Rhine & Rhone

Upon arrival in Amsterdam, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your innovative Emerald Cruises Star-Ship, where your friendly captain and crew will be waiting for your arrival.

Meals Included: Dinner

Every narrow street and gabled façade in Amsterdam tells tales of the Dutch Golden Age, a prosperous time when Dutch art was among the most acclaimed in the world.
Today, you can choose to relax during a glass top canal boat tour through Amsterdam’s elaborate UNESCO World Heritage-listed canal system, sailing through the medieval centre of the city and past Roman patrician houses.
Alternatively, embark on a guided bike tour to Waterland, passing quintessential villages, traditional windmills and flower fields.
Enjoy sailing through the countryside and on towards the Rhine River this afternoon, perhaps enjoying a drink on the Sun Deck and watching the passing scenery before joining your captain for a gala dinner.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

With a history spanning two millennia, Cologne is one of the oldest cities in Germany. Set out on an exploration of the past today, as a guided walking tour takes you through the ancient heart of the city. Your tour will conclude at Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Immerse yourself in fairytale-like surrounds today as we cruise to Koblenz, a town with a postcard-worthy backdrop of vineyards and mountain ranges. Your included walking tour of the town will unveil the twin-towered façade of the Church of Our Lady, 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.
Enjoy sailing through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rhine Gorge this afternoon, where romantic castles sit atop tree-covered canyons and half-timbered medieval villages appear as though they have been suspended in time.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, you will discover Heidelberg as your Star-Ship arrives in Mannheim this morning. The idyllic UNESCO City of Literature has inspired the likes of Mark Twain and famed British artist William Turner.
A guided tour of the town will unveil its rich history, starting at the Renaissance ruins of Heidelberg Castle, where carefully curated gardens are still peppered with serene water features, sculptures and colourful flowerbeds. Enjoy a wine tasting session before strolling down cobbled lanes in the old town to see the Church of the Holy Spirit and Heidelberg University, one of the oldest in Europe.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, dock in Kehl and be transferred by coach to the picturesque town of Strasbourg, where a medieval past is yours to discover among cobbled squares surrounded by half-timbered houses.
Your included walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town will touch on many of Strasbourg’s highlights, including the astrological signs that adorn the façade of the Maison Kammerzell and the idyllic historic scenery around Petite France. This afternoon, enjoy free time to explore Strasbourg at leisure.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, you’ll have the opportunity to visit a postcard-worthy Black Forest destination, where history is brought to life among furnished farmhouses and outbuildings. Alternatively, embark on a guided hike through the Black Forest region, weaving through the woodland and admiring the lush canopy of evergreens. 
Later, enjoy a Black Forest gateau demonstration and tasting.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, you will disembark your Star-Ship and be transferred by coach to Lyon, where your river cruising journey will continue.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Chalon-sur-Saône is known for its art and history. Today, you will have the opportunity to witness the areas architectural heritage and peaceful surrounds as you travel to the quaint village of Beaune and visit the Hospices de Beaune, originally a hospital for the poor, and now home to one of Burgundy’s most popular wine auctions.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

France’s third-largest city, Lyon is a former Roman capital, steeped in history and considered to be the gastronomic heartbeat of the country and the home of traditional Lyonnaise cuisine.
Today, enjoy a guided tour of Lyon, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière, part of the inscribed historic site of Lyon. Wander through the city and soak in its vividly illustrated history, as buildings from all time periods can be seen adorning narrow cobblestone streets. Alternatively, embark on a guided bike tour of Lyon.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The picturesque village of Tournon borders the gently meandering Rhône, dominated by a 16th-century castle that overlooks the village and a number of iconic landmarks, including a set of ancient watchtowers.
Your guided tour of the village will showcase its intangible cultural heritage, granting every opportunity for you to immerse yourself in your surroundings. Alternatively, embark on an EmeraldACTIVE hike through some of the local vineyards.
Later, a guided bike tour to Glun will showcase rural life in the French countryside.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Arrive in Viviers, a town with much Middle Age flair and home to one of France’s oldest cathedrals. Your included walking tour of Viviers will showcase some of its numerous listed monuments, along with their ornate windows and lavish façades.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Avignon has a rich history, from Celtic beginnings to being the residence of the Pope and central to the French Revolution. 
Your included walking tour of Avignon will take you past the ornate beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Palais des Papes, as well as Pont d’Avignon, an ancient stone bridge crossing the Rhône. This afternoon is yours to explore at leisure. 
This evening, return to your Star-Ship for a delightful Provençal dining experience, expertly prepared by Top Chef finalist, Fabien Morreale.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The past is yours to discover in Arles, once an important Phoenician trading port that was captured by the Romans, who peppered the city with iconic monuments. Today, your included tour of the city will showcase some of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Roman and Romanesque monuments of Arles, showcasing how the city has evolved over the centuries.
Visit the 2,000-year-old Arles Amphitheatre and follow in the footsteps of world-renowned artist, Vincent van Gogh. The rest of the day is yours to explore at leisure, perhaps stopping at a local café or returning to your Star-Ship to relax on board.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, it’s time to bid farewell to your fellow guests and disembark the ship for your transfer to Nice airport, taking memories of the idyllic French countryside and delightful cuisine 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.

Meals Included: Breakfast