Castles along the Rhine (2022)

8 days
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
99%
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USTOA

River Cruise
Find inspiration in the romantic, soul-stirring beauty of the fabled Rhine River, with landscapes celebrated by generations of poets, painters, and composers. Beethoven and Byron loved the romantic landscapes, and the beauty that inspired them is still yours to experience.
33%
$4,181
From$2,799
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Overview

Trip type
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

What's this trip about?

    Find inspiration in the romantic, soul-stirring beauty of the fabled Rhine River, with landscapes celebrated by generations of poets, painters, and composers. Beethoven and Byron loved the romantic landscapes, and the beauty that inspired them is still yours to experience.

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeOperator does not provide
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityBasel
End CityAmsterdam

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Switzerland
  • Netherlands

Attractions

  • Koblenz
  • Strasbourg

Activities

  • Culture
  • Historic sightseeing
  • River cruise

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map
2019 version

Basel to Amsterdam

Day 1 - Basel (Embark)
Port - Basel Arrive at EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg. If your cruise package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship. Important Note: Uniwo...
Day 2 - Breisach (Freiburg)
Port - Breisach Breisach is your gateway to the Alsatian wine road and your launching point for an excursion along the celebrated Route des Vins, which hugs the foothills of the Vosges mountain range, or a city tour of Freiburg. This morning, enjoy leisure time as you sail the scenic Upper Rhine to Breisach.  A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

Excursion(s)
- Alsatian villages Excursion Price - $70

An old stone well in Kaysersberg bears an inscription that warns against drinking water and urges the reader to “Drink with moderation old and subtil wine . . . and leave the water to the side.” What better words could guide y...

Excursion(s)
- Alsatian villages Excursion Price - $70

Day 3 - Kehl (Strasbourg)
Port - Strasbourg See Strasbourg on foot with an insightful local expert, where this historic town with its cobbled lanes, half-timbered homes, giant stork nests and impossible-to-resist pastry shops will win your heart. Kehl, directly across the river from Strasbourg, ...
Excursion(s)
- Strasbourg panoramic tour with cathedral and Old Town walk Excursion Price - $70

Controlled over the centuries by either France or Germany, Strasbourg is both cross-cultural and bilingual. Old and new, French and German all blend together in this wonderful city, whi...

Excursion(s)
- Canals, cobblestones and cathedrals Excursion Price - $70

Spend your day in the “Crossroads of Europe,” Strasbourg, located halfway between Paris and Prague. See the Strasbourg Cathedral and admire its spectacular Gothic façade built in the Middle Ages. You might ev...

Day 4 - Mannheim (Speyer)
Port - Speyer Speyer—“spire” in English—is well named, since the four red towers of the Romanesque cathedral dominate the Old Town.

Excursion(s)
- Mannheim vineyard tour and tasting Excursion Price - $70

Drive to Winery Schloss Janson, where you'll be taken on a guided walk through their vineyards. Learn about the sustainable viticultural philosophy that guides this winery, its six generations of history and w...

Excursion(s)
- Private Doktorenhof vinegar estate visit and tasting Excursion Price - $70

For a different spin on the Palatinate wine region, visit the Weinessiggut Doktorenhof estate for a special vinegar tasting. Yes, you read that right—a vinegar tasting. Founded by Georg Wiede...

Excursion(s)
- Speyer climbing forest Excursion Price - $70

Join your dedicated Family Host for an adventure at Speyer’s Climbing Forest. As you’re harnessed safely to ropes and nets, you’ll climb the trees and more than 200 platforms while having fun in the great outdoors with your family members. Choose from 24 different courses, depending on your comfort level, and enjoy fantastic views in this climbing haven.

Excursion(s)
- Submarines & space shuttles Excursion Price - $70

If you’re interested in automotive history, trains or aeronautical technology, you’ll enjoy a stop at the Technik Museum, home to Europe’s largest space flight exhibition. Your family will want to get up close an...

Day 5 - Rüdesheim, Boppard
Port - Rüdesheim Experience Germany’s fabled Rhine River in the towns of Rüdesheim and Boppard. Enjoy a private tasting of estate-grown Rieslings at Castle Vollrads, take a stroll through beautiful Boppard, or hike through some of the most beautiful landscapes that line the Rhine. This morning, you’ll cruise out of Rüdesheim and into the sublimely beautiful and romantic Upper Middle Rhine Valley.

Excursion(s)
- Castle Vollrads wine tasting Excursion Price - $70

Nestled in the rolling, vineyard-covered hills of the Rheingau, Castle Vollrads has a square tower that dates back to the 14th century, as does the moat. Just one family owned the castle for 700 years, until 1997, a...

