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A spectacularly scenic cruise of wonderful contrasts, from refined and historic Heidelberg to delightfully quaint Boppard and the old world charm of medieval Strasbourg plus the enduring allure of the glorious Rhine Gorge.
Stepping aboard you will appreciate the superb surroundings of your floating luxury hotel for the next seven nights with spacious and well-appointed cabins or suites, private bathrooms and meticulously prepared fine cuisine.
Riviera Plus
Customers in all deluxe and superior suites and all upper-deck cabins will benefit from a wealth of unique, new benefits:
On arrival, transfer by coach to your five-star cruise ship moored in picturesque Cologne. The dedicated English-speaking crew welcomes you on board and helps you to your cabin. After settling into your spacious and tastefully furnished accommodation, there’s time to familiarise yourself with this splendid ship.
Day 2 - Koblenz & Boppard
When you peek out from your cabin this morning, you’ll realise the ship has slipped quietly away from Cologne; the view that greets you is of vine-covered valleys sides aglow in the morning light, bidding you a warm welcome to the charms of the Rhine.
There’s nothing quite like that feeling of anticipation when gliding alongside the promenade of a river port, snatching tantalising glimpses of what lies ashore, and Koblenz – beautifully located at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers – doesn’t disappoint.
The city is immersed in two millennia of history: founded by the Romans, it was successively occupied by the Franks, chosen as a residence of the German prince electors, conquered by the French and fortified by the Prussians! All have left their marks in the city’s rich array of castles, churches and historic buildings.
Koblenz is a romantic’s dream – forest-covered hillsides dominate the skyline, while the lower slopes are strewn with pretty, half-timbered buildings so typical of the Rhineland. After a satisfying breakfast, we disembark to enjoy an insightful guided tour through ‘Old Koblenz’, a patchwork of narrow streets and squares, many lined with exquisitely restored traditional houses and cosy cafés.
There’s time to explore on your own, maybe taking in a little shopping, before ambling back to the cruise ship. We continue upstream as we enjoy our first relaxing lunch on board and before long we arrive in Boppard, a gorgeous town on a dramatic, almost U-shaped river bend.
Boppard
Known as the ‘Pearl of the Rhine’, Boppard is renowned for its storybook medieval atmosphere of cobbled streets and ancient houses. Here we’ll enjoy a guided tour lead by one of our local experts, with highlights including the beautiful white stone St. Severus and Carmelite churches, the marketplace with the ruins of the fortress and the old town with its charming winding alleys and half-timbered houses.
The early evening is an ideal time to wander along the town’s attractive riverside Rheinallee promenade before thoughts turn to tonight’s menu. After dinner, delight in the upbeat sounds of Rhenish folk music with a live performance on traditional instruments.
Included experience
Guided tours of Koblenz, Boppard & live folk music performance.
Day 3 - Rhine Gorge & Mainz
Slipping our moorings in Boppard we cruise through the Rhine Gorge, where the waters narrow to one-fifth their normal width and flow more swiftly. Sheer valley walls soar 600 feet and magnificent birds of prey glide on the thermals above.
Teutonic knights built the numerous redoubtable castles as symbols of their power and to extract tolls from ships, but the fortresses now stand as silent ruins on forested hillsides as reminders of how fortunes change with the passage of history. This really is the magical Rhine of our imagination, so find a comfortable spot on the Sun Deck or in the forward observation lounge and enjoy the experience of cruising this famous stretch of water.
Mainz
Your next port of call is historic Mainz for an unmissable guided tour. The city is renowned today as Germany’s wine capital but whose most famous son was Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the movable type printing press. You can visit the excellent museum housing a reconstruction of his workshop and, outstandingly, two original 1455 Gutenberg Bibles. The museum is in a beautifully restored 17th-century building in the heart of Mainz’s Old Town, opposite the impressive Romanesque cathedral.
Included experience
Cruise through the Rhine Gorge & guided tour of Mainz.
