Zurich - Lucerne & The Majestic Rhine

Straddling the northernmost tip of Lake Zurich, Zurich is one of the most beloved cities in Switzerland. Today, you will be able to explore the city at leisure, perhaps taking in its delightful lakeside setting or frequenting one of its many charming cafés. Included is a restful one-night stay in Zurich.

This morning, enjoy a walking tour of Zurich before you are transferred to Lucerne, an area known for its spectacular natural setting. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to explore Lucerne, perhaps strolling down cobblestone streets in its colourful Altstadt.

Meals Included: Breakfast

The awe-inspiring natural beauty enveloping Lucerne is a true delight, and yours to discover today during a guided tour of this small city. Lucerne effortlessly reflects what most people imagine when they think of a Swiss city, with a backdrop of snow-capped mountain ranges and tree-lined boulevards cutting through the city centre. Enjoy learning about the history of Lucerne as you visit the well-preserved medieval Altstadt, Chapel Bridge and the octagonal Water Tower.

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning, journey by coach through idyllic landscapes as you carve a course to the Rhine-side town of Basel. When you arrive, you will be able to board your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship, where your friendly captain and crew will be waiting to welcome you. This evening, join your fellow guests for dinner on board.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Your journey through the heart of Europe will commence with a tour to Colmar, a magical place that looks as though it has been pulled from the pages of a beloved fairytale. Your included tour of the town will enable you to traverse its cobblestone lanes, passing medieval half-timbered façades and window boxes full of brightly coloured flowers. If you are feeling more active, then you may instead choose to embark on a guided bike tour from Breisach to Colmar.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, your Star-Ship will dock in Kehl and you will be transferred across the river to Strasbourg, a city that perfectly encapsulates the region’s medieval charm. Strasbourg’s historic buildings can be found peppering the city, but they are often best explored from its quaint waterways, which is why we will be taking you on a canal tour through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city centre.

Relax on board as you pass through the idyllic surrounds of Petite France, an area where tanners and millers once lived and worked in their delightful half-timbered homes. Your tour will end in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Neustadt imperial quarter, where many of Strasbourg’s noteworthy buildings are based. This afternoon, enjoy free time to explore at leisure.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, you will be transferred from where the Star-Ship is docked in Rastatt to charming Baden-Baden, a spa town known for its peaceful surrounds and the celebrities who have visited it over the last century.

If you are feeling active, then you may choose to embark on a hike to Altes Schloss, the Old Castle, where your local guide will highlight how the ruins still contain dungeons and winding staircases, capturing a snapshot of what this castle would have once looked like. The panoramic views of the surrounding Black Forest region are certain to be a memorable experience.

Alternatively, you may choose to enjoy a guided walking tour of Baden-Baden, witnessing the luxurious façades of independent boutiques and well-manicured gardens before entering the world-famous Baden-Baden Casino.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

As you stroll down Heidelberg’s cobblestone streets, you may find yourself becoming just as entranced as the thinkers of the German Romanticism movement were. Their paintings often depict idealistic cityscapes and ruins that look like they are steeped in legends, and Heidelberg is a living representation of the scenes that they created.

Today, you will have the opportunity to explore Heidelberg’s peaceful surrounds during a guided tour, starting in the courtyard of Heidelberg Castle. You will also be able to enjoy a wine tasting session.

If you are feeling more active, then you may instead choose to hike from Mount Königstuhl to Heidelberg for awe-inspiring panoramas.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Koblenz is an ancient city that is often considered to be the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rhine Gorge. The Romans originally built a city here as a stronghold, but the area is now known for its idyllic beauty, peaceful parks and areas full of colourful flowers. Today, you will be able to relax during a guided tour of the city, including a cable car ride across the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This afternoon, you will arrive in Rüdesheim, a captivating city known for its authentic atmosphere and traditional appeal, where cuckoo clocks, live oompah bands and Bavarian beer can be found around every corner.

Your included tour will be a visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum; a half-timbered tower with vaulted ceilings and painted frescoes that houses one of the best collections of music boxes in the world. You will also get the opportunity to ride on the charming Winzerexpressand taste famous “Rüdesheimer Coffee”, made with one of the most famous brandies in Germany.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, it is time to say farewell to your fellow guests and disembark the ship for your transfer to the airport, taking memories of Petite France and fairytale-like scenes with you.

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 for further information.

Meals Included: Breakfast