NOTE REGARDING SINGLE CABINS ON OUR RIVER CRUISES

We are always limited to just four single cabins per group. We wish we could get more but, unfortunately, that's the rule. As you can imagine, the demand far exceeds the supply, so they are usually sold out within an hour or two of going on sale. For this cruise, we have had 14 requests for single cabins! So, if you want to join any of our river cruises, we ask you to book as soon as possible. We trust you understand our predicament.

ITINERARY

Day 1 : DUBLIN – LUXEMBOURG

Fly from Dublin direct to Luxembourg.

Depart Dublin 3.00pm. Arrive Luxembourg 5.45pm

Overnight at NH Hotel, Luxembourg Airport

Bed & breakfast basis

Evening meal not included.

Day 2: LUXEMBOURG

Today we have a free day in Luxembourg. After breakfast, check out of hotel and leave your bags at reception desk. We take the local bus into the city, which is just 20 minutes away. Join Alan and Ann for a stroll around this gorgeous city, before having some free time to explore and have some lunch.

Early afternoon, return to airport hotel and meet our transfer to Remich, where our ship awaits.

After comfortably settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. Join us for an evening of entertainment.

Day 3 : LUXEMBOURG - SAARBURG

This morning, join us for an optional visit to a winery, complete with a tasting. Seven pioneering men of the region recognized the magic of the huge calcareous rock downstream from Remich. They cultivated the first vineyards now infamous for its sparkling wines. In 1919, in the aftermath of World War I, they set up the Caves St Martin. You’ll discover the secrets to winemaking while strolling through the underground passages that seem to go on for miles. This afternoon, free to relax or join the ship’s tour for an optional guided visit of Luxembourg city. We’ll leave from Remich for Luxembourg by coach. Luxembourg is a real mix of styles and cultures. We’ll set out on a guided tour on foot to get a closer look at some of the sites, including the Place des Armes, Place de la Constitution, capital buildings, Corniche, old city, Grand Ducal Palace (exterior), and Place Guillaume II. After our tour, enjoy some free time before returning to the ship in Remich. Return on board in Wasserbillig.

Sailing towards Saarburg. Join us for an evening of entertainment.

Day 4 : SAARBURG - TRIER - BEILSTEIN

In the morning, join us for an optional guided tour of Trier. Discover the Roman vestiges and heritage in Trier, the splendid view the city offers of the Moselle, and its magnificent landscape. Trier is known for its well preserved Roman and medieval buildings, but it is also home to some impressive churches. We’ll have a look at the amphitheatre, the imperial baths, the Roman basilica, and the Porta Nigra, one of the best preserved Roman city gates.

During this time, the boat will sail to Trier, where you will rejoin it. Afternoon sailing to Beilstein, which we reach at the end of the day. Evening entertainment on board. Overnight stopover.

Day 5 : BEILSTEIN - COCHEM - KOBLENZ

Early morning sail to Cochem. Join us for an optional guided tour of Cochem Castle. You’ll be transferred to Cochem Castle on a mini-bus. The Imperial Castle sits on a mighty crag over the Moselle River. We’ll enjoy a guided tour of this magnificent building that dates back to 1000. After being destroyed by the French in the 17th century, it was rebuilt from scratch in a Neo-Gothic style by a local German businessman. Following our visit of the castle, enjoy some free time in the city. Take a stroll through the narrow, winding streets and enjoy the ambiance full of lovely half-timbered homes with slate roofs, the historic square near the town hall, and the early walls, gates, and churches. We’ll return on board on foot.

The afternoon will be spent cruising the Moselle River, one of the most beautiful tributaries of the Rhine, towards Koblenz. Enjoy the calm as we pass by charming villages, vineyards, and what seems like a castle on every peak. Once we arrive at the end of the afternoon, explore the city with Alan and Ann. The rest of the evening is yours to do as you please.

