Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 6:00 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. Our ship will cruise to Rüdesheim overnight.

We'll spend the morning cruising to Rüdesheim. This afternoon, the included excursions are:

- HIKERS: Trek to the Eberbach Monastery. This hike along the foothills of the Taunus Mountains will bring us to the impressive Eberbach Monastery, which served as the backdrop for the film The Name of the Rose. Enjoy a guided tour of the monastery, followed by a tasting of some Rhine Valley wines. Approx. 2.75 hours, 5 miles (8 km), 820-foot elevation gain (250 m).

- NON-HIKERS: Tourist train, wine tasting, and Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet in Rüdesheim. First, we'll enjoy a guided tour of the local vineyards on a tourist train. Then, we’ll participate in a wine tasting in the historic rooms of the Bassenheimer Hof. Afterwards, we’ll head to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum, located in a lovely, 15th-century building. This museum holds a collection of fascinating musical instruments ranging from tiny, delicate music boxes to an enormous orchestrion.

In the evening, the famous Drosselgasse with its numerous cafés, bars, and music awaits you.

This morning, we’ll pass through the beautiful and romantic Rhine Valley. The fascinating Rhine River has been the muse for many legends, including the Rock of the Lorelei. Each twist and turn of the river reveals another castle atop a peak above the sprawling vineyards. This afternoon, the included excursions are:

-HIKERS: Trek towards the Kühkopf and Hasenberg. This nice loop explores the forest above the city of Koblenz—with great views of the Rhine and Moselle Valleys. The trail travels towards the Kühkopf, whose tower can be seen from afar. At the Kühkopfhütte, you'll get a full panoramic view of the Rhine. Approx. 5 hours, 7.8 miles (12.6 km), 1,903-foot elevation gain (580 m).

-NON-HIKERS: Guided tour of Koblenz and the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Located at the crossroads of the Rhine and Moselle regions and surrounded by several mountain peaks, Koblenz is a rich mosaic of culture and history. We’ll take the funicular railway up the hill to visit the historic castle, where we'll have a magnificent view across the city and valleys. You’ll immediately understand the strategic importance of this fortress throughout history, as the lands stretch as far as the eye can see.

Free evening in the city.

We’ll spend the morning cruising. This afternoon, the included excursions are:
-HIKERS: Trek along the Rhine Trail. We'll head to Rauenthal to begin the hike towards Schlangenbad on the "Rhine River Trail" (Rheinpfad), following picturesque paths taking us to points of interest such as the Lochmühle watermill and the Schlangenbad forest hut. Approx. 2.75 hours, 5 miles (8 km), 820-foot elevation gain (250 m).
- NON-HIKERS: Tour of Mainz and the Gutenberg Museum.(2) Enjoy a tour of Mainz—located on the Rhine riverbank across from the mouth of the Main River—with your guides. You'll visit the 1,000-year-old Mainz Cathedral before crisscrossing the streets in the Old Town to the Gutenbergplatz. You'll finish up the tour at the Gutenberg Museum.(2) Johannes Gutenberg was born in Mainz between 1393 and 1406. He is famous for inventing the movable type printing press.
We'll return on board for dinner while the ship continues to Rastatt. Our ship will cruise through the night.

We’ll spend the morning cruising to Rastatt. This afternoon, the included excursions are:

- HIKERS: The Treetop Walk in the Black Forest. You'll be transferred to Bad Wildbad, the departure point for an unusual hike through the Black Forest, culminating at a 131-foot (40 m) observation tower. We’ll take a lovely hike along a trail that traverses the dense forest of beech and pine trees to the impressive observation tower providing an unobstructed view of the amazing scenery, which includes the Swabian Alps, the Kraichgau region, and even the TV tower in Stuttgart. And if you are really daring, you can take the 180-foot tunnel slide to the bottom! (Additional cost to be paid on site).

- NON-HIKERS: Tour of Baden-Baden. The elegant spa town of Baden-Baden sits on the edge of the Black Forest. The area has been one of rest and relaxation since its founding over 2,000 years ago. It was known as the “Summer Capital of Europe” in the 19th century when its clientele included European and Russian royalty and notable artists. During this excursion, we’ll tour the street where the Friedrichsbad Spa is located and also visit the Old Town.

Join us for our festive gala evening.

Our ship will cruise to Strasbourg overnight.

Enjoy breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m.