Radiant Rhine with Floriade Expo 2022

Netherlands (Amsterdam, Arnhem), Germany (Cologne, Koblenz, Mannheim, Mainz) and France (Strasbourg)

Highlights:

  • One hour cruise through Amsterdam’s fabled canals
  • Tour of merchant’s homes, 19th century farmhouses & more will take you to explore their ‘way of life’
  • Experience Floriade Expo 2022, a horitcultural exposition held once every 10 years that features many attractions, tasting sessions, cultural events, exhibitions and much more
  • Welcome & Captain’s farewell dinner with drinks

8 Sightseeing Tours Included:

  • AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND: Cruise through the canals & walking tour and explore the elaborate exhibitions at Floriade Expo
  • ARNHEM, HOLLAND: Tour through Dutch history at the Open Air Museum
  • COLOGNE, GERMANY: City center tour including the famous Dom Cathedral
  • KOBLENZ, GERMANY: Walking tour of Old Town includes the Monument of Emperor Wilhelm I & the Schängel Fountain
  • RUDESHEIM, GERMANY: Stroll cobblestone streets lined with timber houses
  • HEIDELBERG, GERMANY: Tour of this university town & its castle ruins
  • STRASBOURG, GERMANY: Bus & walking tour includes Palace de la Republique, Orangerie, and Cathédrale de Nôtre Dame

Included Features:

  • Accommodations in river-view cabin category of your choice
  • 1 night accommodation with breakfast at a first class hotel
  • A total of 21 meals (8 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners)
  • Free flowing house wine, beer, soft drinks for dinner daily
  • 1 bottled water in cabins replenished daily
  • Captain’s welcome cocktail and farewell dinner
  • Total of 8 included sightseeing tours with local English speaking guides, entrance fees and transportation
  • Services of professional English speaking  Cruise Director throughout
  • Audio units included on all tours and excursions
  • New and enhanced safety protocols applied to all sailings 

Not Included:

  • International airfare (can be priced separately)
  • Port fees and cruise fuel surcharges (listed separately in Pricing & Departures)
  • Transfers if purchasing Cruise Only (must be arranged and paid for in advance)
  • Any travel and document fees including Visa requirements
  • Optional tours as outlined in itinerary (minimum number of people required to operate)
  • Costs of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone, liquor, souvenirs, etc.
  • Tips to Crew, Cruise Directors, local guides and other staff along the route (suggested Tipping amounts will be advised)
  • Any increases in costs due to unforeseen circumstances such as: additional fuel surcharges, exchange rates or Government imposed taxes and fees not known at this time
  • Travel Insurance (strongly recommended)

Click here to see our full terms and conditions.

Day 0 FLY USA – NETHERLANDS (0)

Services as per airline policy.

Day 1 AMSTERDAM, Holland  overnight (D)

WELCOME TO THE NETHERLANDS!Transfer to your first class hotel. Due to various arrival times no meals or activities are planned. However, with a rich cultural life, a wide range of entertainment, and an excellent public transport system, Amsterdam has managed to retain its small-town feel and is easy to explore on your own.

Day 2 AMSTERDAM – FLORIADE EXPO
Ship Check-in after 4:00 PM (B, D)

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and depart on your excursion to Almere, (35 km from Amsterdam) home to the 2022 Floriade! Held once every 10 years, Floriade is the world’s largest expo of horticulture, featuring exhibits from 40 different countries. Themed displays, live entertainment and culinary treats add to the festivities! After the tour and free time to explore on your own, return to Amsterdam to board your floating hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Day 3 AMSTERDAM Walking Tour & Canal Cruise – Set sail 11:00 PM (B, L, D)

Your morning sightseeing will begin with a one hour cruise through Amsterdam’s fabled canals followed by a walking tour of the city center featuring Dam Square, Anne Frank’s House (outside), Museum Square, the Flower market and other attractions! Tonight, a welcome cocktail and crew introduction will precede dinner.

