Day 1 - Saturday 27 September 2025: Overnight cruise ferry from Hull
Morning departure from North Wales and travel to York. Enjoy some time at leisure in this historic city before we continue to the port of Hull, to arrive mid-afternoon. After check-in and boarding you will be free to explore the ship and enjoy all the on-board facilities including bars, cafes, restaurants, shops, a cinema and entertainment. The ship will depart around 8.30pm for the relaxing overnight sailing to Holland.
Day 2 - Sunday 28 September 2025: Travel to Rüdesheim, Rhine Valley
After early disembarkation in Europoort (Rotterdam) we will continue our journey east across Holland via the historical town of Nijmegen and over the border into Germany before heading along the Rhine Valley and to our hotel in Rüdesheim for the next 4 nights. After check-in there may be some time to start exploring the town before enjoying dinner together in the hotel.
Day 3 - Monday 29 September 2025: At leisure in Rüdesheim
After breakfast, you are free to spend the day at leisure in Rüdesheim which is one of the most famous riverside towns on the Rhine. Take a stroll along the famous Drosselgasse, a lively, narrow cobbled street with shops, bars, cafes and restaurants or have a ride on the chairlift over the vineyards to the Germania Monument for spectacular views over the town and valley. We have included entrance to Siegfried’s Mechanical Museum, which is highly recommended by Elfyn, to see and hear some remarkable musical instruments, it is located in the centre of Rüdesheim. Return to the hotel in time for dinner.
Day 4 - Tuesday 30 September 2025: Heidelberg
We will depart by coach after breakfast and drive along the Rhine to picturesque Heidelberg, set on the River Neckar and overlooked by its majestic castle. Heidelberg is Germany’s oldest and most famous university town and attracts around 12 million visitors each year, there will be free time to explore. Stroll along the charming winding alleyways of the Old Town, where the Gothic Heiliggeistkirche church towers over the cafe-lined Marktplatz. The red-sandstone ruins of Heidelberg Castle, a noted example of Renaissance architecture, stand on Königstuhl Hill. We return to the hotel for dinner.
Day 5 - Wednesday 1 October 2025: Koblenz, Cochem and Moselle Valley
We will depart after breakfast and drive to Koblenz which lies at the famous ‘German Corner’, where the Rhine and Moselle rivers converge and is one of Germany's oldest and most beautiful towns. After a brief stop and photo opportunities we will follow the Moselle river by road to the ancient town of Cochem with its famous gates and the fairytale Reichsburg Castle rising above the town. The town enjoys a wonderful setting in one of the most romantic parts of the Moselle Valley, where the river curves between the Eifel and the Hunsruck Mountains. There’s time to explore the many medieval squares and lovingly restored houses before heading back to Rüdesheim via Alken, where we will stop at the famous Anton Hammes winery for a tasting of 5 of their wines. The Hammes family have been producing fine wines since 1846.
Day 6 – Thursday 2 October 2025: Depart the Rhine Valley
Sadly, it’s time to start our journey home. We will retrace our steps back to Europoort, Rotterdam in time for check-in late afternoon. Once again, there will be the opportunity to relax and enjoy the on-board facilities during our overnight crossing to Hull.
Day 7 – Friday 3 October 2025: Arrive Hull and travel to Wales
After our early morning disembarkation, we will make the homeward journey back to North Wales.