EMERALD WATERWAYS
12 Days | The Magical Rhine and Moselle
Southbound

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AMSTERDAM TO BASEL

Day 1 | Amsterdam, Holland. Embark. On arrival, you’ll be met by a friendly face and transferred to your Emerald Waterways ship. After meeting the captain and crew, you’ll have chance to unpack and relax in your room and explore the ship’s amazing facilities – like its swimming pool that ingeniously turns into a cinema in the evening and the spacious Sun Deck which offers panoramic views of the landscape. (D)

Day 2 | Amsterdam, Holland. Cruising. With so much of this great city to see, it’s easy to miss out on some of the best bits. So this morning, we take you on an included canal cruise on a glasstop boat – the perfect way to explore Amsterdam’s picturesque canals. Afterwards, you’ll take a bus and walking tour through the bustling centre, past its charming churches, 16th century merchant houses and over 50 world-class museums – including the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh and Stedelijk museums – while also uncovering some of the city’s hidden gems. This evening, you’ll take an eye-opening orientation tour of the red light district – Amsterdam’s oldest neighbourhood, home to the Oude Kerk parish church and numerous red light windows. (B,L,D)

Day 3 | Cologne, Germany. Today you’ll take a guided tour of Cologne – a city famous for its magnificent UNESCO World Heritage listed Gothic Cathedral which towers at almost 160 metres high. You’ll also have free time to explore the historic centre of the old city, with its colourful houses, delightful town hall and tower – or why not visit the modern art exhibition at Ludwig Museum? Alternatively, you could always head to one of the many breweries to sample the finest local beverages, take a cable car ride to have a bird’s eye view of the cathedral city, visit one of 12 Romanesque churches, or explore its many parks and gardens. Tonight, all guests, crew and the captain will get together for a fantastic Farewell Reception and Dinner. (B,L,D)

EmeraldPLUS. Canal cruise in a glass-top boat.
Included Excursion. Walking tour of Amsterdam and the red light district.

Day 4 | Koblenz. This morning we arrive at the 2,000 year old town of Koblenz, which is situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. First stop is the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress on the opposite side of the river for a short tour. Part of the Prussian defences against the French in the 19th century, and later used as a headquarters for the American military during WWII, the Fortress rises 118 metres above the Rhine and offers the most fantastic views. For the rest of the day you’re free to explore the town at your leisure or you can choose to book an optional excursion to Burg Eltz – a medieval castle nestled in the hills above the Moselle River. (B,L,D)

Included Excursion. Guided tour of Koblenz.

Day 5 | Cochem. Moving on to the medieval town of Cochem, you’ll journey to the pivotal bend of the Moselle River, where two hiking paradises, Eifel and Hunsruück, meet. Burrowed in the romantic Moselle valley and in the shadow of the magical Cochem castle, you’ll take to the town’s winding cobbled streets for a guided walking tour past quaint cottages, black and tan guild houses and sights like the Endert Gate Tower and Martin’s Fountain, before visiting Reichsburg Castle which dates back more than 1,000 years. (B,L,D)

EmeraldPLUS. Guided visit to Reichsburg Castle.
Included Excursion. Walking tour of Cochem.

Included Excursion. Guided tour of Cologne.

Day 6 | Bernkastel. Trier. Today we swap the river for the road as we travel by coach to Trier. Here, you’ll take an included guided tour of a city that legend says was founded long before Rome and is still rich with ruins. Spectacular sights include the Porta Nigra Gate, Roman Baths and Amphitheatre, Trier Cathedral, Roscheider Hof – an open air museum, and Rheinisches Landesmuseum – one of the most important archaeological museums in Germany. After travelling back to Bernkastel, you’ll enjoy a delicious late lunch on the ship and the afternoon is yours to enjoy as you please – whether that’s relaxing reading a book, taking advantage of your cabin’s infotainment system or taking a dip in the heated pool. (B,L,D)

Included Excursion. Guided tour of Trier.

