Overview
Immerse yourself in the lush beauty of Düsseldorf’s’ Japanese Garden, where exotic blooms and serene ponds offer a tranquil oasis read more from the bustling city. Relish your cruise through the spellbinding, UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rhine Gorge, before stepping back in time at Schwetzingen Palace, wandering through manicured gardens adorned with ornate fountains and ancient statues. With each stop of this enthralling voyage, indulge in the rich history and natural splendour of Europe, creating memories to last a lifetime.
Immerse yourself in the lush beauty of Düsseldorf’s’ Japanese Garden, where exotic blooms and serene ponds offer a tranquil oasis read more from the bustling city. Relish your cruise through the spellbinding, UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rhine Gorge, before stepping back in time at Schwetzingen Palace, wandering through manicured gardens adorned with ornate fountains and ancient statues. With each stop of this enthralling voyage, indulge in the rich history and natural splendour of Europe, creating memories to last a lifetime.
Itinerary
Welcome to Amsterdam. Here, you will be met at the airport by your friendly Emerald Cruises representative and transferred to your contemporary Star-Ship, where a quintessentially Dutch adventure awaits. (D)
This morning you’ll visit the iconic Keukenhof Gardens, boasting 32 hectares of spring-flowering bulbs. This scenic area is infused with delightful aromas and a swathe of vibrant colours. Soak in the sights of tulips, hyacinths, and orchids of every colour, creating an expertly arranged pattern of beauty. You will also have the opportunity to see statues commissioned by world-renowned artists, each adopting the annual theme.
Enjoy sailing through the countryside and towards the Rhine River this afternoon, and join an exclusive EmeraldPLUS very typical clog painting on board your star-ship. (B/L/D)
- Included Excursion Visit to Keukenhof Gardens
- EmeraldPLUS Clog painting on board
In the morning, explore the vibrant city of Duesseldorf. Immerse yourself in the serene beauty of the Japanese gardens, a tranquil oasis amidst the urban landscape. After lunch, we continue sailing on the Rhine River which will take you to Cologne and up close to its post card worthy gothic Cathedral. Here you will have the opportunity to join an active walk in town, with a stop in the beautiful Cologne gardens. (B/L/D)
- Included Excursion Walking tour of Duesseldorf with visit to the Japanese Garden
- Included Excursion Guided tour of Cologne
- EmeraldACTIVE Active walk to Cologne’s Gardens
- DiscoverMORE German Beer Experience (extra expense)
Once a Roman stronghold desired for its strategic value, Koblenz is now a city with a unique blend of historic and contemporary architecture. Today, join your local guide for an insightful walking tour of Koblenz, passing examples of architecture that survived the war years, including the Church of Our Lady. You will also have the chance to see the point at which two of Europe’s great rivers meet at the German Corner and Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, one of the largest preserved fortresses in Europe. Later, we'll cruise through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rhine Gorge, exemplifying the extraordinary beauty of an area that left the philosophers and artists of the German Romanticism movement entranced. (B/L/D)
- Included Excursion Orientation walk of Koblenz
- DiscoverMORE A Moselle Valley & Cochem Castle visit (extra expense)
Schwetzingen Palace is famous for the beauty and harmony of its gardens. Remarkably, the original design survives to this day. Besides the palace interior, you will also visit the Palace Gardens, a cultural heritage site of European significance with more than 100 sculptures scattered throughout this picture-perfect landscape. Alternatively, you can embark on an active journey to the quaint wellness town of Bad-Dürkheim for a hike through the beautiful vineyards. (B/L/D)
- EmeraldPLUS Visit to Schwetzingen Palace & Gardens
- EmeraldACTIVE Guided vineyard hike in Bad-Dürkheim
- DiscoverMORE Guided tour of Heidelberg (extra expense)
Today, we arrive in Kehl, where you'll be transferred to Strasbourg, a city that promises much in the way of beautiful architecture. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Neustadt district is particularly iconic, perfectly encapsulating the Rhineland. The Neustadt district is yours to discover during your included tour, as is the Maison Kammerzell, a prime example of German Renaissance architecture. Paying homage to the region’s artistic past, Petite France is an exceptional historic quarter that looks as though it has been pulled directly from an artist’s easel. (B/L/D)
- Included Excursion Guided tour of Strasbourg
- EmeraldACTIVE Active walk to Orangerie Park
- DiscoverMORE Baden Baden Spa Experience (extra expense)
Today discover the enchanting city of Freiburg, nestled amidst the Black Forest. Explore its historic center, lined with colorful half-timbered houses and a vibrant market square. Wander through the picturesque botanical garden, showcasing a diverse array of flora. For a more active experience, choose an exhilarating bike tour around Breisach, a charming medieval town with stunning views of the Rhine River. Immerse yourself in the natural beauty and cultural richness of this captivating region. (B/L/D)
- Included Excursion Freiburg visit with Botanical Garden
- EmeraldACTIVE Guided bike tour in Breisach
- DiscoverMORE Guided tour of Colmar (extra expense)
Welcome to Switzerland. Basel graces the banks of the Rhine River and is known for its high concentration of museums, showcasing everything from contemporary art to scientific achievements. After breakfast, it’s time to bid farewell to your Star-Ship and fellow guests as you transfer to the airport, taking memories infused with vibrant tulip gardens with you.
