The mighty river Rhine is the symbol of Germany. She is born in the distant Alps, in Switzerland. It flows into the North Sea near Amsterdam. But it is the German banks of the Rhine that are included in the UNESCO List as a natural and man-made heritage of mankind.
What does this mean? That not only steep cliffs, cliffs and terraces enchant travelers along the banks of the Rhine. They are literally studded with ancient castles and picturesque vineyards. Every turn in the river opens up new views. And it is best to contemplate them from the board of a comfortable motor ship.
And to learn interesting stories about the castles and surroundings, you should go on a Rhine cruise with a Russian-speaking group. You can start your journey from distant Basel, where the river becomes navigable, and complete it in Amsterdam. Or do the same road, but in the opposite direction, rising to the headwaters of the Rhine.
But it is possible to do only a fragment of a long journey, for example, from Cologne to Koblenz. In this article we will talk about the various travel offers on thisbeautiful river.
What travelers need to know
The Rhine never freezes, so the navigation period on the river is all year round. Of course, during the cruise you want to take a walk on the open deck of the ship and even, if possible, sunbathe in the solarium. For this reason alone, prices depend on the time of year.
They are highest in the summer months, as well as in the period from the common Christian Christmas (25.12) and the New Year. Rhine cruise prices drop in winter and late autumn. The price of cruises directly depends on the route.
To prevent passengers from choosing the path from point A to point B, companies organizing round trips along the river provide stops in the opposite direction at other ports. It is possible to swim not only along the Rhine, but also along its major tributaries - the Main and the Moselle.
The water arteries of Europe are interconnected by canal systems. Therefore, cruise river liners can start their journey in Budapest or Bucharest, on the Danube, and complete it at the mouth of the Rhine, in Amsterdam. The price of the cruise also depends on the comfort of the vessel, the services on board and, of course, on the class of the chosen cabin.
River day trips
In addition to huge liners, many tourist boats run along the Rhine, on board of which you can also make an exciting journey. Their route is designed in such a way as to make a circle in a day. After all, there are no passenger cabins on board such ships.
But otherwise the ships are quite comfortable. They have an open deck andspacious lounge with panoramic windows. There is a chic restaurant on board. On some ships you can take an audio guide, including in Russian. Tourists describe such Rhine cruises on a boat as an excellent opportunity to get to know small German towns, such as Urpel or Linz.
After all, large liners can only moor in specially equipped ports. Thus, their passengers can only see medieval castles, but not visit them. Travelers recommend taking tourist boats upriver, for example, from Bonn to the legendary Lorelei rock.
Throughout the year, in different coastal cities, the “Rhine in Lights” holidays are held. The best way to watch the illuminations and fireworks is from aboard a smartly decorated flotilla.
Short cruises
Do you consider a tourist ship as a solid floating facility? Do you want to fall asleep at least a few nights and wake up to the splash of river waves? Then you should go on a full cruise.
This could be a segment of some grand voyage. For example, from Düsseldorf to Amsterdam or from Strasbourg to Basel. But if you want to return from sailing to the starting point of the trip, then you need to choose the appropriate Rhine cruise.
From Cologne depart comfortable liners "Alina" and "Amelia", marked with five anchors, which corresponds to the level of service "5 stars". They follow south to Koblenz and then turn back. The whole tour laststhree days (two nights).
The price of the cruise includes full board on board and access to the entertainment infrastructure. At the moment, you can book tours only for November, and even then the “suites” have already been sold before the end of the year.
During the low season, a cabin with a non-opening porthole on the lower deck costs 209 euros (15,120 rubles), and with a balcony - 319 (23,136 rubles). In the pre-New Year period, prices increase, respectively, to 280 Є (20,380 rubles) and 350 euros (25,385 rubles).
Traveling as part of a Russian-speaking group
During a cruise on the great river Rhine, you can not only see, but also hear a lot of interesting things. It will be a pity if all this information about the history of medieval castles or the ancient legends of the Nibelungs passes by your ears, because you do not know English or German.
Such tourists should look for appropriate cruises on the Rhine. Russian groups set off on a 4-day trip from Strasbourg (France) aboard the Leonardo de Vinci liner. The Gastronomic Adventure tour starts on October 30th. Passengers make stops at Reino, Alt Breisach, Markolsheim (Germany) and arrive back in Strasbourg.
The word "Gastronomic" in the title of the tour suggests that the emphasis on the journey is on savoring French cheeses, Rhine wine and Moselle wine. Such a cruise costs from 61,640 rubles per person.
It is possible to choose another route with Russian-speaking groups, lasting six days, a week, from eight to 28 days. Let's take a closer look at them.
Circular routes for 6-7 days
There is nothing better than celebrating the New Year on board a cruise ship. The Russian group sets off on December 30, 2018 aboard the same Leonardo de Vinci. The New Year's Magic Rhine Cruise starts and ends in Amsterdam, Holland.
Passengers during the tour will get acquainted with the sights of Cologne, see the charming medieval castles rising on both banks of the Rhine - from Bonn to Koblenz.