Day 4 ARNHEM 6:00 – 14:00 (B, L, D)

North of the port lies one of the biggest attractions of the Netherlands, the Open Air Museum of Arnhem. Here, completely reconstructed historical monuments are manned by volunteers who will immerse you into the life of the past. This included tour will take you back to a setting of merchant’s homes, 19th century farmhouses and mills of the golden age with samples of life on the farms, fields, factories, wine taverns, and shops.  The people, dressed in authentic costumes and settings, will regale you with stories about their “way of life” and maybe serve you a cup of coffee or a pint of beer in ‘the good old way’. A lively and humorous presentation of old Dutch customs and habits. Sail on to Cologne.

Day 5 COLOGNE, Germany 8:00 – 21:30  (B, L, D)

WELCOME TO THE GERMANY! Your included walking tour of this fabulous city, will feature the Hey Market, Festival Halls, Town Hall, Jewish Baths, Old Market, and famous Dom, the remarkable Gothic cathedral whose construction began in 1248 and was only completed in 1880! Return to the ship for lunch. The balance of the day is free for optional tours and activities. 

Day 6 KOBLENZ: 7:00 – 13:00          RUEDESHEIM: 19:00 – 3:00 (B, L, D)

Koblenz: Enjoy a delightful morning walking tour of the Old Town including St. Castor’s Basilica, the Monument of Emperor Wilhelm I and the town’s landmark, the “Schängel” Fountain. After dinner on board, you may want to take a leisurely stroll through Rudesheim this ancient town of timber houses and cobblestone streets dating from the 1500 hundreds!

Day 7 MANNHEIM 12:30 – 18:30 (B, L, D)

Located on the confluence of the Rhine and Neckar rivers, and home to Mercedes Benz and many other major corporations, the city is the launching point for our included excursion to Heidelberg, one of the oldest and most famous university towns of Germany, Heidelberg is also one of the country’s most endearing small cities, famous for its historical baroque center, spirited student atmosphere, beautiful riverside setting and ancient bridge crossing the Neckar River. The impressive hilltop castle is home to the largest wine barrel in the world, holding over 220.000 liters of wine!  Return to the ship for dinner.

Day 8 STRASBOURG (port of Kehl) 9:00 – 19:00 (B)

WELCOME TO FRANCE! Your morning bus/walking tour of this UNESCO’s World Heritage site will begin with a drive by the Palace de la Republique, Orangerie, EU Parilament, and Cathédrale de Nôtre Dame. This will be followed by a walking tour, offering unique views of half-timbered houses and impressive European institutions. Lunch will be served at a typical French restaurant followed by free time to explore on your own or return to the ship to prepare for the Captain’s Farewell Dinner!

Day 9 MAINZ, Germany Disembarkation 09:00 (B)

As all good things must come to an end, after breakfast, bid your crew goodbye and disembark with a suitcase full of memories! (Services end with breakfast)

Floriade Expo 2022

Floriade, an international horticultural exposition is held just once every 10 years in the Netherlands! In 2022 the event will be held between April 14 and October 9, 2022 in the Dutch city of Almere, just 35 km from Amsterdam, making it accessible to river cruisers and visitors alike.

For those who think this is simply a boring collection of flowers and shrubbery, think again: Floriade Expo is elaborate, featuring attractions, tasting sessions, arts, cultural events, conferences, workshops, exhibitions, and gardens throughout the site all of which will revolve around four central themes: Green the City, Feed the City, Healthy the City, and Energize the City.

What’s more, over 40 countries are scheduled to participate in this celebration of green. National pavilions will present plants, flowers and cultural offerings from their home countries, along with local innovations and solutions. The exposition will even have its own cable car offering a birds-eye view of the entire Floriade park.

Whether you are a horticulture enthusiast or not, this once in a decade attraction, included in all of our 2022 Rhine cruise itineraries is sure to enhance and elevate your overall experience into a truly memorable one! Welcome aboard!

