8-Day Jewels of the Rhine

A sweeping fairy tale-like landscape of idyllic villages and sublime architecture.

Explore modern and quintessential Amsterdam on a glass-top canal boat cruise before sailing through the countryside and witnessing traditional windmills. Enjoy a guided walking tour of magnificent modern Cologne and the juxtaposition of ancient Koblenz, continuing upstream to Heidelberg. Soak up Strasbourg’s beautiful architecture and, in Freiburg, enjoy the city’s delicacies at a local tasting.

Amsterdam to Basel

Departing: May – October 2024

Day 1 Amsterdam

Day 2 Amsterdam

Day 3 Cologne

Day 4 Koblenz

Day 5 Ludwigshafen – Heidelberg

Day 6 Kehl – Strasbourg

Day 7 Breisach – Freiburg

Day 8 Basel

Our suite of generous inclusions:

n Airport transfers to and from your Star-Ship n 7 nights in a suite or stateroom of your choice, all with a river view n 20 meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners including a Welcome and Farewell Reception & Dinner n Complimentary wine, beer & soft drinks to accompany lunch & dinner on board n Complimentary tea & coffee on board n Complimentary bottled water in your suite or stateroom, restocked daily n A variety of on board evening entertainment n Complimentary Wi-Fi on board n Complimentary bicycles on board n First-class service from English-speaking crew and knowledgeable local guides n Earn EmeraldEXPLORER loyalty points n Complimentary River Cruise Cover n All port charges, taxes and overseas transfers n All gratuities on board and onshore

Cruise Facts

n Distance covered (approx): 430 mi on the Rhine n UNESCO sites: 5 n Countries visited: 4 n Ports: 7 n Locks: 10 n Bridges: 30

EmeraldDISCOVERY highlights unique to your itinerary:

EmeraldPLUS

Visit to a local farm estate with cooking demo

Guided tour of Freiburg with local tasting

EmeraldACTIVE

Guided bike tour to Waterland

Guided hike from Mount Königstuhl to Heidelberg

Guided bike tour in Breisach

Included Excursions

5 excursions, including visits to UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites

DiscoverMORE

3 optional excursions, available at an additional cost – see pages 114-117

See page 27 for EmeraldACTIVE difficulty level details

Day 1 Amsterdam

Upon arrival in Amsterdam, you'll be greeted at the airport and transferred to your innovative Emerald Cruises Star-Ship, where your friendly captain and crew will welcome your arrival.

Meals: Dinner

Day 2 Amsterdam

Every narrow street and gabled façade in Amsterdam tells a tale of the Dutch Golden Age, a prosperous time when Dutch art was among the most acclaimed in the world. Today, relax during a glass-top canal boat tour through Amsterdam's elaborate UNESCO World Heritage-listed canal system, sailing through the city's medieval center and past Roman patrician houses. Alternatively, embark on a guided bike tour to Waterland, passing quintessential villages, traditional windmills and flower fields.

Enjoy sailing through the countryside and towards the Rhine this afternoon, perhaps enjoying a drink on the Sun Deck and watching the passing scenery before joining your captain for a gala dinner.

Included Excursion

Day 3 Cologne

Cologne is one of the oldest cities in Germany, effortlessly steeped in history and tales of the past, encapsulating a timeline that spans more than two millennia. Your included city tour will take you to the heart of its Old Town.

Following your tour, you'll visit a one-of-a-kind farm estate found just outside the city limits.

EmeraldPLUS

Visit to a local farm estate with cooking demo

The cultural and economic heart of the Rhineland; Cologne is a city with a rich history. The Old Town promises medieval churches, ancient Roman architecture, and countless breweries housed in multicolored buildings along rustic alleyways. Following Old Town exploration, visit a local farm estate. Here, enjoy a cooking demonstration for culinary joy and local delicacies.

