GoldenPass & The Romantic Rhine

Our holiday begins this morning as we meet at London St Pancras. Aboard the Eurostar, we head to Amsterdam, where our magnificent ship awaits us. We're greeted onboard by our friendly crew and sip on a welcome cocktail while taking in the waterside views. Take some time to familiarise yourself with our hotel on the river and settle into your comfortable cabin. Later this evening, we enjoy dinner accompanied by a wonderful performance from a traditional Dutch Sea Shanty choir - the perfect start to our cruise.

• Dinner

Spending the early morning sailing through the Lower Rhine, we witness a change in scenery as we approach the Netherlands. Arriving in Amsterdam early this afternoon, you have the choice of two excursions.

The first is a tour of Amsterdam, featuring a canal boat cruise on which we soak up stunning views of the city's picturesque waterways and architecture. Crossed by more than a thousand bridges and lined by gabled mansions, the canals reveal the history and charm of Amsterdam - a city unlike anywhere else. After the tour, there is an optional excursion. You could choose to stay in Amsterdam and continue exploring at leisure or join a visit to Edam and Volendam to uncover their cheese heritage. As well as being famed for the well-known cheese, Edam is a stunning old town, with traditionally Dutch houses lining serene canals.

Back on board our ship this evening, we gather for a gala dinner accompanied by the songs of the Dutch Sea Shanty Choir - the perfect end to our Rhine cruise.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

As we approach the striking city of Cologne this morning, admire the fantastic cityscape of magnificent bridges that span the river and the imposing Cathedral. After breakfast, a guided tour of the city introduces us to the joyful atmosphere of its streets and squares.

We admire the Romanesque townhouses before visiting the city's impressive Gothic cathedral which is the largest in Northern Europe. The intricate spires and magnificent stained glass windows of this UNESCO-listed landmark are captivating as we marvel at the grand architecture. Following lunch, we head for Königswinter to experience the Drachenfels railway.

This fabulous cog railway rises high into the forests, passing the fairytale Drachenfels castle - whose name translates to 'Dragon's Rock', inspiring many of the dragon-related legends still heard today. We experience wonderful views across the Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany as we climb higher. After dinner, we depart Königswinter and head for the serene waters of the Moselle river.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an early morning of relaxed cruising through delightful river scenery, our ship pulls into the port of Cochem where the stunning Moselle Valley surrounds us with rolling hills, half-timbered houses and the majestic castle (the Reichsburg) perched on top of a hill. The town itself is a maze of slender alleys adorned with pastel-coloured buildings, quaint boutiques and wine cellars.

On our guided tour this morning we admire the Reichsburg dramatically located overlooking the Old Town. In the old quarter of Cochem, you'll find well-preserved sections of the ancient town walls and a fascinating arts centre in a former monastery.

Following our tour, there's time to explore the picturesque streets at leisure. The town's central square is a hub of activity, surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and shops. It's a great place to soak up the local atmosphere and taste some renowned Moselle wines. Later this evening, we continue our cruise downstream towards Koblenz, where we leave the Moselle behind and rejoin the Rhine.

Please note - For departure 20/05/2025 due to lock closures we will be unable to cruise on the Moselle River, we will dock in Koblenz and transfer by coach to Cochem for our guided tour and travel back by coach to Koblenz.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

There's time at leisure this morning to explore Koblenz, once a Roman stronghold. We recommend strolling to Deutsches Eck at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers where you'll be surrounded by inspiring vistas including the mighty Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. We then begin sailing again and, after lunch, enjoy a highlight of our cruising experience - the romantic Rhine gorge.

This section of the Rhine is renowned for its spectacular views and the best place to witness them is from the top deck of our ship. We wind around bends surrounded by endless miles of lush green vineyards, ancient castles, and picturesque riverside towns. As we sail, we hear the fascinating story of the legendary Lorelei Rock which soars almost 500 feet out of the water.

