This 8-day voyage aboard the River Empress is an ideal holiday for castle lovers. Sail along the Rhine river and marvel at castles that were once mighty fortresses and get an insider’s look at one of the only castles on the Rhine that has never been destroyed, Marksburg Castle. Visit historic cities, including ancient Cologne and picturesque Strasbourg; stroll through the fairytale town of Rüdesheim; and taste delightful white wines in the villages where the grapes are grown. The spires of medieval churches and castles appear around each bend in the river, and vineyards climb the verdant hillsides.
Select departures operate in reverse (Amsterdam to Basel)
Highlights
Explore the the capital of Alsatian wines, Breisach on a guided tour
Enjoy a visit the Romanesque cathedral, a UNESCO world heritage site in Speyer
Experience Koblenz, a historic town with a colorful past and eclectic architecture
Walk through Strasbourg and experience its historic core as the locals do
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Breisach is your gateway to the Alsatian wine road and your launching point for one of two excursions along the celebrated Route des Vins, which hugs the foothills of the Vosges mountain range. You can visit Kaysersberg and Riquewihr, two of the most picturesque villages in the region, or take a tour of the larger town of Colmar, the capital of Alsatian wines.
Choice of Alsatian “Village Day” or Colmar city tour
This morning, enjoy leisure time as you sail the scenic Upper Rhine to Breisach. A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.
Today you will see Strasbourg on foot with an insightful local expert, where this historic town with its cobbled lanes, half-timbered homes, giant stork nests and impossible-to-resist pastry shops will win your heart. Kehl, directly across the river from Strasbourg, will be your ship’s base while you explore the Alsatian capital.
Choice of “Do as the Locals Do” Strasbourg walking tour or Strasbourg panoramic tour with cathedral and Old Town walk
You have the entire afternoon to see more of Strasbourg on your own.
Speyer—“spire” in English—is well named, since the four red towers of the Romanesque cathedral dominate the Old Town. You can wander through this beautiful city with an expert guide.
Choice of Speyer walking tour or Private Doktorenhof vinegar estate visit and tasting.
A perfect day for you to experience Germany’s fabled Rhine River in one of two ways—an exclusive tasting of estate-grown Rieslings at Castle Vollrads or take the long way shoreward from the Germania monument with a vineyard hike.
Featured Excursion: Boppard village stroll
Choice of Castle Vollrads wine tasting or “Let's Go” hike from Rüdesheim to Assmanshausen
This morning, you’ll cruise out of Rüdesheim and into the sublimely beautiful and romantic Upper Middle Rhine Valley.
Get to know Koblenz, a historic town with a colorful past and eclectic architecture, and enjoy a visit to the stunningly medieval Marksburg Castle. As you come upon picture-perfect Koblenz, you’ll sail past Deutsches Eck (German Corner) with its historic monument to Kaiser Wilhelm I.
Featured Excursion: “Let's Go” bike the castles
Choice of Koblenz walking tour or Marksburg Castle visit
History buffs will enjoy an expertly led tour through Cologne’s Old Town, where three medieval gates remain standing, as does the old city hall with its Renaissance façade. Wander through the city’s historical center and take in its charming atmosphere, narrow alleyways flanked by old houses and countless breweries. No matter how you choose to explore Old Town, you’ll also have ample free time to explore on your own.
Featured Excursion: Cologne walking tour with Old Town visit
In the evening, a special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you.
Day 8: Amsterdam | Disembark
1 Breakfast
This morning, you will disembark the ship, and transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$3,999
Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
Please confirm embark/disembark locations before reserving flights, as this itinerary operates in reverse on alternating departures.
Select a Date
Classic
Magnificently appointed riverview stateroom located on the Moselle Deck (151 sq ft - 14 sq m) . Handcrafted Savoir Beds of England, built-in closet, safe, hairdryer, individual thermostat, flat TV screen, and bottled water. Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, backlit magnifying mirror, cozy bathrobes, and slippers.
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Deluxe
Sumptuously appointed riverview stateroom located on the Danube and Main Deck (151 sq ft - 14 sq m) . Handcrafted Savoir Beds of England, built-in closet, safe, hairdryer, individual thermostat, flat TV screen, and bottled water. Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, backlit magnifying mirror, cozy bathrobes, and slippers.
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French Balcony
Luxuriant appointed riverview stateroom located on the Rhine Deck (151 sq ft - 14 sq m) with a French balcony. Handcrafted Savoir Beds of England, built-in closet, safe, hairdryer, individual thermostat, flat TV screen, and bottled water. Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, backlit magnifying mirror, cozy bathrobes, and slippers.
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Suite
Lavishly appointed riverview suite located on the Rhine Deck (214 sq ft - 20 sq m) with a French balcony. Handcrafted Savoir Beds of England, built-in closet, safe, hairdryer, individual thermostat, flat TV screen, and bottled water. Marble bathroom with Hermès bath and body products, plush towels, towel warmer, waffle bathrobes, and slippers. Additional special amenities and services.
Notes
Please Note: Fares are capacity controlled and are subject to change at any time without notice.
- All fares are per guest in US Dollars based on double occupancy unless otherwise noted.
- Single Supplement applies for single accommodation. Solo occupancy pricing is dependent on cabin type, contact us for details.
Initial deposit is 15% of cruise fare plus any additional port charges, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 130 days prior to departure by Check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney
TrustScore 4.8 | 167 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 167 reviews on
5 hours ago
Adventure Life has been an extraordinary travel resource for us over the years and today was no exception. Our River Cruise booking was handled by Jess (who has been our personal trip planner for several years) the same day as our inquiry. Suggestions were given for cabin choice and pre-trip options (that were not shown on the cruise line's website) like airport transfers and prepaid gratuities. Trip insurance recommendations followed and we were assigned a travel co-ordinator till the end of the tour. All we have to do is show up! Great service from friendly folks.
APtravelwell
1 day ago
My representative Kevin was very responsive generally and in crafting our itinerary to our specific priorities.
Rocco Labella
1 day ago
Although there was a lot of paper work, I received help and guidance when I needed it.
Donna Kirby
2 days ago
Our travel was flawless! The rider pickup (airport, hotel, ship) was seamless. Jane's recommendation for Emerald Cruise Sakara was everything I wanted but the experience was soooo much more. Adventure Life took care of each and every detail and this was the easiest of all my travels.
Anne Petty
3 days ago
Follow up was effective any questions were answered in a timely manner
