Experience the unforgettable Rhine in Flames as part of the procession and discover fairytale cities and storybook landscapes on a luxurious cruise along the Rhine

Your cruise holiday along the Rhine begins today at London St Pancras, meeting the Tour Manager and your group of fellow travellers before boarding the Eurostar to Brussels. Switching trains in the Belgian capital, we continue by rail to the historic city of Cologne, known for its magnificent Gothic cathedral and rich Roman heritage.

Admire the unique skyline as a coach transfer takes us from the railway station to the waterfront, where our cruise ship awaits. The crew greets us with a cocktail as we step aboard and there is time to settle into our cabins and get acquainted with the ship's amenities before enjoying our first dinner onboard.

This morning after breakfast, we set out on a guided sightseeing tour of Cologne. Exploring the colourful Old Town, we admire the city's magnificent Gothic cathedral - the largest in northern Europe. The intricate spires and stunning stained-glass windows of this UNESCO-listed landmark are captivating as we marvel at the grand architecture. After the tour, we enjoy a beer tasting, sampling local brews and learning about Cologne's long-standing brewing traditions.

We enjoy a relaxed lunch back onboard the ship as we cruise toward Königswinter, where the Drachenfels Railway awaits. This cog railway rises high into the forests, passing the fairytale Drachenfels Castle - whose name translates as 'Dragon's Rock'. This region inspired many of the dragon-related legends that are still heard today. As we climb higher, we experience spectacular views across the Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany. 

This evening, we return to the ship and enjoy a leisurely dinner onboard, cruising overnight toward Koblenz.

There's time at leisure after breakfast this morning to explore Koblenz. Once a Roman stronghold, this city is beautifully set at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. You might choose to stroll to Deutsches Eck where the two rivers meet, taking in views that stretch to the imposing Ehrenbreitstein Fortress perched high above the riverbanks.

After lunch back onboard the ship, we begin sailing towards the scenic town of Boppard. On arrival this afternoon, enjoy free time to wander the cobblestone streets, where the town's Roman legacy echoes through its architecture, from the historic town walls to the Roman tower.

We reboard the ship and set sail for St. Goar this evening, where the highlight of our cruise awaits - the spectacular Rhine in Flames. Arriving after dinner, our ship is decorated with lights in preparation for the event, during which the procession of illuminated boats, fireworks and music engulfs the Rhine River. We have the best seat in the house from our ship, and we celebrate as the sky and river light up in a display of colours and sounds.

This morning is spent leisurely onboard, soaking up the scenic views as we cruise through one of Germany's most beautiful regions, the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. The riverbanks plunge deeper here, and we wind around bends surrounded by endless miles of green vineyards, ancient castles and picturesque riverside towns. As we sail, hear the fascinating story of the legendary Lorelei Rock which soars almost 500 feet out of the water.

Docking in Rüdesheim after lunch, we travel through steeped vineyards aboard a land train, arriving in the center of this wine town. Here, there's time to explore at your own pace, perhaps strolling along the famed Drosselgasse Alley, before there's a choice of excursions. You could experience why the town is famous with wine-tasting, savouring the finest local varieties. Alternatively, enjoy a visit to the Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet, where you can discover Europe's largest collection of finely tuned mechanical instruments.

After our afternoon of exploration, we reboard the ship with time to relax and unwind before dinner this evening.

We enjoy another leisurely morning of cruising with plenty of time to have breakfast and lunch onboard, before we arrive in the city of Mannheim. Here, you have the choice of two excursions today.

You may choose to journey to the picturesque university town of Heidelberg for a guided tour, exploring its charming Old Town's cobblestone streets and historic squares, before visiting the romantic ruins of Heidelberg Castle, dramatically perched above the river. Alternatively, you could stay on the ship and continue along the Rhine to Speyer. As one of Germany's oldest cities, it offers an insight into the heart of the Holy Roman Empire and is home to the magnificent Speyer Cathedral, while still maintaining a present-day charm.

Those who chose to visit Heidelberg instead will rejoin the ship in Speyer in time for dinner this evening.

A day of leisurely cruising along the Rhine lies ahead today, allowing you to relax onboard and enjoy the ever-changing scenery. As we glide past vineyard-covered hillsides, charming riverside towns and stretches of countryside, there's time to soak up the views from the deck or lounge with a drink as life unfolds along the riverbanks, before arriving in Strasbourg later this afternoon.

