Raise your glass to the marvelous cruise ahead of you at this evening’s welcome reception. Your journey into wonder is about to begin.

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 you will arrive at Breisach for a day of exploration.
 

The city of Kehl is the gateway to Strasbourg, the capital city of the Alsace region, where sherbert-colored, half-timbered houses heave together on the banks of a complex network of canals. On its central island, the UNESCO-listed Grand Ile, Petite France – named so for the 15th-century hospital that was built here for patients suffering from syphilis ‘the French disease’ – was a medieval Tanners’ Quarters. Its meandering cobbled laneways are lined with a medley of buildings with shuttered windows and bright flower boxes.

Your Scenic Space-Ship arrives in Mannheim this morning, offering several Scenic Freechoice options:

Orientation Tour of Heidelberg: Transfer to Heidelberg for a brief walking tour of the Old Town, followed by free time. The tour includes some stairs and uneven ground but is not strenuous.

Historical Tour of Heidelberg: Enjoy a guided tour of Heidelberg and visit Heidelberg Castle, a significant Renaissance structure. Explore the courtyard, balcony views of the Old Town, and see the great Heidelberg Tun, the world's largest wine barrel. There will be some stairs and uneven ground, but the walking tour is manageable.

Excursion to Bad Durkheim: Take a short drive to Bad Durkheim through scenic vineyards. Visit Fritz Ritter's family-owned vineyard, where you can taste exceptional wines during a guided tour.

Stroll through Cologne on a guided city tour and get up close to the filigree twin towers of the famous cathedral. Enjoy free time and perhaps visit Cologne Cathedral markets, home to the largest Christmas tree in the Rhineland. Immerse yourself in all the magical scents of Christmas, hot chestnuts, freshly baked gingerbread, and mulled wine.

Leaving Rüdesheim, you will cruise along the spectacular World Heritage-listed Rhine Gorge in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. 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 fairy-tale book.  

The Rhine is abounded in myths and legends; folklore that has been passed on for generations, including the story of Lorelei. This enchanting female 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 her spirit casting spells on sailors who passed the rock, where a bronze statue sits today.

A medieval gem resting on the banks of the Moselle River, Cochem will make you feel as if you are stepping directly into a fairy tale. 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.  

Spend the afternoon at leisure in this beautiful location before setting sail for Bernkastel after dinner.

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 sitting high above on a hill, where archaeological remains from the 4th and 5th centuries were discovered in 2012.

Today sail along the curvaceous path of the Moselle River past quaint half-timbered villages, vine-covered slopes, and hilltop castles that are perched proudly overlooking the river.

Relax in the opulence of your suite, many of which have a window that converts into a Scenic Sun Lounge, allowing you uninterrupted views to watch a rolling tapestry of the Moselle Valley during this full day of cruising. This afternoon you will be able to indulge in a Moselle Wine Degustation to sample local varieties.
 

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, forests, and mountain ranges and is also known as the gateway to the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a picturesque section of the mighty river that is protected by UNESCO.  

Dusseldorf is an affluent city, which was dubbed ‘Little Paris’ by Napoleon. The city is filled to the brim with museums and galleries, one of the world’s most luxurious shopping streets, an old town with around 260 pubs and bars, and a harbor precinct that blends the old with new: historic quay walls, warehouses and silos neighbor striking architecturally designed buildings by the likes of Frank Gehry.

Located at the edge of the Veluwe nature reserve, the city of Arnhem offers a beautiful landscape surrounded by dense forest, lush green parklands and riverside promenades. Coupled with its long and rich history, Arnhem is the perfect location to spend an afternoon.

This morning you will arrive in Belgium’s second city, Antwerp. Full of historical and cultural contrasts, Antwerp has a melange of architectural wonders, a medieval center with cobbled streets and Gothic buildings, many of which were severely bombed during WWII, blended with architecture. It’s also the diamond capital of the world, with 70 percent of the world’s diamonds traded there.

You will arrive in Veere this morning, one of The Netherlands’s prettiest villages whose historic harbor is filled with bobbing yachts. While its beginnings date to the 13th century, Veere flourished in the 16th century when it became an important port for Scottish wool. This prosperity lasted two centuries, and to this day Scottish ties are strong.
 

This morning you will arrive at Utrecht, a canal-lined city boasting a multitude of green spaces, lively streets, and hidden alleyways leaving you intrigued by what is around the next corner.
 

Your cruise will finish in Amsterdam. The Netherland’s capital city 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 UNESCO-listed canal system exists today as it did hundreds of years ago, lined with well-preserved canal houses and intersected by charming bridges.