Day 4 - Heidelberg
Overnight we cruise further downstream, and, after breakfast, we take a short drive to Heidelberg, undoubtedly one of Germany’s most perfect architectural treasures and all the more remarkable because it escaped bombing during the Second World War.
Set in an almost idealised German landscape, this jewel sits on the banks of the River Neckar, surrounded by forests and with an imposing castle dominating the church spires and terracotta gabled roofs of the compact Aldstadt – the romantic Old Town. Its 14th-century university, one of the most prestigious in Europe, lends Heidelberg a genteel atmosphere rather similar to its ‘twin’ town – Cambridge. During the 19th century it was the centre of Germany’s Romantic Movement, on the route of the ‘Grand Tour’ and visited by many artists including JMW Turner, who captured its splendours for eternity.
There are few more delightful places to explore, as you’ll discover on our guided walking tour, which reveals its principal attractions – including the magical stone bridge with its twin white towers – and local secrets. Afterwards, you’ll have time to explore on your own before returning to the ship for lunch. The afternoon is free for you to relax on board or explore the local area.
Included experience
Guided tour of Heidelberg.
Day 5 - Strasbourg & Colmar
By breakfast we’ve arrived in France and the charming city of Strasbourg, capital of the Alsace region. The city is a complete delight – its centre a mosaic of winding alleys and lanes lined with quirkily crooked, half-timbered houses largely unchanged since the 14th century. During its history Strasbourg has been both German and French, and you see influences of both in its language, cuisine and appearance, creating a truly individual ambience.
This morning, we explore this delightful city on a walking tour with a local guide leading us to its enchanting centre – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – taking in the Petite France quarter of pretty canals lined with classic pastel-coloured houses crisscrossed with timbers and with flower-filled window boxes, the famous multi-towered Ponts Couverts, or covered bridges, and, of course, the stunning Gothic Notre-Dame Cathedral, which Victor Hugo memorably described as a ‘veritable tiara of stone’.
The afternoon is free for you to relax on board or explore the local area. After dinner this evening, unwind to a medley of live music and songs performed on board by a professional duo. As you sleep tonight, our crew begin the overnight sail to Strasbourg.
Colmar
We enjoy all this on a splendidly scenic drive, soon arriving in the medieval town of Colmar, the best-preserved in Alsace. Little known outside the area, it’s a magical concoction of canals, former merchants’ houses, ancient religious buildings and antique shops.
The cathedral quarter is surrounded by pastel-coloured half-timbered houses displaying the intricate wrought-iron hanging signs so typical of this area of Europe. We’ve plenty of time here to sit, enjoy a coffee and watch the world go by or just wander. We return to the ship in Strasbourg for dinner.
Included experience
Guided tours of Strasbourg, Colmar & live music performance.
Day 6 - Rüdesheim
After a relaxing morning cruise, we arrive in Rüdesheim by late afternoon for a wonderful walking tour – if you imagine a typical Rhine town, then this would be it Narrow crooked streets lead down to the sweeping river with a backdrop of wooded and vine-covered slopes. Riesling is the speciality grape here and Rüdesheim has many atmospheric Weinstuben where you can sample local wines produced from the surrounding vineyards.
On board tonight, we enjoy a culinary spectacular – the Chef’s Dinner – featuring a range of irresistible specialities from the countries and regions we visit during our cruise.
Included experience
Guided tour of Rüdesheim.
Day 7 - Cologne
This morning, early risers can enjoy phenomenal views as once again we pass through the Rhine Gorge where, in Wagner’s Ring Cycle, the Rhine Maidens guard lost treasure, the ‘Rheingold’. What better way to spend the morning than relaxing on the Sun Deck beneath dramatic rocky, vineyard-topped valley sides dotted with romantic ruined castles.
