About Amadeus River Cruises

Your Christmas cruise along the Rhine begins in the old Hanseatic town of Cologne. After an opportunity to explore your AMADEUS ship, you are invited to join the cruise director for a Welcome Cocktail. Thereafter, enjoy the lovingly prepared Welcome Dinner on board, which will put you in the right mood for the festive time ahead. Your ship weighs anchor during the night and travels towards Koblenz.

The charming town of Koblenz is situated at the confluence of the Mosel and the Rhine Rivers. Many of its cultural landmarks are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are best explored during a guided sightseeing walk. Thereafter, you will return to your ship and continue on what is probably the most beautiful section of the trip. The passing, wintery landscapes of the Middle Rhine Valley offer spectacular vistas, the best of which is the view of the myth-enshrouded Lorelei Rock, which you will pass on this stretch of the trip.

8:00am - 12:00pm

Excursion - Koblenz walking tour

Before breakfast, your ship arrives in the former imperial town of Speyer, which you can explore during the course of a guided sightseeing tour in the morning. The visit to the traditional Christmas market will put you in a festive mood, ready for the Christmas celebration on board. Take part in decorating the Christmas tree to the sound of contemplative carols before the magical Christmas dinner on board. Those who wish can attend a Christmas mass at the Speyer Cathedral after dinner. Late at night, your cruise continues on its journey.

Arrival at 6:00am

Excursions - Speyer walking tour plus visit to the Christmas Mass in the Imperial Cathedral after dinner (optional)

At lunchtime, your ship arrives in Strasbourg, in the Alsace region where, despite the wintery weather, the French joie de vivre is palpable everywhere. Explore the picturesque half-timbered houses and, if you wish, take part in an extended city sightseeing tour in the afternoon, which will take you to Strasbourg’s most beautiful sights. In the evening you will return to your ship, which will head for Mainz.

Stay Strasbourg

12:30pm - 10:00pm

Excursions - Strasbourg with canal boat tour

Spend the second day of Christmas in Mainz, the largest city in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany, where your ship arrives at midday. This town boasts not only numerous monuments but also the Gutenberg Museum which, with its exciting collections and its history of printing, books and writing, is one of the best-kept secrets of lovers of culture and literature. During the course of a guided sightseeing walk you can admire the sights of the city, and thereafter the captain will invite you to a festive Gala Dinner on board. Your ship will then head back to Cologne.

12:00pm - 10:00pm

Excursions - Mainz walking tour with Gutenberg Museum

After breakfast, enjoy a fascinating city tour through this Rhine metropolis. An eventful 2,000-year history has left its mark on the city, and this “city of churches” boasts countless highlights, in particular the Cologne Cathedral, which you will visit during the course of the tour, as well as the Roman Dionysus mosaic. The afternoon is at your disposal, and you have plenty of time for a shopping spree or a leisurely stroll before dinner on board.

Arrival at 8:00am

Excursions - Cologne walking tour and Kölsch tasting

Unfortunately, even such a wonderful journey has to come to an end. After a generous breakfast you will disembark. Optional airport transfers are available for purchase.

The iconic skyline of Cologne, crowned by its magnificent cathedral, greets you as you board. A celebratory cocktail sets the mood, and as your ship drifts away from the city’s embrace, excitement bubbles over. Enjoy an exclusive modern string show on board, where the elegance of classical music meets the vibrancy of modern soundtracks, all brought to life by a highly skilled violinist. Tonight, you’ll savor a gourmet welcome dinner while dreaming of the days ahead.

Departure at 5:30pm

Excursions - AMADEUS Experience: Modern Strings Show

Arrival at 9:00pm - Stay Bonn overnight

A city that echoes with history and harmony, Bonn was once a center of world politics and remains forever linked to Beethoven, its most famous son. After a relaxed breakfast, explore Bonn’s treasures on a guided tour that includes the composer’s birthplace and an awe-inspiring collection of artifacts. In the afternoon, let the rhythm of the river carry you northward, with a glass of wine in hand and the city’s charm lingering in your heart.

Departure at 3:00pm

Excursions - Walking tour of Bonn and Beethoven’s birthplace

Step back in time as you arrive in Nijmegen, the Netherlands’ oldest city. From its Roman roots to its wartime tales, this morning’s tour brings history to life as you stroll past landmarks like the old Town Hall and St. Stevens Church. Reward your wanderings with a sip of local Dutch beer—a toast to tradition.

In the afternoon, Arnhem awaits—a city with a fascinating past and a vibrant, contemporary spirit. From its medieval beginnings to the present day, you will discover notable landmarks such as the Eusebius Church, Willemsplein, the famous John Frost Bridge, and Audrey Hepburn Square. End the day in the Panorama Lounge, where the present feels just as extraordinary as the history you’ve explored.

Stay Nijmegen

8:00am - 12:00pm

Excursions - Nijmegen walking tour with Dutch beer tasting

Stay Arnhem

2:30pm - 10:00pm

Excursions - Arnhem: From Medieval Town to Modern City

The energy of Rotterdam is contagious, from its cutting-edge architecture to its bustling harbor. But for a different kind of charm, venture to The Hague, the "Royal City by the Sea." Here, you’ll find yourself face-to-face with masterpieces by Vermeer and Rembrandt at the Mauritshuis.

In the afternoon, Dordrecht enchants with its storybook streets and ornate façades. Take it all in with a tour that ends on a flavorful note, as you sip local spirits like gin and genever. When you depart Dordrecht, the city’s beauty will stay with you, like the taste of something wonderfully sweet.

Stay Rotterdam

7:00am - 1:00pm

Excursions - The Hague and the Mauritshuis Museum

Stay Dordrecht

3:00pm - 8:00pm

Excursions - Discovery tour through Dordrecht with tasting

Amsterdam greets you with open arms, inviting you to lose yourself in its canals and culinary delights. A gourmet walking tour introduces you to the city’s hidden gems and savory treats, including a visit to the secretive "Our Lord in the Attic" canal church.

In the evening, a truly special highlight awaits: the Amsterdam Light Festival. During the dark winter months, impressive light installations by internationally renowned artists transform the city’s canals, bridges, and façades into a captivating open-air gallery. Experience this luminous spectacle on a atmospheric canal boat cruise, where sculptures, projections, and light displays tell stories, spark reflection, and reveal Amsterdam in a completely new light.

Stay Amsterdam

Arrival at 4:00am

Excursions - Hidden gems and culinary delights: A food tour of Amsterdam PLUS Amsterdam Light Festival

With anticipation building for the grand concert by André Rieu, you set out in the morning to experience Dutch culture up close on a varied excursion through idyllic landscapes and historic villages. Your first stop is Zaanse Schans, a charming open-air museum with historic windmills and the iconic green wooden houses that look straight out of a storybook. The journey then continues to Marken, once an island in the Zuiderzee, now famous for its picturesque stilt houses and its distinctive, authentic charm.

But the highlight of your trip awaits in the Ziggo Dome. Here, André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra deliver a performance that transcends music—it's an experience that moves you, leaving you in awe long after the final note.

Stay Amsterdam Over Night

Excursions - Authentic Netherlands: Windmills, Cheese, and Tradition PLUS André Rieu Concert with the Johann Strauss Orchestra

As the journey comes to an end, Amsterdam bids you farewell with a delicious breakfast and memories that will stay with you forever. It’s not goodbye; it’s a prelude to future adventures.