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SUNDAY
A morning cruise to Kinderdijk where we will visit the 19 windmills
which are part of Unesco World Heritage, they were built in 1740
to drain the polders. At lunchtime we will cruise along the Hollandse
Ijsell river, passing by the skyline of Rotterdam, one of the
world’s largest seaports. Later in the afternoon, a walking
tour of Gouda, famous for its cheese, pipes and candles.
MONDAY
After breakfast, a visit to see the remarkable stained glass windows
in St John’s church dating from the 15th c. Afterwards we
cruise to Oude Wetering on the Gouwe and Oude Wetering canals.
Poulders which are low lying lands reclaimed from the sea stretch
out in every direction. This afternoon, an excursion to the Keukenhof
Gardens, famous throughout the world for their dazzling fields
of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths.
TUESDAY
An early morning visit to the worlds biggest flower auction in
Aalsmeer where some 10 billion flowers are sold every year. Later
we cruise on the Ringvaart canal, skirting one of Holland’s
oldest polders. In the afternoon, a tour of Haarlem, the center
of the Dutch bulb trade followed by a cruise to Pumerend.
WEDNESDAY
A very scenic cruise passing fields of blooming flowers to Alkmaar
where we will have a guided visit of the town’s monuments:
17th c fortifications, St Lawrence church with one of the finest
ancient organs in Holland, the majestic 15th c gothic Town Hall
and many picturesque old houses. There will be time for shopping.
THURSDAY
A morning cruise to Zaansche Schans, a reconstructed village of
wooden houses and windmills, transporting us 300 years into the
past. Our cruise ends in the heart of Amsterdam where we will
have a guided tour of the many monuments with time for shopping.
This evening is our farewell gala dinner.
FRIDAY
After breakfast, depart the VVG for onward travels
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SUNDAY
- BAD WIMPFEN – EBERBACH
After breakfast, a visit to the town of Bad Wimpfen. This small
fortified town dominates the river and was the ancient Imperial
residence of the Hohenstaufen in the 13th c. The town has a
picturesque ensemble of half timbered houses that we will discover
along the winding streets. We return on board for lunch and
in the afternoon, a pleasant cruise to Eberbach. Here the Neckar
rejoins the massif stone of l’Odenwald and flows between
the lush wooded areas where we can see the roofs of castles.
Charlemagne will arrive into Eberbach this evening, it is an
agreeable touristique town.
MONDAY
- EBERBACH-HEIDELBERG
This morning, a visit to Michelstadt, existing since 741. The
town in famous for its numerous half timbered houses, the Rathaus
(town hall) and the synagogue dating from 18th c, one of the
very few to have survived the nazi period. Also famous, the
Einhardsbasilika which was built on the initiative of Einhard
a member of the court of Charlemagne in 821. We return to Charlemagne
by the romantic road of Odenwald. Lunch is on board and an afternoon
cruise through the narrow straits of the Neckar, full of chateaux
and small villages. Well known is Hirschhorn with its fortified
spur and Neckarsteinach where there are four chateaux. We arrive
into Heidelberg in the late afternoon.
TUESDAY
- HEIDELBERG-WORMS
This morning, we will visit Heidelberg. This important site
of German romanticism has inspired numerous poets seducted by
the natural beauty of the town and its ruined chateau built
on a hillside. We will have a guided visit of both the city
and chateau, this is the pearl of the Neckar route and is far
from being a just a museum, today it has a vibrant universite
and the students bring lots of life and animation. During lunch
on board, we will leave our mooring in Heidelberg and cruise
to Mannheim, a large industrial town, this is where the Neckar
and the Rhine join. We continue our cruise on the Rhine to Worms
one of the three Imperial residences along the Rhine, it constitutes
one of the settings for the saga of Niebelungen.
WEDNESDAY
- WORMS-MAINZ-RUDESHEIM
This morning, we cruise to Mainz, a city at the confluence of
the Rhine and Main rivers and established in 39 B.C. by the
Romans. The roman cathedrale confirmed the power of the German
kings but has less fame than Gutenberg who invented the printing
press. An afternoon cruise along the famous vineyards of the
Rheingau to Rudesheim where we find the world renown Drosselgasse
rich in wine bars and the mecca of reisling with an incomparable
atmosphere.
