Name: Cruise the Heart of Europe - Cologne to Budapest
Brand: Riviera Travel
Price: 3,499 GBP
Availability: InStock

Itinerary
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Day 1 - Cologne

Arrive: Mon 04 May 2026 / Depart: Mon 04 May 2026

Cologne, a 2,000-year-old city spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, is the region’s cultural hub. A landmark of High Gothic architecture set amid reconstructed old town, the twin-spired Cologne Cathedral is also known for its gilded medieval reliquary and sweeping river views. The adjacent Museum Ludwig showcases 20th-century art, including many masterpieces by Picasso, and the Romano-Germanic Museum houses Roman antiquities.

Day 2 - Koblenz

Arrive: Tue 05 May 2026 / Depart: Tue 05 May 2026

Koblenz, spelled Coblenz before 1926, is a German city on the banks of the Rhine and of the Moselle, a multi-nation tributary. Koblenz was established as a Roman military post by Drusus around 8 B.C. Its name originates from the Latin c?nfluent?s, meaning " confluence"

Day 2 - Boppard

Arrive: Tue 05 May 2026 / Depart: Tue 05 May 2026

Boppard, formerly also spelled Boppart, is a town and municipality in the Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, lying in the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town is also a state-recognized tourism resort and is a winegrowing centre.

Day 3 - Rhine Gorge

Day 3 - Rudesheim

Arrive: Wed 06 May 2026 / Depart: Wed 06 May 2026

Rüdesheim am Rhein is a town in the Rhine Valley, Germany. It’s known for winemaking, especially of Riesling wines. In the center, Drosselgasse is a lane lined with shops, taverns and restaurants. Nearby, Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet is a museum of automated musical instruments. Medieval Brömserburg Castle is home to the Rheingau Wine Museum, exhibiting wine paraphernalia from ancient times to the present.

Day 4 - Mainz

Arrive: Thu 07 May 2026 / Depart: Thu 07 May 2026

Mainz is a German city on the Rhine River. It’s known for its old town, with half-timbered houses and medieval market squares. In the center, the Marktbrunnen is a Renaissance fountain with red columns. Nearby, a distinctive octagonal tower tops the Romanesque Mainz Cathedral, built of deep red sandstone. The Gutenberg Museum honors the inventor of the printing press with exhibits, including 2 of his original bibles

Day 5 - Miltenberg

Arrive: Fri 08 May 2026 / Depart: Fri 08 May 2026

Miltenberg is a town in the Regierungsbezirk of Lower Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is the seat of the like-named district and has a population of over

Day 5 - Wertheim

Arrive: Fri 08 May 2026 / Depart: Fri 08 May 2026

Wertheim is a town in southwestern Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg with a population of around 23,400. It is located on the confluence of the rivers Tauber and Main. Wertheim is best known for its landmark castle and medieval town centre.

Day 6 - Wurzburg

Arrive: Sat 09 May 2026 / Depart: Sat 09 May 2026

Würzburg is a city in Germany's Bavaria region. It's known for lavish baroque and rococo architecture, particularly the 18th-century Residenz palace, with ornate rooms, a huge fresco by Venetian artist Tiepolo and an elaborate staircase. Home to numerous wine bars, cellars and wineries, Würzburg is the center of the Franconian wine country, with its distinctive bocksbeutel (bottles with flattened round shapes).

Day 7 - Bamberg

Arrive: Sun 10 May 2026 / Depart: Sun 10 May 2026

Bamberg is a town in northern Bavaria, Germany, laid out over 7 hills where the Regnitz and Main rivers meet. Its old town preserves structures from the 11th to 19th centuries including the muraled Altes Rathaus (town hall), which occupies an island in the Regnitz reached by arched bridges. The Romanesque Bamberg Cathedral, begun in the 11th century, features 4 towers and numerous stone carvings.

Day 8 - Nuremberg

Arrive: Mon 11 May 2026 / Depart: Mon 11 May 2026

Nuremberg is the second-largest city of the German state of Bavaria after its capital Munich, and its 518,370 inhabitants make it the 14th-largest city in Germany.

Day 9 - Regensburg

Arrive: Tue 12 May 2026 / Depart: Tue 12 May 2026

Regensburg, a Bavarian city on the Danube River in southeast Germany, is known for its well-preserved medieval core. The 12th-century Stone Bridge, a 310m-long icon with 16 arches, crosses the river to the old town. The 13th-century Regensburg Cathedral, a twin-spired Gothic landmark, is home to the Regensburger Domspatzen choir. Walhalla, a Parthenon replica just east of the city, honors illustrious Germans.

Day 10 - Passau (Munich)

Arrive: Wed 13 May 2026 / Depart: Wed 13 May 2026

Passau, a German city on the Austrian border, lies at the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers. Known as the Three Rivers City, it's overlooked by the Veste Oberhaus, a 13th-century hilltop fortress housing a city museum and observation tower. The old town below is known for its baroque architecture, including St. Stephen's Cathedral, featuring distinctive onion-domed towers and an organ with 17,974 pipes.

