Roses of the Rhine

Explore further

Itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1 London to Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

   Fly by scheduled flight. On arrival transfer to the MS River Crown. Moor overnight.

2. 2

   Day 2 Rotterdam.

   This morning, we depart for The Hague for a visit to the Rose Garden in Westbroek Park. The park was created during the 1920s according to a design by Pieter Westbroek. The rose garden contains approximately 20,000 rose bushes and more than 300 varieties of roses. Afterwards continue on to Delft, birthplace of Vermeer. We will have lunch in a local restaurant on arrival followed by a walking tour of this pretty town and a visit to see the Delft Blue Pottery.

3. 3

   Day 3 Coenhaven for Amsterdam.

   After breakfast, we will depart for a canal cruise to admire Amsterdam from a glass-top boat as you glide past 17th century homes, churches and 16th century merchant houses. Afterwards, we visit the Rijksmuseum, arguably Amsterdam's most important art venue. Housing some of the greatest examples of Western European painting and decorative arts, it boasts works by Vermeer, Goya, and Rubens. Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure and this evening join your fellow travellers for a special concert of music by a string quartet.

4. 4

   Day 4 Arnhem.

   After breakfast join a morning tour to the De Wiersse Castle which is surrounded by 38 acres of garden and 74 acres of landscape park and has been lived in and managed by the family since 1678. This beautiful historic garden features avenues and pergolas, fountains and statues, meadows and bridges over a gently flowing stream. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy a leisurely afternoon on board sailing towards Cologne.

5. 5

   Day 5 Cologne, Germany.

   This morning, we depart for a tour to see Cologne's famous cathedral which is the largest Gothic church in northern Europe with the second tallest spire and largest façade in the world. Return to the ship for lunch and a leisurely afternoon. Moor overnight.

6. 6

   Day 6 Cologne & Bonn.

   After breakfast there will be a choice of excursions. Depart on a tour to visit the Botanic Gardens which were established in the 19th century and are an extensive complex of gardens home to more than 10,000 species of plants. Alternatively, visit the Japanese Gardens in Leverkusen. These stunning gardens have 15,000 square metres of rare plants from many different parts of East Asia along with enchanting sculptures, ornate lanterns and arched gates. Return to the MS River Crown for lunch and sail to Bonn where our afternoon walking tour will include a visit to Beethoven's House and will finish with a concert by pianist Martin Ivanov in the adjacent hall.

7. 7

   Day 7 Koblenz & The Rhine Gorge.

   We arrive in Koblenz this morning for a walking tour of this historic commercial centre that sits on the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers. Back on board the MS River Crown this afternoon we will cruise along the romantic Rhine. Enjoy the magnificent scenery including the Rhine Gorge with its striking hilltop castles and the legendary Lorelei Rock. Arrive in Rudesheim this evening.

8. 8

   Day 8 Eltville & Rudesheim.

   After breakfast, join a tour to the rose garden in Eltville Castle. The gardens were founded in 1979 and boast over 350 different types of roses including climbing roses which grow up to 35 feet high. We will also see the delightful display of Japanese roses. At the height of the summer more than 10,000 roses bloom in the gardens and in 1988 the town of Eltville was nominated a “Rose Town” by the Association of German Friends of Roses. However, Eltville is famous not just for its roses but also for its Sekt (high class sparkling wine). We will enjoy a tasting before returning to the ship for lunch during which we will sail on to Rudesheim. On arrival join the Winzerexpress mini train to visit Siegfried's Musical Instrument Museum, home to one of Germany's most fascinating collections of automated musical instruments.

9. 9

   Day 9 Mainz.

   This morning, we visit the charming village of Steinfurth for the famous rose garden and museum. Steinfurth is the oldest rose village in Germany; in the district of Bad Nauheim roses have been cultivated for more than 150 years and shipped all over the world. The permanent exhibition “Rosy Times” tells of this tradition and of the art and cultural history of the rose in the Rose Museum. This afternoon we visit the rose garden in Mainz. The garden was founded in 1825 as part of a rose exhibition and was extended considerably in 1935 for another important rose exhibition. Now there are more than 100 different types of roses to be seen. Return to the ship for lunch and this afternoon enjoy a guided walking tour of atmospheric Mainz which will include the Hoefchen (“Little Court”), residence of the city's archbishops until the 15th century, the Kirschgarten with its romantic half-timbered houses and Marian-Fountain. Our tour will end with a visit to the Johannes Gutenberg Museum. This evening, enjoy a string quartet concert on board before dinner.

