We travel to Dover for the ferry crossing to Calais and then onwards to our overnight hotel in Northern France.

Here we join the MPS Rotterdam in Cologne, have time to relax on board and explore the sights of the city. With its old town, gothic cathedral, shops, cafes and bars, it’s easy to see why Cologne is so popular. This evening we set sail on our majestic journey.

In the morning we arrive at our first port of call Koblenz, where the Rhine meets the Moselle. In the afternoon we continue our cruise docking in Rüdesheim, a popular resort in the heart of German wine producing country, full of taverns and bars.

First port of call today is Mannheim, with its beautiful park alongside the river, followed by Speyer, with its bijou centre. An optional excursion is offered to the romantic town of Heidelberg, home to an imposing sandstone castle and the setting for the 1920s movie The Student Prince.

Continuing south we dock at Strasbourg. Located close to the German border, Strasbourg is the capital and principal city ofthe Alsace region of France. A must for all visitors is the historic centre – the Grande Ile – classified as a World Heritage Site in 1988, the first time such a title had been given to an entire city centre.

Today we continue our sailing along the Rhine reaching the lovely town of Breisach, which literally means breakwater. Take time to explore the town, relax and soak up the atmosphere of this German town.

Today we remain in this quaint town allowing you further opportunity to explore the region. An optional excursion is offered to take you on one of the highlights of this wonderous cruise, to the stunningly beautiful Black Forest. With its rich mythologies the Black Forest remains one of Germany’s most popular attractions.

Sailing the 60km from Breisach, we cross the Swiss border to Basle, with its numerous buildings by well-known architects to admire and various heritage sites of national significance, including the entire old town. An optional Swiss tour takes you to the heart of Switzerland, home to lush vine-clad valleys and picture postcard towns and villages.

Our journey ends and we say a fond farewell to Switzerland and the MPS Rotterdam and travel by coach to our overnight hotel in Northern France.

The final leg of our journey to Calais, onwards to Dover, and homeward bound.