Romantic German Sites and the Charming Neckar Valley

Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 6 p.m. in Strasbourg. We will begin to cruise to Heidelberg. After you’ve comfortably settled into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. Tonight, we’ll enjoy dinner and an evening of entertainment on board. Our ship will cruise to Heidelberg through the night.

This morning, we offer two excursions:

CLASSIC: Tour of Heidelberg. Located on the banks of the Neckar, Heidelberg is considered by many as the most romantic city in Germany, and our tour will take you to some of the most emblematic sites. We’ll ride the recently renovated funicular railway up the hill to the historic castle, where we'll have a magnificent view across the city and valleys. Although the castle is in ruins, many of its fantastic halls and rooms have been restored and are bursting with history. Our tour includes time to walk through the idyllic gardens. Enjoy some free time on your own in the Old Town before returning to the ship on foot.

DISCOVERY: A unique visit to the Technik Museum Sinsheim. There is something for everyone to discover in the exhibition halls of the Technik Museum, including supersonic jets, hundreds of classic cars and motorcycles from all eras, huge steam engines, Formula 1 and classy sports cars, and record-breaking vehicles like the Blue Flame and Brutus, farming machines, giant engines, a military history exhibition, and much, much more.

The afternoon will be spent cruising to Eberbach. We’ll pass by four of the most charming cities along the Neckar: Neckargemünd, with its traditional half-timbered homes; the four-castle town of Neckasteinach; the adorable village of Hirschhorn; and the lovely medieval city of Eberbach.

Enjoy some free time on your own this evening to stroll through this lovely medieval city. The Old Town is a great place to take in the ambiance and shop for souvenirs.

We’ll cruise to Heilbronn in the early morning. Join us for an excursion: A tour of Maulbronn and its monastery complex. This former Cistercian abbey was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. The architectural styles include impressive medieval walls and towers, a Romanesque church, and a Gothic cloister.

Excursions proposed:

CLASSIC: Stuttgart and the Ludwigsburg Residential Palace. Although Stuttgart is known for its wine and museums, its fame as the birthplace of the German automobile industry is what draws most tourists to the city. Like many German cities, it was ravaged by Allied bombings toward the end of World War II, so it is now dominated by modern architecture with a few lovely exceptions, most notably the Old Castle located on the Schillerplatz. The origins of the castle date back to the 10th century. In the 14th century, it became the home of the Counts of Württemberg. After being severely damaged in the first part of the 20th century, a local professor headed its renovation. At the end of our excursion, we'll stop at a local bierstube for a drink and a traditional German pretzel. Lunch at the restaurant. This afternoon, we'll visit the Ludwigsburg Residential Palace. As soon as you see it, you'll understand why it is nicknamed the Versailles of Swabia. The complex contains 452 rooms spread across 18 buildings and is the largest palatial estate in Germany. Our tour will take you through the castle's extraordinary interiors with architecture and decor spanning four centuries.

DISCOVERY: the Porsche Museum (audio tour) and the Ludwigsburg Residential Palace. Get up-close and personal with the famous sports car brand in the city where it all began. In addition to its emblematic models, such as the 356, 550, 911, and 917, you'll discover some of the unfinished technical designs from Ferdinand Porsche. Lunch at the restaurant. This afternoon, we'll visit the Ludwigsburg Residential Palace. As soon as you see it, you'll understand why it is nicknamed the Versailles of Swabia. The complex contains 452 rooms spread across 18 buildings and is the largest palatial estate in Germany. Our tour will take you through the castle's extraordinary interiors with architecture and decor spanning four centuries.

We'll return on board in Stuttgart. Tonight is our gala evening.

Enjoy an early buffet breakfast on board before you disembark around 9.00 am.