ADVENT ON THE RHINE
FEATURING FASCINATING AIDA,
WINTER WILSON & FLOSSIE MALAVIALLE
28 NOVEMBER - 2 DECEMBER 2024
Embrace the spirit of Christmas, enjoying Advent on the Rhine. Experience delightful Christmas markets, crisp winter days and beautifully decorated towns as your Rhine River cruise unfolds. Enjoy a carefully curated programme of optional excursions by day and top-quality entertainment by night.
It wouldn't be a Harmony Voyages river cruise without after dinner entertainment from incredible performers and Advent on the Rhine' is absolutely no exception. Expect hilarious verses from Fascinating Aida, festive singalongs with Winter Wilson and powerful, sensitive renditions of much loved songs from Flossie Malavialle to make this a Christmas holiday to remember
Take advantage of our Overland/Cruise package - the ultimate in travel convenience. Say goodbye to the hassle of planning and packing as we seamlessly orchestrate your journey through a picturesque landscape to luxurious cruising, whilst our expertly guided coach tours deliver a rich cultural experience en-route to your river cruise ship.
With our Overland/Cruise packages, you can forget about long queues at the airport, pulling heavy suitcases and frustrating flight delays. Once your suitcase is loaded, no need to remove liquids, electrical items or empty your pockets. Just board the coach, relax and enjoy your journey to the ship. And don't forget coach travel means you have a little more capacity to buy those special Christmas presents - no baggage weight limitations! The outbound journey includes visits to Aachen and Bruges whilst the return journey takes you to Luxembourg, Dinant and Ypres. This is the perfect bend of exploration and relaxation designed for a fully immersive, stress-free holiday.
Once aboard your cruise ship, Amadeus Star, you will spend five days within the enchanting and festive atmosphere that surrounds the holiday season along the Rhine River in Europe. The region is known for its charming Christmas markets, beautifully decorated towns, and traditional celebrations that take place during the Advent season. It’s a time when locals and visitors come together to enjoy seasonal treats, shop for unique gifts, and immerse themselves in the holiday spirit against the backdrop of the stunning Rhine.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- 6 night overland coach/cruise (4 nights onboard MS Amadeus Star/2 nights at 4* B&B Hotel in Aachen, Bruges and Namur/Charleroi)
- Large, outside river-view staterooms, most with French balconies or walk-out balconies
- Free-flowing red & white wines from Europe’s famous wine regions, draft beer & soft drinks
with every lunch and dinner onboard - Gourmet dining including breakfast, multi-course lunches and dinners with menu choices (including vegetarian options*), afternoon tea and late-night snack
- Cocktail Reception, Welcome Dinner and Captain’s Farewell Dinner
- Services of your onboard Harmony Voyages Tour Manager and an experienced English-speaking Cruise Director
- 24 hour coffee and tea in the Amadeus Club
- Concerts in the lounge after dinner. (Programme to be confirmed)
- Choice of double or twin bed configuration
- Staterooms have individual climate control and in-room safe
- Bottled water in every stateroom
- In-stateroom infotainment center
- On board fitness centre
- Complimentary Wi-Fi onboard including cabins
- Complimentary use of onboard bicycles
- Complimentary state-of-the-art audio headsets for optional excursions
- All local taxes & port charges
* All dietary requirements can be catered for, however please do let us know in advance of your cruise
OVERLAND TOUR / CRUISE ITINERARY
Wednesday 27 November - BRUGES
Depart Manchester Airport *06:00 /Birmingham Airport *08:00 /London Heathrow *10:30 with enroute motorway service pick-ups on request. Arrive Dover for a lunchtime channel crossing to Calais. *Times are approximate.
From there we make our way to our 4* accommodation in Bruges for about 18:00 giving you time to briefly take in the Christmas markets and enjoy dinner in one of the many restaurants in the Old Town
Thursday 28 November - BRUGES - AACHEN - COLOGNE
Departing after breakfast we make our way to Aachen, the westernmost city in Germany, where we have time for lunch and the afternoon to wander round. Aachen was the preferred medieval Imperial residence of Charlemagne and the biggest attraction of the town; Aachen cathedral was erected on his orders. In the afternoon we make our way to Cologne ready for embarkation in the afternoon
Settle into your cabin and explore the festively decorated ship. Meet in the bar for a welcome cocktail, an introduction from your Cruise Director & Harmony Voyages Tour Manager and the chance to meet your fellow travellers. Enjoy dinner on board and an evening of relaxation. We depart for Koblenz late in the evening.