Day 7 | Bernkastel. After breakfast, take to the Sun Deck to watch the world glide by as we sail the winding waters of the Moselle River and through the rolling hills of Western Germany towards Luxembourg. On arrival, you’ll take an included tour of the quaint town of Bernkastel. Here, you’ll learn all about the town’s turbulent history – from early Roman inhabitant to French and Prussian ruling – and the many marvellous vineyards it’s famous for. This afternoon you can further explore the town or spend some time relaxing on the ship before the evening’s entertainment of traditional German folk music begins. (B,L,D)

EmeraldPLUS. Evening entertainment of German folk music.
Included Excursion. Guided tour of Bernkastel.

Day 8 | Mainz. Rhine Gorge. You’ll have free time this morning to explore Mainz as you please or relax onboard the ship. Why not take advantage of fantastic facilities like the swimming pool or massage therapy room? Just before lunch, we set sail along the spectacular Rhine Gorge. As you enjoy a delicious lunch at any of our three onboard venues, you’ll pass countless castles, never-ending vineyards, the famous Lorelei statue and the Pfalzgrafenstein Castle – a former medieval toll station. (B,L,D)

Day 9 | Mannheim, Germany. Mainz. his morning you’re free to relax onboard your ship or browse the local boutiques for authentic gifts and souvenirs before we sail from Manheim to Mainz. Once you’ve arrived in Mainz you’ll enjoy an included city tour, where superb sights include Mainz Synagogue – one of Germany’s most interesting pieces of architecture, the Theodor Heuss Rhine Bridge, and the city hall with its stunning Swedish marble façade. Alternatively, you can book a trip to Heidelberg – home to Germany’s oldest university, the Thingstätte – an open-air theatre built by the Nazi regime in 1934, and the Himmelsleiter – a stairway of 1200 steps winding up 270 meters up to Königstuhl, the King’s Seat located in the Odenwald Mountains. (B,L,D)

Included Excursion. Guided city tour of Mainz.

Day 10 | Strasbourg, France. For your first taste of French hospitality, you’ll start the day with an included city tour of Strasbourg, famous for its beautiful historical centre, the Grande Île, which was the first city centre to ever be classified entirely as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated on an island lined with extensive canals and filled with medieval architecture, your stroll around the old town takes you past sights such as the Strasbourg Cathedral – Europe’s highest medieval building, and the wine cellar of the city hospital. You’ll also have free time to explore the pretty waterside area of La Petite France and Strasbourg, or you can book the afternoon on an optional wine tasting excursion. (B,L,D)

Included Excursion. City tour of Strasbourg.

Day 11 | Black Forest, Germany. Germany’s beautiful Black Forest region – a heavily wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg – is like something out of a fairy-tale and you’ll spend the whole of today within this magical setting. Here, you’ll visit the Vogtsbauernhof Museum; an open air exhibition of 16th century life located between Hausach and Gutach and featuring a number of reconstructed Black Forest farms. You’re also invited to a typical Gasthof, owned by a local family, for lunch and a cooking demonstration and tasting session of the regions famous Black Forest Gateau. And you’ll also have the chance to visit Germany’s largest Cuckoo Clock and shop for mementos, before journeying into the refreshing sprays of the country’s greatest waterfall. This evening, you’re invited to enjoy a fabulous Cocktail Reception and Welcome Dinner in the company of fellow guests and crew – providing the perfect opportunity to socialise and make new friends. (B,L,D)

EmeraldPLUS. Lunch and cooking demonstration at a family-run Gasthof.
Included Excursions. Guided tour of the Black Forest and Vogtsbauerhof Museum.

Day 12 | Basel, Switzerland. This morning, you’ll enjoy a delicious breakfast onboard your ship to prepare for your journey home. Once you’ve packed and said your goodbyes you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight home. (B)

NOTE: Itinerary is subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the itinerary schedule you receive with your final documents.

SOUTHBOUND ITINERARY 12 DAYS | AMSTERDAM TO BASEL Click HERE to view 12-day NORTHBOUND itinerary.