Jewels of the Rhine

Our holiday begins as we meet at London St Pancras before boarding the Eurostar to Paris, this morning. From here, we continue by rail to the enchanting city of Strasbourg, where our magnificent ship awaits us.

As we settle into our home on the river, we're warmly greeted with a welcome cocktail before dinner.

• Dinner

Today, you have a choice of two wonderful excursions. The first is a magical trip into the Black Forest, to witness stunning fairytale panoramas. Experience the beauty of Germany's largest nature park filled with rolling hills, picturesque villages, dense forests, and meadows dotted with wildflowers. As you explore this fairytale setting, you'll learn about the enchanting history and folklore of the region.

Alternatively, you could enjoy a city tour of Strasbourg. The city sits on the French-German border and blends the best of the two cultures, with colourful half-timbered houses and cobbled streets. On our tour, we visit the cathedral and the quaint La Petite France district.

Later this afternoon, you're at leisure in Strasbourg until dinner this evening. Discover the city's fascinating history, admire its grand architecture and experience its unique character at your own pace.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early this morning, we set off on our first relaxing sail toward charming Speyer. Arriving in the afternoon, we disembark and join our coach for an excursion the picturesque university town of Heidelberg, known for its lovely Old Town and stunning riverfront which is perfect for a relaxing stroll.

We enjoy a guided tour including a visit to the magnificent ruined, red sandstone castle that towers over the city. From here, we take in the amazing views of the surrounding forests, river, and cityscape. Returning to Speyer, we board our ship again in time for dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We spend our morning sailing past the old Roman city of Mainz and spa town of Wiesbaden, to the captivating town of Rüdesheim, famous for its delicious white wine, especially the dry Riesling variety. This afternoon, we get to know the history and stories of the renowned wine town during a guided tour through the vineyards aboard a land train and a visit to the Niederwalddenkmal for outstanding views over the Rhine.

After our tour, there's time to wander its cobbled streets at leisure. Meander the charming half-timbered houses and quaint shops. You could even drop in at one of the enticing wine bars in the Drosselgasse alley for a glass or two before dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we depart Rüdesheim and enjoy a highlight of our cruising experience - sailing through the romantic Rhine gorge. This section of the Rhine is renowned for its spectacular views. The riverbanks plunge deeper here, and we wind around bends surrounded by endless miles of lush green vineyards, ancient castles, and picturesque riverside towns. It's also one of the narrowest points of the river with one of the strongest currents.

As we sail, we hear the fascinating story of the legendary Lorelei Rock which soars almost 500 feet out of the water. This monument has been the inspiration for countless myths and legends, and we hear of them as we sail by.

Our journey through the Rhine Gorge comes to a close, and we moor in the town of Koblenz, located at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. Your afternoon is at leisure to explore the quaint, friendly town. We recommend strolling to Deutsches Eck where you'll be surrounded by inspiring vistas including the mighty Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Back onboard later, we cruise the enchanting Middle Rhine, sailing by riverbanks lined with lush green meadows and pretty villages. During dinner this evening, we dock overnight in Königswinter.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we journey on the Drachenfelsbahn railway. This fabulous cog railway rises high into the forests, passing the fairytale Drachenfels castle - which is said to have been the inspiration for the castle in Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty'. We experience wonderful views across the Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany as we climb higher.

During lunch, we enjoy an afternoon sail to vibrant Cologne. Here, we enjoy a tour of the city and explore its lively streets and squares. We admire the Romanesque townhouses before visiting the city's impressive Gothic cathedral which is the largest in Northern Europe. The intricate spires and magnificent stained glass windows of this UNESCO-listed landmark are captivating as we marvel at the grand architecture. We then head back to our cruise ship for our Gala dinner onboard.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, it's time to disembark and say goodbye to our wonderful crew. We make our way to the railway station and head towards Brussels where we catch the Eurostar to London St Pancras. Here, we say goodbye to new friends and fellow travellers.

• Breakfast