Not Included:

  • International airfare (can be priced separately)
  • Port fees and cruise fuel surcharges (listed separately in Pricing & Departures)
  • Transfers if purchasing Cruise Only (must be arranged and paid for in advance)
  • Any travel and document fees including Visa requirements
  • Optional tours as outlined in itinerary (minimum number of people required to operate)
  • Costs of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone, liquor, souvenirs, etc.
  • Tips to Crew, Cruise Directors, local guides and other staff along the route (suggested Tipping amounts will be advised)
  • Any increases in costs due to unforeseen circumstances such as: additional fuel surcharges, exchange rates or Government imposed taxes and fees not known at this time
  • Travel Insurance (strongly recommended)

Click here to see our full terms and conditions.

Optional Excursions

This walking tour will introduce you to the beer that the locals drink, Kolsch.  Sip on the brew and munch on some finger food as you learn about the history of the Kolsch company and its role in the city of Cologne. The tour includes 3 Kolsch per person and 2 portions of finger food.  There is a minimum of 10 passengers needed for the tour to run and a maximum of 30.

Included Excursions

With a rich cultural life and a wide range of entertainment, Amsterdam is a full-scale city, which has managed to retain its small-town feel. Your walking tour of the city center will introduce you to highlights such as the open market place, Dam Square, the Central Station, Anne Frank’s House (outside)*, and the unique medieval houses built along the vast system of canals that criss-cross the city! The afternoon is free to explore further on your own or take one of the optional excursions to either the Keukenhof Tulip gardens or the Zaanse Schans Windmills.

**Keukenhof Gardens will be open from 20 March through 9 of May 2021

North of the port lies one of the biggest attractions of the Netherlands, the Open Air Museum of Arnhem. Here, completely reconstructed historical monuments are manned by volunteers who will immerse you into the life of the past. This included tour will take you back to a setting of merchant’s houses, 19th century farmhouses and mills of the golden age with samples of life on the farms, fields, factories, wine taverns, and shops. The people, dressed in authentic costumes and settings, will regale you with stories about their “way of life” and maybe serve you a cup of coffee or a pint of beer in ‘the good old way’. A lively and humorous presentation of old Dutch customs and habits.
PLEASE NOTE: This stop replaces Worms and is available only on the downstream AMS-MAINZ sailings.

With a history of almost 2000 years, Cologne (Köln) is the one of the largest and oldest metropolitan cities of Germany. You will be awestruck by the majestic cathedral, the Cologne Dom, one of the largest in Europe and the most important landmark of Cologne. The physical appearance of modern Cologne belies its ancient heritage. Allied bombing during World War II destroyed some 90 percent of the town; therefore, much of what you see was rebuilt in the 1950s and 1960s. Our expert guide will give you a tour of the city and relate to you the history and sights of Cologne’s storied past dating back to the first century B.C. when the Romans founded Colonia Agrippensis.

Koblenz is very happily situated at the meeting point of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, surrounded by four low hills. The town is 2,000 years old, founded by the Romans around a castle in the year 9 BC. Since then a series of invading armies and royalty – Prussians, French, Germans, Franks – have claimed Koblenz and built fortresses and castles galore. It also boasts a town center of cozy lanes and narrow alleys, historic buildings and unique cultural monuments. If it’s history, fairytales and beauty you want, Koblenz may well be what you’re looking for. The section of the Rhine between Koblenz and Mainz offers vistas of steep vineyard-covered mountains punctuated by scores of castles. It is really rather magical.

Heidelberg is a pedestrian-friendly city-especially in the Altstadt, or Old Town, where your explorations are likely to begin. The Altstadt is a long, narrow strip of medieval cityscape on the south bank of the Neckar River. Most sights are within a block or two of the Hauptstrasse or Main Street, which runs-with an occasional name change-from the department stores of the Bismarkplatz to the Karlstor at the eastern end of town. The churches, especially the Gothic Heiliggeistkirche on the Marktplatz (with its built-in market stalls) the Jesuitkirche, and the Peterskirche (Heidelberg’s second-oldest church, dating back to 1316) are just gorgeous. Schloss Heidelberg is a highlight: It’s on a hill behind the Altstadt, which you can reach on foot (via winding streets or paths) or with the Heidelberger Bergbahn, which runs to the castle and on up to the Königstuhl with its long-distance views, falconry center, children’s fairy-tale park, and other attractions. The Schloss is a pleasant combination of ruins, restored rooms, a massive wine vat, viewing terraces, an excellent pharmacy museum, and even a wedding chapel that attracts vast numbers of international couples.