The valley sides dissolve and hills give way to plains as we progress majestically to Cologne. This afternoon you can discover this fascinating city on our tour led by a local guide who’ll help you get the most out of your visit, which of course takes in the twin-spired cathedral, the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe, miraculous survivor of Second World War bombing and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It took six centuries to complete, and among its many treasures are the magnificent stained-glass windows and gilded sarcophagus said to contain the remains of the three kings from the Nativity story.
We also see the vibrant Old Town, beautifully restored and boasting an abundance of excellent shopping and cosy bars, some of which still brew their own beer. As night falls, a sumptuous dinner provides the perfect finale to this memorable cruise through the romantic River Rhine.
Included experience
Guided tour of Cologne.
Day 8 - Cologne - Return Home
Say farewell to your newly made friends and the crew before transferring to the airport for your return flight or to Brussels to connect with the Eurostar service to London St Pancras International.
Geoffrey Chaucer is one of Riviera Travel’s new ‘all suite’ ships. Launched in 2020 she offers excellent standards of accommodation consistent with Scylla’s (the ship operator) other 5 star ships. Standard Suites are large at 183 ft² with floor to ceiling windows opening to a rail on the middle and upper decks. Suites on the lower deck are slightly smaller at 172 ft² and feature high level windows.
6 Superior Suites and 4 Deluxe Balcony Suites are available on each ship at 247 ft² and 269 ft² respectively. Deluxe Balcony Suites, located on the upper deck, also feature a small private balcony. An outstanding ship it would be very easy to just say ‘luxurious’ but it’s much more than that, a unique yet exquisite blend of understated taste, style and elegance at the highest level.
A spacious new vessel as you enter a gleaming, richly coloured marble-floored lobby flooded with natural light from a stunning atrium above.
The ship is beautifully illuminated throughout, including the exterior and imaginatively furnished with harmonious colour schemes, all designed to create the serene atmosphere reflective of the golden age of cruising.
* Payable locally.
88 spacious, elegantly appointed staterooms and suites range in size from 172 – 269 ft² or indulge even more in one of the 6 Superior suites or 4 Deluxe Balcony Suites. Most accommodations featuring floor to ceiling glass sliding doors opening to a French Balcony, so you can enjoy the ever-changing scenery however you wish.
The MS George Eliot is one of the smaller vessels in Riviera Travel’s fleet. At 110 metres she offers the convivial ambience and personal service of a boutique hotel. With 36 staff serving just 132 guests, the experience is intimate and enjoyable. Launched in 2019 she offers excellent standards of accommodation consistent with Scylla’s (the ship operator) other 5 star ships. Standard cabins are a good size at 172 ft² with floor to ceiling windows opening to a rail on the middle and upper decks. 4 Superior Suites and 4 Deluxe Balcony Suites are available on each ship at 247 ft² and 253 ft² respectively. Deluxe Balcony Suites, located on the upper deck, also feature a small private balcony. Cabins on the lower deck are slightly smaller at 161 ft² and feature high level windows with 2 Superior Suites at 183 ft². Guests are welcomed in the elegant lobby with its gleaming marble floor, well-lit by sophisticated lighting. Thoughtful design is on tasteful display throughout the ship; sustainable hardwood furniture, intricate wrought-iron work, and polished copper and brass are beautifully complemented by soft leather and sumptuous Italian fabrics. She is really a lovely base for you to explore the rivers and waterways of continental Europe.
* Payable locally.
70 spacious, elegantly appointed staterooms and suites range in size from 161 – 253 ft². Accommodations on the middle and upper decks feature floor to ceiling glass sliding doors opening to a French Balcony, so you can enjoy the ever-changing scenery however you wish. If you really want to indulge yourselves why not take one of the 4 Deluxe Balcony Suites on the upper deck with their own private balconies with chairs and table.