Guided tour of Cologne's Old Town

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 Koblenz

Immerse yourself in fairy tale-like surroundings today as we cruise to Koblenz, a town with a postcardworthy backdrop of vineyards and mountain ranges. Your included walking tour of this Roman town will unveil the twin-towered façade of the Church of Our Lady, the point at which two of Europe’s great rivers meet at the German Corner and Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, one of the largest preserved fortresses in Europe.

Enjoy sailing through the UNESCO World Heritagelisted Rhine Gorge this afternoon. Here, romantic castles sit atop tree-covered canyons and half-timbered medieval villages appear suspended in time.

Orientation walk of Koblenz & a visit to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress

Moselle Valley & Cochem Castle visit

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5 Ludwigshafen – Heidelberg

This morning, you will discover Heidelberg. The idyllic UNESCO City of Literature has inspired the likes of Mark Twain and famed British artist William Turner. A guided tour of the town will unveil its rich history, starting at the Renaissance ruins of Heidelberg Castle, where the carefully curated gardens host serene water features, sculptures and colorful flowerbeds.

Hike from Mount Königstuhl to Heidelberg

Guided tour of Heidelberg

Canal cruise

Built during the Dutch Golden Age to transport goods around the city, Amsterdam's magnificent canals are more numerous than Venice's, with more bridge crossings than in Paris. Above the waters, the 17th-century, gable-roofed canal houses run along the tree-lined boulevards in a splendid multicolored vision.

Guided bike tour to Waterland

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Evening concert at Bruchsal Palace

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6 Kehl – Strasbourg

This morning, you'll dock in Kehl to be transferred by coach to the picturesque town of Strasbourg, where a medieval past is yours to discover among cobbled squares surrounded by half-timbered houses.

Your included walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town will touch on many of Strasbourg’s highlights, including the astrological signs that adorn the façade of the Maison Kammerzell and the idyllic historic scenery around Petite France. This afternoon, enjoy free time to explore Strasbourg at your leisure.

Guided tour of Strasbourg

Excursion to Riquewihr

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7 Breisach - Freiburg

Today, as part of your incredible EmeraldPLUS program, you will visit the city of Freiburg. If you're feeling more active, you can choose to join a guided bike tour of Breisach.

Day 8 Basel

After breakfast, it's time to say farewell to your Star-Ship and fellow guests and disembark for your transfer to the airport, taking memories of Rhine Castles and the Black Forest with you..

Meals: Breakfast

This itinerary is only a guide. Our itineraries are regularly reviewed by our journey planners and may be revised once the brochure is published. Due to operational reasons, such as high and low water or local restrictions, cruise inclusions may change from those advertised. For the latest information on this itinerary please visit our website. Our full terms and conditions can be found on pages 132-135.

2024 Pricing And Special Offers

8-Day Jewels of the Rhine

Guided tour of Freiburg with local tasting

Amidst the gabled townhouses of Freiberg im Breisgau, the skyline is dominated by the ornate tower of Freiburger Münster, the city's cathedral. You'll tour this gothic wonder after a visit to the city's market for a market tasting of the Black Forest’s local delicacies.

Guided bike tour in Breisach

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

For our latest pricing and availability visit emeraldcruises.com, call 888.233.2989 or contact your travel advisor

Terms & Conditions: All prices are per person, based on double occupancy (excluding ES Emerald Single Stateroom). Earlybird and Super Earlybird savings are limited in number, cabin category and departure date, once sold out the full fare shown above applies. Super Earlybird offer: full payment is due 12 months prior to departure, or within 72 hours of booking for departures within 12 months. Please refer to p. 32 for detailed terms and conditions.

Extend your Jewels of the Rhine river cruise and enjoy…

§ Three nights in a centrally located hotel

§ Breakfast included

§ Transfers to and from the airport

§ EmeraldPLUS visit to the Christiansborg Palace

§ Guided city tour of Copenhagen with a visit to the Amalienborg Palace

Journey Code: EDCB per person

§ Two nights in a centrally located hotel

§ Breakfast daily

§ Transfers to and from the airport

§ Guided city tour of Amsterdam and a visit to the Rijksmuseum

Journey Code: ECAB