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 book your flight to depart out of Zurich after 11:30 AM. (B)
Welcome to Amsterdam. Here, you will be met at the airport by your friendly Emerald Cruises representative and transferred to your contemporary Star-Ship, where a quintessentially Dutch adventure awaits. (D)
This morning you’ll visit the iconic Keukenhof Gardens, boasting 32 hectares of spring-flowering bulbs. This scenic area is infused with delightful aromas and a swathe of vibrant colours. Soak in the sights of tulips, hyacinths, and orchids of every colour, creating an expertly arranged pattern of beauty. You will also have the opportunity to see statues commissioned by world-renowned artists, each adopting the annual theme.
Enjoy sailing through the countryside and towards the Rhine River this afternoon, and join an exclusive EmeraldPLUS very typical clog painting on board your star-ship. (B/L/D)
- Included Excursion Visit to Keukenhof Gardens
- EmeraldPLUS Clog painting on board
In the morning, explore the vibrant city of Duesseldorf. Immerse yourself in the serene beauty of the Japanese gardens, a tranquil oasis amidst the urban landscape. After lunch, we continue sailing on the Rhine River which will take you to Cologne and up close to its post card worthy gothic Cathedral. Here you will have the opportunity to join an active walk in town, with a stop in the beautiful Cologne gardens. (B/L/D)
- Included Excursion Walking tour of Duesseldorf with visit to the Japanese Garden
- Included Excursion Guided tour of Cologne
- EmeraldACTIVE Active walk to Cologne’s Gardens
- DiscoverMORE Cologne beer experience (extra expense)
Once a Roman stronghold desired for its strategic value, Koblenz is now a city with a unique blend of historic and contemporary architecture. Today, join your local guide for an insightful walking tour of Koblenz, passing examples of architecture that survived the war years, including the Church of Our Lady. You will also have the chance to see the point at which two of Europe’s great rivers meet at the German Corner and Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, one of the largest preserved fortresses in Europe. Later, we'll cruise through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rhine Gorge, exemplifying the extraordinary beauty of an area that left the philosophers and artists of the German Romanticism movement entranced. (B/L/D)
- Included Excursion Orientation walk of Koblenz
- DiscoverMORE A Moselle Valley & Cochem Castle visit (extra expense)
Schwetzingen Palace is famous for the beauty and harmony of its gardens. Remarkably, the original design survives to this day. Besides the palace interior, you will also visit the Palace Gardens, a cultural heritage site of European significance with more than 100 sculptures scattered throughout this picture-perfect landscape. Alternatively, you can embark on an active journey to the quaint wellness town of Bad-Dürkheim for a hike through the beautiful vineyards. (B/L/D)
- EmeraldPLUS Visit to Schwetzingen Palace & Gardens
- EmeraldACTIVE Guided vineyard hike in Bad-Dürkheim
- DiscoverMORE Guided tour of Heidelberg (extra expense)
Today, we arrive in Kehl, where you'll be transferred to Strasbourg, a city that promises much in the way of beautiful architecture. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Neustadt district is particularly iconic, perfectly encapsulating the Rhineland. The Neustadt district is yours to discover during your included tour, as is the Maison Kammerzell, a prime example of German Renaissance architecture. Paying homage to the region’s artistic past, Petite France is an exceptional historic quarter that looks as though it has been pulled directly from an artist’s easel. (B/L/D)
- Included Excursion Guided tour of Strasbourg
- EmeraldACTIVE Active walk to Orangerie Park
- DiscoverMORE Baden Baden Spa Experience (extra expense)
Today discover the enchanting city of Freiburg, nestled amidst the Black Forest. Explore its historic center, lined with colorful half-timbered houses and a vibrant market square. Wander through the picturesque botanical garden, showcasing a diverse array of flora. For a more active experience, choose an exhilarating bike tour around Breisach, a charming medieval town with stunning views of the Rhine River. Immerse yourself in the natural beauty and cultural richness of this captivating region. (B/L/D)
- Included Excursion Freiburg visit with Botanical Garden
- EmeraldACTIVE Guided bike tour in Breisach
- DiscoverMORE Guided tour of Colmar (extra expense)
Welcome to Switzerland. Basel graces the banks of the Rhine River and is known for its high concentration of museums, showcasing everything from contemporary art to scientific achievements.
After breakfast, it’s time to bid farewell to your Star-Ship and fellow guests as you transfer to the airport, taking memories infused with vibrant tulip gardens with you.
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. (B)
Life Onboard Emerald Destiny
Float along Europe's most famous waterways in relaxed luxury aboard one of Emerald Cruises Star-Ships. 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
Choose from a range of suites to find the accommodation you will love on board your Emerald Star-Ship. Read more
Trip Reviews (4) Most Recent 'Tulips & the Rhine' 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.
Dates & Pricing
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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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