Day 1 - Monday - Aug 19, 2024
| Basel (Saxon), Switzerland |
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Welcome to Switzerland. Upon arrival at your Scenic Space-Ship in Basel, raise your glass to the marvelous cruise ahead of you at this evening's welcome reception. Please book your flight to arrive into Basel prior to 3 PM.
Day 2 - Tuesday - Aug 20, 2024
Located between the Rhine River and the Black Forest, Breisach is a food and wine destination that shares its border with the Alsace region. It was almost destroyed during WWII but was meticulously rebuilt with its traditional cobbled streets and pastel houses. This morning, you will arrive at Breisach for a day of exploration.
Day 3 - Wednesday - Aug 21, 2024
The city of Kehl is the gateway to Strasbourg, the capital city of the Alsace region, where sherbert-colored, half-timbered houses heave together on the banks of a complex network of canals. On its central island, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Grande Ile, Petite France - named so for the 15th-century hospital that was built here for patients suffering from syphilis, the 'French disease' - was a medieval tanners' quarter. Its meandering cobbled laneways are lined with a medley of buildings with shuttered windows and bright flowerboxes. Your Scenic Space-Ship will depart for Mannheim this afternoon.
Day 4 - Thursday - Aug 22, 2024
Day 5 - Friday - Aug 23, 2024
This morning you will arrive in Rudesheim, a pretty town surrounded by steep vineyards that have been cultivating wine for a staggering two millennia. The charming town center is filled with half-timbered houses lining cobbled streets, quaint shops selling trinkets such as traditional Christmas ornaments and cuckoo clocks, as well as a smattering of wine taverns and open-air beer gardens. Leaving Rudesheim, you will cruise along the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rhine Gorge in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. This 65-kilometer stretch of the river is dotted with some 40 hilltop castles and fortresses that span a period of 1,000 years. Sailing down this section of the river is like being transported through the pages of a fairy-tale book. The Rhine is abounded in myths and legends; folklore that has been passed on for generations, including the story of Lorelei. This enchanting female was betrayed by her sweetheart and spent her days bewitching men. As her punishment, she was sent to a nunnery, however on her way she jumped to her death in the river. Legend has her spirit casting spells on sailors who passed the rock, where a bronze statue sits today.
Day 6 - Saturday - Aug 24, 2024
A medieval gem resting on the banks of the Moselle River, Cochem will make you feel as if you are stepping directly into a fairy-tale. The traditional town is nestled on the riverbanks, with pastel-colored buildings, half-timbered houses, cobbled laneways, and an enchanting medieval hilltop castle surrounded by sloped vineyards. Spend the afternoon at leisure in this beautiful location before setting sail for Bernkastel after dinner.
Day 7 - Sunday - Aug 25, 2024
Another wonderfully preserved riverside town, Bernkastel is home to an atmospheric market square with buildings that date to the 13th century, one of the world's most famous Riesling vineyards, Bernkasteler Doctor, and the ruins of Landshut Castle sitting high above on a hill, where archeological remains from the 4th and 5th centuries were discovered in 2012.
Day 8 - Monday - Aug 26, 2024
| Cruising the Moselle River |
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Today, sail along the curvaceous path of the Moselle River past quaint half-timbered villages, vine-covered slopes, and hilltop castles that are perched proudly overlooking the river. Relax in the opulence of your suite, many of which have a window that converts into a Scenic Sun Lounge, allowing you uninterrupted views to watch a rolling tapestry of the Moselle Valley during this full day of cruising. This afternoon, you will be able to indulge in a Moselle Wine Degustation to sample local varieties.
Day 9 - Tuesday - Aug 27, 2024
Located where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet, Koblenz is a melange of French and German cultures and one of Germany's oldest cities with a history spanning 2,000 years. Koblenz is surrounded by vineyards, forest, and mountain ranges and is also known as the gateway to the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a picturesque section of the mighty river that is protected by UNESCO. Your Space-Ship will overnight in Koblenz, offering you the opportunity to explore the city after dark.
Day 10 - Wednesday - Aug 28, 2024
Your Scenic Space-Ship will arrive Dusseldorf this morning. Perhaps arrange for coffee delivered to your suite by your personal butler and enjoy a leisurely breakfast at Crystal Dining. Dusseldorf is an affluent city, which was dubbed 'Little Paris' by Napoleon. The city is filled to the brim with museums and galleries, one of the world's most luxurious shopping streets, an old town with around 260 pubs and bars, and a harbor precinct that blends the old with new: historic quay walls, warehouses, and silos neighbor striking architecturally designed buildings by the likes of Frank Gehry.
Day 11 - Thursday - Aug 29, 2024
Located at the edge of the Veluwe nature reserve, the city of Arnhem offers a beautiful landscape surrounded by dense forest, lush green parklands, and riverside promenades. Coupled with its long and rich history, Arnhem is the perfect location to spend the morning.
Day 12 - Friday - Aug 30, 2024
This morning, you will arrive in Belgium's second city, Antwerp. Full of historical and cultural contrasts, Antwerp has a melange of architectural wonders, a medieval center with cobbled streets and Gothic buildings, many that were severely bombed during WWII, blended with architecture. It's also the diamond capital of the world, with 70 percent of the world's diamonds traded there. Your Scenic Space-Ship departs later this evening, which means you have free time to wander Antwerp at your own pace. Alternatively, return to your Space-Ship and take the time to unwind in the exclusive Salt Therapy Lounge, which provides natural anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties.
Day 13 - Saturday - Aug 31, 2024
You will arrive in Veere this morning, one of the Netherlands' prettiest villages whose historic harbor is filled with bobbing yachts. While its beginnings date to the 13th century, Veere flourished in the 16th century when it became an important port for Scottish wool. This prosperity lasted two centuries, and to this day Scottish ties are strong.
Day 14 - Sunday - Sep 1, 2024
This morning, you will arrive at Utrecht, a canal-lined city boasting a multitude of green space, lively streets, and hidden alleyways leaving you intrigued by what is around the next corner. This afternoon, relax on the Sun Deck as you enjoy the scenery rolling by while cruising towards your final destination, Amsterdam.
Day 15 - Monday - Sep 2, 2024
Your cruise will finish in Amsterdam. The capital city of the Netherlands is a treasure trove of architectural beauty, masterpiece-filled galleries, tranquil scenes of boats putting along 16th-century canals, narrow cobbled laneways filled with boutiques and cafes, and streets busy with cyclists criss-crossing their way about town. Often referred to as the Venice of the North, much of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed canal system exists today as it did hundreds of years ago, lined with well-preserved canal houses and intersected by charming bridges. Please book your flight to depart out of Amsterdam after 12 PM. This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above.
