Castles along the Rhine

Arrive at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. If an arrival transfer is arranged, a Uniworld representative meets you and takes you to the ship.

History enthusiasts can take a guided tour of Cologne’s Old Town, which includes three medieval gates and the old city hall with its Renaissance façade. Walk through the city center, with narrow streets lined by historic houses and numerous breweries. There is also free time to explore the area independently.

A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner is prepared for you this evening.

Included excursions designed to enhance your journey:
Cologne Walking Tour
Follow your guide around some of the most popular sites of Cologne, the largest city on the Rhine. You’ll pass the old fish market, City Hall with its Renaissance façade, and the old Jewish mikvah (a bath used for ritual cleansing).

Meander through the narrow, cobbled lanes of Old Town, lined with traditional houses in every color and a plethora of restaurants and pubs. One of the city’s 12 Romanesque churches provides a castle-like backdrop to this quaint, riverside quarter of Cologne.

Your local expert takes you all the way to the Domplatte, the square where you’ll find the Cologne Cathedral. Should you wish, you can head inside this Gothic building on your own to see the Shrine of the Magi and the beautiful stained-glass windows. Otherwise, try asking your guide for tips on what to explore. Whatever your interests, your local expert knows all the best spots in town!

Get to know Koblenz, a historic town with a colorful past and eclectic architecture.

Included excursions designed to enhance your journey:
Nights Out: Rheinstein Castle Visit
Of the dozens of castles perched above the Rhine River, Burg Rheinstein holds a special charm. The castle is over 700 years old, and feels every bit as medieval today as it did all those centuries ago—even the old drawbridge still works! Rheinstein changed hands over the years, coming under Prussian control during Prince Frederick’s reign, to which the castle owes its Romantic period refurbishments. Today, it is lovingly taken care of by the Hecher family, who are pleased to invite you in to hear their stories about the castle and admire it’s well-kept interiors. While you’re here, make sure to appreciate the view over the Rhine, it’s hard to beat!

Select your choice of these carefully curated excursions, which operate at the same time.
Boppard Village Stroll
Join the Cruise Manager on a walk through this attractive town with a long and surprising history; the Cruise Manager points out its highlights and recommends a host of activities. Take a chairlift to the top of the hill for a great view of the valley and the river (you can hike the return route, if you’re up for it); enjoy a glass of wine at a local tavern and watch the water traffic on the river; or ride a bicycle along the Rhine promenade. You might also visit Saint Severus Church, whose twin towers dominate the waterfront, or explore the remains of a fourth-century Roman fort. If you’re interested in design and the decorative arts, stop by the Museum Boppard to see the exhibit on native son Michael Thonet, who developed the technique of bentwood furniture in the 1840s. His iconic, lightweight chairs are still popular in cafés throughout Europe. Or simply stroll beneath the trees along the city’s scenic riverside promenade, which is lined with the gorgeous villas of 19th-century entrepreneurs.

Koblenz Walking Tour
Watch the waters of the Moselle meld with the Rhine’s as you stand on the spit of land called German Corner: It’s the perfect spot for a symbol of German unity, an equestrian statue of Kaiser Wilhelm I, who united the nation in the 19th century. (There’s another symbol of German unity here too: three panels of the Berlin Wall.) Behind it is Koblenz’s oldest church, St. Castor’s Basilica, first erected in the ninth century, and just one of the charming churches and squares you’ll encounter as you wander through Old Town. Like many Rhineland towns, Koblenz suffered at the hands of Louis XIV’s forces—that’s why you’ll see so many baroque features in the buildings you pass, since so many needed to be reconstructed after the French left. That’s also why the Church of Our Lady has twin onion domes. Despite their travails over the ages, though, Koblenz’s citizens kept their sense of humor: One example of it might catch you by surprise as you pass the fountain known as the Spitting Boy, which spits water without warning.

After the tour, you’ll have some free time to enjoy the Marktplatz (Market Square) and its bounty of shopping and wine bars.

Let’s Go: Bike Koblenz along the Rhine
Hop on your custom Uniworld bicycle and follow your guide along 12.5 miles of scenic paths. Make your way through the Rhine promenade in Koblenz, head towards the castles of Stolzenfels and Lahneck for an incredible viewing point, and find another great view of the Marksburg shortly after. You’ll see the beautiful fishing village of Spay before turning back towards Koblenz, where you take a 30-minute break at a local beer garden. While you rest, you can purchase a refreshment if you’d like, and then you bike back along the Rhine Cycle Path to return to the ship.

Experience Germany’s fabled Rhine River in beautiful Rüdesheim. Enjoy a private tasting of estate-grown Rieslings at Castle Vollrads or explore Rüdesheim and the impressive Niederwald monument.

Select your choice of these carefully curated excursions, which operate at the same time.
Castle Vollrads Wine Tasting
Nestled in the rolling, vineyard-covered hills of the Rheingau, Castle Vollrads has a square tower that dates back to the 14th century, as does the moat. Just one family owned the castle for 700 years, until 1997, adding on to it and remodeling it over the centuries. While the interior of the castle is rarely open to the public, you have the opportunity to step inside to see some of the elegantly appointed rooms, including the beautiful gold-embossed Flemish leather wall covering in the 17th-century dining room. Grapes have been grown here for more than a thousand years; records show that Castle Vollrads wines were first sold in 1211. These days the excellence of its Riesling is well known; it’s so well known, in fact, that Schloss Vollrads is one of the few German vineyards whose name stands alone on a wine label—no village name is required. Accompanied by a local wine expert, you sample three wines in three different locations. There is also time to wander through the grounds at your leisure.