DISCLAIMER: All optional excursions are shown for information and planning purposes. They are subject to change do to holidays, attraction black-out dates or other reasons. Some, if not all optional excursions may require a minimum number of participants to operate. Prices are quoted in Euros. Final list of availability and costs will be confirmed upon arrival to your vessels at the initial information meeting.

 

M/S Crucevita

This elegant, luxurious, boutique style vessel, the M/S Crucevita was designed in an old world grand yacht style. Superb public areas, accented in oak and leather, include a panorama restaurant, cozy bar and lounge, a fire-place, a gym, sauna, library, and sun deck! The cabins area spacious 14 sq m (150 sq ft) and are fitted with beds that are stowed away during the day to create extra space to relax. All cabins include air-conditioning/heating that can be regulated individually, a multi-channel satellite TV with remote control, a mini safety deposit box, a telephone and a hair dryer. The luxury bathroom contains a toilet, enclosed shower, and a stylish wash basin. Cabins on Main deck have panorama windows while cabins on the upper Promenade deck will have new French balconies (renovation scheduled for 2019 winter-season) The decks are interconnected by a regular elevator suitable to carry up to 4 persons. The Sun Deck is accessible from the Promenade Deck by an outside chair lift. Maximum capacity 110 passengers serviced by a young and vivacious crew of 36. Non-smoking interiors. Currency: Euro

Cabins

Category A: Upper Promenade Deck with French Balcony 14 m2 (150 sq ft) 

  • Located on the Promenade Deck
  • Floor to ceiling windows with French Balconies
  • Spacious cabins with fitted beds that can be stowed away for more space to relax on the 2 comfortable chair
  • Private bathroom with glass-enclosed shower and hair dryers
  • Choice of bath amenities with bath towels
  • Efficient closet space
  • Sitting area with table
  • Individually controlled air conditioning and heating system
  • Flat-screen TV offering several European & International channels
  • Internal telephone
  • PIN-coded safe

 

 

Category B: Main Deck with Panorama Windows (windows do not open), 14 m2 (150 sq ft) 
  • Located on the Main Deck
  • Panorama window to ensure a great ocean view
  • Spacious cabins with fitted beds that can be stowed away for more space to relax on the 2 comfortable chair
  • Private bathroom with glass-enclosed shower and hair dryers
  • Choice of bath amenities with bath towels
  • Efficient closet space
  • Sitting area with table
  • Individually controlled air conditioning and heating system
  • Flat-screen TV offering several European & International channels
  • Internal telephone
  • PIN-coded safe
Category C: Main Deck, 14 m2 (150 sq ft) 
  • Located on the Main Deck
  • Spacious cabins with fitted beds that can be stowed away for more space to relax on the 2 comfortable chair
  • Private bathroom with glass-enclosed shower and hair dryers
  • Choice of bath amenities with bath towels
  • Efficient closet space
  • Sitting area with table
  • Individually controlled air conditioning and heating system
  • Flat-screen TV offering several European & International channels
  • Internal telephone
  • PIN-coded safe

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Download the detailed list of Travel Tips For Radiant Rhine Cruise.

FAQ's

No. Visas are not required for US citizens traveling on this program.

If you have purchased your air tickets through us, your transfers will be included. However, transfers are still available for those who would like to arrange their own airfare, for a fee. For more information about transfer rates for this program, please call our office at (714) 556-8258 or toll free (800) 795-1633.

M/S Crucevita.

