Begin with our Home Departure Service to London Heathrow or Gatwick Airport for your scheduled British Airways or another leading airline flight to Amsterdam. Meet your representative on arrival and transfer to the port to embark the elegant River Empress.

Included excursions: Amsterdam canal cruise and Anne Frank house. During the morning, discover Amsterdam in the best way possible, on a canal cruise. This afternoon visit the Anne Frank House, the former hiding place and where she wrote her diary. The museum tells the history of the eight people in hiding and those who helped them during the war. Anne Frank's diary is among the original objects on display. Captain’s Welcome Dinner this evening.

Included excursion: A visit to Keukenhof Gardens (lunch not provided). For 60 years, Keukenhof Gardens has been described as the most beautiful place in the world, where spring bursts out in all of its colourful splendour. In addition to the millions of blooming flower bulbs and fantastic flower shows, Keukenhof has the largest sculpture garden in the Netherlands and is claimed to be the most photographed spot in the world! Return to the ship in Volendam.

Included excursion: Kröller-Müller Museum. Situated close to Arnhem, the Kröller-Müller Museum is a magnificent amalgamation of art, architecture and nature,which centres on the extensive collection of works by Vincent van Gogh and the world famous sculpture garden.

Included excursion: Cologne walking tour and Roman Germanic Museum. Today’s walking tour takes you through the narrow streets of the Old Town, passing by tiny squares and little churches as you make your way to the Cologne Cathedral, the city’s most famous landmark and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Conveniently located next to Cologne Cathedral is the Roman Germanic Museum, which houses Germany's most important collection of indigenous archaeological finds.

Included excrusion: Bacharach walking tour and wine tasting. Enjoy the area's natural and cultural highlights from the perfect vantage point of your ship's panoramic deck as your journey takes you along one of the most beautiful sections of the Rhine - the scenic 40 miles of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley towards Bacharach. Along the way, you will pass the famous Lorelei Rock and at the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine rivers, German Corner, with its famous monument of Emperor William II.

Included excursion: Frankfurt city tour. Situated on the River Main, Frankfurt offers views of a magnificent skyline known as the financial capital of Europe. Frankfurt is famous for its many trade shows and was also the birthplace of the renowned German writer, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Captain’s Farewell Dinner this evening.

Disembark the ship and transfer to Frankfurt Airport for your British Airways or another leading airline flight home. Arrive at London Heathrow or Gatwick where you will be met and our transport will transfer you to your own front door.