Day 6  : KOBLENZ - RÜDESHEIM

This morning, we’ll pass through the beautiful and romantic Rhine Valley. Majestic castles, mysterious ruins, and famous vineyards dot the countryside known for its legendary German royalty and fabled Lorelei Rock. Our ship will arrive in Rüdesheim by late morning. In the afternoon, join Alan and Ann for an optional guided tour of Rüdesheim.

Alternatively, especially if your mobility is not great, join the ship’s tour. First, you'll enjoy a guided tour of the local vineyards on a tourist train. Then, participate in a wine tasting in the historic rooms of the Bassenheimer Hof. After, we’ll head to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet, located in a lovely, 15th-century building. This museum holds a collection of fascinating musical instruments ranging from tiny, delicate music boxes to an enormous orchestrion.

In the evening, the famous Drosselgasse with its numerous cafés, bars, and music awaits you. Our ship will begin to cruise towards Mannheim at the end of the evening.

Day 7 : RÜDESHEIM(- MANNHEIM – HEIDELBERG

We'll arrive in Mannheim early in the morning. This will be our starting point for the optional excursion to Heidelberg. Known as the most romantic city in Germany, it has inspired many the painter and poet by its beauty. We’ll visit the partially ruined, red sandstone castle that sits majestically above the city, overlooking the Neckar River. Up to the Thirty Years’ War, Heidelberg boasted one of the most notable ensembles of buildings in the Holy Roman Empire. While time has taken its toll, this castle’s fame lives on to this day. The giant wine barrel is one of the most popular attractions. Built in a cellar in 1591, it held about 34,342 gallons of wine collected from the Palatinate in payment of taxes. The facade of the Friedrich Building, displaying a perfect gallery of portraits from the royal line, is also a must-see. After our visit, we’ll go to the historical center of the city to take in the many sites.

Enjoy some free time in Heidelberg before returning on board in Mannheim. The afternoon will be spent cruising along the Neckar and Rhine Rivers towards Strasbourg. Tonight is our festive gala evening.

Day 8: STRASBOURG

Day 8: STRASBOURG

Enjoy breakfast on board this morning before disembarking at 9:30 a.m. Transfer to city centre by taxi

We have two nights at the Hotel des Vosges,

on a B&B basis.

We will be too early to check in but we can leave our bags and set off to explore Strasbourg. We will offer a number of excursion possibilities – See below.

Evening meal is included at the Ancienne Douane.

Day 9: STRASBOURG

As we have another day in Strasbourg, it might be nice to visit somewhere else for the day. The beautiful city of Colmar is only 35 minutes away by direct train. Alternatively, you may wish to join Alan on a visit to Freiburg, gateway to the Black Forest. Details of both tours below. Evening meal not included tonight.

Early to bed!

Day 10. STRASBOURG-LUXEMBOURG-DUBLIN

Depart Strasbourg by coach at 07.45am, direct to Luxembourg Airport. Arriva approx. 10.30am.

Luxembourg Airport is tiny, so check-in and security only take a few minutes.

Depart Luxembourg 12.25pm. Arrive Dublin 1.35pm

MS LEONARDO DA VINCI

Named after one of the most famous artists in history this standard ship sails on the Rhine, a river with cultural and natural richness.

Completely renovated in 2011, the MS Leonardo Da Vinci is an intimate-sized standard ship, measuring 105m long and 11.40m wide. It can accommodate 143 passengers, in 72 cabins spread over two decks. The cabins are comfortable and spacious, offer amenities and provide guests with all the comforts they need during their stay. The decoration, in beige and taupe tones enhanced with gold, is both discreet and elegant and pays tribute to the artist’s works. Located on the upper deck, the restaurant, where all meals are served during the cruise, offers delicate cuisine in a refined setting, where large windows allow guests to enjoy the panorama. Also on the upper deck is the lounge / bar with a dance floor. The sun deck is the ideal place to relax and admire the landscapes, offering comfortable sun loungers, as well as a large shaded area.

New Paragraph

NOTES

1.           There are a range of excursions offered during this cruise, as detailed in the itinerary. You will have a £150 credit towards the excursions. All you have to pay is anything over the £150.

