Rhine Highlights

Welcome to Basel where the crew of your 5-star Scenic Space-Ship will warmly greet you. Raise your glass to the marvellous cruise ahead of you at this evening’s welcome reception. 

Please book your flight to arrive into Basel prior to 03:00 PM.

Enjoy a leisurely morning sailing towards Kehl. Relax in the sunshine on the Sun Deck as you relish the scenery rolling by. 

Arrive in the city Kehl, the gateway to Strasbourg. It’s the capital city of the Alsace region, where sherbet-coloured, half-timbered houses heave together on the banks of a complex network of canals. On its central island, the World Heritage-listed Grand Ile, is the Petite France district, so named for the 15th century hospital built here for patients suffering from syphilis, ‘the French disease’. It is also known as the Tanners’ Quarters thanks to its medieval industries. Its cobbled laneways are lined with a medley of buildings with shuttered windows and bright flowerboxes. 

Freechoice:
Choose to visit Strasbourg or other sights of the region with today’s Scenic Freechoice activities:

Active walking tour of Strasbourg: Enjoy a guided walking tour of the charming town of Strasbourg. You’ll see many important city sights including the Cathedral, Petit France, the Grand Ile and 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.

Excursion to Mittelbergheim: The French Alsace region is a culturally diverse wine-growing area that shares its border with Germany and Switzerland. Guests will visit the village of Mittelbergheim, a member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France ('the most beautiful villages in France') association. In Mittelbergheim, guests will visit a local wine cellar for a tasting before visiting the town of Obernai. This enchanting town has retained its traditional character with medieval defences, fortified towers and half-timbered houses. You’ll have free time to explore at your own pace.

Cycling tour: Hop on board an e-bike and explore the sights surrounding the city of Strasbourg. Strasbourg has over 500 km of bicycle trails and you can explore some of these while cycling through sleepy villages, lush vineyards and charming canals.

This morning your Scenic Space-Ship will dock in Rastatt, home to an elegant, perfectly proportioned Baroque palace - the setting for tonight’s Scenic Enrich. But first, you will explore Baden Baden, famous for its Roman baths. Located on the fringes of the Black Forest, this luxurious town was a favoured summer escape during the Belle Epoque period of the 1870s and is World Heritage listed as part of the Great Spa Towns of Europe. It exudes relaxation, with tranquil green spaces, pretty public gardens, and grand historical architecture.

Freechoice:
Choose to spend this morning the way you want with Scenic Freechoice:

Walking tour of Baden Baden; Walk in the footsteps of the German elite, who enjoyed this spa town as a summer retreat in the 19th century. See the elegant Kurhaus spa resort, built in the 1820s with a casino and luxury shopping in its colonnade, and explore the remains of Roman baths.

Spa visit: The best way to enjoy the splendours of the town is to relax and rejuvenate in the thermal baths of the Caracalla Spa, permanently and naturally heated by thermal waters some 2,000 metres under the Earth’s surface. Comprising numerous baths, soak in these waters - said to possess healing properties - at your leisure.

Schloss Favorite: Originally built as a hunting lodge and summer palace for Margravine Sibylla Augusta, who ruled Baden-Baden in the early 18th century after 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 fine porcelain. It is the oldest of the German ‘porcelain palaces’ and the only one to survive intact to this day.

This afternoon, return to your Scenic Space-Ship for lunch and take the time to relax on board. If you feel like something more active after your morning in the spa town, head to the state-of-the-art gym for an invigorating workout.  

Enrich

Tonight’s Scenic Enrich:

Private classical concert at the Baroque Palace of Rastatt: One of the most magnificent historic venues in the region, this will be an evening of grandeur unlike any other. Travel by coach to the palace, where you will receive a drink upon arrival. Take some time to explore the opulent palace and gardens, which were modelled on Versailles and took almost a decade to complete. The performance will take place on the second floor and will feature accomplished musicians and a soloist.

Baden-Baden is a spa town in southwestern Germany’s Black Forest, near the border with France. Its thermal baths led to fame as a fashionable 19th-century resort. Alongside the Oos River, park-lined Lichtentaler Allee is the town’s central promenade. The Kurhaus complex (1824) houses the elegant, Versailles-inspired Spielbank (casino). Its Trinkhalle has a loggia decorated with frescoes and a mineral-water fountain.

Arrive in Mannheim early this morning. Mannheim is known as a ‘chessboard city’ for its streets that were methodically laid out like a grid in the 17th century. It’s also home to some of the world’s most brilliant engineering minds, including Carl Benz, founder of Mercedes-Benz, who set up his workshop in the city. Nearby, the city of Heidelberg is a truly romantic setting, with an 18th-century arch bridge that straddles the Necker River and a 16th-century ruined castle on the hillside overlooking the town.  

Freechoice:
Today there are a selection of Scenic Freechoice experiences on offer:

Orientation Tour of Heidelberg with free time: From Mannheim, you will transfer by coach to Heidelberg. Enjoy a brief walking tour of Heidelberg, including the old town, and then enjoy free time to explore on your own. Note: the walking tour involves some stairs and uneven ground.

Historical tour of Heidelberg: As well as a guided tour of Heidelberg, this excursion includes a visit to Heidelberg Castle, one of the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps. Explore the courtyard, the balcony that offers an incredible view over the Old Town and see the great Heidelberg Tun, the world’s largest wine barrel located in the castle’s cellar. Enjoy some free time before returning to your Scenic Space-Ship via coach. Note: the walking tour involves some stairs and uneven ground.