Oscar Wilde is one of Riviera Travel’s new ‘all suite’ ships. Launched in 2017 she offers excellent standards of accommodation consistent with Scylla’s (the ship operator) other 5 star ships. Standard Suites are large at 183 ft² with floor to ceiling windows opening to a rail on the middle and upper decks. Suites on the lower deck are slightly smaller at 172 ft² and feature high level windows. 6 Superior Suites and 4 Deluxe Balcony Suites are available on each ship at 247 ft² and 269 ft² respectively. Deluxe Balcony Suites, located on the upper deck, also feature a small private balcony. An outstanding ship it would be very easy to just say ‘luxurious’ but it’s much more than that, a unique yet exquisite blend of understated taste, style and elegance at the highest level. A spacious new vessel as you enter a gleaming, richly coloured marble-floored lobby flooded with natural light from a stunning atrium above. The ship is beautifully illuminated throughout, including the exterior and imaginatively furnished with harmonious colour schemes, all designed to create the serene atmosphere reflective of the golden age of cruising.
* Payable locally.
88 spacious, elegantly appointed staterooms and suites range in size from 172 – 269 ft² or indulge even more in one of the 6 Superior suites or 4 Deluxe Balcony Suites. Most accommodations featuring floor to ceiling glass sliding doors opening to a French Balcony, so you can enjoy the ever-changing scenery however you wish.
Emily Brontë is one of Riviera Travel’s new ‘all suite’ ships. Launched in 2017 she offers excellent standards of accommodation consistent with Scylla’s (the ship operator) other 5 star ships. Standard Suites are large at 183 ft² with floor to ceiling windows opening to a rail on the middle and upper decks. Suites on the lower deck are slightly smaller at 172 ft² and feature high level windows. 6 Superior Suites and 4 Deluxe Balcony Suites are available on each ship at 247 ft² and 269 ft² respectively. Deluxe Balcony Suites, located on the upper deck, also feature a small private balcony. This superb vessel carries 44 in-house trained crew members serving just 176 guests (similar size vessels may carry well over 190 passengers) giving the ratio which our experience proves is concurrent with first class service levels. An outstanding ship it would be very easy to just say ‘luxurious’ but it’s much more than that, a unique yet exquisite blend of understated taste, style and elegance at the highest level. A spacious new vessel as you enter a gleaming, richly coloured marble-floored lobby flooded with natural light from a stunning atrium above. The ship is beautifully illuminated throughout, including the exterior and imaginatively furnished with harmonious colour schemes, all designed to create the serene atmosphere reflective of the golden age of cruising.
* Payable locally.
88 spacious, elegantly appointed staterooms and suites range in size from 172 – 269 ft² or indulge even more in one of the 6 Superior suites or 4 Deluxe Balcony Suites. Most accommodations featuring floor to ceiling glass sliding doors opening to a French Balcony, so you can enjoy the ever-changing scenery however you wish.
Depart | Ship | Embark | From |
---|
Oct 17 | George Eliot | Cologne | £2199 | Cabin Upgrades |
Lower Deck | Cabin | 161 ft², Fixed Windows | £2199 | ||
Lower Deck | Superior Suite | 183 ft², Fixed Windows | £2549 | ||
Middle Deck | Cabin | 172 ft², French Balcony | £2749 | ||
Middle Deck | Superior Suite | 194 ft², French Balcony | £3049 | ||
Upper Deck | Cabin | 172 ft², French Balcony | £2949 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Suite | 194 ft², French Balcony | £3199 | ||
Upper Deck | Deluxe Balcony Suite | 253 ft², Outside Balcony | £3499 |
Oct 24 | Geoffrey Chaucer | Cologne | £1799 | Cabin Upgrades |
Lower Deck | Cabin | 172 ft², Fixed Windows | £1799 | ||
Middle Deck | Suite | 183 ft², French Balcony | £2349 | ||
Middle Deck | Superior Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £2649 | ||
Upper Deck | Suite | 183 ft², French Balcony | £2549 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Stern Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £2699 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £2799 | ||