2.           Croisieurope offer a fixed three course menu for lunch and dinner, with a choice of main course options. The food is of the highest quality but sometimes a particular course may not appeal to you. The menu is on display from early morning and you may ask your waiter if he/she can arrange something else for you. You must do this at breakfast time, or an alternative may not be available.

3.           Unlimited drinks, alcoholic and otherwise, are available throughout your cruise. The offer includes beers, spirits, soft drinks, teas & coffees, bottled water and a selection of fine house wines but excludes those from the wine list.

4.          Gratuities are included aboard the ship but, if you feel you have received exceptional service, please feel free to put something into the unmarked envelope, which will be left in your cabin towards the end of the cruise. Gratuities for tour guides, etc. are not included and a small contribution would be appreciated.

5.           “Accessibility” Whilst the “MS Leonardo da Vinci” offers one fully-accessible cabin for those who require wheelchair access, our experience shows that this cruise is not ideal for those with limited mobility. Berthing is often via steep ramps, possibly steps, and we may also need to cross through another vessel, often involving steep steps. We would endeavour to ensure you get the maximum from a cruise but cannot guarantee you will be able to get off at each and every port. You must also have a carer with you, who is able to manage every aspect of operating and pushing the wheelchair, your luggage, etc. Neither our representatives nor the crew of the ship can be called upon to assist, as we are not insured for it.

Excursions

Luxembourg with Alan – Day 2.

After a good breakfast, we set off by local bus to the city centre. We’ll aim for the 10.00am bus. You have the option of simply doing your own thing or joining the Hop-On Hop-Off tour.

Afterwards there will be free time.

Cost: With Hop-On tour, £30.

          Without Hop-On, free!

Luxembourg guided tour by coach – Day 3.

This is the ship’s tour and will depart after breakfast and return for lunch. You will have some free time..but you’ll have done this already.

Cost: £65

Visit Schengen – Day 3. Morning

We can take the local bus, which operates every 30 minutes and takes 15 minutes. Stop for a coffee, visit the brand-new Euro Museum. You can board the original Prinzessin Marie-Astrid Europa and relive the historic moment where it all began!

Cost: £15 including coffee and cake

Remich and Winetasting – Day 3. Afternoon

After lunch on board, join the ship’s tour and drive the short distance to Caves St. Martin. Learn about local wine production and stroll through the seemingly endless underground passages. The ships sails on during this tour and you return on board downstream at Wasserbillig.

(Or just relax on board)

Cost: £40 including wine tasting

Guided Tour of Trier – Day 4. Morning

No matter how often you have visited Trier, this is a “must-do”. The ship’s tour departs after breakfast for the short journey. On arrival at Trier, there is around 300 metres to reach the old-town, in the company of your guide. The tour starts immediately and lasts for about an hour. Some free time. Rejoin the hip in Trier. It’s about 500-600 metres back to the ship.

We highly recommend this tour.

Cost: £65

Cochem – Day 5. Morning

There are two choices today and for anyone with walking difficulties, we highly recommend the ship’s tour. The ship moors on the opposite bank from the “old-town” and there are a lot of steps (60-70) plus 300 metres walk to reach the town.

Ship’s Tour wit visit to the castle

You will travel by minibus from the quai-side, past the vineyards up to the castle, which overlooks the town. Enjoy a guided tour before returning to the town below. You have free time to enjoy this quaint and beautiful town

Cost: £35

Hike to the castle and wander through the town with your host, Alan.

It’s a 20-minute hike, quite steep, up to the castle where we’ll have great views over the river. This walking tour does not include a visit to the castle, as you may only visit as part of a group guided tour.

Cost: FREE

We will sail during the afternoon

Koblenz Walking Tour

This is a walking tour with Alan, who will tell you the ancient, medieval and modern history of this fascinating city. The walk is likely to be after the evening meal. Total walking approx. 1.5 miles.

