It's that time of year again, when the wonderful scent of mulled wine and roasted almonds wafts up your nose. You can literally smell Christmas on this taster trip. Between the heavenly spice stands at the Dusseldorf Sternchen market. Over a punch in Konigswinter at the foot of the Siebengebirge. Or in the festive light of Cologne Cathedral while rummaging for sweet gifts. Just follow your nose, which is guaranteed to lead you to the culinary delights on board in the evening.
Let yourself be enchanted by the history of Königswinter and follow us on a tour to the Drachenfelsen and its Drachenburg. Take a tour up the Drachenfelsen with the oldest cogwheel railway still in operation. Admire the view from the plateau near the ruins of Drachenburg Castle. Learn more about the former high castle or enjoy the diverse nature that extends around the Drachenfelsen. Another sight worth mentioning is Drachenburg Castle below the castle ruins. Immerse yourself in the neo-early Gothic and neo-Renaissance styles of architecture that are hidden around and in the castle.
Subject to change without notice. Please note that your route may not include all the excursions listed. You will receive further information about the excursions that can be booked with your travel documents and on board.Boppard is a small city consisting of nine villages located in the Rhine Province in Germany. The city is filled with Roman designed cathedrals and medieval buildings along its winding roads illustrating the life of Roman, French and German inhabitants that occupied the city in the middle ages.
Nazi soldiers once occupied Rhine Province during world war one, and as a result, seized Boppard. Some buildings today still depict ruins that tell the story of aerial assaults and military combat fighting of the first world war. There are many significant landmarks such as the Former Electoral castle, Romanesque Revival church, the Town wall, and much more. Various events are held in the Summer, and wine festivals are held in the spring highlighting the city's vineyards and wineries.
Enjoy the evening during a special tour of Boppard. After picking you up from the boat, you will take a walk to the pension at Schinderhannes and Julchen. After the welcome, the Funzeltour starts on foot with a ladder wagon (6-person wine tasting on the way). Experience the eventful history of the town in a relaxed, humorous way. Marvel at walls that date back to Roman times. At each sight, the city guides will hand you a glass of wine. After returning to the guesthouse, the hosts will serve soup on the doorstep. A cosy get-together by the fireplace with a cheese platter completes the evening tour. With lots of new impressions, the way back to the ship on foot takes place in a cheerful mood.
Subject to change without notice. Please note that your route may not include all the excursions listed. You will receive further information about the excursions that can be booked with your travel documents and on board.At night, you will feel transported back in time in the old imperial city of Boppard am Rhein. Walk over the old cobblestones and let the medieval half-timbered houses shine in the light of the torches.
The torch-lit walk starts at the landing stage and takes about 1 hour. A local hiking guide will accompany you through the UNESCO World Heritage Site Boppard. Many sights await you here, from old aristocratic farmsteads to villas from the Rhine Romantic period. In the romantic light of the torches you reach the market place with the old town hall and the St. Severus church, which was built in the 12th century. The old town hall is still the venue for the town council meetings. Here is the Roman fort with traces of settlement from the first century AD. The late Roman military camp was built to monitor the Rhine border.
The event is rounded off with a mulled wine tasting in the Niedersburger Eck wine bistro, which is only a few minutes away from the landing stage. Here you can fortify yourself with a mulled wine and enjoy the excellent wines from Boppard, the largest wine-growing community on the Lower Rhine. The wine bistro combines the old tradition of a wine bar with family hospitality. The wine selection is complemented by delicious biscuits and contemplative Christmas stories. Afterwards you will return to the ship.
Cologne is a Gothic masterpiece, anchored by its world-famous cathedral whose twin spires dominate the city skyline. Founded by the Romans in 38 BC, it grew as an important trading town to become the fourth largest city in Germany. A popular stopping off point on Rhine river cruises, the city is a charm to walk round to explore antique streets full of interesting architecture which besides the cathedral includes a number of splendid churches and medieval buildings (such as City Hall which dating from the 12th century is the oldest in Germany).
Modern day Cologne has a liberal joie de vivre with an appreciation for culture from both ends of the spectrum. Visitors can enjoy the avant-garde and postmodern alongside the antique splendour and enjoy diverse pursuits from a visit to a chocolate museum to a lively night out on the tiles in the beer halls of the Altstadt district.
Luxury and classy galleries meet hipsters and street art. Experience the Belgian Quarter, one of the most popular and expensive residential areas in Cologne. The contribution of several international artists makes it the most creative neighbourhood in Cologne. The neighbourhood is covered with art ranging from small stickers to multi-storey murals.
On the other hand, discovering the luxurious identity of the neighbourhood means learning history about Cologne's diversity from the past to the present at the same time.
Learn where the name for the quarter comes from. Walk past the old building facades with their charm from days gone by and a wide variety of architectural styles. After a refreshment in one of the many traditional breweries around Cologne, continue on to the cathedral. Lots of interesting information about this internationally renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site is the rounding finale of the tour before heading back to the ship.
Subject to change without notice. Please note that your route may not include all the excursions listed. You will receive further information about the excursions that can be booked with your travel documents and on board.
Let us inspire you. Here you will find some pictures and information about the cities on this route.
Boppard is a small city consisting of nine villages located in the Rhine Province in Germany. The city is filled with Roman designed cathedrals and medieval buildings along its winding roads illustrating the life of Roman, French and German inhabitants that occupied the city in the middle ages.
Nazi soldiers once occupied Rhine Province during world war one, and as a result, seized Boppard. Some buildings today still depict ruins that tell the story of aerial assaults and military combat fighting of the first world war. There are many significant landmarks such as the Former Electoral castle, Romanesque Revival church, the Town wall, and much more. Various events are held in the Summer, and wine festivals are held in the spring highlighting the city's vineyards and wineries.
Cologne is a Gothic masterpiece, anchored by its world-famous cathedral whose twin spires dominate the city skyline. Founded by the Romans in 38 BC, it grew as an important trading town to become the fourth largest city in Germany. A popular stopping off point on Rhine river cruises, the city is a charm to walk round to explore antique streets full of interesting architecture which besides the cathedral includes a number of splendid churches and medieval buildings (such as City Hall which dating from the 12th century is the oldest in Germany).
Modern day Cologne has a liberal joie de vivre with an appreciation for culture from both ends of the spectrum. Visitors can enjoy the avant-garde and postmodern alongside the antique splendour and enjoy diverse pursuits from a visit to a chocolate museum to a lively night out on the tiles in the beer halls of the Altstadt district.