Detailed Itinerary:
Many of today’s festive traditions come from Germany. What better way to celebrate the Christmas season with your loved ones than on a luxury cruise onboard the nostalgic Royal Crown exploring atmospheric ports of call along the River Rhine - each with their own festive ambience. This delightful cruise travels to historic cities, picturesque towns and a beautiful, wintry countryside that flank the river. Celebrate the magical, childhood essence of Christmas while sailing from one romantic Christmas market to the next for a traditional celebration. Each day is just like unwrapping one beautiful present after another as you sail along the river and soak up the authentic festive atmosphere.
Day 1: Mainz (Embarkation) - Rüdesheim
Boarding the Royal Crown in Mainz takes place in the early afternoon. There will be time to explore the ship and get settled in your suite or cabin before joining your Cruise Director for a welcome cocktail. Departing Mainz in the afternoon you will enjoy a scenic cruise towards Rüdesheim, your first port of call. Here, the Christmas market brings a distinctly festive feel to the romantic old quarter and its popular Drosselgasse, as 120 stalls representing Christmas customs and traditions from all around the world. After your individual visit to the market the Royal Crown will set sails towards Cologne while dinner is served on board.
Day 2: Worms - Speyer
This morning the Royal Crown docks in Worms, the City of the Nibelungs. During an optional guided walk you may set out on a journey through history, meeting kings and emperors, learning about the myths and legends related to the Nibelungs. Discover a magnificent Cathedral and follow the traces of Judaism and Martin Luther. Of course, you will also visit the charming Christmas market with its "living Nativity scene". During the course of the afternoon, the Royal Crown will arrive into Speyer. Founded by the Romans, it is one of Germany's oldest cities. Your optional walking tour through Speyer reveals a medieval town with a grand heritage and a compact historical centre dominated by the largest Romanesque cathedral in Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Festively decorated booths and surprises of all kinds await you at Speyer's magical Christmas market which is held in front of the Old Mint. Choirs and bands provide an entertaining musical programme while cultural contributions from towns twinned with Speyer include traditional arts and crafts as well as local culinary specialties.
Day 3: Strasbourg
Arriving into Strasbourg just after breakfast, disembark for an optional tour by coach and on foot. The city centre of this fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Site is a buzzing network of small squares, narrow streets and palaces. Marvel at the cathedral or explore the historic tanner and mills quarters – referred to as La Petite France – with their magical 500-year-old half-timbered houses. There is also abundant time to visit the Christmas market. In its 431st year, this market is the oldest one in France. It is also one of the largest in the country, and the setting in front of the Cathedral is just breathtaking. In the evening you will enjoy a festive Christmas dinner, surrounded by the magical atmosphere on board the Royal Crown.
Day 4: Breisach
Just after lunch the Royal Crown reaches the tranquil town of Breisach, home to Europe's largest producing wine cellar and a beautiful late Gothic cathedral. In the afternoon, you can choose to book a winter wonderland excursion to the Black Forest, one of the most picturesque regions in Germany which embodies everything that one might expect of a German picture book visit: The Black Forest maids, Black Forest farms, Black Forest gateau, Bollenhut hats and cuckoo clocks.
Day 5: Mannheim
Around lunchtime, the Royal Crown stops at Mannheim, the starting point for today's optional excursion to Heidelberg. Every year, millions of visitors from all over the world are inspired by this youthful town that is steeped in history. With its red walled imposing Heidelberg Castle, Germany's oldest university, the old quarter, the market place and the River Neckar running through it, it is one of Germany’s most charming cities. Romantic and idyllic, cosmopolitan and dynamic – Heidelberg effortlessly combines the apparent opposites of myth and modernity.
Day 6: Koblenz
Today the Royal Crown enters the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. With its mighty castles and striking ruins, steep vineyards and idyllic villages, it is the highlight of this cruise. The legend of the Lorelei Rock has been the inspiration for artists and poets. In the afternoon, the Royal Crown reaches Koblenz. Here, you may disembark for an optional tour of the city on foot. Fortress walls and castle towers, palaces and patrician houses are vivid illustrations of a turbulent past. Founded by the Romans, Koblenz is set at the famous Deutsches Eck (German Corner), where the Rhine and Mosel rivers meet. Ehrenbreitstein fortress and Stolzenfels Castle are part of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 7: Cologne
Today the Royal Crown enters the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. With its mighty castles and striking ruins, steep vineyards and idyllic villages, it is the highlight of this cruise. The legend of the Lorelei Rock has been the inspiration for artists and poets. Sailing into Cologne with its skyline dominated by the cathedral is an awe inspiring experience. Here, you have plenty of time to join the optional city tour or to explore the Christmas markets on your own. Actually, there are no fewer than six different Christmas Markets in this city including one on a steam boat and a Medieval one right in front of the Chocolate Museum.