This elegant, luxurious, boutique style vessel, the M/S Crucevita was designed in an old world grand yacht style. Superb public areas, accented in oak and leather, include a panorama restaurant, cozy bar and lounge, a fire-place, a gym, sauna, library, and sun deck! The cabins area spacious 14 sq m (150 sq ft) and are fitted with beds that are stowed away during the day to create extra space to relax. All cabins include air-conditioning/heating that can be regulated individually, a multi-channel satellite TV with remote control, a mini safety deposit box, a telephone and a hair dryer. The luxury bathroom contains a toilet, enclosed shower, and a stylish wash basin. Cabins on Main deck have panorama windows while cabins on the upper Promenade deck will have new French balconies (renovation scheduled for 2019 winter-season) The decks are interconnected by a regular elevator suitable to carry up to 4 persons. The Sun Deck is accessible from the Promenade Deck by an outside chair lift. Maximum capacity 110 passengers serviced by a young and vivacious crew of 36. Non-smoking interiors. Currency: Euro

There are no telephone lines for outgoing calls on our vessels. Communication from ship to shore can only be done through the Captain’s radio. However, you may bring your US cell phone to use – just please make sure it is “unlocked” by your US provider in order to use it. Wi-Fi is available for a fee and computers are provided near the bar. The service is free, but the level of signal may vary depending on sailing itinerary and location of ports.

For the rate of exchange to the US dollar, please check online a few days prior to your departure as some of these currencies fluctuate daily. Due to varying foreign currency laws, our ships do NOT have exchange offices on board. Therefore, we highly recommend that you BRING A SUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF EUROS OR DOLLARS in CASH prior to your departure. You will then have ample opportunity to change either Euro/dollar to local currencies.

While on board the ship, all costs are quoted in Euros. Direct payments are accepted in cash (Euros) or signed to your cabin and paid at the end of the navigation by cash or credit card (Visa or MasterCard only). However, a service may be applied to credit card transactions. Personal and Traveler Checks are not accepted.

Due to strict foreign currency laws, here are important notes regarding on shore expenses:
Cash: is accepted and preferred. (Euros & USD)
Credit Cards: are accepted, VISA OR MASTERCARD ONLY! (Limited use outside of urban areas.)
*Credit Card Note: As of May 2014, European credit card processors require credit cards with chips and a 4-digit PIN code. Your USA magnetic strip cards may NOT work at local ATM’s requiring a PIN. Ask your bank for a chip card and/or bring along a debit card with your PIN (or enough cash to cover your expenses!)

Although everyone is different, we suggest that you set aside at least 700 Euros/$1000 USD per person – to cover your optional tours and shopping expenses. If you are planning on purchasing more expensive items you may want to bring more.

Yes, a number of optional excursions will be offered for sale during your cruise. These optional services are priced in Euros. They may be signed to your cabin and paid at the end of the cruise with cash or via Visa or Matercard.

Special meal requests are possible. If you have any food allergies or special dietary needs, please be sure to notify our office at least 90 days prior to your departure. We and the restaurant staff will make every effort to arrange for special meals, however, if you have strict dietary restrictions, you may want to bring some non-perishable snacks, crackers, dried fruits, dietary sweeteners, or other items that will compliment the limited variety of special meals.

For a complete list of suggested items to bring, please read our detailed Tips on Tulip and Rhine Cruises. But here are a few important items that often get overlooked!

Electrical current in hotels and on the ship is 220 volts/50MHZ. In order to use appliances, including shavers, hair-dryers, chargers for movie cameras, etc., you will need to bring:
1) Universal Transformer: to convert from US 110 Volts to 220. (Note: recent electronic equipment such as laptops and cameras MAY automatically convert. Please check your individual item.)
2) Universal Adapter Plugs: Round pins for sockets that are different than at home. Since there are no supplies of converters/ adapters, we recommend you purchase a transformer/ adapter plug set at any electronics or appliance store before you leave.

PLEASE DO NOT FORGET: Medications which are vital to your health. A letter should accompany these from your doctor (signed and dated), certifying that such medications are vital to your health. Dosage should be indicated. Always pack any personal medications in your carry-on luggage, not in your checked baggage. Additionally, those passengers with lighter physical disabilities must report them to us at the time of booking.