Across to Calais and then onwards to our overnight hotel in Northern France in time for dinner.

Joining our ship, you can choose to spend time on board or explore the magic of Cologne, with its enchanting old town and popular gothic cathedral.

We set sail south in the morning to the popular resort of Königswinter, with its Seven Mountains museum and cogwheel railway up to the imposing Drachenfels mountain. Our next stop is the charming city of Linz, where sights include colourful half-timbered houses and a medieval moated castle.

Continuing south to the ancient fortress town of Boppard, known as the ‘Pearl of the Rhine’. Founded by the Romans, it has an unspoilt promenade and picturesque location at the foot of six imposing valleys.

Today’s cruise takes in the legendary Loreley Rock, the place where the beautiful Rhine Maiden, that gave the rock its name, lured navigators to their doom with her alluring singing. The Rhine is only 90 metres wide here where the rock rises steeply above it and, at low tide, it is possible to see the dangerous reefs of ‘the seven virgins’, who, legend has it, were turned into rocks because they were so hard hearted.

This morning we cruise to Mainz, the former fort city, capital of the state of Rhineland. Take time today to acquaint yourself with this 2000-year-old city. Sights to see include The Roman temple, the royal palace, the cathedral and Marc Chagall’s Blue Window.

Where the Rhine meets the Moselle, the scenery is simply breathtaking. At the northern end of the Rhine Gorge you’ll have time to explore Koblenz and it’s charming medieval centre. In 2011 the first Rhineland National garden show will take place in Koblenz.

We continue our journey to our next port of call Bonn, the birthplace of Beethoven. Take time to visit the beautiful botanic gardens at Poppelsdorf Palace. Retracing our journey along the Rhine, we make our way back to Cologne and enjoy the Captain’s farewell dinner on board in the evening.

Time to say goodbye to The Rhine Valley and the MPS Rotterdam as we journey by coach to our overnight hotel in Northern France.

We make our final journey to Calais for our ferry crossing to Dover, then home.