Friday 29 November - KOBLENZ/RUDENSHEIM
Stay Koblenz 07:00 - 11:00
Stay Rüdesheim 17:00 - 22:00
We reach Koblenz before breakfast, giving you plenty of time to explore the town at your leisure or take advantage of our optional walking tour. Koblenz is transformed into an atmospheric pre-Christmas paradise, including the city's largest Advent calendar on Jesuitenplatz, composed of the colourfully lit dormer windows of the baroque town hall. We continue through the magical Middle Rhine Valley, considered one of the most beautiful sections of the Rhine and past the legendary Lorelei rock. Late in the afternoon we reach Rüdesheim in the Upper Rhine Valley, a picturesque town with narrow streets and its own Christmas market, where you can take advantage of our second excursion of the day. A walking tour of Rüdesheim takes you to the "Siegfried Mechanical Music Cabinet" with historic self-playing instruments, followed by a guided tour of the old town.
Excursions:
Koblenz walking tour
Discover one of the most pedestrian-friendly and oldest towns in Germany, with over 2,000 years of history. On our guided walk through the romantic streets between the St. Castor Basilica and the Liebfrauenkirche (the Church of our Beloved Lady) you will discover the most important sights of Koblenz and the town’s landmark, the Schängel Fountain at the town hall. This tour would not be complete without a visit to the Memorial of Emperor Wilhelm at the famous German Corner where the rivers Rhine and Moselle meet. See the cable car that hovers over the Rhine, built as an attraction and ecologically friendly traffic facility for the Federal Horticultural Show in 2011. This is Germany’s first 3-rope cable car with a transport capacity of 7600 people per hour. Duration:approx. 2 hours
Walking grade
Level 4: Moderate walking tour. You may need to climb some stairs.
Excursion Pricing:
Koblenz walking tour £21
Rüdesheim with Music Cabinet Museum £29
Heidelberg Castle and Christmas market £56
Speyer walking tour with Christmas market £25
Wintry Alsace and Obernai £68
Strasbourg with visit to Christmas market £66
Total Price £265
Package booking discount 15% £225
Rüdesheim walking tour including music cabinet museum
The unique Winzerexpress train takes you from the dock of the ship to the “Siegfried Mechanical Music Cabinet” for a musical adventure with historical self-playing instruments. Thereafter, a guided tour leads you through the picturesque town. Explore the heart of the old town of Rüdesheim – the Drosselgasse – where wine houses and garden taverns invite you to linger. Immerse yourself in the history of the city and visit the Eagle Tower, a part of the city wall, and the fortifications from the 15th century.
Duration: approx. 2 hrs / Walking Grade: 4
Excursion Pricing:
Koblenz walking tour £21
Rüdesheim with Music Cabinet Museum £29
Heidelberg Castle and Christmas market £56
Speyer walking tour with Christmas market £25
Wintry Alsace and Obernai £68
Strasbourg with visit to Christmas market £66
Total Price £265
Package booking discount 15% £225
Saturday 30 November - SPEYER
Stay Speyer 08:00 - 19:30
Christmas magic awaits you again today in Speyer, where you arrive punctually at breakfast time. You can take a tour to the old imperial residence town of Heidelberg, where you can enjoy not only numerous tourist attractions, but can also admire and enjoy the regional handicrafts, as well as the gingerbread and glühwein available at the romantic Christmas market.
After lunch, you have the opportunity to explore Speyer. Here, too, a beautiful Christmas market awaits you, which you should not miss. Spend a relaxed evening enjoying the contemplative advent atmosphere before you continue to France during dinner.
Excursions:
Heidelberg Castle and Christmas Market
Heidelberg Castle and Christmas Market
A comfortable coach will take you to Heidelberg, the world-famous University City on the Neckar River. The town is one of the few German cities with a widely preserved baroque Old Town. Heidelberg was discovered quite early by romantics to use for diverse literature, songs and paintings. The tour through Heidelberg begins with a visit to the castle. The formerly splendid residence made of red sandstone is now a ruin, maybe the most beautiful ruin in all of Germany. The castle tour leads also into the castle garden. From the Grand Terrace enjoy a wonderful view of the city and the Neckar River. The tour continues with a stroll through the enchanting old town, to the Karl-Theodor Bridge, the late-gothic Church of the Holy Spirit and the town hall.
Duration: approx. 4.5 hours
Walking grade: LEVEL 3: The excursion by bus is followed by a longer walk. You may need to climb several stairs.
