Along the River Rhine by Barge & Bike from Cologne to Mainz

MS ANDANTE: through the UNESCO World Heritage Site

"Romance and Pleasure on the River Rhine"

Numerous romantic castles and fortresses have been built along the banks of the Rhine between Cologne and Mainz and they have many exciting stories to tell. The UNESCO World Heritage Site Upper Middle Rhine Valley is rich in tales and adventures and it is very beautiful.
The Rhine in this area pushes its way through rocks and passes towns like Koblenz, which are over 2000 years old and have old towns with many timber framed houses. This is the ideal landscape for a beautiful and relaxing holiday. Last but not least many of these towns between Cologne and Mainz are home to some noble wines and regional delicacies, which make this journey also a culinary one.

Your ship - MS ANDANTE:
Constantly refurbished during the last years, the spacious river barge MS ANDANTE promises a comfortable vacation in cozy atmosphere. You will find the tastefully equipped lounge-bar and the dining room with panoramic windows on the promenade deck. There are 17 cabins on the promenade deck and 26 cabins on the main deck, two of which are single cabins. (On both decks there are limited capacities for twin cabins to be used as single). All cabins (approx. 8-9 qm) are equipped with low level beds, dressing table with mirror, flat-screen TV, shower/toilet, individually-controlled air conditioning and opening windows. There is a partially roofed sundeck with seats for the guests and a designed storage for bicycles. Look forward to meeting nice people; enjoy delicious food and interesting cycle tours, simply a nice holiday.

Technical Details:
Length: 74.4 m
Width: 10.2 m
Speed: 8.64 knots/16Kmh
43 cabins: max. 84 passengers
1 lift
Dutch flag and captaincy


Itinerary:

Day 1: Saturday, Cologne
Embarkation in Cologne at 5 pm. Enjoy the evening on board or with a Kölsch beer in one of the pubs with a view over the river Rhine.

Day 2: Sunday, Cologne - Bonn, Cycle tour, approx. 37 km
Before you start cycling today you should join in a walking tour of Cologne's Old Town and Cathedral to explore the city's must sees (excursion, optional, bookable on board). Your first cycling tour will lead you to the city of Beethoven, Bonn. This federal city and former capital of Germany still has international flair. On your way it is worthwhile to visit the leisure island Groov amidst a vast landscape of the Rheinaue wetland in the Cologne suburb Porz-Zündorf. In Bonn there are museums like the House of History or the Bundeskunsthalle courting for visitors' attention and the House of Beethoven, the Rheinaue as well as the Bundesviertel with the path of Democracy are equally worth a visit.

Day 3: Monday, Bonn - Andernach, Cycle tour approx. 45 km
You will continue towards Andernach by bike today. Königswinter with its castle Drachenburg on the Drachenfels (steep ascent) as well as the Sea Life with aquariums for more than 6.000 sea inhabitants is worth a visit. Your destination for today, Andernach, is famous for the world's biggest cold water gush spring with its impressive fountain of 60 m.

Day 4: Tuesday, Andernach - Koblenz, Cycle tour approx. 30 km
On your way to Koblenz you will find castle Engers in Neuwied. At the famous "Deutsche Eck" (german corner) the river Mosel merges with the river Rhine. Another place of interest is the fortress Ehrenbreitstein which you can also reach by cableway across the Rhine in Koblenz. Tickets for the cableway are available on board.

Day 5: Wednesday, Koblenz - St. Goar, Cycle tour approx. 38 km
You continue your journey by bike up the river Rhine through the UNESCO world heritage site Upper Middle Rhine Valley. You will pass the romantic fortress Marksburg, the only hilltop castle of middle Rhine which has never been destroyed, as well as the city Boppard with its fortress Kurfürstliche Burg, before you will reach St. Goar. Here you will find the ruins of fortress Rheinfels, which is the biggest of its kind along the Rhine. The fortresses Katz und Maus (cat and mouse) in St. Goarshausen on the other side of the Rhine are also worth visiting.

