Rhine Castles & Moselle Vineyards
This one is a bit of a first for us in a couple of ways, the first time that we have been on the Rhine and Moselle but also the first time that we have done longer than 7 days on a cruise. It was meant to be a taster to see if we liked the longer time but as we’ve already booked a few longer cruises it’s academic.
Basel & Rheinfelden
As usual we fly out a little earlier to get over travelling but also to see a little bit of the area.
Basel, Switzerland’s third-largest city, is a cultural and architectural gem located at the intersection of the Swiss, French, and German borders.
Apparently it’s the museum capital of the world. It has 1 for every day of the year or is it month. It even has a cartoon museum. We saw none of them but did have a look around the medieval old town which is lovely but after that it’s down to the 365 museums.
As they don’t float our boat we took the train to Rheinfelden, a very pretty town that’s only 15 minutes away and is home to Feldschlösschen, the most popular beer in Switzerland.
Lucern
As it was Paul’s birthday, we decided to take the train out to Lucerne. It was only one hour and the weather was fantastic so we had a look around stop for a drink then continued sightseeing and then found a fantastic place to have our lunch.
That evening we went down to the Rhine and watched 100’s of people swimming down current
Basel
After a leisurely breakfast it’s time to board the Emerald Luna and meet our fellow passengers. When we booked they were doing a BOGOF deal and as everyone knows Lynn loves a bargain so after a bit of negotiation it was BOGOF on the Owners Suite.
Breisach – Colmar
We spent a magical morning exploring Colmar. Wandering down cobblestone lanes admiring colourful window boxes on half-timbered façades and imagined the characters from Grimm’s Fairy Tales stepping out from the storybooks.
Kehl – Strasbourg
This morning it’s the medieval capital of France’s Alsace Region, Strasbourg.
The best way to discover Strasbourg’s charm is via its quaint waterways so we take a canal boat tour through petite France, tiny canals, half-timbered houses, narrow lanes, covered bridges and the Vauban Dam before reaching the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Neustadt imperial quarter, where many of Strasbourg’s administrative buildings are based including the Council of Europe where Lynn was offered a job.
After the canal trip we headed off to sight see and ended up in Petite France where we decided to have something to eat, very fortunate because we missed an absolute downpour. After this it was the cathedral and it astronomical clock.
Mainz
Today we had look around Mainz courtesy of AI. The town is famous as the birthplace of Johannes Gutenberg who invented the first printing press and manufactured his first books in the 15th century, including the Gutenberg Bible. The highlite for us was St Stephen’s church whose windows were all done by Chagall and gave it a very calm effect inside. Obviously there was a tremendous Old Town with medieval market squares and half-timbered houses.
Rudesheim
After a morning in Mainz, during lunch, we sailed to Rudesheim, a very quaint little town on the river famous for its narrow lanes full of coffee shops and bars.
Magic Bike Rüdesheim
This is one of the biggest Harley Davison rallies in Europe where there is expected to be 36,000 people attendant. There were some great bikes on display but rather dubious music. Since when does Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton project the image of a macho bikers.
Rüdesheim
Today is a visit to the grand Schloss Johannisberg Winery. Set in the breathtaking Rheingau region, the legendary Schloss Johannisberg is steeped in history, cultivating exquisite wine for over 1000 years. The first Riesling winery in the world, at Schloss Johannisberg, discover a unique wine culture and fabled history during this exclusive tour. Set over 50 hectares in front of the Taunus mountains, the onsite 300-acre forest grows native oak to make the wooden barrels used for producing this exemplary wine. These extra-special barrels are then kept in the 900-year-old abbey cellar, known as ‘Bibliotheca Subterranea’, where over 25,000 precious wines are stored.
Picturesque Rhine sailing
This is the very picturesque part of the Rhine and after lunch we sailed along watching castles go by
Bernkastel
Dating back to 3000 BC, Bernkastel is situated along the banks of the Moselle River and is home to well-preserved buildings dating back to 1416. A nice guided tour then a stroll through the medieval marketplace with its gabled timber-framed houses, castle ruins and town gate.
Cochem
Today it’s the enchanting town of Cochem with its well-preserved sites, remains of the historic town wall with its old fortifications, alongside the town hall and its many other gems.
After Cochem it’s a leisurely sail with a late arrival into Koblenz
Koblenz – Bonn
After a whistlestop tour of Koblenz, it was a slow cruise along the river to Bonn. Once we got there, we were first off the boat and took a leisurely walk round Beethoven’s city.
Nijmegen
This morning is a relax as we sail along the Dutch waterways, passing quaint, time-honoured villages eventually arriving at Nijmegen. Unfortunately nothing opened until 12:00 by which time we were back on the boat
Dordecht
This morning, we docked in Dordrecht and went for a walk into town. After a smooth sailing, we arrived in Rotterdam and explored the city on a walking tour. We learned how WWII air raids reshaped Rotterdam’s skyline through bold reconstruction and a mix of architectural styles. We also discovered its modern reputation for high-rises, rooted in the historic Witte Huis, once the tallest office building in Europe.
Amsterdam – UK
After breakfast, it’s time to say farewell and head off.