Excursion Pricing:
Koblenz walking tour £21
Rüdesheim with Music Cabinet Museum £29
Heidelberg Castle and Christmas market £56
Speyer walking tour with Christmas market £25
Wintry Alsace and Obernai £68
Strasbourg with visit to Christmas market £66
Total Price £265
Package booking discount 15% £225
Speyer Walk With Christmas Market
Speyer, the venerable emperor’s city on the Rhine, has had a rich and turbulent past. Religious architecture steeped in history, impressive facades of various styles, winding alleys and romantic squares express the character of the city. The city tour includes a visit to the Romanesque Imperial Cathedral from the exterior, with its striking twin tower portal, and visits to the Church of the Holy Spirit, the Old Gate (Altpoertel) and the Jewish Ritual Bath. Afterwards, the Christmas market will fill you with warmth as the smell of punch and toasted almonds, hot roasted chestnuts, and freshly baked apples envelopes your nose.
Approx. 2 hours
Level 4: Moderate walking tour. You may need to climb some stairs.
Excursion Pricing:
Koblenz walking tour £21
Rüdesheim with Music Cabinet Museum £29
Heidelberg Castle and Christmas market £56
Speyer walking tour with Christmas market £25
Wintry Alsace and Obernai £68
Strasbourg with visit to Christmas market £66
Total Price £265
Package booking discount 15% £225
Sunday 1 December - STRASBOURG
Arrive Strasbourg 07:30
The south of France welcomes you in the morning with Christmas cheer. Visit the surrounding area and fall under the spell of the wintery Alsace and Obernai or the city of Freiburg.
In contrast to these dreamy landscapes, during a city tour, discover the most beautiful aspects of the exciting metropolis of Strasbourg. In the pre-Christmas season, the beautifully decorated shops which set the city aglow with festive light are particularly worth seeing. Of course, you will also visit the Christmas market. As your trip nears its end, round it off with some hot punch and enjoy the romantic atmosphere, before the exclusive Captain’s Farewell Dinner. We stay in Strasbourg overnight.
Excursions:
Wintry Alsace & Obernai
On this excursion we drive through the romantic wintry landscapes of Alsace to discover the village of Gertwiller, famous for its Lebkuchen (Christmas gingerbreads). After an included glass of Glühwein the tour continues to the magical little town of Obernai, where we stroll through the old quarter – delightfully decorated for Christmas. Admire the Christmas crib with its life-size figures of people and animals that has been set up in the market place each year for centuries.
No excursion time or walking guide
Excursion Pricing:
Koblenz walking tour £21
Rüdesheim with Music Cabinet Museum £29
Heidelberg Castle and Christmas market £56
Speyer walking tour with Christmas market £25
Wintry Alsace and Obernai £68
Strasbourg with visit to Christmas market £66
Total Price £265
Package booking discount 15% £225
Strasbourg with visit to Christmas market
Enjoy a discovery tour through the beautiful city of Strasbourg. After a short coach ride through the city, the tour continues with a walk through the lovely, historic old part of the town and includes a visit to the famous cathedral Straßburger Münster – the symbol of the city (not possible on Sundays and public holidays, sometimes with security check). Some of the charming, half-timbered houses are up to 500 years old. From here you will walk through the historic and festively decorated district ”Petite France”.
Along the way, you will see a variety of Christmas markets, where you can spend some free time before you head back to the ship.
Approx. 4 hours
Level 2: The excursion by bus is followed by a moderate walking tour. You may need to climb some stairs
Excursion Pricing:
Koblenz walking tour £21
Rüdesheim with Music Cabinet Museum £29
Heidelberg Castle and Christmas market £56
Speyer walking tour with Christmas market £25
Wintry Alsace and Obernai £68
Strasbourg with visit to Christmas market £66
Total Price £265
Package booking discount 15% £225
Monday 2 December - STRASBOURG - LUXEMBOURG - NAMUR/CHARLEROI
Disembark at Strasbourg and head to Luxembourg, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where there will be time to take a tourist bus to see the best of this beautiful city. Otherwise take time for lunch, sightseeing and shopping at your leisure. We head onwards to Dinant on the river Meuse for dinner and finally to our overnight hotel in Namur/Charleroi
Tuesday 3 December - NAMUR/CHARLEROI - YPRES
After breakfast we make a short visit to Ypres, famous for the battles fought there in World War I, and the Menin Gate dedicated to the memory of lives lost. There will be time for lunch in Ypres after which we will take a late afternoon sailing (approx. 16:00) and continue back to our original pick-up points during the evening.