Excursion to Bad Durkheim: From Mannheim, it’s a short drive through stunning vine-covered landscapes to Bad Durkheim. On arrival, visit Fitz Ritter, a 9th generation family-owned vineyard that offers exceptional quality wine.  You will have the opportunity to try some during your guided tour.

This morning you will cruise along the spectacular World Heritage-listed Rhine Gorge in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. This 65-kilometre 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 pass the rock, where a bronze statue sits today.   

You will arrive in Koblenz after lunch. Located where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet, Koblenz is a medley of French and German cultures. It’s also 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. 

Freechoice:
This afternoon, explore the way you want with Scenic Freechoice:

Guided walking tour of Koblenz: Follow your guide through one of the oldest cities in Germany. Explore the Florinsmarkt, the former political and economic centre of the city. On your way through the winding streets of the old town you’ll see impressive townhouses, each with its own unique history, charming squares and historic churches.

Excursion to Cochem: Journey to the town of Cochem, a medieval 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-coloured buildings, half-timbered houses, cobbled laneways and an enchanting hilltop castle surrounded by sloped vineyards. Transfer via minibus 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 seeing many historic buildings along the way.

Located in the West of the country, Koblenz is one of the oldest cities in Germany. It is situated on both banks of the river Rhine, at its confluence with the Moselle River. The beginnings of Koblenz can be traced back to its military beginnings around 8 BC. The city is rich in its history and heritage and is easily explored on foot. Take the cable car crossing over the river Rhine for spectacular aerial views or enjoy the city from the one thousand year old fortress, Ehrenbreitstein. The upper middle Rhine Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its unique landscape can be enjoyed and discovered through the interactive multimedia journey at the Romanticum. Historical and architectural sites of interest include Stolzenfels Castle, the Electoral Palace of Koblenz and Old Town. From the romantic winding streets and small squares of Old Town, stroll through the alleyways from the Church of the Holy Virgin to the St Kastor Basilica and enjoy the picturesque buildings and squares along the way. Koblenz is also very popular for its Riesling and strong Spatburgunder wines since the Romans introduced it two thousand years ago.

You will arrive in Cologne early this morning. This is a city known for its liberal and laidback lifestyle, a unique beer culture, thriving auto industry and the jaw-dropping cathedral that dominates its skyline. Settled by the Romans, this major cultural centre for the Rhineland was built during the Middle Ages but was largely destroyed during WWII. The magnificent Gothic cathedral, an enormous World Heritage site that dates to 1248, was badly damaged but stood tall above the ruins of the city.  

Freechoice:
Choose from a selection of Scenic Freechoice options this afternoon.

Walking tour of Cologne: Discover Cologne on a walking tour. Wander the laneways of the historical Old Town, which is home to breweries serving up draft Kolsch beer and enjoy free time to visit the city's centrepiece and icon, Cologne Cathedral. You will have further free time afterwards to explore the city on your own.

Cologne’s Cologne: Learn about one of the city’s namesakes, Eau du Cologne, on a guided tour of the Farina Museum, founded by John Maria Farina in 1709. Discover three centuries of fragrance and the history of Eau de Cologne.

Tour of Cologne Cathedral: The Cologne Cathedral or Kolner Dom as it is known locally is the largest Gothic Church in northern Europe and features twin towers that stand 157 metres tall. Join a local guide who will take you through this magnificent World Heritage site and learn its fascinating history as well as some quirky facts.

This afternoon you’ll set sail for Amsterdam. Make the most of your time on board your luxurious Scenic Space-Ship. Perhaps book a calming massage^ at the spa or unwind in the exclusive Salt Therapy Lounge, which provides natural anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

This morning, your Scenic Space-Ship arrives in Amsterdam. The Dutch capital is a treasure trove of architectural beauty, masterpiece-filled galleries, tranquil scenes of boats putting along 16th-century canals, narrow cobbled laneways filled with boutiques and cafes and streets busy with cyclists criss-crossing their way about town. Often referred to as the Venice of the North, much of the World Heritage-listed canal system exists today as it did hundreds of years ago, lined with well-preserved canal houses and intersected by charming bridges. 

Freechoice:
The choice is yours to explore your way with today’s Scenic Freechoice:

Keukenhof Gardens: Transfer via coach to Keukenhof Gardens, where you’ll witness a display of more than seven million tulips in bloom. There are around 800 varieties of tulips carefully arranged here in beautiful patterns and colours, making it one of the most magical public gardens in the world.

City walking tour: Explore Amsterdam on foot today, discovering the maze of canals and bridges in the city centre. Your guide will cover history, modern lifestyle and Dutch culture. You’ll also get to taste herring, a local delicacy.

Fabrique de Lumiere: Art springs to life in this impressive digital art installation, the largest in the Netherlands. Located in a former 19th-century gas works, pieces from renowned artists are projected onto the 17-metre-high walls, accompanied and complemented by music.

Cycling tour: Take a small ferry to the outskirts of town for a biking tour. Amsterdam is known as the bicycle capital of the world, with more bikes than cars and more than 35,000 kilometres of cycle paths. Your local guide will be on hand to offer information about everyday life of the Dutch people, many of whom you’ll observe getting around on two wheels.

After a hearty breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Amsterdam airport for your onward or homebound flight, taking with you memories that will last a lifetime. 

This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions. 

^Massage/spa treatments at additional cost.

Please note: Preview itinerary subject to change.