Tulips & the Rhine

Return economy flights from one of up to 16 UK regional airports. If you’d prefer not to fly, return travel via Eurostar is available. Welcome to Switzerland. You will be met at the airport by an Emerald Cruises representative and transferred to your Star-Ship, where your friendly captain and crew will be waiting to greet you. This evening, join your fellow guests for dinner on board.

Meals Included: Dinner

The Black Forest is a fairytale-like region full of charming cuckoo clocks and live oompah bands. Today, discover the multiple charms of the region as you visit a Black Forest destination. Alternatively, explore your surroundings during a hike through the Black Forest region, traversing well-trodden trails underneath a lush canopy.
Later enjoy a Black Forest demonstration and tasting.
EmeraldPLUS
A Black Forest gateau demonstration and tasting
EmeraldACTIVE
Active walk through the Black Forest region
Included Excursion
A visit to a traditional Black Forest destination
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Excursion to Riquewihr (extra expense)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, you will dock in Kehl, where you will be transferred by coach to medieval Strasbourg. Your local guide will be available to teach you about the history of the city during an insightful guided tour.
Pass through cobbled squares that are adorned with quaint boutiques and charming cafés as you explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town, including Petite France, an area of unmatched beauty with a picturesque canal system that cascades past half-timbered houses that were home to fishermen, tanners and millers during the Middle Ages. The narrow lanes and footbridges that pepper the area all add to its undeniable charm. This afternoon, Strasbourg is yours to explore at leisure.
Included Excursion
A guided tour of Strasbourg
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Evening Concert at Bruchsal Palace (extra expense)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, relax on board as we cruise along the Rhine River, passing Mannheim on our way to Heidelberg. The streets of Mannheim are laid out in a traditional grid system, which is why it is also known as the “City of Squares”.
When you arrive in Heidelberg, the UNESCO City of Literature will be yours to explore, with publishing houses and libraries on every corner, and a vibrant artistic culture resonating through the streets.
Your guided tour of Heidelberg’s rich history includes a wine tasting, and a visit to the ruins of Heidelberg Castle, overlooking the Rhine River and a red-roofed skyline. Some of the most successful painters of the Romantic era drew inspiration from Heidelberg Castle, including British artist William Turner, who depicted images of the ruins in several of his paintings. Afterwards, stroll down the cobbled streets of the old town, touching on the Church of the Holy Spirit and the oldest university in Germany.
EmeraldACTIVE
An active hike from Mount Königstuhl to Heidelberg
Included Excursion
A guided tour of Heidelberg with wine tasting
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, we will take you into the heart of Koblenz, an ancient city that looks as though it has been pulled from the pages of a German fairytale. Enjoy a picturesque backdrop of vineyards and snow-topped mountain ranges as your local guide takes you through open cobbled squares and down narrow streets, passing façades adorned with boxes of spring-blooming flowers. Your tour will include the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle at the German Corner and idyllic panoramic views of the Rhine from Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.
Included Excursion
A walking tour of Koblenz and a visit to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress
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A Moselle Valley & Cochem Castle visit (extra expense)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The largest city on the Rhine awaits your arrival today. Once a major trade route linking both sides of Europe, this city now offers the perfect platform from which to explore Roman history, including sights of ornate Roman mosaics that have stood the test of time.
Your insightful guided tour of Cologne will detail how the air raids of WWII turned its streets into a blank canvas, resulting in the loss of many of its ancient monuments and cultural treasures. As many historic buildings as possible were restored following the war years, but they now sit aside modern architecture. Your tour will conclude at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cologne Cathedral, a religious building that was constructed over six centuries, with builders choosing to stick to original plans and medieval techniques so that it retained its authenticity.
Included Excursion
Guided tour of Cologne’s old town
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Visit to Eau de Cologne museum (extra expense)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A visit to the iconic Keukenhof Gardens is certain to be a memorable experience today, as you stroll down serene paths that showcase spring in a quintessentially Dutch manner, with more than 800 varieties of spring-flowering tulips and regular flower shows. Each year, an annual theme spreads across the gardens, and you will have every opportunity to learn about different planting techniques and the work completed behind the scenes by landscape architects during your time here.
Soak in sights of tulips, hyacinths and orchids of every colour, creating a swathe of natural beauty as they have been expertly arranged. You will also have the opportunity to see statues that have been commissioned by artists from around the world, each honing in on the annual theme.
Included Excursion
A visit to Keukenhof Gardens
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Floriade Expo Visit (extra expense)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, it’s time to say farewell to your fellow guests as you disembark the ship and transfer to the airport or train station for your onward or homebound journey, taking memories of spring-blooming flowers and delightful cobblestone squares with you. Your flight is included in the price of your holiday. If you’d prefer not to fly, return travel via Eurostar is available.
This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.

Meals Included: Breakfast