EXCURSIONS
Enhance your Advent On The Rhine river cruise holiday with a choice of carefully curated selection of inspiring excursions and adventures! Our excursions can be booked with us in advance to ensure your place, or on board if you would rather keep your itinerary flexible. Booked excursions include a packed lunch. Excursions are subject to a minimum number of bookings and may be cancelled if there is not enough interest.
| EXCURSION | PRICE PER PERSON |
|---|---|
| Koblenz Walking Tour | £21 |
| Rudesheim With Music Cabinet Museum | £29 |
| Heidelberg Castle And Christmas Market | £56 |
| Speyer Walking Tour With Christmas Market | £25 |
| Wintry Alsace And Obernai | £68 |
| Strasbourg With Visit To Christmas Market | £66 |
| Total Price | £265 |
| Package Booking Discount 15% | £225 |
ENTERTAINMENT
FASCINATING AIDA
Uniquely charming, with diamond-sharp satire, these indomitable women are still the mistresses of their craft and as always their show will feature much-loved favourites and some wickedly hilarious new songs. If you’ve been delighted by Dogging, sung-along to Cheap Flightsor shared their rudest ever Christmas song, don’t miss the chance to celebrate onboard the cruise with these unstoppable performers in their glorious prime!
WINTER WILSON
It is in live performance where these two really excel. Kip Winter and Dave Wilson bring a sense of intimacy to every venue, blending superb, often hard-hitting original songs, stunning harmonies and musicianship with sometimes hilarious humour and tales of life on the road. Kip (vocals, accordion, guitar, flute) "simply has a voice to die for” ( John Roffey, Maverick Magazine), whilst Dave (vocals, guitar and banjo) is now rightly recognized as being amongst the top tier of British songwriters, with his songs sung in folk clubs across the UK and beyond. Together, their voices are sublime.
FLOSSIE MALAVIALLE
Hugely talented, Flossie’s charismatic stage presence, gutsy guitar style, eclectic repertoire and Franglais patter never fail to entertain those lucky enough to hear her. Her voice has been described as “tuneful as a lark and (with) a pureness of quality to stop you in your tracks”. Her songs range from folk favourites by Allan Taylor and Keiran Halpin to Edith Piaf’s No Regrets and La Vie en Rose and Jacques Brel’s Amsterdam and Ne me quitte pas. She also loves songs with what she calls “Va-vavoom” by such singers as Janis Joplin, Carole King, Bonnie Raitt and Kris Kristofferson.
ACCOMMODATION
The AMADEUS STAR offers a total of 70 spacious deluxe cabins and 12 AMADEUS Suites. Similar to other Amadeus ships, the Star's cabins on the Mozart and Strauss Deck also feature lowerable panoramic windows which extend across the entire cabin front and have been specially designed for the AMADEUS ships. All deluxe cabins and suites offer comfortable, spacious bathrooms, infotainment systems, flat screen television, telephone, cabin safe, minibar and air conditioning which can be individually regulated. Furthermore, the suites feature a comfortable corner sofa, luxurious bathroom and walk-out external balcony.
AMADEUS Suite (284.2ft²) with walk-out exterior balcony
Comfortable corner sofa, luxurious bathroom, walk-out exterior balcony, mini-bar, walk-in wardrobe, choice of bed configuration (double or twin bed), flat-screen television, individual climate control, en-suite bathroom with shower/WC, bathrobe, hair dryer, direct dial telephone and in-room safe.Mozart Deck
Cabin A-1 (188.4ft²) with drop-down panoramic window
Spacious bathroom, drop-down panoramic window, mini-bar, walk-in wardrobe, choice of bed configuration (double or twin bed), flat-screen television, individual climate control, en-suite bathroom with shower/WC, hair dryer, direct dial telephone and in-room safe.Mozart Deck
Cabin B-1 (188.4ft²) with drop-down panoramic window
Spacious bathroom, drop-down panoramic window, mini-bar, walk-in wardrobe, choice of bed configuration (double or twin bed), flat-screen television, individual climate control, en-suite bathroom with shower/WC, hair dryer, direct dial telephone and in-room safe.Strauss Deck
Cabin B-4 (188.4ft²) with drop-down panoramic window
Spacious bathroom, drop-down panoramic window, mini-bar, walk-in wardrobe, choice of bed configuration (double or twin bed), flat-screen television, individual climate control, en-suite bathroom with shower/WC, hair dryer, direct dial telephone and in-room safe.Strauss Deck
Cabin C-1 (172.2ft²) with panoramic window
Spacious bathroom, small panoramic window (cannot be opened), spacious wardrobe, choice of bed configuration (double or twin bed), flat-screen television, individual climate control, en-suite bathroom with shower/WC, hair dryer, direct dial telephone and in-room safe. Cabins with connecting doors are available on request.Haydn Deck
Cabin C-4 (172.2ft²) with panoramic window
Spacious bathroom, small panoramic window (cannot be opened), spacious wardrobe, choice of bed configuration (double or twin bed), flat-screen television, individual climate control, en-suite bathroom with shower/WC, hair dryer, direct dial telephone and in-room safe. Cabins with connecting doors are available on request.Haydn Deck
GETTING THERE
COACH TO CRUISE WITH HARMONY VOYAGES
Travel overland to your Advent on the Rhine River Cruise FOR FREE if you book by 30 November .