Day 8: Nijmegen
This morning, the Royal Crown arrives into Nijmegen. Anyone arriving into the centre by ship will understand why its citizens are so proud of their city: The waterfront set against the backdrop of the city centre is a splendid sight. Past and present go hand in hand. Historic buildings are interspersed with fine examples of modern architecture. This city has a very strategic location, which also was the main reason for the fact that the Romans established themselves here. It was with Emperor Karl the Great that the town blossomed and became the largest one of the Netherlands during some time. Later, Nijmegen became a member of the Hanseatic League and an important university town. Join the optional walking tour through 2000 years of history in Nijmegen. During the afternoon, the Royal Crown continues towards Rotterdam.
Day 9: Rotterdam
Sprawled out along Nieuwe Waterweg, Rotterdam is truly a world city. Every year, some 32,000 freight ships sail into Europe via this port of entry, which is also the world's largest harbour. However, Rotterdam is also known in the Netherlands and abroad as a city of great architecture, featuring many examples of innovative construction. The impressive skyline can be seen from afar, enhancing the city’s imposing appearance. Today’s optional excursion takes you around the town and to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinderdijk. The nineteen windmills symbolise the way in which the Dutch have managed the water. For centuries, they have kept the land dry, which had been ravaged by subsidence and floods. In the afternoon you will enjoy a scenic cruise along the Lowland’s canals arriving in Amsterdam in the evening.
Day 10: Amsterdam
Amsterdam, the lively and culturally rich capital of the Netherlands, is often referred to as one of the most colourful cities in the world. Where else do you find so many places of interest, famous museums, cozy pubs, fun stores, coffee shops and markets? It is also a treasure trove for lovers of architecture, boasting international importance in terms of both historical and modern design. With its 6,800 monumental houses and buildings, Amsterdam has the largest historical city centre in Europe. Amsterdam is well-known for its rings of canals, along which thousands of decorated merchants’ residences and warehouses were built in the 17th century, the Dutch Golden Age. When the network of canals was dug, 90 islands were created, connected by hundreds of bridges. Join the optional tour by coach, boat and on foot to explore this vibrant city before getting prepared for New Years Eve. What better way to celebrate your accomplishments and inspire you to greater heights in 2012 than the spectacular setting of the Royal Crown?
Day 11: Lower Rhine
After breakfast, the Royal Crown set sails towards Arnhem. Enjoy a leisurely cruise and take in the tranquil landscape as you cruise the Lower Rhine. In the late evening, the Royal Crown docks in Arnhem.
Day 12: Arnhem
Arnhem, for centuries already, had its name because of its green environment with abundant parks, the many town creeks and ditches. Today, it is a city of art and culture, fashion and design, energy and environment, shopping and more which you may explore during a leisurely individual stroll. Alternatively you may choose to book an excursion to the De Hoge Veluwe National Park and the famous Kröller-Müller Museum. De Hoge Veluwe National Park covers 5,400 hectares of woodland, heathland, peat bogs and drift sand and enjoys a wide variety of plants and animals while providing habitats to extremely rare species. Together with the Kröller-Müller Museum and the Sculpture Garden, the Park forms a unique and (inter)nationally renowned combination of nature, art and architecture.
Day 13: Cologne (Disembarkation)
After a final breakfast on board you memorable “New Year Cruise” comes to an end as you disembark the Royal Crown in Cologne and prepare for your onward travel.
2011 Departures |
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Cabin Rates are per passenger in $USD
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Lower deck - Deluxe Cabin w/ portholes |
Lower deck - Premium Cabin w/ portholes |
Upper deck - Royal Suite w/ panorama windows |
From Mainz |
28-Dec-11 |
$3,194 |
$3,992 |
$4,791 |
| Prices are per person, based on double occupency. No Single Supplement . |
Prices Include:
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Deluxe cruise in selected cabin category with luxury cabin amenities
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Early morning breakfast, Breakfast with Life cooking, Lunch buffet or 4 course lunch, 5 course Dinner
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Juices, coffee, tea and water with breakfast, lunch and dinner
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Premium House wines during lunch and dinner
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Welcome Gala ’s Cocktail, afternoon tea , late night snack
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Welcome and Farewell Receptions and Dinners
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Complementary use of the bicycles
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Onboard Service for all your private tours, provided by a professional Cruise Director
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Cruise Director services for all your pre and post cruise arrangements
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Use of all facilities on board, including Spa & Fitness ( except for beauty & wellness treatments), 24-hours reception and security, Shoe shine service, International newspapers
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Luxury Travel package including travel documents prior to sailing
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On board Musician
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All port taxes and tourist taxes
Prices Do Not Include:
- Individual arrival and departure
- Travel insurance
- Optional shore excursions
- Gratuities
- Personal Expenses
* For reasons of navigation and passenger safety, the cruise operator and the Captain of the ship reserve the right to modify the itinerary of the cruise.
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