10. 10

    Day 10 Speyer & Heidelberg.

    This morning, join a walking tour of Speyer which will include the mighty cathedral; the Romanesque Basilica was founded by Emperor Conrad II in 1030 and is one of the largest and most impressive edifices in Germany. After lunch, we visit nearby Heidelberg where we have the afternoon to enjoy this most picturesque and romantic of German cities which is home to Germany's oldest university, dating back to 1386. Our tour will include the castle, a dramatically sited red sandstone ruin that dominates the city, the old town with its famous marketplace and the city gates.

11. 11

    Day 11 Baden-Baden.

    After breakfast, we will drive inland to the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden. This elegant Belle-Epoque resort is one of Germany's best kept secrets. The spa assembly rooms and famous casino form the focal point of the town, both architecturally and socially. The old quarter is full of charming houses, exclusive boutiques and cafés and is fully pedestrianised. After a guided tour there will be some free time to wander around this remarkable town which somehow manages to retain its old-world charm and yet be very much of the 21st century. Return to the ship for lunch and spend a relaxing afternoon sailing towards Strasbourg.

12. 12

    Day 12 Strasbourg, France.

    After breakfast, our guided tour will introduce us to the delights of Strasbourg. Start with a cruise through the fascinating old quarter of Petite France where the River Ill splits into a number of canals. We will see the Ponts Couverts, a series of wooden bridges dating back to the 13th century, the Place Gutenberg and the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the tallest Medieval building in Europe. Return to the MS River Crown for lunch and this afternoon join the tour to Alsace which will include a tasting of some of the region's splendid wines.

13. 13

    Day 13 Breisach, Germany.

    This morning, we arrive in Breisach, gateway to the Black Forest. After breakfast we will travel to Freiburg for a walking tour of this vibrant city. Explore the cobblestone streets, the spectacular Munster with its 116-metre tall tower and see its ‘Bächle', or miniature canals, which were once used to supply water for drinking. After our tour, we make our way through the lovely Höllen Valley to the famous resort of Titisee-Neustadt, where we will enjoy delicious Black Forest gateau before returning to the ship for lunch. This afternoon relax on board whilst we sail through the countryside of Alsace toward Switzerland.

14. 14

    Day 14 Basle, Switzerland.

    This morning, our excursion will take us to the old market square, with its brightly painted Town Hall, and along Minster Hill past many handsome 18th century houses to the Minster with its slender twin spires. The oldest part of the building dates from between the 9th and 13th centuries, although much was rebuilt in the Gothic style after the 1356 earthquake. Return to the MS River Crown for lunch and this afternoon enjoy a visit to the Landhuis Ettenbuehl Garden. The Seidel family first considered their garden to be a hobby but soon their interest in roses became so keen that they began to collect roses on a large scale. Now there are several themed gardens in a delightful historically English style but the most important is the rose garden with over 10,000 flowers. This evening join your fellow travellers for farewell drinks and dinner on board.

15. 15

    Day 15 Basle to London.

    Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.

Meet your Experts

A distinguished team of guest lecturers, expedition leaders and specialist hosts will be travelling with you on selected departures — enriching your voyage with their insight, expertise and company.

Rosemary Legrand

Rosemary is a former nursery owner and daughter of the late George Hyde, who was a hybridist of azaleas and rhododendrons. Many of his award-winning hybrid plants can be seen at the Royal Horticultural Society's gardens at Wisley, Surrey, the de Rothschild rhododendron gardens at Exbury, Hampshire, and the National Trust Gardens at Kingston Lacy in Dorset.

The Ship

River Crown

Deck plan

Expand deck plan

Departures & pricing

Videos