One of the longest and most varied river cruises in Europe. From the canals of Amsterdam we sail up the Rhine past Cologne and through the Romantic Rhine to Koblenz and Frankfurt. From here we follow the Main through Franconia with its wine towns, half-timbered houses and baroque residences, and via the Main-Danube Canal we cross the European watershed before reaching the Danube. The cruise ends with Passau, the abbey at Melk, the beautiful Wachau Valley and finally Vienna. Three countries, four waterways and plenty of time on board to watch Europe glide by.
Highlights
- Amsterdam, Cologne and the Romantic Rhine
- The Main Valley towns of Miltenberg, Wertheim and Würzburg
- Bamberg and Nuremberg in Franconia
- The Main-Danube Canal across the European watershed
- Passau, Melk, the Wachau and Vienna
- 15-day river cruise on MS Leonora with all meals on board
Itinerary
Day 1Embarkation, Amsterdam
After you arrive on MS Leonora, the ship's cruise manager welcomes you in the lounge and goes through safety procedures and practical information. Overnight in Amsterdam.
Day 2Amsterdam
A full day in Amsterdam with its canals, narrow gabled houses and old quarters. See the city from the water on a canal cruise, or explore on your own. At 22:00 we sail towards Germany.
Day 3Arnhem
We arrive in Arnhem at 06:30 and stay until 15:30. The city is known for the Battle of Arnhem in 1944, and in nearby Oosterbeek the Airborne Museum tells the story of Operation Market Garden. Arnhem also has a pleasant centre with a pedestrian street and shops.
Day 4Cologne
We arrive in Cologne at 09:00 and stay until 21:30. The great cathedral is the city's landmark, and the old town along the Rhine offers charming streets and beer halls where you can try a glass of Kölsch.
Day 5Koblenz and the Romantic Rhine
We arrive in Koblenz at 07:00. The morning can be spent in the old town and at the Deutsches Eck, where the Moselle joins the Rhine. At 13:30 we sail on through the Romantic Rhine, where vineyards and castles line the river, and pass the Lorelei rock.
Day 6Frankfurt
Early in the morning we reach Frankfurt, where the ship stays until 13:30. The city is known for its skyline but also has an old town around the Römerberg square. In the afternoon we sail onto the Main and through the first of many locks.
Day 7Miltenberg and Wertheim
The morning is spent in Miltenberg, one of the most beautiful small towns in the Main Valley, with half-timbered houses and a castle above the town. At 11:00 we sail on, arriving in Wertheim at 15:30. The town lies where the Tauber joins the Main, with a large castle ruin above the old town. We sail on at 21:30.
Day 8Würzburg
The morning is spent on board as we sail through the vineyards of the Main Valley. We arrive in Würzburg at 14:00. The city is known for its baroque Residence, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and for the Old Main Bridge with its statues of saints and views of Marienberg Fortress. We sail on at 21:30.
Day 9Schweinfurt
We arrive in Schweinfurt at 11:30. The afternoon is free in the town, which is known, among other things, for the Museum Georg Schäfer art museum. At 18:00 we sail on.
Day 10Bamberg
We arrive in Bamberg during the night and stay until 14:00. The old town with its cathedral, the old town hall standing in the middle of the river and its many narrow streets is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town is also known for its smoked beer, Rauchbier.
Day 11Nuremberg
A full day in Nuremberg until 18:00. The Imperial Castle towers over the old town, and within the city walls you will find churches, squares and old half-timbered houses. In the evening we sail onto the Main-Danube Canal.
Day 12The Main-Danube Canal and Kelheim
In the morning we sail through the Altmühl Valley and arrive in Kelheim at 11:00. The Befreiungshalle stands above the town, and a little upstream the Danube narrows between high limestone cliffs at Weltenburg Abbey. At 17:00 we sail on along the Danube, passing Regensburg in the evening.
Day 13Passau
We arrive in Passau at 08:30 and stay until 15:00. The city lies where the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers meet, and St Stephen's Cathedral has one of the largest church organs in the world. In the afternoon we sail into Austria.
Day 14Melk, the Wachau and Vienna
Early in the morning we arrive in Melk, where the great baroque abbey stands high above the Danube. At 11:30 we sail through the Wachau Valley with its vineyards, castle ruins and small wine villages, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We arrive in Vienna at 18:00.
Day 15Vienna
Disembarkation in Vienna at around 09:00. Our river cruise across Europe comes to an end.
Please note: Sailing times are approximate and may change due to water levels, weather, locks or other conditions.
What is included?
Included
- 15 days / 14 nights on MS Leonora
- English-speaking staff on board
- All meals and selected drinks
- Entertainment on board
- All cabins are outside cabins with window, shower/toilet, hairdryer and air conditioning
- Port and passenger fees
Not included
- Most drinks on board
- Drinks package – available to purchase
- Excursions
- Transport to and from the ship
- Service charge, €8 per person per day
Prices and dates come straight from our booking system and are always up to date. We are happy to help with transfers, excursions and flights – just ask in your enquiry.