Let’s Go: Vineyard Hike
Immerse yourselves in the vines today with a refreshing walk through the vineyards by Rüdesheim. Starting with a walk by the river, you’ll wind your way past the markets square and up through the Weinlehrpfad, the Wine Trail. Along the way, you’ll pass several historic buildings and monuments, learning their stories from your guide as you go, enjoy a glass of wine made from the vines around you, and discover some beautiful views of the surrounding landscapes, including the Nahe river with its Roman Bridge.

The Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany is known for its idyllic natural environment, rural charm, and expansive vineyards. Forge an authentic connection to this beloved area on one of two unique experiences, led by locals with unique passions. For your first option: meet an estate turning Palatinate winegrowing tradition on its head—where the vineyards don’t produce grapes for wine, but for specialty vinegar aperitifs. At the other, visit a mill-turned-collector's-museum, where you’ll find a fascinating collection of items from around the world and a gorgeous garden.

Select your choice of these carefully curated excursions, which operate at the same time.
Secret Garden & Collections
Drive out to the forest for a private tour at a unique old flour mill. Though the silos here are still used to store grain—and the delicious bread you’ll get to sample at the end of your visit is evidence of that—the mill itself is no longer active. Instead, it has been transformed into a beautiful little sanctuary by the owner. An avid world traveler and collector, the owner has filled the inside of the mill with mementos from his expeditions (not trinkets, either, but life-sized Buddha statues, gorgeous photography, and much more). The highlight though, is the award-winning garden he has curated.

Private Doktorenhof Vinegar Estate Visit and Tasting
For a different spin on the Palatinate wine region, visit the Weinessiggut Doktorenhof estate for a special vinegar tasting. Yes, you read that right—a vinegar tasting. Founded by Georg Wiedemann some 30 years ago, Doktorenhof produces vinegars from premium wines, rather than inexpensive ones. Gewürztraminer, Sylvaner, Riesling, and Pinot Noir are aged with a century-old vinegar “mother,” as the bacteria that makes vinegar is known, and flavored with a variety of herbs and fruits. Most importantly, Wiedemann and his family run their farm and vineyards with the utmost care, tending to them with natural materials only.

The results make complex and elegant aperitifs, intended to be sipped from a specially designed long-stemmed glass between courses or after a meal. The atmospheric tasting room (think candles, cloaks, and choir music) is like no other you’ll ever experience. You’ll have plenty of time to explore their enticing gift shop, too.

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 wins your heart. Kehl, directly across the river from Strasbourg, is your ship’s base while you explore the Alsatian capital. If you’re feeling adventurous, take advantage of Uniworld’s bicycles or Nordic walking sticks and explore the banks of the river.

You have the entire afternoon to see more of Strasbourg on your own.

Included excursions designed to enhance your journey:
Strasbourg Walking Tour
Controlled over the centuries by either France or Germany, Strasbourg is both cross-cultural and bilingual. Old and new, French and German all blend together in this wonderful city, which is also considered the legislative and democratic capital of the European Union. Get a feel for the history and culture of this Alsatian town on a walking tour through its enchanting streets, during which you’ll visit Strasbourg’s gorgeous Cathedral, a peak example of French Gothic architecture. You’ll also stroll by the half-timbered buildings of La Petite France, the most traditional and charming neighborhood of Strasbourg’s historic quarter, before enjoying a little bit of free time to explore on your own, grab a bite, or do a bit of shopping.

Breisach is your gateway to the Alsatian wine road and your launching point for an excursion along the celebrated Route des Vins, which hugs the foothills of the Vosges mountain range.

A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner is prepared for you this evening.

Included excursions designed to enhance your journey:
Alsatian Villages
An old stone well in Kaysersberg bears an inscription that warns against drinking water and urges the reader to “Drink with moderation old and subtil wine . . . and leave the water to the side.” What better words could guide you as you explore some delightful Alsatian wine villages? Though the remains of a 12th-century castle speak to Kaysersberg’s strategic importance in the Middle Ages, today it is an idyllic village nestled among vineyards. Join a local guide for a one-hour walking tour, passing storybook medieval houses with steeply pitched roofs and a gorgeous Gothic cathedral that was begun by a 12th-century Holy Roman emperor. In modern days, the village is best known as the birthplace of Albert Schweitzer. During your tour of this enchanting village indulge in a tasting of an Alsatian specialty, Kugelhopf, a delicious yeast-based cake traditionally baked in a circular, Bundt mold. Then it is on to Eguishem. The road from Kaysersberg to Eguishem provides quintessential wine road scenery: lush foothills, famous vineyards, castle ruins, and quaint villages. You'll arrive in a town so pretty it is regularly ranked amongst the most beautiful in France. Walk its cobbled streets to admire timber-framed buildings painted in every color of the rainbow.

Note: Lunch today is on your own.

Disembark the ship. If you have arranged a Uniworld departure transfer, you are transferred to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg for your flight home (unless, of course, you’ve decided to extend your trip with the post-cruise extension to lovely Lake Lucerne).