Luxury 7 night Enchanting Rhine Cruise

After travelling by rail from London St Pancras International to Basel, nestled amongst the snow-capped Alps, you board your elegant and luxurious 5 star cruise ship, AmaMora, which will be waiting to transport you on a special Rhine cruise. As you explore this fascinating waterway, you will stay in your own spacious outside stateroom, enjoy gourmet dining and fine wines, en-route take in some of hte Rhine’s best-loved attractions; medieval Strasbourg, the German university town of Heidelberg and the majestic Gothic cathedral in Cologne all feature. Conclude your journey in the legendary city of Amsterdam amongst the myriad of canals and distinctive architecture.

You will have time on your Rhine cruise to further explore the sights of Amsterdam – such as the Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House and the charming canals at the end of your Rhine cruise; or if you prefer, we can extend your holiday by rail for you, by adding extra nights in Amsterdam prior to your return journey home. We will advise and assist you on every aspect of your journey, to create your perfect trip.

7 night / 8 day cruise holiday by First Class rail including all meals and wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, transfers and shore excursions – from £2,995 per person (based on 2 people travelling together staying in a E grade cabin.

Day 1 – London to Basel and onwards to your luxury 5 star cruise ship

Your holiday begins as you stroll into stunning London St. Pancras station. Take your time to admire the magnificent glass roof and then sit back, relax and watch the countryside glide past as you travel by Eurostar to the French capital city, at speeds of up to 186mph.  Enjoy the light meal and drinks served on board in Standard Premier Class (Eurostar’s 1st class). On arrival at the Gare du Nord, your taxi transfer takes you across Paris to the Gare de Lyon, to continue your journey to Basel travelling through France to the Swiss border. On arrival in Basel your transfer will take you to your cruise ship, such as the AmaPrima (pictured), or one of her sister ships depending on departure date. Embarkation begins at 3pm so once you arrive at the port you will be able to check in and settle into your comfortable cabins before the first of many delightful meals.

Day 2 – Breisach, Germany

Over breakfast you can choose which of the two exciting excursions on offer today you wish to take part in. The first is a step back in time with a walking tour of Riquewihr (pictured), a picturesque town which retains many of its features from the 16th century. A second option is a walking tour of Breisach and Freiburg. Breisach is a beautiful town that houses one of Europe’s largest wine cellars. In Freiburg, you will visit the historical city centre and the Augustinerplatz, site of Freiburg’s Münster, a Gothic cathedral constructed of red sandstone.

Day 3 – Strasbourg, France

Capital city of France’s Alsace region, Strasbourg is situated on the Rhine at the German border. After arriving this morning, enjoy a panoramic tour that will take you past the Orangery, the town’s oldest park, the European Parliament and the Place de la Republique. Afterwards you can continue your explorations, on foot, with a walking tour of the lovely “La Petite France” neighbourhood. Here you will see the Gothic cathedral with its famous astronomical clock. The remainder of the day is yours to spend as you wish. The ship is moored overnight in Strasbourg.

Day 4 – Into Germany – Speyer, Heidelberg and Rüdesheim

Today you arrive in Ludwigshafen in Germany, from where you have a choice of excursions. You may wish to visit Speyer, one of Germany’s oldest cities, known for its Cathedral, churches, and the Altpörtel – a 13th-century gate tower. You have the opportunity to see all of these on a guided tour of the main sights.  The imperial Cathedral of Speyer, the foundation of which is in the form of a Latin cross, is one of the largest and most significant Romanesque edifices in Germany. The Altpörtel or Old Gate is one of the tallest (55m) and most important town gates in Germany. The city hall of Speyer, once a free city of the Holy Roman Empire, is a good example of late Baroque architecture. It was built between 1712 and 1726 on the site of the original 15th century city chancellery, which was destroyed in 1689. These are just a few of the many beautiful building to admire. Alternatively, you may wish to join the Heidelberg excursion. Heidelberg (pictured) is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Germany. The harmonious ensemble of castle, Old Town and river nestled in the hills of the Odenwald already inspired poets and painters of Romanticism and today still fascinates millions of visitors from all over the world.

