SORRY - FULLY BOOKED!

The Treasures of the Celebrated River Rhine

07 May 2023 - 8 Nights

£1975 p.p. sharing main deck cabin



ITINERARY

BASEL - BREISACH - STRASBOURG - MAINZ - KOBLENZ - COLOGNE - DÜSSELDORF – AMSTERDAM

JUST ONE CABIN REMAINING

Embark on a cruise rich in history and authenticity. Discover historic monuments in cities such as Freiburg, Haarlem or Colmar. You can take a stroll at the Arnhem Open Air Museum, marvel at beautiful Strasbourg and gaze upon the castles of the Rhine, almost too many to count. We cruise aboard Croisieurope’s “Symphonie”.

This holiday is suitable for most people but please note that there are no lifts on the ship, so you MUST BE ABLE to negotiate steps and stairs.

Our cruise ship, the ”Symphonie” was originally built in 1997 and accommodated 145 passengers. In 2018, she was completely re-built, not just refurbished. The cabin numbers were reduced, to allow them to increase in size and comfort and now she carries just 99 persons, if all cabins are full.

Whilst cabins on river cruises are still much smaller than hotel rooms, the cabin size on “Symphonie” compares with most luxury, modern river-ships with in-room facilities to match – spacious showers, individual heating and cooling controls, safe and hair-dryer. All cabins are the same size. Double cabins for single use have a supplement of £595p.p. 

Lower Deck cabins have a large panorama window. Upper Deck cabins feature a large "Juliette Balcony" style window, which slides open.

Public spaces are bright and airy. The lounge offers mixed seating – sofas, armchairs, stools and table & chairs. A bright, well-stocked bar offers a good range of drinks, teas and coffees, most of which are included within your cruise fare.

Meals are all served in the spacious, bright restaurant at tables of 4 or 6. We will be allocated our own tables but we are free to move around those tables as we wish, allowing conversation and friendship with each and every one of our group. Please read the note below concerning choice of meals and drinks.

The sundeck is reached by two sets of steps. There is rarely a rush or queue, so you can take your time and the crew will be willing to assist, if required or requested. The bar staff will be happy to deliver anything you wish…..within reason!

Entertainment is “limited” and usually consists of music and dancing. Historically the crew also put on a “revue” on one night of the cruise. In some ports, we have the option to go ashore in the evening for a walk, a drink or maybe even some other entertainment. The animation team offer a programme of fun, fitness and entertainment throughout the cruise.

 ITINERARY

BASEL - BREISACH - STRASBOURG - MAINZ - KOBLENZ - COLOGNE - DÜSSELDORF – AMSTERDAM

Day 1 : Sunday, 07 May 2023 - Frankfurt

Fly from Dublin to Frankfurt – afternoon flight

Times to be confirmed.

Light evening meal – aboard flight.

Check in to 4* Intercity Hotel, just across from station.

Evening free. Join Alan for a short walk, if you wish!

Day 2.  Monday, 08 May 2023 –

FRANKFURT - BASEL

We have a morning free to explore the financial capital of Germany, home to the European Central Bank. Modern skyscrapers meet medieval squares surrounded by grand half-timbered buildings. There is time for lunch or you can buy something for the journey. We travel this afternoon by high-speed train from Frankfurt to Basel, arriving at the ship around 6.00pm, in good time for boarding. Welcome drink and dinner on board.

Day 3. Tuesday 09 May 2023.

BREISACH – COLMAR

It’s still morning, so it’s going to be quiet in Breisach. Most of the shops and cafes are open in the morning, but it’s just time to relax. In the afternoon, there are optional excursions to the chocolate-box town of Colmar or to the Gateway to the Black Forest, Freiburg (extra cost). We highly recommend either of these excursions but you may wish to simply relax.

Lunch and dinner on board.

Day 4. Wednesday 10 May 2023

BREISACH - STRASBOURG

The morning is spent sailing and, if the weather is good, time to relax on deck. We'll arrive in Strasbourg early this afternoon. A guided tour of the European capital, with your host Alan is included in your visit. Return on board for dinner and an evening of dancing. We may offer an evening excursion, depending on ships departure time. Sail through the night to Mainz.