Day 6: Thursday, St. Goar - Rüdesheim, Cycle tour approx. 31 km
Again you will pass very beautiful Rhine castles like Burg Reichenstein and Burg Rheinstein. You will cycle past the famous rock Loreley before you reach Rüdesheim. In Rüdesheim we strongly recommend a guided city walk around the historical town with its beautiful half-timbered houses (excursion, optional, bookable on board). Or treat yourself to a ride on the cable car up to the Niederwald monument. Here you will have a beautiful view over the old town of Rüdesheim and the river.

Day 7: Friday, Rüdesheim - Mainz, Cycle tour approx. 33 km
On your final cycling stage you will find the Rhine at its best. The city Eltville am Rhein with its emblem, the castle Kurfürstliche Burg, is on your way. Mainz, your destination of today, presents itself with numerous impressive buildings. You may want to visit its cathedral Hoher Dom St. Martin, one of the proud imperial cathedrals of Germany, or the castle Kurfürstliches Schloss. In the old town you will find attractive alleys and squares like the Augustinerstraße and the Kirschgarten with its lovely timber framed houses and wine restaurants.

Day 8: Saturday, Mainz
Disembarkation after breakfast.


Important:
- Embarkation: from 3.00 to 5.00 pm
- Disembarkation: After breakfast, until 09:00 am
- Bike hire on board: Unisex bicycles with normal mount (ladies model), 7 gears, hand brake and pedal brake and pannier bag, limited number of freewheel hub bikes. E-Bikes are only available after prior request (by booking) and confirmation and at limited number
- Cycle Tours: individual and self-guided. You will cycle about 30 to 45 km. The kilometres indicated for the cycle tours are approximate
- Cycle ways / level of difficulty: The quality of the cycle ways along this route is excellent. Most of the way is paved or asphalted and does not have any gradients of note. This makes the trip suitable even for unpractised cyclists
- Luggage on board: we recommend waterproof rain gear, bike helmet, sun hat and sports shoes. We would like to ask you to do without hard-side luggage as storage space in the cabin is very limited!
- Alterations of schedule or programme: subject to change. In case that as a result of nautical, technical or meteorological reasons a route cannot be taken, the skipper reserves the right to change the route for your safety (this would not be a reason for fee-free cancellation)
- Travel documents: EU citizens need a valid identity card or passport for this journey
- Special dietary needs and food allergies: inform us about your dietary needs and we will do our best to take them into consideration. There will be an extra fee of approx. EUR 25 per person/week (to be paid directly on board). Please inform us on booking.

Car Park Facilities:
Car park/parking garage - Globus Parking garage (guarded, must be booked in advance) - approx.
6 km from the mooring place in Cologne. Parking fee approx. EUR 90,- to EUR 110,- per week.

Characteristics:

Participants:
from 60 up to 84
Tourtype:
individual
Children:
yes
Regions:
Countries:

Benefits:

  • 7 nights' in outside cabin with shower/WC in the booked category
  • Programme according to itinerary from Cologne to Mainz
  • Welcome drink
  • Full board (breakfast, packed lunch for cycle tours or lunch snack, coffee and tea in the afternoon, three-course dinner)
  • Daily cabin cleaning
  • Change of bedding and towels when required
  • Passenger and port fees
  • Daily briefing on board for the respective cycle tour
  • Tour guide on board
  • Maps and information material 1x per cabin
  • Rental bike insurance
Start date: on request
End date:
Duration:
Price:
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Middate
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Additional costs:

  • Twin cabin promenade deck: EUR 899,-
  • Single cabin main deck (2 cabins per trip): EUR 959,-
  • Twin cabin for single use main deck (limited offer): EUR 1199,-
  • Twin cabin for single use promenade deck (limited offer): EUR 1349,-
  • EUR 70 Rental fee for a 7-gear unisex bicycle with hand and back pedal brake or freewheel hubs (must be reserved in advance, limited number). All bikes have pannier bags
  • EUR 165 E-bike with free wheel (must be booked in advance, limited number)
  • Arrival and departure, transfers, hire bikes, entrance fees and excursions, city maps, insurances, tips (at your discretion) and own expenses

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