Romantic Rhine Amsterdam to Mainz Cruise

Day 0 | Amsterdam, Netherlands

Everyone has an image of Amsterdam. For some, it’s small boats gliding on the canals and locals two-wheeling on bikes to and from work and, as frequently, to meet friends for drinks. For others, it’s gabled buildings leaning, seemingly precariously, over cobbled streets and cozy taverns illuminated by candles. Still others imagine tulips in bloom and the colors, both muted and vibrant, of the paintings Vermeer, Van Gogh and Rembrandt. All images are true and even more beguiling when experienced in person. Sit a spell in a convivial cafe, explore world-class museums and feel the significance of a unique history—one of a city reclaimed from the sea, rising in prestige and influence as merchants built trade and wealth, and forever known for its attics and attitudes that offered refuge from war. Narrow streets and great manses tell the story not only in images but with the aroma of appeltaart, a taste of the avant garde in newly constructed buildings and a feeling of warmth from the amiable locals.

 

Day 1 | Amsterdam, Netherlands

Everyone has an image of Amsterdam. For some, it’s small boats gliding on the canals and locals two-wheeling on bikes to and from work and, as frequently, to meet friends for drinks. For others, it’s gabled buildings leaning, seemingly precariously, over cobbled streets and cozy taverns illuminated by candles. Still others imagine tulips in bloom and the colors, both muted and vibrant, of the paintings Vermeer, Van Gogh and Rembrandt. All images are true and even more beguiling when experienced in person. Sit a spell in a convivial cafe, explore world-class museums and feel the significance of a unique history—one of a city reclaimed from the sea, rising in prestige and influence as merchants built trade and wealth, and forever known for its attics and attitudes that offered refuge from war. Narrow streets and great manses tell the story not only in images but with the aroma of appeltaart, a taste of the avant garde in newly constructed buildings and a feeling of warmth from the amiable locals.

 

Day 2 | Antwerp, Belgium

What Milan is to Italy, Antwerp is to Belgium, a historic city that is on-trend with a finger on the pulse of fashion, art and entertainment. A dynamic energy fills Antwerp’s old squares, gorgeous with cobbled centers and edged, like a cake with decorative icing, by ornate buildings. High-reaching church towers and fountains with cherubic sculptures add to the feeling of antiquity, while the port—the largest in Belgium and one of the largest in the world—brings a sense of purpose and prosperity. Surely, you associate Antwerp with diamonds. More than 70 percent of all diamonds are traded through this sparkling city, one that also shines under the light of celebrated painter Peter Paul Rubens, who lived and worked in an Italianate city manse, now a museum.

 

Day 3 | Daytime Cruising along the Rhine River & Nijmegen, Netherlands

Aboard your all-inclusive, all-suite Crystal river yacht, luxury knows no bounds. While cruising from one storied European port to the next, your day’s adventure might include a morning in the Fitness Center using state-of-the-art TechnoGym equipment, or perhaps a yoga class followed by a soothing massage. For lunch, dine on Michelin Star-level cuisine while watching the world drift slowly by. Enjoy a mid-afternoon respite on the top deck under the sun, or in cooler climes escape to your well-appointed suite and avail yourself of your attentive butler. Catch up on your reading. Watch a movie. Attend a lecture. As always aboard the World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line™, the choices are yours.

Situated alongside the Waal River near the German border, Nijmegen marries classic waterside scenery with a unique regional history, touched by war. The city’s history is more than a little impressive, as Nijmegen is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, founded more than 2,000 years ago. A smattering of Roman ruins can be seen in town, including a remnant of the old city wall and foundations of the amphitheater. Major parts of the city itself were reduced to ruins during World War II: Allied bombing in 1944 and subsequent German shelling destroyed many of Nijmegen’s old buildings. Reconstruction brought a chance to introduce new architectural styles, making today’s Nijmegen an interesting amalgam of traditional and modern.

 

Day 4 | Cologne, Germany

A scan of Cologne’s skyline offers a short-hand of a long essay of architecture, varying from the space-needle-type Rhine Tower to the avant-garde buildings along the river to the spectacular spires of the cathedral. One look at the magnificent church and you can’t help but draw a breath of amazement—the structure is enormous and intricately glorious, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Germany’s most visited landmark. Peel your eyes away from the famed Kölner Dom, as it is locally called, to discover other architectural notables, including remains of the Roman wall, a modern museum complex, the contemporary philharmonic hall, cozy beerhalls and the span of the Hohenzollern Bridge, reconstructed after the war.

 

Day 5 | Cruise Rhine to Moselle river & Cochem, Germany

If a storybook village is to be found on the Mosel River, Cochem certainly is it, with its half-timbered buildings, steep terraced slopes, lush vineyards and a picturesque castle overlooking it all. A riverside promenade allows a chance to savor the atmosphere of the fairytale come to life. Walking along, you’ll take in the beauty of the surrounding hills, sometimes laced with mist, and see bridges spanning the lazy waters of the river. Perhaps you will feel somewhat lazy yourself, reluctant to move too quickly through a town seemingly stopped in time.

