New Year on the Rhine River Cruise - MS Emily Brontë
6days from
£1,749*per person
Overview
6 days - River Cruises
Celebrate the New Year in style on this unforgettable Rhine cruise, where the river mirrors the enchanting winter scenery - inviting you to reflect on the year gone by and embrace the one ahead.
From the splendour of Cologne through the legendary Rhine Gorge to magical Rüdesheim and historic Koblenz, immerse yourself in the majesty of one of Europe’s most romantic rivers at this special time of year. Enjoy time at leisure to explore charming Rüdesheim, including a visit to Siegfried’s fascinating Mechanical Music Cabinet, before discovering either historic Mainz or dynamic Frankfurt. Explore Koblenz and magnificent Cologne, while making the most of our superior on-board facilities. Delight in a captivating folklore show, then savour our spectacular New Year’s Eve gala dinner. Afterwards, enjoy a classical music concert on board before welcoming the New Year. Begin the year with a leisurely brunch as the celebrations continue.
Itinerary
- Arrival in Cologne - Arrive in Cologne and board your ship in the late afternoon. If you're here before then, enjoy free time in Cologne – whose skyline is dominated by the twin spires of its magnificent cathedral. The dedicated English-speaking crew welcomes you on board and helps you to your cabin. After settling into your spacious and tastefully furnished accommodation, there’s time to familiarise yourself with this splendid ship.
- Rhine Gorge & Rüdesheim - As you wake to a sumptuous breakfast, the delights of the Rhine begin to emerge as we proceed upstream past the first rolling hills of the Rhine Valley. Journeying further you explore the most famous of all the rivers’ reaches and a real highlight of the cruise, the dramatic Rhine Gorge: steep vineyards give way to almost vertical outcrops towering above the sweeping valley sides of this wintry landscape. Sailing past many ruined castles, there’s a real sense of the myths surrounding this historic river coming alive around you. The river twists and turns towards the famous Loreley Rock, where legend has it, unsuspecting sailors were lured to their deaths by enchanting maidens. After lunch we moor in Rüdesheim, a classic Rhine wine village with crooked houses sloping down from wooded hillsides. If you imagine a typical Rhine town, then this would be it. Spend the afternoon exploring Rüdesheim at your own pace, with time to wander its charming streets and soak up the festive atmosphere. Witness the bustling marketplace, the half-timbered Klunkhardshof and Brömserburg Castle, which dates from 1275. As daylight fades, we'll visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet for a fascinating tour of its remarkable collection of self-playing musical instruments, from delicate music boxes to magnificent orchestrions. Then enjoy some more free time to make your own discoveries. Perhaps indulge in a warming Rüdesheim coffee with its fortifying shot of locally distilled Asbach brandy and a dollop of whipped cream. After cocktails and another superb dinner prepared by your chef, enjoy an entertaining folklore show in the inviting ambience of the ship’s lounge.
- Mainz - Enjoy a leisurely morning sailing from Rüdesheim to Mainz, with time to relax on board. Take in the glorious river views of this spectacular landscape at such a magical time of year before another delicious lunch is served in the ship’s restaurant. This afternoon, join a guided tour of this historic city, wandering the atmospheric streets of the old town past timber-framed houses, historic squares and centuries of heritage. See Saint Stephen’s Church, renowned for its striking blue stained-glass windows designed by Marc Chagall, before enjoying free time to explore further. Admire the magnificent six-towered Cathedral of St Martin, browse the lively marketplace or settle into a traditional wine tavern to sample the local vintages. Nestled in the heart of Germany’s wine-growing region, Mainz offers a delightful blend of history, culture and Rhineland charm. Personalise your holiday - Guided tour of the Gutenberg Museum Duration: 1.5hrs Price: £11pp (2026) & £12pp (2027) €13pp (2026) & €14pp (2027) $14pp (2026) & $16pp (2027) Join our guide for a tour of the Gutenberg Museum, dedicated to Johannes Gutenberg, a native of Mainz, who invented printing with movable metal type over 500 years ago! It houses a reconstruction of his workshop and, outstandingly, two original 1455 Gutenberg Bibles. Founded in 1900 by Mainz citizens, the museum highlights the history of letterpress printing through technical tools, typesetting machines, and printing presses. As a "World Museum for the Art of Printing," it features sections on the origins of printing in East Asia, scripts from the Islamic world, and the development of manuscripts. Other displays cover the history of printing presses, bookbinding, fine press techniques, and the production of paper and colours. This optional excursion can be chosen instead of the walking tour of Mainz. Please contact us at least three weeks before your departure to add this experience to your booking. Minimum and maximum numbers apply. If not enough guests opt for this extra, the experience may not run.