Excursion(s)
- Rüdesheim wine village and panoramas of Niederwald Monument (mid-May through late October) Excursion Price - $70

The huge statue of Germania atop the hill above Rüdesheim is visible for miles. Erected by Wilhelm I to commemorate the unification of Germany following ...

Excursion(s)
- Rüdesheim walk with local treats (March through mid-May; and late October through November) Excursion Price - $70

The winemaking town of Rüdesheim boasts countless delights, especially along the enchanting Drosselgasse alley that runs through the city’s Old Town. F...

Excursion(s)
- Boppard village stroll Excursion Price - $70

Join the Cruise Manager on a walk through this attractive town with a long and surprising history; the Cruise Manager will point out its highlights and recommend a host of activities. Take a chairlift to the top of the hi...

Excursion(s)
- "Let's Go" Rhine hiking Excursion Price - $70

Set out on a brisk hike up to the Gedeonseck for unparalleled views of the Rhine River Valley. You’ll want to bring good shoes for this steep hike up to the top, where you can look upon the picture-perfect riverbend belo...

Excursion(s)
- Cable car climb to Niederwald Heights Excursion Price - $70

Board an aerial tramway for a cable car trip up to the Niederwald Monument, and be treated to sweeping views of the Rhine River below. From there, you can choose either a half-hour hike through the breathtaking vineyards or you can hop back on the cable car and head into town.

Excursion(s)
- Fairytale Rheinstein Castle Excursion Price - $70

Head out on a ferry ride across the Rhine to a Medieval castle on the hillside. A visit to Burg Rheinstein feels like stepping back in time to when the castle was first built in 1316, with stone ruins and an old draw...

Excursion(s)
- Boppard stroll with ice cream stop Excursion Price - $70

Day 6 - Boppard, Koblenz
Port - Koblenz Get to know Koblenz, a historic town with a colorful past and eclectic architecture, and enjoy a visit to the stunningly medieval Marksburg Castle. As you come upon picture-perfect Koblenz, you’ll sail past Deutsches Eck (German Corner) with its historic monument to Kaiser Wilhelm I.

Excursion(s)
- “Let's Go” bike the castles Excursion Price - $70

Explore the beautiful stretch of the Middle Rhine region that lies between Boppard and Koblenz by bike on this 25km ride. You'll pass the romantic, timber frame houses of Spay, the sweeping vineyards of Bopparder Ham...

Excursion(s)
- Koblenz walking tour Excursion Price - $70

Watch the waters of the Moselle meld with the Rhine’s as you stand on the spit of land called German Corner: It’s the perfect spot for a symbol of German unity, an equestrian statue of Kaiser Wilhelm I, who united the natio...

Excursion(s)
- Marksburg Castle visit Excursion Price - $70

With its pale walls, slate-gray roof, and unusually slender towers and turrets, Marksburg looks as though it has been lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. But don’t be deceived: this is a powerful fortress, buil...

Excursion(s)
- Koblenz scavenger hunt Excursion Price - $70

Situated on the banks of both the Moselle and Rhine rivers, Koblenz is a 2,000-year-old city that features a statue of Emperor William I that marks the confluence of the two rivers. After your morning visit to Marksburg C...

Excursion(s)
- Medieval Marksburg Excursion Price - $70

This morning, venture to the only undamaged hill castle on the Rhine, Marksburg Castle. Step into a real-life fairytale as you enter the fortress through the drawbridge gate and vaulted tunnel, the first of many defensive fea...

Day 7 - Cologne
Port - Cologne History buffs will enjoy an expertly led tour through Cologne’s Old Town, where three medieval gates remain standing, as does the old city hall with its Renaissance façade. Wander through the city’s historical center and take in its charming atmosphere, n...
Excursion(s)
- Cologne walking tour Excursion Price - $70

Follow your guide around some of the most popular sites of Cologne, the largest city on the Rhine. You’ll pass the old fish market, City Hall with its Renaissance façade and the old Jewish mikvah (a bath used for ritual cle...

Excursion(s)
- Gothic cathedrals, gargoyles and chocolate Excursion Price - $70

This tour will introduce the young travelers in your life to the magnificent Cologne Cathedral. The cathedral, whose construction began in 1248, was not completed until 1880. This UNESCO-designated Got...

Day 8 - Amsterdam (Disembark)
Port - Amsterdam Disembark the ship. If your cruise package includes a group departure transfer or if you have purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol for your flight home. Alternatively, you may continue your adventure with our optional post-cruise Amsterdam extension.

Amsterdam to Basel

Day 1 - Amsterdam (Embark)
Port - Amsterdam Arrive at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. If your cruise package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship.