THURSDAY
- RUDESHEIM-BOPPARD-KOBLENZ
This morning we navigate in the heart of the Rhine valley, known
as the Romantic Rhine, full of idyllic villages, chateaux, some
ruined and all impressionable, together the Lorelei, the legendary
rock which has become the symbol of this passage. At Boppard,
we stop for a small stroll along the riverside and during lunch
on board, we continue our cruising towards Koblenz. After lunch,
a guided tour of Koblenz, a city at the confluence of the Rhine
and Moselle rivers. We visit the basilica of St Kastor and the
monumental statue of the emperor Guillaume 1er. There will be
free time in the city before our Farewell Gala dinner this evening.
FRIDAY
- KOBLENZ-FRANKFORT
This morning, after breakfast, we return to Frankfort by motor
coach, arriving around lunchtime.
Please note that itinearaies are subject to change at anytime
due to water levels, lock closures or circumstances beyond our
control
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CHARLEMAGNE ITINERARIES
MORSELLE RIVER / KOBLENZ - METZ
SATURDAY
- KOBLENZ
We meet in Frankfort and transfer to MS Charlemagne moored in
the city of Koblenz, a welcome aboard reception will await you
and then you will be shown to your cabins, time to settle into
your accommodations before dinner is served at 7.30pm
SUNDAY
- KOBLENZ-COCHEM-ZELL
A morning cruise on the Moselle brings us to Cochem, this famous
riverside town is dominated by its medieval castle. Later, during
a wine tasting you will be able to familiarize yourself with the
different wines of the region. We return to Charlemagne and continue
our cruise to the small wine village of Zell, known for its wine
Zeller Katz.
MONDAY
- ZELL-BERNKASTEL-TREVES
The Moselle winds and turns and takes a route along the terrain
which is entirely cultivated with vines which extend as far as
the eye can see, occasionally broken by small villages. We make
a stop at Bernkastel-Kues for a visit to this small town and its
half timbered houses. We continue our cruise to Treves where we
will overnight.
TUESDAY
- TREVES-KONZ-MERZIG-METTLACH
After breakfast, a tour of the city of Treves. This city was the
capital of the Occidental Roman Empire in the 3rd c and was named
Rome of the North. Treves can qualify, along with Worms as the
oldest town in Germany. Its remarkable collection of Roman ruins
have been classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. We return
to Charlemagne in time for lunch and continue our cruise. In Konz,
we leave the Moselle valley for the Sarre valley, which cuts a
clear path through the solid mountains of Hunsruck, causing the
river to wind and twist which only embellishes the route and helps
to conserve the authenticity. The passage of the loop of the Sarre
is one of the highlights of the cruise. We arrive into Mettlach
in the evening, the town is most famous as the headquarters of
the ceramics company Villeroy & Boch.
WEDNESDAY
- METTLACH-KONZ-REMICH
This morning, an excursion in our motor coach to Cloef for the
impressive panoramic view of trhe loop of the river Sarre. We
continue to Saarburg, a picturesque town dominated by its imposing
ruined castle, classified as an historical monument. The streets
of the town are narrow and the half timbered houses date from
the middle ages, also there is a waterfall, over sixty feet high
in the very center of the town, this gives a very charming aspect
and is one reason the town is sometimes called Little Venice.
We rejoin the Charlemagne in Konz and continue our cruise, we
are back on the river Moselle and arrive into Remich. This charming
small town is part of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and we will
take anv excursion there this afternoon. The capital is a thousand
years old, fascinating, built on rock and called the Gibralta
of the North. The guided visit will explain the historical and
financial aspects and its function as the headquarters of several
European institutions. We return to Charlemagne in Remich.
THURSDAY
- REMICH-METZ
This morning we will visit the Roman mosaiques of Nenning. They
were discovered in 1852 as part of an immense villa with this
sumptuous mosaique wall measuring 16 x 10 meters, this is the
largest, most beautiful and best preserved north of the Alpes.
We return to the boat and cruise, we are now in France, as far
as Metz. The countryside changes radically and we leave the hills
and vineyards behind us, replaced by the vast plaines of the Lorraine.
This afternoon, a visit to Metz, the city is Roman, medieval,
classic, German and keeps its aspects from its three thousand
years of history. The cathedral of Saint-Etienne is world renown
for its stained glass which covers a surface of 6496 square meters.
We have the pleasure of admiring the masterpieces from the 13th
c until recent times, including works by Marc Chagall. There will
be free time in the city before we return to Charlemagne for our
farewell Gala Dinner.
