to the castle. Enjoy a tour around the inner courtyard and the castle garden before exploring the residence ruins and the famous giant barrel.
Sail through the following morning to Mainz, where you will have an afternoon to explore its attractions.
Itinerary
Spirit of the Rhine
Depart 1900.
Travel to Mainz and embark Spirit of the Rhine to begin the overnight sailing towards Breisach.
Spend a relaxing day on board Spirit of the Rhine, sailing through natural landscapes and areas of urbanisation. Settle into your cabin and familiarise yourself with the ship’s facilities. Continue sailing overnight.
Arrive 0800. Depart 2200.
Take our complimentary shuttle service into Breisach, an important medieval town of the Holy Roman Empire during the 16th century. It's overlooked by a 12th-century cathedral – St Stephansmünster – set high on a hilltop above. Breisach also offers a 'gateway to the Black Forest' and the Alsace.
Sail overnight.
Arrive 0800. Depart 1900.
This morning an included excursion combines a coach and walking tour to reveal the highlights of Basel, which sits at the meeting point of Switzerland, Germany and France. Walk through the oldest part of the city, located near the banks of the Rhine river, and see the cathedral and picturesque shuttered houses. Other places of interest are the 16th-century Market Square and the late medieval Town Hall.
Following your included tour, you may choose to stay in the city centre to explore further independently and return to the ship using our complimentary transfer service later in the afternoon.
Sail overnight.
Arrive 0800.
Set off early to explore the elegant capital of Alsace, Strasbourg, and enjoy an included canal cruise followed by time at leisure. Cruise along the scenic canals lined with traditional timber-framed buildings.
You can choose to return to Spirit of the Rhine for lunch and a relaxing afternoon on board, or remain in Strasbourg to explore 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 around a mile from the cathedral back to the coach).
Sail overnight.
Depart Strasbourg, 0200.
Arrive Mannheim (for Heidelberg), 1300.
This afternoon an included excursion from Mannheim visits Heidelberg. Walk through the winding alleys of the old town, with its shady squares and historic university.
Continue through the Jewish Quarter and up to the castle, where you can enjoy a tour around the inner courtyard and the castle garden before exploring the residence ruins and the famous giant barrel.
Depart Mannheim, 0800.
Arrive Mainz, 1300.
Sail through the morning to arrive in Mainz this afternoon.
Mainz is known for its medieval market square, half-timbered houses, Romanesque sandstone cathedral and St Stephen’s church, which features stained glass windows by artist Marc Chagall. Behind the cathedral in Gutenberg square is a statue of the father of modern printing Johannes Gutenberg, who was born in Mainz in the 14th century.
Disembark Spirit of the Rhine after breakfast and begin your return journey.
Including...
All Inclusive†
Cruise Director
Plus…
- Drinks reception and Farewell dinner
- Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
- All gratuities on board
- Return flights and transfers
Included excursions
- Tour of Basel by coach and on foot
- Canal cruise in Strasbourg
- Walking tour of Heidelberg and its castle
Our cruises include excursions at selected ports so you can make the most of the destinations you visit. Find out more about when excursions are available to book.
Interactive maps and audio headsets are available for independent exploration.
†The included drinks are available from 9am to midnight and include non-branded alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
from
£5,699 per person
7 nights
Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction of £24 if not requiredHow our discounts work
Read moreHow our discounts work
On all cruises we set aside a number of cabins within each level at a discounted fare, with the highest discount of 35% for ocean cruises and 25% for river cruises available on selected levels. These cabins are sold on a first come, first served basis. As cabins are sold, the discount begins to reduce, and continues to reduce until those selected cabins are sold.
This means that the earlier you book, the higher the chance of securing a greater discount. Our price panels clearly show the full cruise price, along with the current discount fare.
Please note: During busy periods for holiday bookings, the early booking discount can reduce rapidly. We recommend that you book early to benefit from the best booking discounts and to secure your preferred cabin.
When promoting new cruises for the first time, we contact customers on our Advanced Registration list first, allowing then to secure the cabin of their choice and benefit from the best savings. Our brochures are then sent out to loyalty club members first, followed by past cruise goers and then everyone else.
from
£5,699 per person
7 nights
Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction of £24 if not requiredHow our discounts work
Read moreHow our discounts work
On all cruises we set aside a number of cabins within each level at a discounted fare, with the highest discount of 35% for ocean cruises and 25% for river cruises available on selected levels. These cabins are sold on a first come, first served basis. As cabins are sold, the discount begins to reduce, and continues to reduce until those selected cabins are sold.
This means that the earlier you book, the higher the chance of securing a greater discount. Our price panels clearly show the full cruise price, along with the current discount fare.
Please note: During busy periods for holiday bookings, the early booking discount can reduce rapidly. We recommend that you book early to benefit from the best booking discounts and to secure your preferred cabin.
When promoting new cruises for the first time, we contact customers on our Advanced Registration list first, allowing then to secure the cabin of their choice and benefit from the best savings. Our brochures are then sent out to loyalty club members first, followed by past cruise goers and then everyone else.