Day 5. Thursday 11 May 2023     

MAINZ - KOBLENZ

After breakfast, join us for the guided tour of Mainz and optional visit to the Gutenberg Museum, where you will see some illuminated examples of the first manuscripts and Bibles ever “printed”. We'll return on board for lunch and cruise on the most beautiful part of the Rhine River towards Koblenz, passing numerous castles as well as the infamous Lorelei Rock along the way. Depending on arrival time, there will be a tour of the city, led by Alan. It may be before or after dinner. The evening is free for you to spend some time in the city.

Day 6. Friday, 12 May 2023

COLOGNE - DÜSSELDORF

We'll depart very early for Cologne, reaching it later in the morning. You may wish to have a relaxing day aboard, sailing to Dusseldorf or you can join us on a guided tour of Cologne on foot. Wonder at the majestic cathedral, the old town as well as the famous 4711 Eau de Cologne Museum. We will then travel by train to Dusseldorf, where you can have a few hours free time with your host, Alan, or go straight back to the ship and relax. Gala dinner evening.

Enjoy the castles and cathedrals as we sail

Included in your fare…

•        Flights from Dublin to Frankfurt and return to Belfast from Amsterdam.

•        Light in-flight meal (subject to flight times)

•        Short transfer by train to Frankfurt city.

•        15kgs checked luggage + one piece hand luggage

•        (Increase luggage allowance to 23kgs – add £25)

•        1 Night in Frankfurt

•        Morning walking tour of Frankfurt

•        Afternoon high-speed trin to Basel (approx. 3 hours)

•        7 nights cruise aboard MS Symphonie

•        Excursion programme (See below)

•        All meals on board1 and drinks2

•        Basic on-board gratuities

•        ATOL Full financial protection

Escorted throughout by Alan Couser

Excursions .....

Walking tour of Frankfurt                                Included

Walking tour and wine-tasting Breisach        TBA

Visit to Colmar                                                     £40 p.p.

Visit to Freiburg by train                                     £20 p.p.

Strasbourg Walking Tour & Canal Trip           Included

Cologne Walking Tour                                       Included

Train to Dusseldorf and short tour                  Included

Visit of Arnhem Open-Air museum                 £75 p.p.

Excursion to Arnhem - A Bridge Too Far        €15 p.p payable locally

Walking tour of Amsterdam                             Included

Amsterdam Canal Cruise                                   Included

Afternoon tour to Volendam                            £25 p.p.

Amsterdam Museums        (includes booking fee)

               Rijksmuseum                                        £28

               Van Gogh Museum                             £28

Walking tour of Frankfurt.

Our hotel is really well situated to explore the sights of this wealthy city, where skyscrapers tower over ancient squares and monuments. Half-timbered houses line the medieval Römerberg, which leads to the cathedral where Kings and Emperors were crowned. We’ll make our way back to the hotel in time to collect bags and catch our train to Basel.

Approx two miles of walking in total with plenty of free time.

Walking tour of Breisach with wine-tasting

Our ship moors right in Breisach and it is only a short walk to its centre. Come and explore with the ship’s personnel and enjoy a short wine-tasting, with the opportunity to buy some of the beautiful regional wines.

This tour is included in your fare.

Afternoon tour to Freiburg – Gateway to the Black Forest

Join your host Alan on a visit to the city of Freiburg, a 25-minute journey from Breisach. It is a university city with a beautiful centre around the imposing cathedral, where you will find stalls and shops. Your host, Alan, will tell you a little of the city’s history, as we walk through the cobbled alleys and squares. We will return in time for the evening meal. There will be approximately 2 miles of walking in total.

The cost of this tour is £20 per person.

Colmar (Alternative to Freiburg)

Join the ship’s team on an afternoon excursion by coach to beautiful Colmar, everyone’s idealisation of the chocolate-box French village, with stunning medieval buildings adorned by bright flowers. Boutique shopping is tops here and there is a plethora of cafes and restaurants. There will be approximately one mile of walking in total. Like Freiburg, this is a gorgeous city but you'll have to decide!

This tour is not included in your fare and costs £35 p.p.

Strasbourg Walking Tour & Barge Tour (Included)

Walk is quite easy but over cobbled streets.

