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Day 4 - September 19 | Duisburg - Dusseldorf
This morning, wake up in Duisburg, located on the western edge of the Ruhr industrial area. Renowned for its steel
industry and its large inland harbour (one of the largest in the world), the city is an important venue for commerce.
After breakfast, CHOOSE YOUR ACTIVITY:
• Visit the ZOLLVEREIN COAL MINE, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hundreds of coal mines produced coal in the
Ruhr area, but only one has the distinction of being a World Heritage Site— with good reason: the Zollverein Coal
Mine is a masterpiece of industrial architecture, or;
• For a more active option, discover the idyllic landscapes and forests around Duisburg on a GUIDED HIKE;
• The culinary spectrum of the multicultural Metropolis Ruhr is gigantic. Local cuisine, with both hearty and refined
creations, spoils its customers. Join us on a CULINARY WALK and experience the real life of German Essen (food) on
a behind-the- scenes look at the city.
Rejoin your ship for lunch and enjoy leisurely sailing to Düsseldorf. The afternoon is free, but you might prefer to join
an optional biking tour, or visit some microbreweries to try a variety of Altbiers. Your ship remains docked in Düsseldorf
overnight. (B, L, D)
Day 5 - September 20 | Cologne­—Bonn-Engers
One of Germany’s largest cities and capital of the Rhineland, Cologne straddles the Rhine and is known for its soaring,
twin-steepled gothic cathedral. This morning, step ashore and CHOOSE YOUR ACTIVITY:
• Cologne is home to unusual museums that offer a unique perspective on German history, life, and death. COLOGNE
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK leaves the hubbub of well-traveled tourist attractions to explore offbeat sites, including a
cemetery, and museums featuring the Olympics; tolerance; and European handicrafts. And you’ll be introduced to
the Kölsch lifestyle and mindset, or;
• Chocaholics may delight at visiting the CHOCOLATE MUSEUM and learn about the role of chocolate in old South
American cultures, such as the Mayas and the Aztecs, and the European elite. Visitors are taken through the
process of chocolate production from the farm to the candy store, continuing through a greenhouse where two
species of cacao trees are grown and then on through the industrialization of chocolate production, including
vintage advertising campaigns, or;
• For the more traditionally-minded, a CITY WALK is a journey of discovery taking visitors through the area
immediately surrounding the Cathedral and the narrow alleyways of the Old Town. The walk passes by the
Romano-Germanic Museum with its famous Dionysus mosaic, the Town Hall, Alter Markt (the old market), and
Gross St. Martin (Great St. Martin). Return to your ship for lunch and a short sail to Bonn, Germany’s seat of
Government before the country was reunified. The afternoon is yours to explore on your own. Tonight an onboard
dinner of delectable Rhineland specialties awaits you, as you cruise to Engers. Here enjoy a CONCERT performance
at Castle Engers. (B, L, D)
Day 6 - September 21 | Koblenz-Boppard-Rhine Gorge-Rudesheim
Be prepared for a day of gorgeous scenery! First up is Koblenz: standing at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle
Rivers, this 2,000-year-old city is the cultural and business center of the Middle Rhine region. CHOOSE YOUR ACTIVITY:
• If you don’t mind climbing steps, join an excursion to MARKSBURG, the only castle on the Middle Rhine to escape
destruction or ruin. You’ll be taken through the kitchens and dining area, along the battlements overlooking the
Rhine, to the bedrooms and torture room, and to the chapel. Marksburg Castle is one of the principal sites of the
WORLD HERITAGE Rhine Gorge, or;
• Explore the ancient city of Koblenz on a GUIDED WALK with an expert guide. Then take a cable car ride up to
historic EHRENBREITSTEIN CASTLE and soak up the beautiful panoramic view from above the banks of the Rhine, or;
• Participate in a unique VOLCANO EXPERIENCE! A short coach transfer from your ship takes you to the “LAVA CITY”
of Mendig, where basalt, cold lava, was mined. Tour this labyrinth of mining corridors which, in the early 19th
century, became beer storage cellars.
After lunch, marvel at today’s SCENIC HIGHLIGHT as you cruise through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, the most
beautiful stretch of river. Here, ancient castles stand sentry on lofty cliffs rising 400 feet above the water. Cruise past
the legendary rock of the Lorelei, where echoes of enchanted siren song lured unwitting sailors to their doom. Arrive in
Rüdesheim in the late afternoon, and explore this quaint, quintessential Rhine Valley wine town on your own.
Alternatively, if you are feeling active, one of our optional excursions may be just right for you. (B, L, D)
Day 7 - September 22 | Rüdesheim–Eltville-Wiesbaden
Another exciting day is on tap. After breakfast, CHOOSE YOUR ACTIVITY:
• On a visit to the EBERBACH MONASTERY, savor the simple beauty of the Monastery’s monumental Romanesque
church, and discover this outstanding backdrop to the famous movie, “The Name of the Rose,” that brought the
Middle Ages back to life here in this monastery, or;
• Eltville am Rhein is picturesquely situated amid forest, vineyards, and the Rhine River, and is well known as “the
City of Wine, Sekt (sparkling wine), and Roses.” An ideal city for a GUIDED WALK through the historic Old Town and
a TASTING of some of the local wine, or;
• For some exercise before lunch, HIKE around Eltville on the first-class hiking trail, “Rheinsteig.” Wander through
Eltville’s idyllic forest or explore the numerous scenic trails through the vineyards. Rejoin your ship for lunch and a
short cruise to Wiesbaden. Enjoy a last relaxing afternoon on board, or join an optional excursion to nearby
Frankfurt for a guided walk of the city. This evening, prepare for an exquisite GALA FAREWELL DINNER. (B, L, D)
Day 8 - September 23 | Wiesbaden
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning! (B)