Day 1 RÜDESHEIM
Selected early morning coach pick-ups and a
journey to Dover/Folkestone for the 9.00am ferry/
Eurotunnel crossing to Calais. Alternatively, we offer
overnight hotel accommodation close to port for those who would prefer. From Calais we continue
into Germany to arrive at Rüdesheim where you will
join MS Hispania in time for a welcome drink and
included three-course evening meal.
Those taking the air option will fly direct from the
UK and transfer to the vessel.
*Passengers taking the overnight crossing from
the north of England or Scotland, will depart the
previous day and join the vessel on day1 for dinner.
Your evening is at leisure in Rüdesheim. The liveliest
and most popular town in the wine-producing
Rheingau region, Rüdesheim stretches out along
a long, cobbled riverfront lined with souvenir
shops, hotels and restaurants. Rüdesheim’s most
celebrated street, the Drosselgasse, is a wonderfully
atmospheric and narrow alley known as ‘the happiest
little street in the world’. Only 200 yards long and
a few yards wide, the Drosselgasse boasts perhaps
the densest concentration of wine bars and tavernas
in Europe.
Day 2 RÜDESHEIM, MAINZ, WORMS, SPEYER
Following breakfast this morning, we cruise to
Mainz, a classic, vibrant modern city with a wellpreserved
historic core, and which features the
second most important Catholic cathedral in
Germany after the one in Cologne.
After lunch on board, join our included excursion
by coach to the Palmengarten in Frankfurt. Take
time to appreciate the historic greenhouses,
perennial garden, rock garden and stunning rose
gardens. Admire tulips, narcissi, hyacinths, crocuses,
rhododendrons and endangered and protected
plants, And, by the pond and stream, see day lilies,
irises, peonies and much more along the broad
herbaceous borders.
In recent years, new conservatories have been
added to the 50-acre Palmengarten. The 5000m2
Tropicarium is a complex for tropical vegetation,
with collections of orchids, palms, succulents, ferns
and many others according to their natural habitats
such as rain forest, mangrove, mountain rain forest,
monsoon and trade-wind forest, savannah, thorn
forest and desert-type vegetation. There’s also a
Sub-Antarctic house displaying plants from New
Zealand, southern Chile and Argentina. In the park
area, there's a small lake where you can hire
rowing boats.
During the excursion to Frankfurt your vessel will
cruise to Worms, an ancient town of great history
and legend. We will rejoin the vessel in Worms
before continuing to Speyer while you enjoy an
evening dinner cruise.
Day 3 SPEYER, RASTATT
Today we continue our cruise along the Rhine to
arrive at Rastatt, situated on the edge of the
Black Forest.
This afternoon we have included an excursion
by coach to the baroque Karlsruhe Palace. This
magnificent 18th century palace is renowned for
its remarkable collection of rare trees, sculptures,
monuments, ponds and fountains set in beautiful
ornamental gardens. Its Botanical Gardens include
a palm house, cactus house and orchid house, with
a wide variety of species indigenous to the tropical
regions of South America and Asia. Also in the
Botanical Gardens is the Orangerie, which exhibits
art from the 20th and 21st century.
Day 4 RASTATT, STRASBOURG
This morning we will cruise to Strasbourg for an
included tour of this great historic city, including
a visit to its splendid Botanical Gardens. With
over 5,000 hectares of ‘green pathways’ and 300
hectares of parks and gardens, Strasbourg aligns
itself close to nature. Built in the 19th century,
Strasbourg’s Botanical Gardens contain a collection
of interesting and unusual plants housed in large
greenhouses.
We will also visit the Garden of Two Shores: a
lovely, landscaped park laid out on both the
French and German banks of the Rhine. At the
centre of these 55-hectare gardens is a footbridge
over the Rhine, a crossing that takes you from
France into Germany.
Day 5 RASTATT, BREISACH
After breakfast, join us for one of the highlights
of your cruise, an optional excursion to Lake
Constance and the world-famous garden island of
Mainau. Crossing the beautiful Lake Constance,
where the watery borders of Germany, Switzerland
and Austria merge, we’ll arrive at the remarkable
sub-tropical island, owned by the Royal House of
Sweden.
Even though Mainau practically lies in the shadow
of the snow-capped Alps, it enjoys a mild, almost tropical climate and magnolias, orange and lemon
trees, palms, rhododendrons and other exotic
plants flourish in abundance. A botanical garden
in the centre of the island is set on the site of an
ancient castle that was once a residence of the
Knights of the Teutonic Order, and now owned
by Sweden’s Royal Family. Located on the arm
of Lake Constance known as the Überlingersee,
Mainau is a genuine island of paradise and home to
many natural wonders. Its amazing arboretum is a
serene sanctuary for over 500 trees, including giant
sequoias, Atlas cedars, cedars of Lebanon, redwood
and tulip trees.
Mainau is also home to Germany's biggest butterfly
house, a wine trail, the tropical Arena of Fountains,
stunning rose gardens and the Palm House, filled
with oranges, parrots and more than 20 different
sorts of palm trees including a Canary Island date
palm (Phoenix canariensis), which was planted in
1888 and is now more than 15 meters high. From
historic wine cellars and Swedish Taverns, to
cake-and-coffee cafes and terraces overlooking
the lake where you can enjoy ice-cold beers and
pretzels: Mainau is an island unlike any other.
(Packed lunch is included.)
Those not joining the optional excursion will enjoy
a full day cruise to Breisach, where the vessel will
remain overnight.
Day 6 BREISACH
This morning we disembark after breakfast for the
return journey to Calais, in time for the 6.30pm
crossing to Dover/Folkestone. Upon arrival you will
be returned to your original departure point.
Those taking the air option will transfer directly to
the airport for the return flight to the UK.
*Passengers returning on the overnight crossing to
the north of England or Scotland, will transfer to the
departure port and arrive in the UK the next day.
Reverse Itinerary
On certain dates the holiday itinerary operates in
reverse, as follows:
Day 1: UK, Breisach
Day 2: Breisach
Day 3: Breisach, Strasbourg, Rastatt
Day 4: Rastatt, Speyer
Day 5: Speyer, Mainz, Rüdesheim
Day 6: UK
The excursions available at each destination are
exactly the same as those featured in the standard
holiday itinerary. Your itinerary will be confirmed
with your final travel documents.
Close Window