If you choose to travel there independently please do contact us and we can help you select the best option for your holiday.
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Hostess service on board
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Regular, off-motorway comfort breaks
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Comfortable 4* hotels
- Inbound journey - visit to Bruges and Aachen
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Outbound journey - visit to Luxembourg and Ypres
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1 overnight B&B stay pre-cruise in Bruges
- 1 overnight B&B stay post-cruise in Namur/Charleroi
Forget about long queues at the airport, pulling heavy suitcases, frustrating flight delays - why not extend your cruise holiday, sit back and unwind on board our luxury coach and take in some of the most sought-after sights and enjoy many beautiful towns along the route.
Once your suitcase is loaded, no need to remove liquids, electrical items or empty your pockets, board the coach, relax and enjoy your land tour to the ship. Let your driver do the hard work whilst you sit back with a cuppa or a glass of something cold, as you travel through the beautiful French countryside.
Wednesday 27 November - BRUGES
Depart Manchester Airport *06:00 /Birmingham Airport *08:00 /London Heathrow *10:30 with enroute motorway service pick-ups on request. Arrive Dover for a lunchtime channel crossing to Calais. *Times are approximate.
From there we make our way to our 4* accommodation in Bruges for about 18:00 giving you time to briefly take in the Christmas markets and enjoy dinner in one of the many restaurants in the Old Town
Thursday 28 November - BRUGES - AACHEN - COLOGNE
Departing after breakfast we make our way to Aachen, the westernmost city in Germany, where we have time for lunch and the afternoon to wander round. Aachen was the preferred medieval Imperial residence of Charlemagne and the biggest attraction of the town; Aachen cathedral was erected on his orders. In the afternoon we make our way to Cologne ready for embarkation in the afternoon
Monday 2 December - STRASBOURG - LUXEMBOURG - NAMUR/CHARLEROI
Disembark at Strasbourg and head to Luxembourg, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where there will be time to take a tourist bus to see the best of this beautiful city. Otherwise take time for lunch, sightseeing and shopping at your leisure. We head onwards to Dinant on the river Meuse for dinner and finally to our overnight hotel in Namur/Charleroi
Tuesday 3 December - NAMUR/CHARLEROI - YPRES
After breakfast we make a short visit to Ypres, famous for the battles fought there in World War I, and the Menin Gate dedicated to the memory of lives lost. There will be time for lunch in Ypres after which we will take a late afternoon sailing (approx. 16:00) and continue back to our original pick-up points during the evening.
You can travel overland to your Advent on the Rhine River Cruise for free if you book before 30 November. However, if you choose to travel there independently, you will need to fly into Cologne Bonn Airport and home from Strasbourg Airport.
Please contact us if you require assistance with your flight arrangements.
PRICES
BOOK BEFORE 30 NOVEMBER AND TRAVEL OVERLAND TO SHIP FREE (see the overland tour/cruise itinerary)
Please note: a deposit of £200pp is required to secure your booking.
| CABIN GRADE | DECK | CRUISE ONLY (ppp) | CRUISE WITH COACH TRAVEL (ppp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suite | Mozart Deck | £1,599 | £1,949 |
| A1 | Mozart Deck | £1,349 | £1,699 |
| B1 | Straus Deck | £1,149 | £1,499 |
| B1 Solo occupancy | Straus Deck | £1,649 | £1,999 |
| B4 | Straus Deck | £1,129 | £1,479 |
| C1 | Haydn Deck | £949 | £1,299 |
| C1 Solo occupancy | Haydn Deck | £1,349 | £1,699 |
| C4 | Haydn Deck | £849 - SOLD OUT | £1,199 - SOLD OUT |
FAQs
We look after you every step of the way
We are a small experienced team who look after you from first enquiry, right through to the end of your holiday. The same people who help you with your booking, will be in the resort or on the cruise to look after you. We are extremely proud of the personal service that we provide and when you need to get in touch, there are no call centres, just the same people you've always being dealing with. Need help with flights, care hire or extra nights? ...we are just a phone call away.
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