We then dock in captivating Rüdesheim where we travel through steeped vineyards aboard a land train, arriving in the centre of the renowned wine town. Here there's a choice of excursions, each promising a delightful insight into the town. You could experience why the town is famous with a fantastic wine tasting, savouring the finest local varieties. Alternatively, you could visit Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet and discover Europe's largest collection of finely tuned mechanical instruments. After dinner this evening there's time to explore the town's cobbled streets at your own pace.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

During breakfast we pause in the city of Mannheim and from here we journey by coach to charming Heidelberg for a guided tour. The picturesque university town is known for its lovely Old Town and stunning riverfront which is perfect for a relaxing stroll. Our tour includes a visit to the magnificent ruined, red sandstone castle that towers over the city, providing amazing views of the surrounding forests, river, and cityscape.

Alternatively, stay onboard as we take the short cruise to Speyer. Arriving later this afternoon, you can discover the city at your own pace. There's a beautiful Old Town and among the highlights is the city's cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Returning to our ship, we enjoy dinner and a restful overnight sailing upstream.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sailing into to the enchanting city of Strasbourg after breakfast, there's a choice of two wonderful excursions. The first is a magical trip into the Black Forest, to witness stunning fairytale panoramas. Experience the beauty of Germany's largest nature park filled with rolling hills, picturesque villages, dense forests, and meadows dotted with wildflowers. As you explore this fairytale setting, you'll learn about the enchanting history and folklore of the region.

Alternatively, you could enjoy a city tour of Strasbourg, where you'll discover its fascinating history, admire its grand architecture and experience its unique character. The city sits on the French-German border and blends the best of the two cultures, with colourful half-timbered houses and cobbled streets. On our tour, we visit the cathedral and the quaint La Petite France district.

Following your excursion this afternoon, we return to our ship for lunch and begin our final cruise towards Switzerland, enjoying the wonderful vistas enroute.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We enjoy our last breakfast onboard this morning before we disembark in Basel. From here, we journey the scenic rail route to Interlaken, an attractive town set between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun and the majestic peaks of the Bernese Oberland. On arrival, we check into our hotel which boasts spectacular views of the surrounding scenery.

The town's compact size means that most of its sights can be discovered on foot, and with plenty of open spaces, it is a vivacious and charming place to enjoy an afternoon at leisure before we gather back at our centrally located hotel for dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A special day today sees us boarding the stylish royal blue and gold panoramic carriages of the GoldenPass Express for an incredible journey from lakeside palm trees to snow-capped mountains. This route is a feat of engineering that has been more than 100 years in the making. Innovative cutting-edge technology now means the train can adapt its gauge, negating the need to change trains at Zweisimmen.

Leaving Interlaken, we pass the beautifully colourful Lake Thun at Spiez and our panoramic carriages mean we get better views of the lake and fairytale castle than any other tours of the region. We then wind up the hills to the halfway point of this gorgeous three-hour journey - Gstaad, the upmarket mountain resort favoured by Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and Roger Moore.

The last stretch of our journey to Montreux takes us through untamed pine forests and rolling mountains of the Pays-d'Enhaut highlands which are dotted by picturesque small villages and alpine meadows. Arriving at our destination we check into our hotel for the night. Then, you're at leisure for the afternoon in this resort town on the shores of Lake Geneva, framed by the majestic Alps. Explore the charming Old Town with its cobblestone streets and historic buildings, indulge in a delightful lakeside lunch at one of the cosy cafes, or visit the iconic Chillon Castle, steeped in medieval history.

• Breakfast

After breakfast this morning, we make our way to the railway station and head towards Paris. As we board the Eurostar to London St Pancras, look back on the beautiful moments we shared. Along the Rhine, we experienced fairytale scenes along the Rhine Gorge, timeless culture in Rüdesheim, and renowned architecture in Heidelberg, Speyer and Cochem. Our holiday ended with incredible sights of mountainous Switzerland, from the alpine splendour of Interlaken to the wonderful GoldenPass Express and the grandeur of Montreux. On arrival, we say goodbye to new friends and fellow travellers, heading home with wonderful new memories.

• Breakfast