- Koblenz on New Year’s Eve - Enjoy breakfast as you anticipate a morning of cruising. Wrap up warm and take to the deck for an invigorating breath of frosty air while a kaleidoscope of riverside views drifts by in all their winter glory. One of the cruise highlights will be our return passage through the magnificent Rhine Gorge so have your camera at the ready to capture some of the most stunning river views, as the captain skilfully navigates our passage between the narrow valley sides that tower above. There’s nothing quite like that feeling of anticipation when gliding alongside the promenade of a river port, and Koblenz – beautifully located at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers – doesn’t disappoint. The city is immersed in two millennia of history: founded by the Romans, it was successively occupied by the Franks, chosen as a residence of the German prince electors, conquered by the French and fortified by the Prussians. All have left their marks in the city’s rich array of castles, churches and historic buildings. Koblenz is a romantic’s dream; forest-covered hillsides dominate the skyline, whilst the lower slopes are strewn with the pretty, half-timbered buildings so typical of the Rhineland. After lunch in the ship’s restaurant enjoy a guided tour through ‘Old Koblenz’, a patchwork of narrow streets and squares. You’ll stop to see the principal monuments and admire beautifully restored historic house frontages and quaint hidden passageways. After free time to explore the historic old town further, it’s time to head back to the inviting warmth of the ship’s lounge for an apéritif before tonight's dinner. Tonight, the ship comes alive with festive spirit as we prepare to ring in the New Year in true Riviera style. You’ll enjoy a superb New Year’s Eve dinner in the ship’s beautifully adorned restaurant, where our chefs will serve a specially curated menu to mark the occasion. After dinner, make your way to the lounge - transformed with seasonal décor - for a delightful classical recital, the perfect prelude to the evening’s celebrations. As midnight approaches, gather with your fellow guests and our wonderful crew to welcome the New Year. With a glass of sparkling wine in hand you’ll toast to new beginnings as the clock strikes twelve - an unforgettable way to ring in the New year.
- Cologne on New Year’s Day - This morning, start the New Year leisurely with a brunch, then seek out a good vantage spot in the lounge, sink into a comfy chair and linger over a coffee as you take in more views of the vine-covered valleys dotted with romantic ruined castles. Passing the last vineyards and half-timbered houses around the pretty town of Linz, it’s not long before we reach the railway bridge at Remagen, captured intact towards the end of the Second World War, thereby arguably shortening the war in Germany. This afternoon you can discover this fascinating city on our tour led by a local guide, who’ll help you get the most out of your visit. We take in the twin-spired cathedral, the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe, miraculous survivor of Second World War bombing and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a truly monumental building, taking over 600 years to build and featuring myriad religious and art treasures and perhaps the most intricate stained glass windows in Europe. The gilded sarcophagus is said to contain the remains of the three kings from the Nativity story. We also see the vibrant old town, beautifully restored and boasting an abundance of cosy bars. You’ll have more free time to explore Cologne before returning to the ship this evening for the excellent Chef's Dinner. After your final sumptuous dinner, gather with new-found friends in the lounge to reflect on the fascinating places you have discovered and poignant stories you have heard — surely the perfect ending to this magical New Year cruise.
- Return home - Flight time permitting, enjoy free time in Cologne before your journey home.
What's Included
Holiday Highlights
- Cruise through the spectacular Rhine Gorge to Rüdesheim, a classic Rhine wine village with crooked houses sloping down from wooded hillsides, and enjoy a Rhenish folklore show.
- Enjoy a guided tour of either vibrant Frankfurt or historic Mainz, followed by free time to soak up the atmosphere and explore independently (depending on your departure date).
- Visit the historic city of Koblenz, dramatically located in the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers.
- Explore Cologne's old town and magnificent cathedral with our local guide.
- Welcome the New Year on board our luxury ship, delight in our New Year's Eve gala dinner, enjoy a live classical music recital and midnight drinks & canapés.
Our Price Includes
- Prices are per person for this German river cruise, based on two people sharing a twin cabin with a limited number of Sole Occupancy cabins available on all decks at the relevant supplement. The price includes:
- Full board during your cruise from dinner on your day of arrival until breakfast on your final day
- Free drinks package
- New Year's Eve Gala dinner
- Complimentary on-board tea and coffee
- Complimentary on-board Wi-Fi (connection speeds may vary)
- All visits and excursions as mentioned
- Live classical quartet recital on board
- Rhenish folklore show on board
- Return flights or return Eurostar & onward train
- Coach travel as mentioned
- Transfers from the airport or station to and from the port of embarkation
- English-speaking expert guides
- The services of a Riviera Travel Cruise Director and Host
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Dates and Prices
Other Information
Holiday code
R755Holiday provided by Riviera Travel
BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE: This holiday is sold and operated by Riviera Travel (ABTA V4744, ATOL 3430). These ABTA and ATOL bonds mean that, when you book a Riviera Travel holiday, you can be 100% sure that your money is safe.