Cost: FREE

Rüdesheim – Day 6 - Afternoon

The ship’s tour is excellent and covers a lot of ground. Hop onto the mini-train from the quai-side and tour up through the vineyards. participate in a wine tasting in the historic rooms of the Bassenheimer Hof. After, we’ll head to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet, located in a lovely, 15th-century building. This museum holds a collection of fascinating musical instruments ranging from tiny, delicate music boxes to an enormous orchestrion. 

Some free time and return to ship.

Cost: £38

Rüdesheim – Day 6 – With Alan

This is purely a walking tour. It is approximately 500 metres along the quayside before we reach the village. Alan will take you on his personal tour of this lovely town, pointing out some of the quirky highlights. Then we’ll take the cable-car up to the Germania monument, from where you’ll have spectacular views. We will stop later at the town square for a wine-tasting, after which you have free time. You may wish to browse some of the shops before returning to the ship at your leisure. This is a great tour but there is quite a bit of walking, probably 1.5 miles in total.

Cost: £30 including wine-tasting and cable-car.

Heidelberg – Day 7. – Morning

This morning you have two choices as to how to visit Heidelberg; one with the ship’s tour, one with your host, Alan.

Ship’s tour to Heidelberg

Just after breakfast, a coach will depart from the quayside in Mannheim, heading straight for Heidelberg Castle, where you can enjoy a tour with a local guide. Afterwards, you will have free time in the city before heading back to the ship.

Cost: £80

Note: Our experience of this tour is not great! There has been an awful lot of hanging around, mainly waiting for the English speaking guide to appear…or not appear. Then, waiting for the returning coach. On the up-side, though, you are in the safe hands of the cruise line.

Heidelberg by taxi/minibus with Alan

We will depart immediately after breakfast and travel by taxi/minivans to Heidelberg Altstadt. On arrival, we’ll have a short walking tour of the city, approx. one mile in total. We’ll then take the funicular to the castle and Alan will show you around. After returning to the city, you’ll have some free time before we return to our ship in Mannheim. Includes: taxi/minibus return, funicular and castle entrance.

Cost: £50

Note: This is the better option for those with walking difficulties. Both tours will have areas that will be difficult for anyone with such walking difficulties to access.

Strasbourg – Day 8.

Walking tour (Includes coffee)

After checking in to the hotel, we’ll deposit our bags and set off on a gentle walking tour to the centre of the old town. (It’s approx. 1.2km or ¾ mile. We’ll stop at the cathedral, where you’ll have a chance to visit on your own. There will be as much free time as you like, maybe for a bite of lunch. (If you don’t want the walk, we can put you on a tram and meet you).

Then you’ll have the option of a mini-train tour (€9) or a barge tour (€18 - €22). We can book the barge tour in advance. If anyone wishes to climb 330 steps to the top of the tower, please do (€10)

Return to the hotel by tram. We’ll arrange a meeting time for those who are not happy about returning on their own.

Cost £15

Strasbourg – Day 9 – European Parliament

This morning after breakfast, we plan a tour of the European Parliament. We travel by tram, approx. 20-25 minutes and the tour will be with audioguide. The self-guided tour should take around 30-45 minutes. Note; On Saturdays, the café is likely to be closed, so you’ll have to wait until we get back to the city for a coffee!

Cost: FREE

Colmar – Day 9 - Afternoon

This is a DIY tour to one France’s most gorgeous towns, bedecked with flowers and oozing charm and beauty. We rarely have the chance to visit this town, but owing to our schedule change, we have the extra day to do so.

Trains run every 30 minutes and take approximately 30 minutes. Strasbourg station is straight across from our hotel and Colmar station is just 400 metres from the old-town, via the park.

Train fare €32 return.

Strasbourg Option – Day 9 – Afternoon

Shopaholics!

This is a city for shopaholics! From the stores at Les Halles (7-8 minutes walk from hotel) to the grand Parisien stores (10-12 mins walk or a few minutes by tram) or the Grand Rue (10 mins walk), with its myriad boutiques and cafes, Strasbourg has you sorted!

Cost – Probably a fortune!