Day 2 - Cologne
Port - Cologne History buffs will enjoy an expertly led tour through Cologne’s Old Town, where three medieval gates remain standing, as does the old city hall with its Renaissance façade. Wander through the city’s historical center and take in its charming atmosphere, n...
Excursion(s)
- Cologne walking tour Excursion Price - $70

Follow your guide around some of the most popular sites of Cologne, the largest city on the Rhine. You’ll pass the old fish market, City Hall with its Renaissance façade and the old Jewish mikvah (a bath used for ritual cle...

Excursion(s)
- Gothic cathedrals, gargoyles and chocolate Excursion Price - $70

This tour will introduce the young travelers in your life to the magnificent Cologne Cathedral. The cathedral, whose construction began in 1248, was not completed until 1880. This UNESCO-designated Got...

Day 3 - Koblenz, Boppard
Port - Koblenz Get to know Koblenz, a historic town with a colorful past and eclectic architecture, and enjoy a visit to the stunningly medieval Marksburg Castle.

Excursion(s)
- “Let's Go” bike the castles Excursion Price - $70

Explore the beautiful stretch of the Middle Rhine region that lies between Boppard and Koblenz by bike on this 25km ride. You'll pass the romantic, timber frame houses of Spay, the sweeping vineyards of Bopparder Ham...

Excursion(s)
- Koblenz walking tour Excursion Price - $70

Watch the waters of the Moselle meld with the Rhine’s as you stand on the spit of land called German Corner: It’s the perfect spot for a symbol of German unity, an equestrian statue of Kaiser Wilhelm I, who united the natio...

Excursion(s)
- Marksburg Castle visit Excursion Price - $70

With its pale walls, slate-gray roof, and unusually slender towers and turrets, Marksburg looks as though it has been lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. But don’t be deceived: this is a powerful fortress, buil...

Excursion(s)
- Boppard village stroll Excursion Price - $70

Join the Cruise Manager on a walk through this attractive town with a long and surprising history; the Cruise Manager will point out its highlights and recommend a host of activities. Take a chairlift to the top of the hi...

Excursion(s)
- "Let's Go" Rhine hiking Excursion Price - $70

Set out on a brisk hike up to the Gedeonseck for unparalleled views of the Rhine River Valley. You’ll want to bring good shoes for this steep hike up to the top, where you can look upon the picture-perfect riverbend belo...

Excursion(s)
- Medieval Marksburg Excursion Price - $70

This morning, venture to the only undamaged hill castle on the Rhine, Marksburg Castle. Step into a real-life fairytale as you enter the fortress through the drawbridge gate and vaulted tunnel, the first of many defensive fea...

Excursion(s)
- Koblenz scavenger hunt Excursion Price - $70

Situated on the banks of both the Moselle and Rhine rivers, Koblenz is a 2,000-year-old city that features a statue of Emperor William I that marks the confluence of the two rivers. After your morning visit to Marksburg C...

Excursion(s)
- Boppard stroll with ice cream stop Excursion Price - $70

Day 4 - Boppard, Rüdesheim
Port - Boppard Experience Germany’s fabled Rhine River in beautiful Rüdesheim. Enjoy a private tasting of estate-grown Rieslings at Castle Vollrads or explore Rüdesheim and the impressive Niederwald monument.

Excursion(s)
- Castle Vollrads wine tasting Excursion Price - $70

Nestled in the rolling, vineyard-covered hills of the Rheingau, Castle Vollrads has a square tower that dates back to the 14th century, as does the moat. Just one family owned the castle for 700 years, until 1997, a...

Excursion(s)
- Rüdesheim wine village and panoramas of Niederwald Monument (mid-May through late October) Excursion Price - $70

The huge statue of Germania atop the hill above Rüdesheim is visible for miles. Erected by Wilhelm I to commemorate the unification of Germany following ...

Excursion(s)
- Rüdesheim walk with local treats (March through mid-May; and late October through November) Excursion Price - $70

The winemaking town of Rüdesheim boasts countless delights, especially along the enchanting Drosselgasse alley that runs through the city’s Old Town. F...

Excursion(s)
- Cable car climb to Niederwald Heights Excursion Price - $70

Board an aerial tramway for a cable car trip up to the Niederwald Monument, and be treated to sweeping views of the Rhine River below. From there, you can choose either a half-hour hike through the breathtaking vineyards or you can hop back on the cable car and head into town.

Excursion(s)
- Fairytale Rheinstein Castle Excursion Price - $70

Head out on a ferry ride across the Rhine to a Medieval castle on the hillside. A visit to Burg Rheinstein feels like stepping back in time to when the castle was first built in 1316, with stone ruins and an old draw...

Day 5 - Germersheim (Speyer)
Port - Germersheim Speyer—“spire” in English—is well named, since the four red towers of the Romanesque cathedral dominate the Old Town.