 

Day 6 | Cruising the Rhine River & Koblenz, Germany & Rüdesheim, Germany

Aboard your all-inclusive, all-suite Crystal river yacht, luxury knows no bounds. While cruising from one storied European port to the next, your day’s adventure might include a morning in the Fitness Center using state-of-the-art TechnoGym equipment, or perhaps a yoga class followed by a soothing massage. For lunch, dine on Michelin Star-level cuisine while watching the world drift slowly by. Enjoy a mid-afternoon respite on the top deck under the sun, or in cooler climes escape to your well-appointed suite and avail yourself of your attentive butler. Catch up on your reading. Watch a movie. Attend a lecture. As always aboard the World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line™, the choices are yours.

Located where the Rhine and Moselle rivers and three low mountain ranges meet, Koblenz has a leg up in the scenery department. Add to that the city’s 2,000-year-old history, hilltop fortress and squares lined by classic Germanic architecture and you have a place ready made for photographs. You might start by aiming your lens at the Deutsches Eck, or German Corner, where the rivers merge around a corner of land marked by a monument to Emperor William I. Ambling along the river promenade and exploring the town’s narrow lanes, you might encounter medieval churches, flower-filled parks, sidewalk cafes and perhaps a weinstube, or wine tavern, an ideal venue for sipping dry Riesling and drinking in the atmosphere.

If Rüdesheim’s scenic location on the Rhine Gorge doesn’t sweep you off your feet, then the town’s medieval Old Town with its half-timbered buildings and narrow lanes, especially the Drosselgasse overflowing with charming shops and taverns, surely will. Still more that promises to enchant and delight is the region’s renowned Rieslings, produced here for centuries from vineyards dating to Roman times. A glass of white wine or the other local specialty, Asbach brandy, sipped amid historic surroundings can make the heart flutter, not necessarily from the effects of the spirits but from the simple beauty of one of Germany’s, if not the world’s, most romantic locales.

During the holidays, the Rüdesheim Christmas Market takes center stage. Try some deliciously made Rüdesheim Coffee, locally made with Asbach Uralt Brandy and whipped cream, exclusively offered during the season. With more that 100 kiosks and stalls offering local wares and seasonal gifts, there is much to see at this annual event—from local Rüdesheim coffee to global flavors like Finnish specialties and even Mongolian food fare.

 

Day 7 | Cruising the Rhine River & Rüdesheim, Germany & Mainz, Germany

Aboard your all-inclusive, all-suite Crystal river yacht, luxury knows no bounds. While cruising from one storied European port to the next, your day’s adventure might include a morning in the Fitness Center using state-of-the-art TechnoGym equipment, or perhaps a yoga class followed by a soothing massage. For lunch, dine on Michelin Star-level cuisine while watching the world drift slowly by. Enjoy a mid-afternoon respite on the top deck under the sun, or in cooler climes escape to your well-appointed suite and avail yourself of your attentive butler. Catch up on your reading. Watch a movie. Attend a lecture. As always aboard the World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line™, the choices are yours.

If Rüdesheim’s scenic location on the Rhine Gorge doesn’t sweep you off your feet, then the town’s medieval Old Town with its half-timbered buildings and narrow lanes, especially the Drosselgasse overflowing with charming shops and taverns, surely will. Still more that promises to enchant and delight is the region’s renowned Rieslings, produced here for centuries from vineyards dating to Roman times. A glass of white wine or the other local specialty, Asbach brandy, sipped amid historic surroundings can make the heart flutter, not necessarily from the effects of the spirits but from the simple beauty of one of Germany’s, if not the world’s, most romantic locales.

During the holidays, the Rüdesheim Christmas Market takes center stage. Try some deliciously made Rüdesheim Coffee, locally made with Asbach Uralt Brandy and whipped cream, exclusively offered during the season. With more that 100 kiosks and stalls offering local wares and seasonal gifts, there is much to see at this annual event—from local Rüdesheim coffee to global flavors like Finnish specialties and even Mongolian food fare.

With roots as a Roman outpost that helped stand guard over the empire’s far-north territory, Mainz has a rich history. Unfortunately, much of it was obliterated during the bombing of Mainz during World War II, which destroyed most of the city center. What followed, as in much of Germany after the war, was a rebuilding, here relatively slow to allow for considered city planning and the involvement of renowned architects with a vision for urban livability. Today, Mainz is livable indeed, with a pretty location at the confluence of the Rhine and Main rivers and pedestrianized areas that invite leisurely strolls and stops to sample local wines. Architectural highlights include the Romanesque cathedral and the city’s remaining half-timbered buildings. Of course, most visitors associate Mainz with its cultural treasure, an original Gutenberg Bible—one of only a few dozen remaining copies—housed at the Gutenberg Museum.

Enjoy complimentary destination focused enrichment & entertainment that include onboard lecture series helmed by renowned destination and regional affairs experts to give you exclusive insights and insider tips, sharing their vast knowledge about each fascinating port of call on your river journey to make each visit even more memorable.

Our enriching collection of Crystal Adventures® shore excursions provides just the inspiration you need to write your next story. All Crystal River Cruises™ itineraries offer a complimentary Crystal Adventures shore excursion in every port.

 

Complimentary All-Inclusive Luxuries Aboard Crystal River Cruises