Day 1: Following your home taxi collection you will board our platinum tour coach and we will head to Kent for our short sea crossing to France. Upon our arrival we cross the border into Belgium and make our way to our overnight hotel in the Liege area, on a dinner bed & breakfast basis.
Day 2: This morning after breakfast we continue our journey through Belgium and into Germany to the city of Cologne, where we board our vessel for the next 4 nights, the A-ROSA Aqua on a premium all-inclusive basis. Lined with a bustling wide promenade and criss-crossed with bridges, your first glimpse of the mighty Rhine in Cologne is destined to be a memorable one. You will have a short amount of time to explore before we set sail at 5pm on our exciting festive Rhine cruise
Day 3: Our first port of call is Rüdesheim. Rüdesheim has one of Germany’s prettiest Christmas markets with stalls representing different nations from around the world. From the heart of the historical old town, on the Market Square through the Marktstrasse, over the Oberstrasse to the world-known Drosselgasse. You can see further stalls on Rheinstrasse, by following Drosselgasse onto the Rheinstrasse and back to the Market Square, and in this way, Rüdesheim’s Christmas Market circles the old town. The festively decorated Christmas stands provide lots of handmade arts and crafts; candles, decorations, wood figures, wood carvings, glass engravings, ‘schwibbogen’ arched candles, mangers, pewter casters and dolls. Of course, festive dishes from the region and the famous mulled wine will also be available. We depart the city at 4pm and cruise towards Mainz. With 2,000 years of history, Mainz is not just one of the oldest cities in Germany – it is also a place where you can see history come alive wherever you turn.
Day 4: This morning we arrive in the historic city of Frankfurt where you will have time to explore and visit its popular Christmas Market. Frankfurt itself is the largest financial centre in Europe and is often called ‘Mainhattan’ due to it being a high-powered finance and business hub on the banks of the Main River. Frankfurt is also home to one of the world’s largest stock exchanges and its airport is the third largest in Europe. Despite all of this, the centre of Frankfurt is charming and traditional, with half-timbered buildings and cosy taverns.
During this time of year, Frankfurt hosts one of the loveliest Christmas markets in Germany. The elaborately decorated stalls, huddled around the Römerberg and St. Pauls Square make this a Christmas experience you’ll never forget.
Day 5: Departing Frankfurt in the early hours, as you wake you will be cruising the Middle Rhine Valley. With vine-clad slopes, palaces and castles scattered across hills, and villages nestled along the riverbanks, it is clear why this area was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002. This stretch of the river is also where you’ll find what is perhaps the most famous slate rock in the world: the Lorelei. We arrive into the city of Koblenz early evening.
Day 6: Your festive cruise on the Rhine comes to an end in Cologne. Here we re-join our coach for the journey back to France for our crossing back to Kent. Upon our arrival we continue our journey back to Norfolk arriving late evening where our door to door taxi service will be waiting to take you home.
Holiday Information:
5 Nights
Tour Reference: ARO002
Deposit Required: £380pp
Balance Due: 13 weeks prior to departure
Please note: deposit is non refundable/transferable unless cancelled by Eastons
Prices:
Outer Cabin - £1145pp (based on two people sharing a double cabin)
Outer Cabin - £1294pp (based on single occupancy of a double cabin)
Deck 2 - Balcony Cabin - £1270pp (based on two people sharing a double cabin)
Deck 2 - Balcony Cabin - £1456pp (based on single occupancy of a double cabin)
Deck 3 - Balcony Cabin - £1311 (based on two people sharing a double cabin)
Deck 3 - Balcony Cabin - £1510 (based on single occupancy of a double cabin)
Please note: These cruise holidays cannot be booked through a travel agent