Upper Deck | Deluxe Balcony Suite | 269 ft², Outside Balcony | £3099 |
Depart | Ship | Embark | From |
---|
Apr 29 | Emily Brontë | Cologne | £1749 | Cabin Upgrades |
Lower Deck | Cabin | 172 ft², Fixed Windows | £1749 | ||
Middle Deck | Suite | 183 ft², French Balcony | £2299 | ||
Middle Deck | Superior Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £2699 | ||
Upper Deck | Suite | 183 ft², French Balcony | £2499 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Stern Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £2849 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £2949 | ||
Upper Deck | Deluxe Balcony Suite | 269 ft², Outside Balcony | £3249 |
May 9 | Geoffrey Chaucer | Cologne | £1999 | Cabin Upgrades |
Lower Deck | Cabin | 172 ft², Fixed Windows | £1999 | ||
Middle Deck | Suite | 183 ft², French Balcony | £2549 | ||
Middle Deck | Superior Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £2949 | ||
Upper Deck | Suite | 183 ft², French Balcony | £2749 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Stern Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3099 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3199 | ||
Upper Deck | Deluxe Balcony Suite | 269 ft², Outside Balcony | £3499 |
May 20 | Emily Brontë | Cologne | £2249 | Cabin Upgrades |
Lower Deck | Cabin | 172 ft², Fixed Windows | £2249 | ||
Middle Deck | Suite | 183 ft², French Balcony | £2799 | ||
Middle Deck | Superior Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3199 | ||
Upper Deck | Suite | 183 ft², French Balcony | £2999 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Stern Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3349 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3449 | ||
Upper Deck | Deluxe Balcony Suite | 269 ft², Outside Balcony | £3749 |
Jun 17 | Emily Brontë | Cologne | £2399 | Cabin Upgrades |
Lower Deck | Cabin | 172 ft², Fixed Windows | £2399 | ||
Middle Deck | Suite | 183 ft², French Balcony | £2949 | ||
Middle Deck | Superior Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3349 | ||
Upper Deck | Suite | 183 ft², French Balcony | £3149 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Stern Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3499 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3599 | ||
Upper Deck | Deluxe Balcony Suite | 269 ft², Outside Balcony | £3899 |
Jul 10 | Geoffrey Chaucer | Cologne | £2299 | Cabin Upgrades |
Lower Deck | Cabin | 172 ft², Fixed Windows | £2299 | ||
Middle Deck | Suite | 183 ft², French Balcony | £2849 | ||
Middle Deck | Superior Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3249 | ||
Upper Deck | Suite | 183 ft², French Balcony | £3049 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Stern Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3399 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3499 | ||
Upper Deck | Deluxe Balcony Suite | 269 ft², Outside Balcony | £3799 |
Jul 18 | George Eliot | Cologne | £2299 | Cabin Upgrades |
Lower Deck | Cabin | 161 ft², Fixed Windows | £2299 | ||
Lower Deck | Superior Suite | 183 ft², Fixed Windows | £2649 | ||
Middle Deck | Cabin | 172 ft², French Balcony | £2849 | ||
Middle Deck | Superior Suite | 194 ft², French Balcony | £3249 | ||
Upper Deck | Cabin | 172 ft², French Balcony | £3049 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Suite | 194 ft², French Balcony | £3499 | ||
Upper Deck | Deluxe Balcony Suite | 253 ft², Outside Balcony | £3799 |
Aug 14 | Geoffrey Chaucer | Cologne | £2299 | Cabin Upgrades |
Lower Deck | Cabin | 172 ft², Fixed Windows | £2299 | ||
Middle Deck | Suite | 183 ft², French Balcony | £2849 | ||
Middle Deck | Superior Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3249 | ||
Upper Deck | Suite | 183 ft², French Balcony | £3049 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Stern Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3399 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3499 | ||
Upper Deck | Deluxe Balcony Suite | 269 ft², Outside Balcony | £3799 |
Aug 26 | Emily Brontë | Cologne | £2299 | Cabin Upgrades |
