Welcome to Basel where the crew of Scenic Pearl warmly greets you. Raise your glass to the marvelous cruise ahead of you at this evening’s welcome reception.

Arrive in Breisach this morning. Located between the Rhine River and the Black Forest, Breisach is a food and wine destination that shares its border with the Alsace region. It was almost destroyed during WWII but was meticulously rebuilt with its traditional cobbled streets and pastel houses.

This morning offers up a wonderful selection of Scenic Freechoice activities to choose from:
Excursion to Colmar: Take an excursion over the French border to the colorful town of Colmar, a unique Alsatian town that is often referred to as ‘Little Venice’ for its network of canals and bridges, originally used by fishermen and market gardeners. These quaint waterways are lined with half-timbered houses in an array of pastel colors, and its town center is charming with cobblestoned streets and traditional architecture. You’ll also get to taste traditional Flammkuchen, a flatbread that is the specialty of the region.

Wine tasting at Kaiserstuhl: Volcanic rocks make up a large part of the central and western Kaiserstuhl region thanks to numerous volcanic eruptions more than 16 million years ago. Because of its loose-covered volcanic soils, the Kaiserstuhl is known as a very good wine-producing region. During your visit, sample some of these delicious drops.

Excursion to Freiburg: Located on the edge of the Black Forest, Freiburg is a picturesque city. Enjoy a guided walking tour through the lively medieval town center to see the Freiburg Minster, a 13th-century cathedral that was one of only a few in Germany that survived the bombings during the Second World War.

Chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg: Sitting on a hilltop in the Alsace region of France, this ‘royal castle’ was constructed in the 12th century but was burnt down during the Thirty Years War in the 1600s. Left for 200 years in ruins, the castle was restored in the early 20th century and was classified as a historical monument. Visiting the castle will feel like stepping back to the Middle Ages.

This morning Scenic Pearl docks in Ratstatt, your base for today’s explorations. Set on the northern edge of the Black Forest region, it has a well-preserved Baroque center and a vibrant modern arts and theatre scene.  Enjoy a coffee delivered to your suite by your personal butler and a hearty breakfast at Crystal Dining before setting off on a day of sightseeing.

Decide how you want to spend your day with these Scenic Freechoice options:
Excursion to Baden Baden: Located on the fringes of the Black Forest, this luxurious town was a favored summer escape during the Belle Epoque and is World Heritage listed as part of the Great Spa Towns of Europe. It oozes relaxation and has tranquil green spaces, pretty public gardens, and grand historical architecture. Enjoy a walking tour, taking in the opulence of the town, including its famous casino and the remains of Roman baths.

Visit Schloss Favorite: This grand palace was originally built as a hunting lodge and summer palace for Margravine Sibylla Augusta, who ruled Baden-Baden in the early 18th century when her husband Louis William, Margrave of Baden-Baden, died of a war injury. The palace was only used for several weeks each year and houses a large collection of Chinese porcelain, black lacquerwork, and Schwartz porcelain. It is the oldest of the German ‘porcelain palaces’ and the only one to survive intact to this day.

Walking tour of Strasbourg: Enjoy a guided walking tour of the charming town of Strasbourg, seeing many of the most important sights of the city including the Cathedral, Petit France, the Grand Ile, and its many half-timbered houses and beautiful canals. Strasbourg is located on the border of France and Germany and ownership of the town has changed hands many times between the two countries. Due to this, Strasbourg is a unique mixture of both French and German architecture and culture. Drive to Strasbourg passing by many notable sites including the European Parliament. Please Note: This is an active walk.

Scenic Pearl docks in the charming town of Rudesheim this morning. Surrounded by steep vineyards that have been cultivating wine for a staggering two millennia, Rudesheim is filled with half-timbered houses lining cobbled streets, quaint shops selling trinkets such as traditional Christmas ornaments and cuckoo clocks, as well as a smattering of wine taverns and open-air beer gardens.

Explore your way with this morning’s Scenic Freechoice:
Siegfried’s Musikkabinett Museum: From the pier, take a mini train through the quaint winding streets of Rudesheim to Siegfried’s Musikkabinett Museum where a local guide will introduce you to the weird and wonderful mechanical musical instruments. Afterward, enjoy free time to wander the town or take the cable car up to the Niederwald Monument, where you’ll have breathtaking views over the river. This 17th-century statue was built to commemorate the unification of Germany.
Hike & Cable Car: Join a local guide for a hike through the rolling vineyards of Rudesheim, a wine region famous for its Riesling, and enjoy spectacular views of the countryside and the Rhine below. After your hike, board the cable car to return to town.