Day 11 - Melk

Arrive: Thu 14 May 2026 / Depart: Thu 14 May 2026

Melk is an Austrian town on the River Danube, west of Vienna. It’s known for the 11th-century Melk Abbey, a vast monastery built high above the town. Gold statuary adorns its domed Abbey Church, and the huge library houses medieval manuscripts. The Marmorsaal is a baroque hall with a ceiling fresco and red marble walls. South of Melk, gardens surround Renaissance Schallaburg Castle, which hosts cultural exhibitions.

Day 12 - Vienna, Austria

Arrive: Fri 15 May 2026 / Depart: Fri 15 May 2026

Vienna, Austria’s capital, lies in the country’s east on the Danube River. Its artistic and intellectual legacy was shaped by residents including Mozart, Beethoven and Sigmund Freud. The city is also known for its Imperial palaces, including Schönbrunn, the Habsburgs’ summer residence. In the MuseumsQuartier district, historic and contemporary buildings display works by Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt and other artists.

Day 13 - Bratislava

Arrive: Sat 16 May 2026 / Depart: Sat 16 May 2026

Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is set along the Danube River by the border with Austria and Hungary. It’s surrounded by vineyards and the Little Carpathian mountains, crisscrossed with forested hiking and cycling trails. The pedestrian-only, 18th-century old town is known for its lively bars and cafes. Perched atop a hill, the reconstructed Bratislava Castle overlooks old town and the Danube.

Day 14 - Budapest

Arrive: Sun 17 May 2026

Budapest, Hungary’s capital, is bisected by the River Danube. Its 19th-century Chain Bridge connects the hilly Buda district with flat Pest. A funicular runs up Castle Hill to Buda’s Old Town, where the Budapest History Museum traces city life from Roman times onward. Trinity Square is home to 13th-century Matthias Church and the turrets of the Fishermen’s Bastion, which offer sweeping views. ?

Day 15 - Budapest

Depart: Mon 18 May 2026

MS George Eliot From Riviera Travel

The five-star MS George Eliot – named after one of the leading English novelists of the 19th century – is 110 metres of fine Swiss engineering and craftsmanship. As with all Riviera Travel cruise ships, MS George Eliot was built to the highest specifications and strict safety regulations by Scylla AG, world-renowned builders of the most modern cruisers in Europe. Guests are welcomed in the elegant lobby with its gleaming marble floor, well-lit by sophisticated lighting. Thoughtful design is on tasteful display throughout the ship – sustainable hardwood furniture, intricate wrought-iron work, and polished copper and brass are beautifully complemented by soft leather and sumptuous Italian fabrics. MS George Eliot offers the convivial ambience and personal service of a luxury boutique hotel. With 36 staff serving just 132 guests, the experience is far more intimate and enjoyable. There are 70 luxuriously appointed suites and cabins, which all feature an en-suite bathroom with shower, individually controlled air-conditioning, flat-screen TV, hairdryer, safe, minibar, telephone and facilities for making tea and coffee. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship.

Ship Cabins

Standard Cabin - Emerald Deck

Standard Cabins on the Emerald Deck have smaller fixed windows – some are available for sole occupancy with no supplement. There are 10 Standard Cabins on the Emerald Deck (lower deck). Size: 15 sq.m / 161 sq.ft

Standard Cabin - Diamond Deck

Standard Cabins on the Diamond Deck feature floor-to-ceiling glass doors that slide away to create a French balcony to enjoy panoramic river views. There are 22 Standard Cabins on the Diamond Deck (upper deck). Size: 16 sq.m / 172 sq.ft

Standard Cabin - Ruby Deck

Standard Cabins on the Ruby Deck feature floor-to-ceiling glass doors that slide away to create a French balcony to enjoy panoramic river views. There are 28 Standard Cabins on the Ruby Deck (middle deck). Size: 16 sq.m / 172 sq.ft

Deluxe Balcony Suite - Diamond Deck

For the ultimate in space and river cruise luxury, the spacious Deluxe Balcony Suite offers a generous living area with chairs and table, plus soft cotton bathrobes and slippers. There are floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass doors that open out on to a small balcony with a table for two. There are four Deluxe Balcony Suites on the Diamond Deck (upper deck). Size: 23.5 sq.m / 253 sq.ft

Superior Suite - Diamond Deck

Superior Suites on the Diamond Deck benefit from a generous living area, plus floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that open up to create a French balcony for guests to enjoy panoramic river views. There are two Superior Suites on the Diamond Deck (upper deck). Size: 18 sq.m / 194 sq.ft

Superior Suite - Emerald Deck

Superior Suites on the Emerald Deck benefit from a generous living area and smaller fixed windows. There are two Superior Suites the Emerald Deck (lower deck). Size: 17 sq.m / 183 sq.ft Indulge in the luxury of Riviera Plus when you stay in an upper deck cabin or suite. In your well-appointed cabin, you’ll find a smart handset with maps, translator and currency converter, unlimited internet use, L’Occitane en Provence toiletries, a bottle of chilled Prosecco on arrival, a platter of fresh seasonal fruits during the cruise and an aperitif each evening, with our compliments.

Superior Suite - Ruby Deck

Superior Suites on the Ruby Deck benefit from a generous living area, plus floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that open up to create a French balcony for guests to enjoy panoramic river views. There are two Superior Suites the Ruby Deck (middle deck). Size: 18 sq.m / 194 sq.ft