Overview
Itinerary
Your adventure begins in the vibrant city of Zurich, Switzerland's cosmopolitan capital. Known for it's glimmering lake, charming old town streets, and rich culture. Tonight, enjoy a welcome drink at your hotel with your Tour Director and fellow travellers, setting an exciting mood to the day ahead.
After breakfast, you will travel by comfortable coach from Zurich to the charming town of Chur. Here, you will board the world-famous Glacier Express Train for a panoramic journey to Zermatt. Along the way, you will be treated to breathtaking views of Switzerland's dramatic Alpine landscapes.
Upon arrival in Zermatt, enjoy free time to wander the car-free village at your own pace, discovering scenic streets, traditional shops, and cosy cafés, with the iconic Matterhorn as your backdrop. The day concludes with an overnight stay in Zermatt. (B)
Bask in the fresh mountain air and explore Zermatt on an included tour. As you explore, your local guide will share captivating stories and insider knowledge that reveal the village's rich history and unique character. From its traditional chalets to sweeping alpine vistas, every corner offers a postcard-perfect view.
Tonight enjoy your final night in this charming alpine village. (B)
- Included Excursion Guided tour of Zermatt
- DiscoverMORE Visit to Gornergrat Matterhorn (extra expense)
Bid farewell to Zermatt's mountain landscapes as you are transferred to Basel, where your luxury river cruise awaits. En route, enjoy a short break in Montreux, known as the jewel of the Swiss Riviera, nestled on the shores of sparkling Lake Geneva and surrounded by palm trees and snowcapped peaks. Continuing onward, you'll arrive in the vibrant city of Basel. Here, you'll embark on your Emerald Star-Ship, where a warm welcome from the crew and fellow guests await. (B/D)
Your journey through the heart of Europe will commence with a tour of Colmar. A magical place, Colmar resembles the imagery found within a beloved fairy tale. Your included tour of the town will enable you to traverse its cobblestone lanes, passing medieval half-timbered façades and window boxes full of brightly coloured flowers. If you're feeling more active, you may instead wish to embark on a guided bike tour from Breisach to Colmar. (B/L/D)
- Included Excursion Guided tour of Colmar
- EmeraldACTIVE Guided bike tour to Colmar
- DiscoverMORE Guided tour of Freiburg with market tasting (extra expense)
This morning, your Star-Ship will dock in Kehl, where you will be transferred across the river to Strasbourg, a city perfectly encapsulating the region's medieval charm. Strasbourg is a city best explored via its quaint waterways. You'll explore the historic architecture on a canal tour through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city centre.
Relax on board as you pass through the idyllic surrounds of Petite France and conclude in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Neustadt imperial quarter, where many of Strasbourg's noteworthy buildings are based. This afternoon, enjoy free time to explore at leisure. (B/L/D)
- Included Excursion Canal boat tour in Strasbourg
This morning, you'll be transferred from your Star-Ship docked in Rastatt to the charming spa town of Baden-Baden, frequented by celebrities and royalty for centuries. If you're feeling active, you can embark on a guided hike to Altes Schloss, a fascinating castle ruin full of hidden dungeons and winding staircases. Enjoy panoramic views of the Black Forest and the Rhine Valley as you trace the footsteps of former residents. Tonight, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, you're invited to join an exclusive private concert in a historical venue . (B/L/D)
- Included Excursion Guided walking tour of Baden-Baden
- EmeraldPLUS Evening Concert on the Rhine
- DiscoverMORE Baden Baden Spa Experience (extra expense)
- DiscoverMORE Entrance to the Casino (extra expense)
- EmeraldACTIVE Guided hike to Altes Schloss
Strolling down Heidelberg's cobblestone streets, you may find yourself as entranced as the German Romanticist thinkers before you. Heidelberg is a living representation of the legend-steeped cityscapes depicted by the romanticists, its peaceful surroundings beckoning exploration.
Today, you'll explore Heidelberg Castle or opt to hike from Mount Königstuhl to Heidelberg for awe-inspiring panoramas. (B/L/D)
- Included Excursion Guided tour of Heidelberg
- EmeraldACTIVE Hike from Mount Königstuhl to Heidelberg
- DiscoverMORE Vineyards hike and wine tasting in Bad Durkheim (extra expense)
Koblenz is an ancient city often considered to be the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rhine Gorge. The Romans originally built a city here as a stronghold, but the area is now known for its idyllic beauty, and peaceful parks full of colourful flowers. Today, you will be able to relax during a guided tour of the city, including a cable car ride across the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. (B/L/D)
- Included Excursion Walking tour of Koblenz
- EmeraldACTIVE Bike tour in Koblenz
- DiscoverMORE Eltz Castle visit (extra expense)
- DiscoverMORE Moselle Valley & Cochem Castle Visit (extra expense)
This morning enjoy the peaceful and inspiring sailing through the Rhine valley, and discover the fascinating legends of the Rhine during your EmeraldPLUS onboard.