Lower Deck | Cabin | 172 ft², Fixed Windows | £2299 | ||
Middle Deck | Suite | 183 ft², French Balcony | £2849 | ||
Middle Deck | Superior Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3249 | ||
Upper Deck | Suite | 183 ft², French Balcony | £3049 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Stern Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3399 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3499 | ||
Upper Deck | Deluxe Balcony Suite | 269 ft², Outside Balcony | £3799 |
Sep 11 | Geoffrey Chaucer | Cologne | £2499 | Cabin Upgrades |
Lower Deck | Cabin | 172 ft², Fixed Windows | £2499 | ||
Middle Deck | Suite | 183 ft², French Balcony | £3049 | ||
Middle Deck | Superior Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3449 | ||
Upper Deck | Suite | 183 ft², French Balcony | £3249 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Stern Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3599 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3699 | ||
Upper Deck | Deluxe Balcony Suite | 269 ft², Outside Balcony | £3999 |
Oct 10 | Oscar Wilde | Cologne | £2299 | Cabin Upgrades |
Lower Deck | Cabin | 172 ft², Fixed Windows | £2299 | ||
Middle Deck | Suite | 183 ft², French Balcony | £2849 | ||
Middle Deck | Superior Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3249 | ||
Upper Deck | Suite | 183 ft², French Balcony | £3049 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Stern Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3399 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3499 | ||
Upper Deck | Deluxe Balcony Suite | 269 ft², Outside Balcony | £3799 |
Oct 16 | George Eliot | Cologne | £2199 | Cabin Upgrades |
Lower Deck | Cabin | 161 ft², Fixed Windows | £2199 | ||
Lower Deck | Superior Suite | 183 ft², Fixed Windows | £2549 | ||
Middle Deck | Cabin | 172 ft², French Balcony | £2749 | ||
Middle Deck | Superior Suite | 194 ft², French Balcony | £3149 | ||
Upper Deck | Cabin | 172 ft², French Balcony | £2949 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Suite | 194 ft², French Balcony | £3399 | ||
Upper Deck | Deluxe Balcony Suite | 253 ft², Outside Balcony | £3699 |
Oct 23 | Geoffrey Chaucer | Cologne | £1899 | Cabin Upgrades |
Lower Deck | Cabin | 172 ft², Fixed Windows | £1899 | ||
Middle Deck | Suite | 183 ft², French Balcony | £2449 | ||
Middle Deck | Superior Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £2849 | ||
Upper Deck | Suite | 183 ft², French Balcony | £2649 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Stern Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £2999 | ||
Upper Deck | Superior Suite | 247 ft², French Balcony | £3099 | ||
Upper Deck | Deluxe Balcony Suite | 269 ft², Outside Balcony | £3399 |
Prices are per person, based on two people sharing a twin cabin with a limited number of single cabins available on all decks, at the relevant supplement. The price includes full board from dinner on your day of arrival until breakfast on your final day; if you choose to travel with us on any of the full day excursions by coach, a packed lunch will be provided. Anyone choosing to stay on the ship may of course have lunch in the restaurant; morning/afternoon tea and coffee; all visits and excursions as mentioned in the brochure, airport transfers, coach travel as mentioned, travel to and from port of embarkation and the services of a Riviera Travel Tour Manager. Solo Occupancy On the lower deck there are a limited number of standard cabins available for single occupancy without a supplement. For other cabins the sole occupancy price is twice the per person rate less £360.
Riviera Travel’s river cruises have caused a bit of a revolution in the UK market and sell more river cruises in the UK than any other river cruise line. A range of brand new ships, styled classically have impressed with their high standards for the price. Riviera’s 30 years of land-touring experience are carried into their river cruise excursions, providing good value off ship experiences. Whilst some may require higher levels of inclusions and finer dining, Riviera’s river cruises deliver consistently high standards for their loyal UK customers.