MV Serenade I
Spacious cabinsThe cabins are amongst the largest of any river cruiser, at 16m². We want you to feel at home so we’ve included plenty of storage space and individually controlled air-conditioning to keep the temperature just how you like it. The twin beds are hotel standard and there is a pretty seating area for relaxation. All cabins have flat-screen satellite TV, phone, fridge, tea and coffee making facilities, safe and a hairdrier. The en suite bathrooms have a separate shower, bath and WC. Cabins are non-smoking but you can smoke on deck. There is a gym and sauna on board for you to enjoy at your leisure.
On the upper two decks all cabins have floor-to-ceiling sliding French windows for a great view or cooling breeze. On the lower deck there’s a smaller fixed window.
Especially reservedSome cabins are especially reserved for sole occupancy, while others have been adapted for wheelchair access. To make life easy, all but the bottom deck are accessible by lift or stair-lift and just a few steps lead you to the large partially covered sun deck.
DAY 1 UK – Cologne
Fly from a choice of airports to Dusseldorf and transfer to Serenade I, moored in Cologne.
DAY 2 Koblenz
We depart Cologne in the early hours sailing towards Koblenz which we reach in the early afternoon. It is one of Germany’s oldest and most beautifully restored cities and is renowned for its quaint winding streets, romantic little squares, noble mansions and ancient churches. Above the city is the fascinating Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, first built around AD900. There is an optional afternoon walking tour of this intriguing city.
DAY 3 Bernkastel
Leaving Koblenz behind us, we head down the Moselle valley towards one of the most beautiful wine towns in the region, Bernkastel. At the heart of the town is the pretty market square, filled with quaint half–timbered, colour washed houses with steeped gabled roofs. You will have plenty of free time to explore this exquisite old town.
DAY 4 Bernkastel & Cochem
The ship cruises towards Cochem, but before departing Bernkastel in the morning, you have the chance of taking an optional coach excursion to the ancient Roman town of Trier (please note the coach will rejoin the ship at Cochem). Once the region's Roman capital and founded around 15BC, there are many fascinating monuments remaining here, including the ampitheatre, baths and the famous fortified gates of Porta Nigra. Trier’s cathedral also dates from roman times and houses a garment believed to have belonged to Jesus Christ.
We arrive in Cochem mid afternoon, and have another chance for an optional excursion with an afternoon wine tasting at a local cellar or visit the mighty Reichsburg Castle that towers above this picturesque town and affords magnificent views of the surrounding countryside. This is one of the most famous castles on the Moselle. We leave Cochem for a short cruise to the pretty wine village of Alken where we spend the night.
DAY 5 Rudesheim
We leave Alken before breakfast and cruise towards the Rhine. Experience one of the scenic highlights of this cruise, as we pass through the magnificent Rhine Gorge, past vine-clad slopes and the striking castles of the former mediaeval robber barons, before arriving in the pretty wine town of Rudesheim. There is an optional trip to the charming Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum, where you can step back to the early days of recorded sound.
DAY 6 Mannheim & Speyer
Today we set sail from Rudesheim before breakfast and arrive later this morning in the once small fishing village and now delightful city of Mannheim. There’s a marvellous optional trip to the beautiful city of Heidelberg, set majestically on the banks of the Neckar and surrounded by lush hillsides.
The ship continues on to Speyer arriving mid-afternoon. Founded over 2,000 years ago as a roman infantry camp, the city now boasts colourful baroque and rococo buildings along the Maximilianstrasse, the Main Street. The magnificent romanesque cathedral contains tombs of the holy roman emperors. We moor here overnight.
DAY 7 Strasbourg
We leave Speyer in the early hours to arrive in Strasbourg after lunch. There is a free transfer into the centre or join our optional tour of this historic city, where you will discover the city's canals, rivers and elegant buildings. Try a refreshing drink in one of the café bars or perhaps visit the Gothic Cathedral of Notre-Dame with its soaring spires.
DAY 8 Basel
We set sail from Strasbroug in the early hours and arrive early afternoon at Basel, one of Switzerland’s wealthiest cities. There’s a fascinating optional trip to the capital of the Black Forest, Freiburg, an historic university town with its mediaeval architecture, merchants’ houses and impressive sandstone church.
DAY 9 Basel
Today there is an opportunity to join a spectacular full-day excursion to the stunning Bernese Oberland. Travelling through spectacular Alpine regions, the area is best known for the three peaks – The Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. Take in views of sparkling waterfalls, small traditional villages and lush valleys before rejoining the ship in Basel.
DAY 10 Basel – UK
We disembark in Basel after breakfast for the transfer to Zurich airport for the return flight home.