Castles Along the Rhine – Basel to Arnhem

Arrive at EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg and transfer to the S.S. Emilie. Please note: Uniworld’s arrival transfers depart from the Switzerland side of the airport – be sure to exit Customs on the Switzerland side. Settle in and prepare to discover the romance of the Rhine.

Sail the scenic Upper Rhine to Breisach, your gateway to the celebrated Alsatian wine road. Join a local guide for a walking tour of enchanting Kaysersberg – birthplace of Albert Schweitzer and a storybook medieval village nestled among vineyards – and sample the local specialty Kugelhopf cake. Continue to the rainbow-hued, cobblestone streets of Eguisheim, one of the most beautiful villages in France. This evening, enjoy the Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner.

Step ashore in Strasbourg, the cross-cultural capital of Alsace and seat of the European Parliament, where French and German heritage has created one of Europe’s most distinctive cities. A panoramic tour takes you past the European Parliament and Council of Europe before a walking tour through the enchanting Old Town with its half-timbered houses, giant stork nests and irresistible pastry shops. The entire afternoon is yours to explore further at your own pace.

The Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany reveals its authentic character today through two unique local experiences. Choose between a private visit to the Doktorenhof estate – where premium wines are aged into extraordinary vinegar aperitifs in a candlelit, atmospheric tasting room – or a private tour of a restored flour mill turned collector’s sanctuary, filled with extraordinary objects from around the world and an award-winning garden.

Experience Germany’s fabled Rhine in the charming town of Rüdesheim. Choose between a private tasting of estate-grown Rieslings at the historic Castle Vollrads, where wine has been sold since 1211, or a Let’s Go hike through the famous terraced vineyards of the Weinlehrpfad Wine Trail with a glass of local Riesling along the way. This morning also brings a highlight of the cruise: sailing into the sublimely beautiful Upper Middle Rhine Valley, with its dramatic castle-studded gorge on both banks.

Arrive in Koblenz, where the Moselle meets the Rhine at the famous Deutsches Eck (German Corner). Choose between a walking tour through Old Town past ancient churches, baroque buildings and the much-loved Spitting Boy fountain, or a Let’s Go bike ride along 12.5 miles of scenic Rhine paths past the castles of Stolzenfels and Lahneck. Tonight, join the crew for the special Nights Out excursion – an after-dark visit to the dramatically preserved Marksburg Castle, the only unconquered hill castle in Germany.

Explore Cologne, the largest city on the Rhine, on a guided walking tour through its Old Town – past the old fish market, City Hall’s Renaissance façade and the cobbled, colour-washed lanes of the riverside quarter. The tour concludes at the Domplatte, the great square dominated by the UNESCO-listed Cologne Cathedral, where you can step inside to see the Shrine of the Magi and spectacular stained-glass windows. The afternoon is free to explore, shop or sample a glass of local Kölsch beer. This evening, the Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner.

Disembark in Arnhem and transfer to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol for your flight home – or extend your journey with an optional post-cruise extension to Amsterdam.