Rhine Valley Explorer

Rhine Valley Explorer

With its surrounding majestic mountains, lush vine-covered valleys and endless enchanting towns and cities, the Rhine is a river that captures the imagination and inspires a sense of wonder in all those who cruise along her. This cruise allows you to drink in the scenery as you explore colourful villages, gothic churches, medieval towns and ancient castles, as well as discover the myths and legends of the Loreley Rock.

8 & 10 days from only £999

Holiday highlights
• Koblenz & the Rhine Gorge
• Myths and legends of the Loreley Rock
• Boppard, the ‘Pearl of the Rhine’
• Bonn, birthplace of Beethoven

Optional excursions
• Ayr Valley Tour
• Tour of Cochem
• Loreley & Niederwald Monument at Rüdesheim
• Guided tour of Lahneck Castle
• Bonn city tour

Why not pre-book your excursion package? Price includes excursions noted above for just £75 per person.

Holiday Itinerary by Coach
Day 1 UK to Northern France - Across to Calais and then onwards to our overnight hotel in Northern France in time for dinner.
Day 2 Northern France to Cologne -Joining our ship, you can choose to spend time on board or explore the magic of Cologne, with its enchanting old town and popular gothic cathedral.
Day 3 Cologne – Königswinter – Linz - We set sail south in the morning to the popular resort of Königswinter, with its Seven Mountains museum and cogwheel railway up to the imposing Drachenfels mountain. Our next stop is the charming city of Linz, where sights include colourful half-timbered houses and a medieval moated castle.
Day 4 Linz to Boppard - Continuing south to the ancient fortress town of Boppard, known as the ‘Pearl of the Rhine’. Founded by the Romans, it has an unspoilt promenade and picturesque location at the foot of six imposing valleys.
Day 5 Boppard to Rüdesheim - Today’s cruise takes in the legendary Loreley Rock, the place where the beautiful Rhine Maiden, that gave the rock its name, lured navigators to their doom with her alluring singing. The Rhine is only 90 metres wide here where the rock rises steeply above it and, at low tide, it is possible to see the dangerous reefs of ‘the seven virgins’, who, legend has it, were turned into rocks because they were so hard hearted.
Day 6 Rüdesheim to Mainz - This morning we cruise to Mainz, the former fort city, capital of the state of Rhineland. Take time today to acquaint yourself with this 2000- year-old city. Sights to see include The Roman temple, the royal palace, the cathedral and Marc Chagall’s Blue Window.
Day 7 Mainz to Koblenz - Where the Rhine meets the Moselle, the scenery is simply breathtaking. At the northern end of the Rhine Gorge you’ll have time to explore Koblenz and it’s charming medieval centre.
Day 8 Koblenz to Bonn to Cologne - We continue our journey to our next port of call Bonn, the birthplace of Beethoven. Take time to visit the beautiful botanic gardens at Poppelsdorf Palace. Retracing our journey along the Rhine, we make our way back to Cologne and enjoy the Captain’s farewell dinner on board in the evening.
Day 9 Cologne to Northern France - Time to say goodbye to The Rhine Valley and the MPS Rotterdam as we journey by coach to our overnight hotel in Northern France.
Day 10 Northern France to UK - We make our final journey to Calais for our ferry crossing to Dover, then home.

Holiday Itinerary by Rail
Day 1 London St Pancras to Cologne - We meet at St Pancras station and join the Eurostar service to Brussels. At Brussels we change trains and join the Thalys service onwards to Cologne. We then make the short transfer to join our ship the MPS Rotterdam. You can relax on board or explore Cologne.
Days 2 to 7 Cruising - As per Holiday itinerary by Coach days 3 to 8.
Day 8 Cologne to London St Pancras - Time to say goodbye and take the short transfer to Cologne station to join the Thalys service to Brussels. At Brussels we change on to the Eurostar service to London St Pancras.

Travel by Rail is based on standard class travel. Upgrades to leisure select on Eurostar and onwards in First Class on the Thalys, upgrade from £90 per person one way.

Holiday Itinerary by Air
Day 1 UK to Cologne/Dusseldorf - Flight to Cologne or Dusseldorf where you will be met by a representative and transferred to the MPS Rotterdam. You can relax on board or explore Cologne.
Days 2 to 7 Cruising - As per Holiday itinerary by Coach days 3 to 8.
Day 8 Cologne/Dusseldorf to UK - Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK.

Flight departures from: Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham, East Midlands, Manchester, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Southampton.

By coach - whats included
• 2 nights hotel, dinner, bed & breakfast on/post route
• 7 nights full board cruise
• Grand Tourer coach travel
• Shearings cruise representative

By rail - whats included
• 7 nights full board cruise
• Return Eurostar standard ticket, London-Brussels & onwards Thalys standard ticket Brussels to Cologne
• Shearings cruise & rail representative

By air - whats included
• 7 nights full board cruise
• Return flights & resort transfers
• Shearings cruise representative