FRIDAY
- METZ-FRANKFORT
After breakfast, the motor coach will drive you back to Frankfort,
arriving there by lunch time.
Please
note that itinearaies are subject to change at anytime due to
water levels, lock closures or circumstances beyond our control
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CHARLEMAGNE ITINERARIES
REPOSITIONING CRUISE / AMSTERDAM - KOBLENZ ( 17 -
23 May 2008 )
Saturday AMSTERDAM
We meet in Park Plaza Victoria Hotel Amsterdam at 15:00 (3pm) this afternoon
and transfer to the Charlemagne moored near the town center . A welcome
on board champagne reception and presentation of the crew before you are
shown to your cabin. There will be time to stroll in town to see the many
monuments of this very interesting city.
Sunday AMSTERDAM-SCHOONOVEN
We will
take this morning a delightful cruise along the river Lek to
Schoonoven well known for its silver jewelry and traditional
clock making since the 17th c. We will have all afternoon to
discover this charming town.
Monday - SCHOONOVEN-KINDERDIJK-NIJMEGEN
A morning
cruise to Kinderdijk where we will visit the 19 windmills which
are part of Unesco World Heritage, they were built in 1740
to drain the polders. Later in the afternoon, we will cruise
to Nijmegen, in time for a stroll in this very busy city, situated
at the confluence of the major inland waterways of Holland.
Tuesday - NIJMEGEN-DUSSELDORF
A very
early start of our boat will take us cruising out of Holland
into Germany, on the Rhine.
We will cross the region named Ruhrgebiet to reach late afternoon the city
of Dusseldorf, one of the major economic centers.
Wednesday - DUSSELDORF-KOLN-BONN
Morning
cruise on the Rhine to Koln, and visit of the magnificent Cathedral.
Later on we will also visit Bonn, our mooring for tonight,
former capital of Germany and Beethoven’s birthplace.
Thursday - BONN-KOBLENZ
This morning’s
cruise will take us to Koblenz, where the Mosel river meets
the Rhine. After lunch, we will have a guided tour of the city
and also visit the Roman Abbey of Maria Laach.
This evening is our farewell gala dinner.
Friday - KOBLENZ
After breakfast,
depart the Charlemagne for onward travel to Frankfurt/Main
Germany (Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof Hotel- around noon)
PLEASE
NOTE THAT ITINERARIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME DUE
TO WATER LEVELS, LOCK CLOSURES OR CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR
CONTROL.
|
CHARLEMAGNE
- CRUISE SCHEDULE 2008
|
| 22
March |
Tulip
Cruise |
| 29
March |
Tulip
Cruise |
| 05
April |
Tulip
Cruise |
| 12
April |
Tulip
Cruise |
| 19
April |
Tulip
Cruise |
| 26
April |
Tulip
Cruise |
| 03
May |
Tulip
Cruise |
| 10
May |
Tulip
Cruise |
| 17
May |
Amsterdam
- Koblenz |
| 24
May |
Koblenz
- Bad Wimpfen (Neckar) |
| 31
May |
Bad
Wimpfen - Koblenz |
| 07
June |
Koblenz
- Bad Wimpfen (Neckar) |
| 14
June |
Bad
Wimpfen - Koblenz |
| 21
June |
Koblenz
- Metz (Moselle) |
| 28
June |
Metz
- Koblenz |
| 05
July |
Koblenz
- Bad Wimpfen (Neckar) |
| 12
July |
Bad
Wimpfen - Koblenz |
| 19
July |
Koblenz
- Metz (Moselle) |
| 26
July |
Metz
- Koblenz |
| 02
August |
Koblenz
- Bad Wimpfen (Neckar) |
| 09
August |
Bad
Wimpfen - Koblenz |
| 16
August |
Koblenz
- Metz (Moselle) |
| 23
August |
Metz
- Koblenz |
| 30
August |
Koblenz
- Bad Wimpfen (Neckar) |
| 06
September |
Bad
Wimpfen - Koblenz |
| 13
September |
Koblenz
- Metz (Moselle) |
| 20
September |
Metz
- Koblenz |
| 27
September |
Koblenz
- Bad Wimpfen (Neckar) |
| 04
October |
Bad
Wimpfen - Koblenz |
| 11
October |
Koblenz
- Metz (Moselle) |
| 18
October |
Metz
- Koblenz |
| 25
October |
Koblenz
- Amsterdam |
