Sponsored by Uniworld
From the moment Jo Burton stepped onboard Uniworld’s SS Elisabeth in Basel, she felt so comfortable and relaxed, she knew she was in for an amazing time.
And what a holiday it was.
“It was an exceptional experience,” she said. “I simply adored the cruise – the food was amazing, the service was great and the excursions were very good,” said Jo. “It was also my first holiday without my husband, who passed away five years ago.”
Her trip included flights plus pre-and-post hotel stays which she said were excellent and lovely.
Jo was the winner of the River Cruise Collective’s Uniworld competition, and decided to trade in her eight-day Venice cruise prize and pay extra to explore the Rhine from Basel to Amsterdam, a part of Europe she had been longing to visit.
The avid traveller, who had never tried a river cruise before, said the service and experience was exceptional – so much so, that she and friend and travel companion, Janice Hamilton are already in the throes of planning their next Uniworld river cruise.
“I was very impressed with the hotels we stayed in – they were amazingly good,” said the retired, former bank manager.
“I am also very picky about my food. I don’t eat tomatoes but I found the food onboard Uniworld very, very good. Evening meals were such a treat, as it was like dining in a five-star restaurant, with amazing service and exceptional food. I loved it.
“The excursions were very well organised and catered for both the slow and fast walker. There was always something for everyone. I love visiting churches, castles and walking on cobbled streets and I was blown away by the tour to the secret garden. There was nothing like this I have ever experienced before. I loved the beautiful buildings of Strasbourg and the art galleries of Speyer. I also loved Amsterdam and wished I had an extra day as there was so much to see.
“Our cabin was lovely and it was such a joy to watch the changing scenery passing by including castles, vineyards and beautiful scenes as we sailed along the Rhine.”
Table of Contents
Overview of Castles along the Rhine
When you cruise along the Rhine, there’s Germany on one side and France on the other. It’s your chance to discover Alsace whose dual German and French heritage has given the region its fabulous food and a winemaking tradition that dates back to the Romans. You will also marvel at the castles hugging the riverbanks as your ship glides down the river. Just make sure that you visit the Rheinstein Castle – it’s a bucket-list destination.
Day 1: Basel (Embark)
When you arrive at the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, you will be met by a Uniworld representative and be transferred to your Uniworld ship. Make sure you go through the Switzerland side at Customs – not the France side.
Once you have checked-in, you can then settle down to acquaint yourself with the ship and unpack your bags in your suite.
Day 2: Breisach
Enjoy your free time as you sail the scenic Upper Rhine to Breisach, the gateway to the Alsatian wine road and the start of your excursion on the celebrated Route des Vins which hugs the foothills of the Vosges mountain range. When you visit the Alsatian town of Kayersberg, you will enjoy the company of a local family to share fun stories about the town’s history and culture.
Make sure you taste the local favourite – a delicious, traditional yeast-based Bundt cake, called Gugelhupf. It is baked in a circular, Bundt mould. The town, with medieval houses and a gorgeous Gothic cathedral, is so pretty that it is regularly ranked amongst the most beautiful in France. This evening there’s the Captain’s welcome reception and dinner for all guests.
Day 3: Kehl (Strasbourg)
The best way of exploring Strasbourg is to go on walking tour of this historic town, with its half-timbered homes and impossible-to-resist chocolate and pastry shops. Make sure you taste pralines and macarons – no doubt the best in the world. You will get a feel for the history and culture of this Alsatian town when you visit Strasbourg impressive Cathedral, a fine example of French Gothic architecture.
You may even be tempted to climb 332 steps to the top for a panoramic view of the town. Keep a look-out for the half-timbered buildings when you stroll down La Petite France, a charming neighbourhood in the historic quarter. If you are feeling more adventurous, you can jump on Uniworld bicycles and explore the banks of the river.
Day 4: Mannheim (Speyer)
Mannheim is a city in southwest Germany and is best known as the “city of Inventions” where the automobile, bicycle and tractor were developed. The city is also headquarters of major corporations such as Roche, IBM, Siemens and Unilever.
Visit the baroque,18th-century Mannheim Palace which houses reference documents and photos. Today the palace is part of the University of Mannheim. You can also drive out to the forest for a private tour of an old flour mill. The owner, an avid world traveller, has transformed the mill into an award-winning secret garden and sanctuary – and you will be able to sample the delicious bread, the mill still produces.
Day 5: Rudesheim, Braubach
The little village of Braubach has retained its medieval charm with the careful upkeep of its historic monuments where you can go for a leisurely stroll through its idyllic streets. In the evening, you can visit the fortress of Marksburg which looks as though it has been lifted straight out of the pages of a fairytale book. Enter the 700-year-old fortress through its drawbridge and vaulted tunnel. Your Uniworld Guides will show you the cannons, castle kitchen and enormous fireplace.
You will also visit the great banquet hall, the bedchamber and even torture chamber. For wine lovers, there’s a refreshing walk through a vineyard in Rudesheim. Kicking off with a walk by the river, then winding your way past the markets and up the wine trail. Relish a glass of locally made Riesling.
Day 6: Braubach, Koblenz
The historic town of Koblenz is where the waters of the Moselle River meet the Rhine. You can go for a walking tour and enjoy the Marktplatz (Market Square) with its myriad wine bars and beautiful shops. For the more active guests, you can hop on a Uniworld bicycle and follow your guide along the scenic paths which wind their way through the Rhine promenade in Koblenz.
You can then head to the castles for great views of Marksburg, before stopping by a charming fishing village of Spay. You can stop at a local beer garden before cycling along the Rhine Cycle Path back to your Uniworld ship.
Day 7: Cologne
History lovers will be enchanted by this historic town. Here you can walk through medieval gates to the city’s historical centre and take in its charming atmosphere, narrow alleyways flanked by old houses and numerous breweries. You will walk past the old fish market and old Jewish mikvah (a bath used for ritual cleansing). Wander through the narrow, cobbled streets of the Old Town lined with traditional houses and a plethora of restaurants and pubs.
You will find Cologne Cathedral at the square called Domplatte. Go inside this Gothic building and admire the beautiful, stained windows. Cologne is the largest city on the Rhine.
Back onboard, all guests will be invited to the Captain’s farewell reception and dinner.
Day 8: Amsterdam (Disembark)
All great holidays have to end and today you disembark. For those not heading for the airport, the best way to explore Amsterdam, is by foot. For the more adventurous, you can also hire a bicycle but beware, there are plenty of cyclists on its narrow cobbled streets.
The capital of the Netherlands is known for its canals, narrow houses with gabled facades and museums such as the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum. You should also go on a canal cruise where you will be able to see the city’s famous landmarks. Stop for coffee at a buzzy café and people-watch.
What’s Included
When you sail with Uniworld, all meals are included. There’s also unlimited beverages onboard including wine, beer, spirits, mineral water and specialty coffee/tea. There’s free WiFi and all staterooms are lavishly appointed with Egyptian cotton sheets and a pillow menu. Gratuities are included as well as group transfers to and from airports on arrival and departure days, if you have booked your airfares with Uniworld.
Six days of shore excursions accompanied by English-speaking local guides are included and you will taken to view four UNESCO World Heritage sites. There are free bicycles onboard which you can choose to explore on your own or on a guided tour.
View the full itinerary on Uniworld’s website HERE.
For more information visit Uniworld.com/au, or contact your preferred Travel Agent or call Uniworld at 1300 370 792
