This 8-day voyage aboard the River Empress is an ideal holiday for castle lovers. Sail along the Rhine river and marvel at castles that were once mighty fortresses and get an insider’s look at one of the only castles on the Rhine that has never been destroyed, Marksburg Castle. Visit historic cities, including ancient Cologne and picturesque Strasbourg; stroll through the fairytale town of Rüdesheim; and taste delightful white wines in the villages where the grapes are grown. The spires of medieval churches and castles appear around each bend in the river, and vineyards climb the verdant hillsides.
Select departures operate in reverse (Amsterdam to Basel)
Highlights
Explore the the capital of Alsatian wines, Breisach on a guided tour
Enjoy a visit the Romanesque cathedral, a UNESCO world heritage site in Speyer
Experience Koblenz, a historic town with a colorful past and eclectic architecture
Walk through Strasbourg and experience its historic core as the locals do
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Breisach is your gateway to the Alsatian wine road and your launching point for one of two excursions along the celebrated Route des Vins, which hugs the foothills of the Vosges mountain range. You can visit Kaysersberg and Riquewihr, two of the most picturesque villages in the region, or take a tour of the larger town of Colmar, the capital of Alsatian wines.
Choice of Alsatian “Village Day” or Colmar city tour
This morning, enjoy leisure time as you sail the scenic Upper Rhine to Breisach. A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.
Today you will 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 will win your heart. Kehl, directly across the river from Strasbourg, will be your ship’s base while you explore the Alsatian capital.
Choice of “Do as the Locals Do” Strasbourg walking tour or Strasbourg panoramic tour with cathedral and Old Town walk
You have the entire afternoon to see more of Strasbourg on your own.
Speyer—“spire” in English—is well named, since the four red towers of the Romanesque cathedral dominate the Old Town. You can wander through this beautiful city with an expert guide.
Choice of Speyer walking tour or Private Doktorenhof vinegar estate visit and tasting.
A perfect day for you to experience Germany’s fabled Rhine River in one of two ways—an exclusive tasting of estate-grown Rieslings at Castle Vollrads or take the long way shoreward from the Germania monument with a vineyard hike.
Featured Excursion: Boppard village stroll
Choice of Castle Vollrads wine tasting or “Let's Go” hike from Rüdesheim to Assmanshausen
This morning, you’ll cruise out of Rüdesheim and into the sublimely beautiful and romantic Upper Middle Rhine Valley.
Get to know Koblenz, a historic town with a colorful past and eclectic architecture, and enjoy a visit to the stunningly medieval Marksburg Castle. As you come upon picture-perfect Koblenz, you’ll sail past Deutsches Eck (German Corner) with its historic monument to Kaiser Wilhelm I.
Featured Excursion: “Let's Go” bike the castles
Choice of Koblenz walking tour or Marksburg Castle visit
History buffs will enjoy an expertly led tour through Cologne’s Old Town, where three medieval gates remain standing, as does the old city hall with its Renaissance façade. Wander through the city’s historical center and take in its charming atmosphere, narrow alleyways flanked by old houses and countless breweries. No matter how you choose to explore Old Town, you’ll also have ample free time to explore on your own.
Featured Excursion: Cologne walking tour with Old Town visit
In the evening, a special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you.
Day 8: Amsterdam | Disembark
1 Breakfast
This morning, you will disembark the ship, and transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$3,9992-3 travelers
Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
Please confirm embark/disembark locations before reserving flights, as this itinerary operates in reverse on alternating departures.
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Classic
Magnificently appointed riverview stateroom located on the Moselle Deck (151 sq ft - 14 sq m) . Handcrafted Savoir Beds of England, built-in closet, safe, hairdryer, individual thermostat, flat TV screen, and bottled water. Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, backlit magnifying mirror, cozy bathrobes, and slippers.
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Deluxe
Sumptuously appointed riverview stateroom located on the Danube and Main Deck (151 sq ft - 14 sq m) . Handcrafted Savoir Beds of England, built-in closet, safe, hairdryer, individual thermostat, flat TV screen, and bottled water. Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, backlit magnifying mirror, cozy bathrobes, and slippers.
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French Balcony
Luxuriant appointed riverview stateroom located on the Rhine Deck (151 sq ft - 14 sq m) with a French balcony. Handcrafted Savoir Beds of England, built-in closet, safe, hairdryer, individual thermostat, flat TV screen, and bottled water. Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, backlit magnifying mirror, cozy bathrobes, and slippers.
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Suite
Lavishly appointed riverview suite located on the Rhine Deck (214 sq ft - 20 sq m) with a French balcony. Handcrafted Savoir Beds of England, built-in closet, safe, hairdryer, individual thermostat, flat TV screen, and bottled water. Marble bathroom with Hermès bath and body products, plush towels, towel warmer, waffle bathrobes, and slippers. Additional special amenities and services.
Notes
Please Note: Fares are capacity controlled and are subject to change at any time without notice.
- All fares are per guest in US Dollars based on double occupancy unless otherwise noted.
- Single Supplement applies for single accommodation. Solo occupancy pricing is dependent on cabin type, contact us for details.
Initial deposit is 15% of cruise fare plus any additional port charges, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 130 days prior to departure by Check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.9 | 195 reviews
TrustScore 4.9 of 5
Based on 195 reviews on
1 day ago
We loved the experience of travelling on a small boat with 28 other passengers. The itinerary was excellent, usually including two stops per day at different Croatian islands and only 2-3 hours of sailing. Each of the stops were beautiful; the islands were all unique and memorable and no two stops were the same.
Vivian Howard
5 days ago
Just as she did last time we booked with Adventure Life, Franny really listened to what we wanted for our trip and went the extra mile to help us build the perfect itinerary.
Michelle Resnick
1 week ago
Amazing assistance! Kevin and his team were so helpful and really gave us great advice. They quickly understood exactly what we were looking for and within a matter of days we had booked our holiday of a lifetime. I would definitely recommend to others.
Kathryn
1 week ago
I was on a trip to the UK while arranging another trip for next year. Was able to work with email and a short call to secure our spot on a tall ship cruise. Good company to work with so far.
Steve Beal
1 week ago
I think it was very helpful that Franny and I spoke on the phone. I think she had a better idea of what we were looking for, and she planned a great itinerary for us!