5 days Cologne-Rüdesheim-Mainz-Cologne 2019

Introduction

The "Romantic Rhine": Here, where the river cuts through the Rhenish Slate Mountains, is the Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is world-famous for the many castles on the hills on either side of the river banks, and for the Lorelei. Innumerable songs, including the "Nibelungenlied" about Siegfried the dragon-killer, have been dedicated to this part of the Rhine. Why this river cruise? River cruise - take the air on the Rhine Can be booked as an advent cruise The cruise begins and ends in Cologne - easy to get to River cruise among castles and legend-steeped landscapes through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Middle Rhine Valley

Day 1 Cologne Casting off 5:00 pm. Embark 3.00 p.m.

Day 2 Treis-Karden / Alken - Koblenz In and around Koblenz, Treis-Karden Treis-Karden / Alken: Mooring 7:00 am. Casting off 1:00 pm. Guided tour of historic Treis-Karden, with a visit to a wine cellar in a traditional vineyard. ** Excursion Package Get to know the picturesque little town on the banks of the Moselle on this special tour. A canon in historical costume will guide you through the abbey district of Kardens alleyways, lined with half-timbered houses , which belong to the tranquil double community of Treis-Karden. Listen to his stories and entertaining anecdotes about the Karden of former times. The region is characterised by viniculture and you should not miss out on a visit to the historic canons wine cellar and distillery. You will learn many interesting facts about viniculture and the art of distillery. Naturally, wine tasting is included. Koblenz: Mooring 6:00 pm. Guided tour of Koblenz, the town on the "German corner", taking in the town hall with the Schaengel fountain and the Liebfrauenkirche ("Church of Our Lady"). With a history spanning over 2000 years, Koblenz is one of the oldest towns in Germany. The original Latin name Confluentes ("confluence") refers to the towns location. Koblenz is situated at the confluence between the Moselle and Rhine, which is known as the "German triangle". Get to know the historic old town on a guided tour. The idyllic alleyways between the Basilica of St. Castor, the oldest church building in Koblenz, and the Church of Our Lady give Koblenz a special charm. The tour brings you to another of the towns landmarks, the Schängel fountain in front of the town hall, which commemorates the Koblenz Schängel, a mischievous boy.

Day 3 Koblenz - Ruedesheim Koblenz: Casting off 12:00 pm. Guided tour of Bad Ems with its wonderful spa town architecture and splendid Baroque buildings. ** Excursion Package Bad Ems enchants its visitors with splendid Baroque buildings and wonderful spa town architecture. Its unique historical setting has its origins in the eventful history of this imperial spa, dating back to Roman times. Numerous famous people of European history were welcome guests in Bad Ems. Learn interesting facts about the architecture and the illustrious guests of former times on a guided tour. Middle rhine valley: Passage of the famous Loreley Ruedesheim: Mooring 6:30 pm. Ride on the miniature railway Vintner’s Express to “Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet”, which contains 350 automatic musical instruments. About halfway along the Rhines journey from its source to the estuary into the North Sea is Rüdesheim, a wine-growing town in the Middle Rhine Valley. Nobody can say that they know the Rhine unless they have spent a sunny day in Rüdesheim! A visit to this enchanting small town is a highlight of the cruise; during your stay, be sure not to miss Siegfrieds Mechanical Music Cabinet. In the Brömser Hof, a knights manor dating from the 15th century, there is an exhibition of around 350 automatic musical instruments covering three centuries. During the guided tour, which lasts just under an hour, you will learn interesting facts about orchestras, mechanical organs and the art of mechanical recording and reproduction of music. You will travel to the Music Cabinet on the "Winzerexpress" train. The return journey is in your hands. You may wish to visit the Drosselgasse, one of the most famous streets in Germany.

Day 4 Ruedesheim - Mainz Ruedesheim: Casting off 12:00 pm. Guided tour of romantic Rüdesheim with its dapper half-timbered houses and a cable car ride to the Niederwald monument. ** Excursion Package This wine town on the banks of the Rhine is not just one of the best-known tourist attractions along the upper Middle Rhine Valley, but is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Get to know the small town on a comfortable guided walk and let yourself be enchanted by the romantic charm of its many half-timbered houses. A cable car ride to the Niederwald monument completes the trip: Enjoy a fantastic view over the Rhine valley and Rüdesheim, surrounded by grape vines, and take in the beautiful landscape. Mainz: Mooring 3:00 pm. Casting off 10:00 pm. "Johannes Gutenberg" themed guided tour of Mainz on the life and work of the inventor of the printing press, with a visit to the Gutenberg museum. The inventor of the printing press was born around the year 1400, bearing the name Johannes Gensfleisch. The achievements and life of Gutenberg form the basis of our guided walk, which culminates in a visit to the Gutenberg Museum, which houses his two original bibles, printed in the mid-15th Century and a reconstruction of his workshop. The visit highlights the history of printing.

Day 5 Cologne Mooring 8:15 am. Disembarking until 9.00 a.m.