Excursion(s)
- Mannheim vineyard tour and tasting Excursion Price - $70

Drive to Winery Schloss Janson, where you'll be taken on a guided walk through their vineyards. Learn about the sustainable viticultural philosophy that guides this winery, its six generations of history and w...

Excursion(s)
- Private Doktorenhof vinegar estate visit and tasting Excursion Price - $70

For a different spin on the Palatinate wine region, visit the Weinessiggut Doktorenhof estate for a special vinegar tasting. Yes, you read that right—a vinegar tasting. Founded by Georg Wiede...

Excursion(s)
- Speyer climbing forest Excursion Price - $70

Join your dedicated Family Host for an adventure at Speyer’s Climbing Forest. As you’re harnessed safely to ropes and nets, you’ll climb the trees and more than 200 platforms while having fun in the great outdoors with your family members. Choose from 24 different courses, depending on your comfort level, and enjoy fantastic views in this climbing haven.

Excursion(s)
- Submarines & space shuttles Excursion Price - $70

If you’re interested in automotive history, trains or aeronautical technology, you’ll enjoy a stop at the Technik Museum, home to Europe’s largest space flight exhibition. Your family will want to get up close an...

Day 6 - Kehl (Strasbourg)
Port - Kehl See Strasbourg on foot with an insightful local expert, where this historic town with its cobbled lanes, half-timbered homes, giant stork nests and impossible-to-resist pastry shops will win your heart. Kehl, directly across the river from Strasbourg, will b...
Excursion(s)
- Strasbourg panoramic tour with cathedral and Old Town walk Excursion Price - $70

Controlled over the centuries by either France or Germany, Strasbourg is both cross-cultural and bilingual. Old and new, French and German all blend together in this wonderful city, whi...

Excursion(s)
- Canals, cobblestones and cathedrals Excursion Price - $70

Spend your day in the “Crossroads of Europe,” Strasbourg, located halfway between Paris and Prague. See the Strasbourg Cathedral and admire its spectacular Gothic façade built in the Middle Ages. You might ev...

Day 7 - Breisach (Freiburg)
Port - Breisach Breisach is your gateway to the Alsatian wine road and your launching point for an excursion along the celebrated Route des Vins, which hugs the foothills of the Vosges mountain range, or a city tour of Freiburg. A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

Excursion(s)
- Alsatian villages Excursion Price - $70

An old stone well in Kaysersberg bears an inscription that warns against drinking water and urges the reader to “Drink with moderation old and subtil wine . . . and leave the water to the side.” What better words could guide y...

Excursion(s)
- Alsatian villages Excursion Price - $70

Day 8 - Basel (Disembark)
Port - Basel Disembark the ship. If your cruise package includes a group departure transfer or if you have purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg for your flight home (unless, of course, you’ve decided to extend your trip with the post-cruise extension to lovely Lake Lucerne).

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,799
Price per day$350
Last Updated: 7/13/2023

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Uniworld.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Jan 2023

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Personnel were all very polite and happy to serve.

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Jan 2023

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The staff is most efficient and kind.

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Jan 2023

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Uniworld

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Award-winning Uniworld—the world's ONLY authentic boutique cruise line™—offers itineraries in spectacular destinations throughout Europe, Russia, and Asia. The company’s European fleet features luxurious ships with an average capacity of 130 guests, the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the river cruise industry, enticing shore excursions, world-class gourmet cuisine, impeccable hospitality, and numerous other all-inclusive benefits.

In 2004, Uniworld was acquired by The Travel Corporation (TTC), a highly successful international travel group founded by Stanley Tollman. TTC has more than 30 top brands, including Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, and Contiki, as well as Red Carnation Hotels, a renowned collection of four- and five-star luxury properties.

TTC has made major investments in Uniworld's ships, crew, and staff, with an eye towards providing guests with all the elements of an unforgettable Six-Star Experience: Expertise; Service; Luxurious Ships, Uniquely Designed; Culinary; Choice; and Truly All-Inclusive. Combining the tour planning and hotel management expertise of TTC’s sister companies with Uniworld’s decades of superior nautical experience has created an entirely new category of luxury river cruising.

In partnership with its sister company, Red Carnation Hotels, Uniworld takes pride in its long-lasting relationships with guests, for whom there is “No request too large, no detail too small.” Uniworld employs a professionally trained, dedicated, English-speaking staff, so guests never have to worry about communication.

Why we love this operator
They have the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the river cruise industry and a reputation for excellent service.
What they’re known for
Posh all-inclusive river cruises with fascinating shore excursions in destinations across Europe and Asia.

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Logistics

Ship & cabin information
S.S. Antoinette, River Queen, River Empress
S.S. Antoinette River Queen River Empress
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Trip ID
Uniworld-176

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