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This 8-day journey from Cologne to Basel along the Rhine River, visits the towns of Koblenz, Rüdesheim and Speyer. Experience the Rhine Gorge, explore Alsace’s Strasbourg, see the Black Forest and the breathtaking Alpine scenery on a mountain rail journey into the Bernese Oberland. Includes daily excursions, twin cabin accommodation, with full board meals and superior drinks package.

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• Return flights from Dublin
• 7 nights in a lower deck standard cabin onboard MS Riviera Resplendence
• Full board dining from dinner on day of arrival until breakfast on final day
• Free Superior drinks package
• Complimentary on-board Wi-Fi
• All visits and excursions in the itinerary
• Coach travel as mentioned
• Transfers from the airport to and from the port of embarkation
• English-speaking expert guides
• The services of a Riviera Travel Cruise Director

Day 1: Cologne Arrival

• Fly from Dublin and transfer you to your five-star cruise ship. Enjoy dinner once you have settled in.

Day 2: Koblenz

• After a hearty breakfast we drift past the first rolling hills of the Rhine Valley. As we glide towards Koblenz, pretty waterfront towns and carefully tended vineyards come into view. This delightful city, situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, was founded by the Romans. Explore the maze of medieval buildings in the Altstadt (old town), filled with traditional shops and classic Rhineland cafés. Tonight, enjoy a meticulously prepared dinner on board, followed by a live performance of Rhenish folk music.

Included Experiences: Guided tour of Koblenz & live folk music performance on board

Day 3 Rhine Gorge & Rüdesheim

• This morning, we proceed upstream on the Rhine passing the impressive Marksburg Castle, and Boppard, a picturesque town known as the 'Pearl of the Rhine.' As we pass through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, the steep vineyards give way to towering rocky outcrops with glimpses of Saint Goar and many ruined castles. After lunch, we moor in Rüdesheim, a classic Rhine wine village with crooked houses and terraced vineyards. You can explore at leisure or choose from our included experiences: Either visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet, showcasing automatic musical instruments from tiny music boxes to an enormous orchestrion or travel up the hillside to the Niederwald monument in a two-seater cable car for lovely views of the Rhine River and surrounding countryside. After dinner, sample a small Asbach, the famous brandy distilled in Rüdesheim.

Included Experience:Rüdesheim with visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet OR Rüdesheim with cable car to Niederwald Monument

Day 4: Speyer

• As we continue sailing upstream, the landscape becomes wider and flatter, with gently rolling hills and vineyards producing Liebfraumilch wines. This afternoon, we berth in historic Speyer, one of Germany’s oldest cities, founded by the Celts. Enjoy a walking tour, visiting sights including the breathtaking Imperial Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest Romanesque churches in the world. Its four-roomed crypt is the resting place of many Holy Roman emperors and German kings. There’s free time to explore before stepping back on board for another splendid dinner.

Included Experience: Guided tour of Speyer

Day 5: Strasbourg

• This morning, we pass through two spectacular locks with fascinating engineering. Find a comfortable chair to watch the ever-changing scenery from the Sun Deck before we arrive in France and moor in Strasbourg, the capital of the Alsace region. This afternoon, we take a walking tour of its picturesque Old Town, with canals and narrow streets lined with timber-framed houses and sculptured portals. Highlights include the Gothic Notre-Dame Cathedral, the multi-towered Ponts Couverts (covered bridges), and the charming Petite France quarter with pastel-coloured former artisans’ houses lining the canals. After another delicious dinner on board, enjoy a live performance of popular music by a talented violin soloist.

Included Experiences: Guided tour of Strasbourg & live violin soloist on board

Day 6: Breisach & Black Forest or Alsace wine route

• This morning, we glide through the dramatic scenery of the rift valley separating the Vosges and Black Forest mountains, to the ancient town of Breisach. Spend the morning exploring its historic heart surrounded by stone ramparts and dominated by the impressive Saint Stephan’s Cathedral before returning to the ship for lunch. This afternoon, you have a choice of touring the Black Forest and Freiburg or visiting the Alsace wine route with its typical wine villages Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr. Back on board this evening, enjoy the ‘Chef’s Dinner,’ featuring the chef's superb ‘signature’ dishes.

Included Experiences: Scenic drive through the Black Forest with visit to Freiburg OR Scenic drive along the Alsace wine route with visits to Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr

Day 7 Lucerne / Bernese Oberland / Basel

• Lucerne & Bernese Oberland: We depart early for a short drive to Lucerne, often considered Switzerland’s most beautiful city, spectacularly situated among stunning mountain views. Take a stroll along the Chapel Bridge, a unique covered wooden walkway crossing the lake, supported by stilts and lined with colourful flower-filled window boxes. It’s the city’s most iconic structure and a superb way to absorb Lucerne’s regal atmosphere. Entering the Bernese Oberland in central Switzerland, the views become breathtaking! This grand alpine heart of Europe offers some of the finest mountain scenery on earth with the snow-capped peaks of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. We ascend by mountain railway for extraordinary vistas, with crystal-clear lakes reflecting the meadows and forests below. Lunch is not included on this full-day excursion, but the ship will offer a packed lunch.
• Lucerne & Free Afternoon in Basel: Enjoy a comprehensive excursion in Lucerne with a guided tour of the city. Spend time at leisure wandering its medieval streets before returning to the ship for lunch. This afternoon, choose to stay on board or hop on our shuttle bus to Basel for independent exploration through the old town’s narrow winding streets, with the magnificent cathedral at its heart, featuring red sandstone walls, colourful roof tiles, and twin towers. You could also immerse yourself in the city's remarkable museums and countless galleries, celebrating its rich tradition of art collecting.

Included Experiences: Full day tour to Lucerne and the Bernese Oberland with scenic rail journey OR Morning tour to Lucerne and free afternoon in Basel

Day 8: Basel Departure

• Disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for your flight home.