The liner will make stops in Rüdesheim and Cochen, and will enter the Moselle wine-growing valley. On the way back, passengers will visit Düsseldorf. And such a cruise is worth it if you book it in advance, from 60 and a half thousand rubles.
Rhine cruise on the Allemania
All liners that make tours provide their passengers with high-class service. Some ships have a swimming pool, while others have saunas. And of course, there are restaurants and bars everywhere. River multi-deck liners are floating hotels with the All Inclusive program on board.
Guests are entertained by the program of animators. Motor ship "Alemania" has a heated swimming pool, a sauna, a cinema, and a library. In addition, the aft promenade deck of this vessel is fully glazed.
This allows you to enjoy the views of the Rhine even in wet, rainy and windy weather. And this feature of the ship is very relevant. After all, a tour for the New Year is intended for the Russian-speaking group. Alemannia departs from Dusseldorf on the evening of December 27.
Stopsprovided for in Koblenz, Mannheim, Strasbourg, Speyer, Mainz, Boppard, Bonn and Cologne. The ship returns to Düsseldorf on 3 January. The tour program also includes a bus excursion to the Neckar valley, to the glorious city of Heidelberg.
The price of the cruise includes a New Year's menu, three meals a day, a welcome cocktail, a captain's dinner, access to the pool, gym and other infrastructure on board.
Non-circular 8 day trip
On the same ship "Alemannia" a cruise on the Rhine can be made (though not as part of a Russian-speaking group) from Amsterdam to Basel. The whole trip lasts 8 days (7 nights). Along the way, the liner makes stops in Cologne, Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Mannheim, Speyer and Strasbourg.
Cabins on Alemannia 3 are divided into two classes. "Standards" with an area of 12 square meters are located on the lower and upper decks. In the first category - a non-opening porthole window. The standard double room on the upper deck has a large window.
Junior suites, which are located on the "Upper Desk" (24 sqm), are equipped with French balcony windows. All rooms have air conditioning with individual remote control, TV, telephone, bathroom, hair dryer. For guests of the "suites" filled mini-bars are provided. The cost of such a tour starts from 67 thousand rubles.
Mosel Tours
We have already mentioned that during cruises on the Rhine you can get acquainted with other navigable tributaries of the river. Comfortable vessel "A-Rosa Flora" invitestake an exciting 6-day trip through the Moselle and Main.
The Fairy Tale of Europe cruise starts from Cologne and arrives there. Passengers travel up the Rhine to Koblenz, and then along the Moselle and Main to Frankfurt, making stops along the way in Rüdesheim and Strasbourg. Prices for such a tour differ depending on the season.
You can still book a summer cruise. Cabins on the lower deck with a porthole will cost 1,200 euros (87,000 rubles). Suites with balconies for the summer are already sold out. In the low season (November), you can book an economy class room for 750 euros (54,395 rubles), a cabin with a balcony for a thousand, and a suite for 1,350 euros (98,000 rubles).
North
Rhine river cruises can be made not only in the upper reaches of the river. If you dream of getting to know the Benelux countries, you can book a tour to the mouth. They are regularly made from Cologne by the A-Rosa firm. Her ship, the Silva 4, explores the lower Rhine in great detail.
The liner floats along the branches of the river, and enters Horn, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Ghent, Terneuzen, Antwerp and Nijmegen. Such a cruise lasts 8 days and costs from 91,050 rubles per person.
A cheaper tour is offered by the same company on its A-Rosa Aqua 4 liner. It lasts 6 days and costs from 55,500 rubles in the low season, and from 77,800 rubles in the high season.
A-Rosa Aqua, on its journey through Northern Europe, calls at the ports of Antwerp, Amsterdam and Dusseldorf.
Rhine and Danube cruises
For Russian tourists who want to enjoyriver holidays in full, grand tours are offered, lasting more than one week. On June 20, the Trans-European Passage cruise starts from Vienna.
This 11-day trip will allow passengers on the River Navigator to see Passau, Regensburg, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Würzburg, Miltenberg and Mainz. The journey ends in Strasbourg.
It is possible to continue the journey aboard this ship and take an extra week to Amsterdam, bypassing the ports of Speyer, Mainz, Rüdesheim, Koblenz and Cologne.
Mega grand tours
See several European countries at once with 21- or 28-day cruises along the great rivers and stunning canals. On June 10, a Russian group leaves Bucharest aboard the River Navigator.
For three weeks of travel (and 236 thousand rubles), passengers will see Vidin and Belgrade, Iron Gates and Novi Sad, Budapest and Osijek, Bratislava and Vienna, Passau and Regensburg, as well as Nuremberg, Würzburg, Bamberg, Miltenberg, Mainz and Strasbourg.
Those who find this not enough can pay 80,000 rubles extra and continue their journey to Amsterdam. Such cruises on the Rhine reviews characterize as an unforgettable tour of a lifetime. Not a single passenger regretted the money spent on a long trip.