With its imposing Gothic Cathedral and beautiful central area, known as “Petite France”, Strasbourg is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. Our short walking tour is over cobbled streets and culminates in a one-hour canal barge ride, which will take us past the European Parliament campus. We also have superb shopping opportunities, as Strasbourg plays host to all the big French department stores, as well as a plethora of nifty boutiques. Napoleon described the English as a “Nation of little Shopkeepers”. He’d obviously never been to “Petite France” in beautiful Strasbourg! No extra cost for this tour, which uses local tram service. Should you need a taxi, we can arrange it for you at your own cost.

Mainz walking tour and Gutenberg Museum

Our ship moors very close to the heart of the city. From here we walk with your host, Alan, who will show you some of the highlights. Johannes Gutenberg was a German printer, blacksmith and inventor who introduced printing to Europe with the printing press. You now have the chance, if you wish, to visit the fascinating museum dedicated to him. Afterwards, you have some free time before returning to the ship for lunch.

This tour is included in your fare.

Cologne Walking Tour & Dusseldorf (Included)

Activity Barometer – Level 2-3

Due to the relatively short time the ship stops in Cologne, the only way to see as much as possible is on our short, guided walking tour with Alan. We will visit the “Altstadt” and Cologne Cathedral, which withstood the aerial bombing of the Second World War, even though everything around it was flattened. After a short break for a coffee or beer, we’ll travel on by train to Düsseldorf, where you can either rejoin the ship immediately or enjoy a guided walk through the city with Alan and then back to the ship in time for dinner.

it is worth noting that you need to be able to walk a total of approximately 3 miles over uneven surfaces. We can arrange other options for those who cannot walk this far.

This tour is included in your fare.

Visit to Dutch Open-air museum in Haarlem.

If you wish to see how the Dutch forefathers lived and eeked out an existence, then this is the excursion for you. You will leave the ship by coach from Xanten for the short drive to the museum where you will spend about two hours. You will return by coach to Nijmegen, where the ship’s staff await to serve you lunch.

This excursion is NOT included in the fare and costs £75 p.p.

Excursion to Arnhem - "A Bridge Too Far"

Arnhem is the site of one of the major battles of WW2, "Operation Market Garden" and has been featured in a number of books and films, notably "A Bridge Too Far", starring Sean Connery, Michael Caine and Ryan O'Neill and directed by Richard Attenborough. You only need to decide, on the day, if you wish to join us and the cost will be €15, payable on the spot. We will travel on foot and by train. It is 15 minutes walk to the station in Nijmegen and a further 10 minutes in Arnhem. We will spend some time in the lovely city of Arnhem, before returning to Nijmegen, where there should still be time to enjoy a quick visit of the city. We will visit the "Airborne at the Bridge Museum", where the commanders of three nations, British, Dutch and German tell their stories. (Cost for this tour €15, payable locally)

Visit to Nijmegen (if possible!)

This tour may only be possible if you have stayed on board, not visited the Dutch Open-air museum and the ship arrives in good time. There is no charge for this tour, if it happens.

Walking Tour of Amsterdam (Included)

Reasonable level of fitness required to enjoy to its full.

This is a two-hour walking tour, covering approximately two miles, mainly on cobbled streets. You can drop off at any time, if you’ve had enough and make your own way back to the ship on foot or by tram. (We’ll show you how). This is a new tour, a bit different from those we have offered previously, so that regular clients can see something else.

Amsterdam Canal Cruise (Included)

Just about 10 minutes walking required to get to cruiser.

We plan to offer this during the afternoon or on the last evening after dinner but that may change, subject to weather, etc. It is approx.. 400 metres easy walk to the berth, mainly over flat, even surfaces and the cruise will last approximately one hour. There are a few steep steps down to the quay and 2 or 3 more to get onto the ship.

Volendam by bus.

Join your host, Alan, on a short trip to one of Holland’s pretty fishing villages, on the banks of the Ijsselmeer, once known as the Zuider Zee. More detail on board.

Van Gogh Museum or Rijksmuseum - £24 each

Since its re-opening after almost ten years of renovation, Amsterdam’s answer to the Louvre Museum in Paris, “Rijksmuseum” has been packed to the rafters, receiving rave reviews. The “Van Gogh Museum” is always popular, too, and both need months of advance booking. Both are situated about two miles / three kilometres from the ship and the tour cost includes return tram tickets and advance booking fees.

Sorry, but we cannot offer you a visit to the Anne Frank Museum but, if you wish, you can arrange it yourself on-line.