This afternoon, cruise along the spectacular World Heritage-listed Rhine Gorge in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley towards Cochem. This 65-kilometer stretch of the river is dotted with some 40 hilltop castles and fortresses that span a period of 1,000 years. Sailing down this section of the river is like being transported through the pages of a fairytale.

The Rhine abounds in myths and legends; folklore that has been passed on for generations, including the story of Lorelei. This enchanting woman was betrayed by her sweetheart and spent her days bewitching men. As her punishment, she was sent to a nunnery, however on her way, she jumped to her death in the river. Legend has it her spirit cast spells on sailors who passed the rock, where a bronze statue sits today.

Arrive in Cochem this morning. A historic gem resting on the banks of the Moselle River, Cochem will make you feel as if you are stepping directly into a medieval romance. The traditional town is nestled on the riverbanks, with pastel-colored buildings, half-timbered houses, cobbled laneways, and an enchanting medieval hilltop castle surrounded by sloped vineyards.

Choose to walk or cycle through town with this morning’s Scenic Freechoice:
Walking tour of Cochem: Take a short transfer to Reichsburg Castle, which dates to the Middle Ages. Enjoy a guided tour of the castle, which features a knight’s hall, trophy room, and cellars, before wandering down to the Old Town, and seeing many historic buildings along the way.
Cycling tour of Cochem: Join a local guide and hop on one of Scenic’s e-bikes* to explore the town of Cochem and the surrounding region. See the impressive Reichsburg Castle sitting proudly above the city and ride through winding streets past half-timbered houses.

Return to your luxurious Scenic Pearl this afternoon and relax with a regional wine or beer in the Panorama Lounge & Bar as you cruise along the Moselle. If you feel like really winding down, head to the wellness center for a relaxing massage

Wake up this morning in Bernkastel. Another wonderfully preserved riverside town, Bernkastel is home to an atmospheric market square with buildings that date to the 13th century; one of the world’s most famous riesling vineyards, Bernkasteler Doctor; and the ruins of Landshut Castle, where archaeological remains from the 4th and 5th centuries were discovered in 2012.

Choose from this morning’s Scenic Freechoice:
Walking Tour of Bernkastel: Discover the town of Bernkastel, set on the banks of the Moselle River. Your local guide will explain the local architecture and culture during your guided tour, and you will also have some time at leisure to discover Bernkastel on your own. Explore the pretty town with highlights including perfectly preserved half-timbered houses and the Renaissance-style Rathaus (Town Hall).
Wine tasting along the Moselle: The fertile banks of the Moselle River are home to a plethora of vineyards. Learn about the varieties grown here on a tour where you will sample some of the delicious drops, including riesling, for which the region is best known.

This evening’s Scenic Enrich:
Classical Concert at Liebfrauenkirche in Trier: Founded by the Roman Emperor Augustus in the year 16BC, Trier is the oldest city in Germany. Located in the Moselle wine-growing region, close to the Luxembourg border, the city offers a series of well-preserved Roman and medieval buildings. The Liebfrauenkirche, or Church of Our Lady, shares a wall and cloister with the Trier Cathedral and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1986. This evening you will transfer from Bernkastel to Trier (approximately one hour) and enjoy a marvelous classical concert surrounded by the spectacular stained-glass windows in this magnificent church.

Perhaps enjoy a leisurely morning starting with coffee in your suite, delivered by your personal butler, followed by breakfast in Crystal Dining. Arrive in Koblenz, later this afternoon. 

Located where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet, Koblenz is a melange of French and German cultures and one of Germany’s oldest cities with a history spanning 2,000 years. Koblenz is surrounded by vineyards, forest, and mountain ranges, and is also known as the gateway to the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. 

This afternoon choose from the following Scenic Freechoice:
Guided walking tour of Koblenz: Join your guide through one of the oldest cities in Germany. Explore the Florinsmarkt, the former political and economic center of the city. On your way through the winding streets of the old town, you will see impressive townhouses, each with its own unique history, charming squares, and historic churches.

Guided tour of Burg Eltz: Considered one of the most magical castles in Germany, Burg Eltz is perched on a rocky outcrop deep in a valley of the Eltz Forest. Unscathed by wars that have crumbled so many other castles in Germany, Burg Eltz is the epitome of a fairytale castle with eight towers and turrets. It has been under the ownership of the same family for more than 850 years and contains many original furnishings and interiors to this day, including 15th-century murals. Inside the castle walls, you can visit the treasury and armory, which exhibits nine centuries of artifacts.

Koblenz Biking Tour: Ride along the Moselle and Rhine Rivers on your guided cycling tour using Scenic’s complimentary e-bikes*. Let the bike do most of the hard work while you glide past many city attractions and cross over the Rhine River twice while learning the historic background of Koblenz from your local guide. 

After a delicious breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Frankfurt airport.