Later you return to the ship and sail to the attractive town of Rüdesheim. Here you can enjoy a visit to Siegfried’s Music Museum; this is the first museum collection of automated musical instruments in Germany and holds an impressive collection. Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum is housed in Brömserhof which was a noble court built in 1542. There are approximately 350 exhibits of mechanical instruments dating from the 18th to the 20th century – from delicate musical boxes to a gigantic piano-orchestrion. The museum also includes tools and machines for manufacturing barrel organs, cardboard music, piano rolls and musical box plates.

The ship is moored in Rüdesheim for the night, so you will also have time to explore the famous Drosselgasse, a narrow alley lined with wine taverns and restaurants.

Day 5 – Rüdesheim and the Rhine Gorge

Your exploration of Rüdesheim continues with your choice of three excursions. Take a gondola ride to the Niederwalddenkmal Statue, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the river. Afterwards, indulge your taste buds with a sampling of Riesling wines in the vineyards. If you prefer a more active adventure, you can join a guided bike ride through the town and along the Rhine River to Schloss Johannisberg or hike through the town’s beautiful vineyards. During the afternoon, set sail along the scenic Rhine River Gorge with its fabled legends and many castles to Lahnstein where you’ll enjoy a visit to Lahneck Castle.

Day 6 – Cologne

Home to one of Germany’s most revered Gothic masterpieces, the Cologne Cathedral, this 2,000 year-old city is also a bustling cosmopolitan hotspot. Join a guided tour through the enchanting Old Town and explore the UNESCO-designated cathedral, where the remains of the fabled Three Kings—the Magi— are believed to rest. Alternatively, ride a bike along the Rhine and through the historic Stadtgarten; or visit a local tavern to taste Kölsch beer and Reibekuchen—potato pancakes served with apple sauce.

Day 7 – Amsterdam

This morning you have some free time before departing for your Amsterdam Canal Cruise and City Tour. Beautifully set within a network of attractive canals and lovely merchants’ houses this fascinating city boasts a vibrant atmosphere day and night, world-class museums, charming restaurants and cosy bars and cafés, all framed by delightful bridges and pretty canals. Despite its worldwide appeal the city still manages to feel quintessentially Dutch. The old crooked houses, the cobbled streets, the tree-lined canals and the generous parks all contribute to its relaxed atmosphere. Visit poignant Anne Frank House and the pretty flower market or discover the quieter side of Amsterdam in interesting areas like the Jordaan or the Pijp, or feast on the cultural splendour of the Museum quarter. After a busy afternoon relax back on board and enjoy your farewell dinner.

Day 8 – Homeward bound

After breakfast say farewell to your floating hotel as you make your own way back to Amsterdam Centraal station to join the comfortable Inter City train to Brussels, where you join the Eurostar service back to London. Let the train take the strain as you stretch out and relax over a light meal and drinks in your Standard Premier Class seat. Take time to reflect on the sights, sounds and tastes you have enjoyed on your cruise as you sit back and relax before your arrival into London St Pancras.

Your cruise ship, the 5 star AmaMora

The AmaMora features the most advanced design of any river cruise vessel currently in operation.

Most staterooms have Juliet balcony and some feature twin balconies, a new concept in river cruising.   All staterooms include amenities such as crisp white bedding, safe, complimentary bottled water, an infotainment system with access to the internet, hit movies, television and music as well as marble-trimmed bathrooms.  Enjoy entertainment in the Main Lounge and Bar, make use of the fitness centre, indulge in a massage, hair or beauty treatment (payable locally) or relax and take in the wonderful views from the heated swimming pool on the Sun Deck which features a “swim-up” bar.

There are also over 20 bicycles on board giving you the opportunity to explore the riverside paths or meander through cobbled streets individually or with a small group.

This luxurious cruise ship features 78 staterooms and 3 suites with a maximum of 156 passengers.

Gourmet dining in the Chef’s Table restaurant brings you sophisticated and outstanding cuisine with delightful, attentive service. The fine cuisine is prepared under the direction of gold-medal winning chefs from Chaîne des Rôtisseurs.  Savour culinary masterpieces and sample the free-flowing local wines with lunch and dinner, while surrounded by the vineyards, wine growing towns and perched ruined castles of the river Rhine.

Please note the ship used may vary according to departure date.