Strasbourg is a captivating city where French and German influences blend seamlessly. Renowned for its beautifully preserved historic center, Strasbourg is home to half-timbered houses, picturesque canals and the striking Gothic cathedral, which come together to create a fairytale ambience.

After we dock and have dinner on the ship this evening, you might like to step ashore to experience the city's charm for yourself.

After breakfast, there is a choice of two excursions from our mooring point in Strasbourg today. The first is a trip into the Black Forest to experience the beauty of Germany's largest nature park- a sprawling mass of spruce trees, picturesque villages and sparkling lakes. On our guided tour of this storybook setting, we learn about the enchanting history and folklore of this region.

Alternatively, you could choose a guided city tour of Strasbourg, exploring this picturesque capital of France's Alsace region. On this tour, discover its history, admire its grand architecture including the UNESCO-listed cathedral and wander the charming La Petite France district.

After your chosen excursion, we return to the ship for lunch. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to uncover more of Strasbourg at your own pace. Rich in history and culture, the city invites relaxed exploration - whether wandering its charming streets or unwinding with a drink at one of the inviting cafés or wine bars - before rejoining the ship for our special gala dinner this evening.

Having discovered some of the Rhine's most stunning destinations - from historic Koblenz and the dramatic Rhine Gorge to Rüdesheim's fairytale charm and cultural appeal of Strasbourg - along with witnessing the spectacular Rhine in Flames event, each day of this cruise vacation has provided a new way to immerse ourselves in Europe's rich atmosphere.

We have our last breakfast onboard this morning before we disembark our ship for the final time in Strasbourg. Saying goodbye to our crew, we step ashore and a coach transfer takes us to Strasbourg's railway station, where we catch a train to Paris. In the French capital, we switch trains, continuing to London, where your magnificent Rhine holiday comes to an end and you are free to make your own way home.

The Drachenfels Cog Railway carries travellers from the bottom of Königswinger to the top of Drachenfels Mountain. On the way, it passes Schloss Drachenburg, a stunningly beautiful villa that said to have inspired the castle in Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty'. At the top of the mountain, passengers can see the ruins of Burg Drachenfels, a castle built in the 12th century and destroyed 500 years later. The Drachenfels line started running in 1883, using steam-powered trains, and changed to electric traction in 1953.

Step aboard the high-speed international rail service, linking London St Pancras to Paris and Lille in France, Brussels in Belgium and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Eurostar's Standard Class coaches feature two seats on either side of the central aisle, most of which are arranged in an 'airline' seating configuration with drop-down tray tables. There are two tables for four per carriage. Passengers travelling in Eurostar Standard Class coaches can take advantage of the Bar-Buffet which sells a range of snacks, meals, and hot and cold drinks - including Champagne!

The highest class of Eurostar travel available for leisure customers is Plus class. In your dedicated Plus carriage you'll find a less dense seat configuration, meaning the seats are larger and you have ample space to relax and stretch out. As part of the service, you'll enjoy complimentary drinks and refreshments, served at your seat by friendly, helpful waiting staff.

For the class of travel used on your chosen tour, please refer to the 'What's Included' section of the tour page.

Introduced in 1981, France's TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) was the original European high-speed train. Linking Paris with Lyon, the new service revolutionised train travel and meant that travelling by air over medium and short distances was no longer seen as the best option, even for business travel.

The network has expanded rapidly and today these sleek, stylish trains offer links to over 60 destinations throughout France. Operated by SNCF, the French national rail operator, TGV trains travel over specially constructed high-speed lines. The trains can achieve speeds of up to 186mph (300km/h) on most long-distance routes and 200mph (320km/h) on the new TGV Est line, which links Paris with Strasbourg, Luxembourg and Basel. With the exception of shorter journeys, TGVs almost always have an on-board buffet car, serving a selection of drinks and light refreshments.

The Amadeus Cara joined the Amadeus fleet in 2021. Offering impeccable cabin spaces with 73 deluxe cabins and 12 Amadeus suites, each room has a spacious en suite bathroom, a minibar, a flatscreen television and a walk-in wardrobe. Some rooms also offer panoramic windows, balconies, or a comfortable corner sofa. With four decks, the ship features amenities like the river terrace, restaurant, hair salon and fitness centre, where you can exercise or book a relaxing massage.

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.