Vacations By Rail · River Cruise

A Tale of Three Rivers: Danube, Main & Rhine

Nine-day Germany trip: Eurostar rail plus Danube, Main, Rhine cruise

A Tale of Three Rivers: Danube, Main & Rhine, a rail journey with Vacations By Rail

Vacations By Rail runs this nine-day trip that pairs Eurostar rail travel with a seven-night river cruise through Germany, escorted by a Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout. The trip starts at London St Pancras, travels by Eurostar and rail to Frankfurt for an overnight hotel stay, then continues by rail to Passau to board the ship Amadeus Cara. From there, the days settle into a rhythm of overnight sailing followed by guided walking tours in UNESCO towns such as Regensburg, Nuremberg and Bamberg, with a detour by road to Rothenburg ob der Tauber and a wine tasting at the Würzburg Residenz. The cruise finishes by sailing the Rhine Gorge before docking in Cologne, where the group returns by rail to London. This suits travellers who want a mostly escorted, single-base style trip, unpacking once aboard ship, with history, architecture and regional wine built into daily excursions.

What to know before you look closer

  • Flights and airport transfers are not included in the price; only rail connections and the river cruise itself are covered, per the operator's exclusions list.
  • The operator notes that the August 28th departure runs the itinerary in reverse order, so travellers on that date should expect a different day-by-day sequence than described here.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Frankfurt

    London to Frankfurt by rail

    Your vacation begins at London St. Pancras this morning, where you meet the Tour Manager and traveling group. Boarding the Eurostar, we travel to Brussels then continue by rail to the Germany city of Frankfurt for an overnight stop. On arrival, we check in to our hotel, enjoying our first dinner together in the restaurant this evening. Please note: the August 28th departure will operate in reverse, and we will board the ship in Cologne today.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2railovernight: Ship

    Boarding our luxurious ship in Passau

    Breakfast is served in our hotel this morning, before we continue our journey by rail through southwestern Germany to Passau, on the banks of the Danube. Our luxurious ship awaits here; after settling into cabins we indulge in our first five-course dinner on board and set sail on the Danube.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  3. Day 3overnight: Ship

    Visiting Regensburg and Weltenburg Abbey

    Regensburg is our first port of call, discovered on a guided walk of the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town including St. Peter cathedral. After lunch, we visit Weltenburg Abbey, the world's oldest monastic brewery, with its Baroque architecture and carved altar.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  4. Day 4overnight: Ship

    A guided tour of Nuremberg

    We sail toward the ancient city of Nuremberg, once the unofficial capital of the Holy Roman Empire. After lunch, a guided tour views the imperial Kaiserburg Castle, Weißgerbergasse's half-timbered buildings and the Gothic St. Lorenz Church. We return to the ship for dinner and sail toward Bamberg.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  5. Day 5overnight: Ship

    Uncovering the charming streets of Bamberg

    Known as the "Franconian Rome", Bamberg's UNESCO-listed Old Town has around 2,400 timber-framed houses. A guided tour reveals the Altes Rathaus and 13th-century Bamberg Cathedral. We return to the ship for lunch and sail the Main River to Ochsenfurt.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  6. Day 6overnight: Ship

    Rothenburg ob der Tauber and wine-tasting

    Mooring in Ochsenfurt, we drive Bavaria's Romantic Road to the walled town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber for a guided tour of the Old Town. We rejoin the ship in Würzburg for lunch, then visit the Würzburg Residenz and enjoy a wine-tasting experience.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  7. Day 7overnight: Ship

    The history of Wertheim and Miltenberg

    We arrive in Wertheim at the confluence of the Main and Tauber rivers; a guided tour takes in the ancient castle and Glass Museum. We then head to Miltenberg to view its 12th-century castle before returning to the ship for lunch and an overnight cruise.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  8. Day 8overnight: Ship

    Mainz & the Rhine Gorge

    Emerging onto the Rhine, we dock in Mainz and take a guided tour of the Romanesque cathedral, Mainzer Dom, and the Marienbrunnen fountain. Returning to the ship for lunch, we sail through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge for our final night aboard.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  9. Day 9rail

    Traveling home

    Docking in Cologne this morning, we disembark and say farewell to our crew. Traveling by rail to Brussels, we board the Eurostar back to London St Pancras, where your vacation comes to an end.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2The cruise begins in Passau, where travellers settle into cabins aboard the Amadeus Cara for a first five-course dinner as the ship sets sail on the Danube.
  • Day 3A guided walk through Regensburg's UNESCO World Heritage Old Town includes St. Peter cathedral, followed by a visit to Weltenburg Abbey, the world's oldest monastic brewery.
  • Day 4A guided tour of Nuremberg takes in the imperial Kaiserburg Castle and the half-timbered buildings of Weißgerbergasse.
  • Day 6The tour drives Bavaria's Romantic Road to the walled town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, then visits the Würzburg Residenz for a wine-tasting experience.
  • Day 8After docking in Mainz to tour the Romanesque Mainzer Dom cathedral, the ship sails through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge on its final night.

Included

  • Tour Manager/Cruise Director team escorted throughout your tour
  • 1 night 4-Star hotel accommodation
  • 7-night cruise onboard Amadeus Cara
  • Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
  • First and Standard Class rail options available
  • All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day including a spectacular gala dinner
  • Drinks package with dinner every night of your cruise
  • Superb excursions included

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Flights and Airport transfers not included

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Vacations By Rail includes Eurostar rail travel from London through Brussels to Frankfurt and Cologne, plus rail connections through southwestern Germany to Passau, in the tour price.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes, a Tour Manager/Cruise Director team escorts the group throughout.
What ship is used for the river cruise?
The seven-night river cruise is aboard the Amadeus Cara.
How much walking is involved?
The tour lists a Mobility Rating of 2, reflecting guided city walking tours in places like Regensburg, Nuremberg and Bamberg.
What is not included?
Travel insurance, flights and airport transfers are not included in the price.
What hotels are used?
One night in a 4-star hotel in Frankfurt before boarding the ship; the rest of the trip is spent in cabins aboard the Amadeus Cara.

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