In the afternoon, you'll arrive in Rüdesheim, a captivating city known for its authentic atmosphere and traditional appeal. Here, in the home of cuckoo clocks, oompah bands, and Bavarian beer, the Rhineland's charm is found around every corner.
Your included tour will be a visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum, a half-timbered tower with vaulted ceilings and painted frescoes that houses one of the best collections of music boxes in the world. You will also get the opportunity to ride on the charming minitrain and taste famous Rüdesheimer coffee, made with one of the most famous brandies in Germany. (B/L/D)
- Included Excursion Visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum
- EmeraldPLUS Legends on the Rhine
After breakfast, you will be transferred from your Star-Ship to the airport for your flight to Berlin. The German capital has much to offer, from its captivating entertainment to its historic architecture. A three-night stay in a centrally located hotel is included in your itinerary. (B)
This morning, join your local guide for a walking tour of Berlin, passing by the famous Alexanderplatz, the iconic Brandenburg Gate and Berlin Wall, a symbolic monument that portrays the division for near-on three decades and then reunion, of the city. This afternoon, you're free to explore this intriguing capital at leisure, perhaps discovering the creative lifestyles of the Berlin residents and the vibrant arts scene or savouring one of the many chic restaurants. (B)
- Included Excursion Guided tour of Berlin
Today, you'll have the opportunity to explore Berlin at your own pace. You may wish to discover more of the historic architecture and modern landmarks found in numerous places across the German capital, including the renowned, industrial heritage buildings. There are also a number of excellent museums worth visiting, including Berlin's Museum Island. Or you could immerse yourself in the popular food markets in the city's market halls, or browse the luxury shops along Kurfürstendamm, one of Berlin's most famous avenues. (B)
- DiscoverMORE Guided tour of Potsdam (extra expense)
This morning after breakfast, bid a fond farewell to your fellow guests as you'll be transferred to the airport for your onward or homebound flight, leaving Berlin with treasured memories of your enthralling city stay
This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.
Please note: Preview itinerary subject to change. (B)
Life Onboard Emerald Sun
Relax and unwind in complete comfort aboard Emerald Sun as you explore Europe's great rivers. Read more
Authentic included adventures that take you into the cultural heart of each destination. Read more
Ignite your sense of adventure and explore a little further on foot or by bike. Read more
Enjoy the finest flavours of Europe prepared by the expert culinary team aboard your river cruise. Read more
From onboard shows to local performances, there's never a dull moment during an Emerald river cruise. Read more
Deck games, a walking track and a place to relax and take in the views awaits on the sun deck. Read more
Trip Reviews (4) Most Recent 'Berlin, Majestic Rhine & Glacier Express' Reviews
Cabins were adequate, with a reasonable ensuite and over the top room service (2x daily) - sign said to reuse towels unless on floor, but this was ignored and wet towels changed every day. The bad points far outdated the good. Number one is the noise in the dining room, which was unbearable - we left one night and skipped dinner on two occasions because of the noise. Lounge was too small to hold all guests and was noisy, either from loud music or too many people, so we avoided all entertainment, except the Zittar player, who was very good. Other entertainment was quizzes of various sorts, golf putting, singing, etc -very unsophisticated. Seats in lounge were mostly uncomfortable. Lounge also had cold water on tap (still and sparkling) and basic coffee machine (using UHT milk and OK if you add a double espresso to anything). Drinks were bar prices and packages from about $20 per day per person.
Front deck was poorly furnished with old seats and not very comfortable. Pool was OK, but small (converted to cinema at night, with mostly uninteresting movies). Sun deck was closed for nearly half the cruise due to low bridges/high water levels.
Guided tours were in big groups (30 plus), so like cats being hearded around. They have gentle walking group, but no faster walking group, so saw much more walking around independently. Little time is spent at most locations (full day only in Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest), and a lot of time is spent on the boat. No day tours by bus included, unlike on other cruises. Some day trips available at extra cost, but very expensive. Active program is aimed at those who don’t exercise very often and are slow. Bike tour guides were good, but too slow eg 5 hours to do 35km. Passengers were mainly native English speakers, with most from Australia.
Information about bus returns to boat was hard to obtain unless you went on the guided tour (always told “tour guide will tell you”) and sometimes plainly wrong. People were left in Budapest for two hours on a hot day, when they had expected to be taken back to the boat after the bus tour around town. Best the tour guide could say was “get a taxi” when there was public bus that dropped you opposite the boat and was free for over 65s. No maps provided for towns (allegedly for environmental reasons, but they had paper cups in lounge), but you could get them at information centres (but not told where they were). Would definitely not do another river cruise like this.
Prices & Dates
There are currently no departures available on this cruise. Either it's the end of the season and new departures will be released shortly, or this itinerary has been changed and is not operating this season. Feel free to contact us for information about when next seasons dates will be released or click here to view general release dates for all destinations.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Emerald Cruises. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
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