Castles along the Rhine with Uniworld

Enjoy included UK airport lounge access before your flight to Amsterdam. On arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to your Uniworld ship. Check in and relax in your river-view stateroom or suite before heading to the restaurant for the first of your included meals, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients. Afterwards, perhaps enjoy a drink at the bar before retiring for the night as you sail towards Cologne.

Stay: S.S. Elisabeth, S.S. Antoinette or S.S. Victoria

Arriving in Cologne this morning, you’ll disembark for a guided tour of the Old Town. Take in the three medieval gates, which guard the historic centre, marvel at the Renaissance splendour of the city hall, explore the fish market and visit the old Jewish mikvah, a bath used for ritual cleansing. You’ll also have free time to discover the maze of atmospheric lanes and alleyways, flanked by historic houses and a seemingly endless array of breweries, returning to the ship this evening for a special Captain’s welcome reception and dinner.

Stay: S.S. Elisabeth, S.S. Antoinette or S.S. Victoria

Today sees you dock in pretty Koblenz whose rich history will be brought to life on an immersive tour of its medieval castle. Joining an expert guide, you’ll be introduced to its 700-year history as you enter via a drawbridge gate and vaulted tunnel, one of many defensive features you’ll see as you explore. Further highlights can be found in the cannons of the Great Battery, once aimed at the Rhine River, and the castle kitchen with its enormous fireplace. You’ll also tour the bedchamber, the great banquet hall, the armoury, stables and even the torture chamber. Don’t miss the re-created medieval garden, host to some 150 plants.

Stay: S.S. Elisabeth, S.S. Antoinette or S.S. Victoria

Experience the Rhine at its picturesque best as you explore beautiful Rüdesheim and its surrounds. Today’s highlight is a visit to Castle Vollrads, with its 14th-century moat and tower. During your visit, you’ll be treated to a private tasting of the estate’s famed Rieslings. Accompanied by a local wine expert, you’ll have the chance to sample three wines in three different locations. Otherwise, join a vineyard hike, a leisurely walk among Rüdesheim’s vineyards, which follows the riverbank before cutting up through the Weinlehrpfad Wine Trail.

Stay: S.S. Elisabeth, S.S. Antoinette or S.S. Victoria

Docking in Germersheim, you’ll spend today in and around the town of Speyer, named for the four red towers of the Romanesque cathedral, which dominates the Old Town. A choice of three excursions will introduce you to the region’s diverse highlights. For a different tale on the Palatinate wine region, there’s the opportunity to visit the Weinessiggut Doktorenhof estate where you’ll enjoy a special vinegar tasting, with produce made from aged premium wines such as Pinot Noir and Gewürztraminer and flavoured with herbs and fruits. Otherwise, drive out into the nearby forest to visit an old flour mill, which has been transformed into a beautiful little sanctuary by the owner. Still used as a grain store, you’ll enjoy a sample of the bread which is still made here. Lastly, petrol heads rejoice on a tour of the Hockenheim Formula 1 racetrack.

Stay: S.S. Elisabeth, S.S. Antoinette or S.S. Victoria

Today, you’ll join a local expert for an insightful tour of Strasbourg a historic town of cobbled lanes, half-timbered homes, giant stork nests, and tempting pastry shops. Get a glimpse of Strasbourg's grand political history as you drive by the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, home to the European Court of Human Rights. Then get a feel for the city’s cultural on a walking tour through its enchanting streets. There’s also the opportunity to explore at your own pace, perhaps on a bike ride or walk along the riverbank.

Stay: S.S. Elisabeth, S.S. Antoinette or S.S. Victoria

Breisach is the gateway to the Alsatian wine road and the starting point for an excursion along the Route des Vins, which traces the foothills of the Vosges mountains. Join a local guide for an hour-long walking tour past storybook houses and a 12th-century Gothic cathedral, pausing to taste Alsatian specialty, Kugelhopf, a yeast-based cake baked in a circular, Bundt mould. You’ll then head on to Eguishem, passing everything from pretty wineries to castle ruins and quaint villages. This evening, back on board, you’ll end your cruise with a Captain’s farewell reception and dinner, the perfect end to the holiday.

Stay: S.S. Elisabeth, S.S. Antoinette or S.S. Victoria

Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for your flight home.