Hiking cruise through the Rhine Valley - History, traditions, and the spirit of the Rhineland (port-to-port cruise)

Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 6:00 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we'll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail.

A day cruising towards Koblenz along the most beautiful stretch of the Romantic Rhine. Discover the old town with our onboard team. Koblenz is a city located in the "corner of Germany" at the confluence of the Moselle and the Rhine. You will see the historic city center and the "Die Deutsche Eck" statue of Emperor William I, located at the confluence of the two rivers.Return on board for dinner.Evening at leisure.

Morning cruising towards Rüdesheim through the stunning Romantic Rhine Valley. With its castles, historic towns, vineyards, and the famous Lorelei Rock, this breathtaking landscape, deeply tied to history and legend, has inspired numerous writers, painters, and composers. Arrive in Rüdesheim in the early afternoon.Included excursions:- HIKERS: Hike through the vineyards of Rüdesheim. You’ll make your way to the center of Rüdesheim, the starting point for the cable cars that will take you to the Niederwald Monument. From there, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the town, the vineyards, and the Rhine. Continue hiking through the vineyards to the Ste Hildegarde Abbey, built between 1900 and 1904. Enjoy a free visit to the abbey, then walk back to the ship through the vineyards. (Duration ~3.5 hours, ~8 km, elevation gain ~300m).- NON-HIKERS: Tourist train, wine tasting, and the mechanical music museum in Rüdesheim. Take a ride on the tourist train for a guided tour through the vineyards of Rüdesheim. Enjoy a wine tasting in the historic cellars of Bassenheimer Hof, a 16th-century manor house. Then, head to the Siegfried's Mechanisches Musikkabinett museum, located in a historic 15th-century building. This museum houses an impressive collection of mechanical musical instruments and is one of the largest and most beautiful collections from the 18th to the 20th centuries.In the evening, the famous Drosselgasse awaits, with its numerous wine taverns and orchestras.

Morning cruising towards Mannheim.Included excursions:- HIKERS: Hike along the Neckar River in Heidelberg.We'll begin our visit with a stop at the castle (outside only), an iconic symbol of German Romanticism. After exploring the castle grounds, we’ll set off on a scenic hike along the Neckar River. Our path will offer sweeping views of the river’s winding course from balcony trails passing through forests and scenic viewpoints, then past Neckargemünd and the castles of Neckarsteinach. From the foot of the fortified town of Dilsberg, a short coach transfer will take us back to the ship in Mannheim. Picnic lunch included. (Duration ~5 hrs, ~14 km, elevation gain ~400 m).- NON-HIKERS: Guided tour of Heidelberg.Depart by coach for Heidelberg, the quintessential city of German Romanticism. Join your guide at Heidelberg Castle for a visit of the castle’s exteriors. Built of pink sandstone and partially in ruins, the castle has captivated poets and painters since the late 18th century as a symbol of faded grandeur. Goethe, Hölderlin, Uhland, and Eichendorff all praised the castle’s romantic landscape, while many painters chose it as a favorite subject. You’ll also discover the geometric terraces of the Palatinate Garden—the Hortus Palatinus—once considered the "Eighth Wonder of the World". The tour continues with a guided stroll through the old town, including a view of the Church of the Holy Spirit (exterior), built between 1398 and 1441 and resting place of the Prince-Electors.Gala evening on board.

Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. End of our services.