German Fairy Tale

Storybook Castles and Historic Towns Await Along the Rhine, Saar, and Moselle Rivers

Online reservations are not available for this tour.
Please call us at 314-926-9049 Mon-Fri between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Central Time to make your reservation.

Aug 27 - Sep 7, 2025
12 days | 11 nights

Embark on a Sunrise Tours private river cruise charter beginning with a pre-cruise itinerary in historic Marburg and Kassel. The luxurious MS Amadeus Brilliant awaits in Cologne, winding through the scenic Rhine, Moselle, and Saar rivers, past steep vineyards and medieval towns. Discover Cochem, Bernkastel-Kues, Saarlouis, and more. Explore Luxembourg's heritage before concluding with the splendor of ancient Trier and picturesque Koblenz.

  • Tour of Limburg an der Lahn with River Cruise Along the Lahn River
  • Visit to Kassel Including Wilhelmshöhe Mountain Park, Hercules Monument, and GRIMMWELT Kassel
  • City and Scenic Train Tour of Marburg
  • Tour of Cologne Including Cologne Cathedral and Rhine River Waterfront
  • Visit to Cochem with Wine Tasting
  • Tour of Historic Bernkastel-Kues
  • Time in Saarburg Including Little Venice, St. Laurentius Church, and Schleif Lookout Point
  • Exploration of Saarlouis with Free Time in the Old Town
  • Visit to Luxembourg Including Grevenmacher and Luxembourg City
  • Explore Trier, the Oldest City in Germany
  • Visit to Historic, Pedestrian-Friendly Koblenz
  • 3-Night Stay at 5-Star Vila Vita Rosenpark Hotel
  • 7-Nights On Board MS Amadeus Brilliant
map

DAY 1-2: WELCOME TO GERMANY!

Fly to Frankfurt and embark on a scenic drive to Limburg an der Lahn. Enjoy a guided city tour, visiting its Cathedral and charming streets, followed by lunch at a local eatery. In the afternoon, relax on a 2-hour river cruise along the Lahn River, passing Oranienstein Palace and St. Lubentius Abbey. Later, check into the Vila Vita Rosenpark Hotel, a five-star property with stunning accommodations and luxurious spa amenities near the heart of Marburg, your home for the next three nights. Meals in-flight, D

DAY 3: KASSEL

Visit Kassel, home of fairy tale authors Jacob and Willhelm Grimm and renowned for its rich cultural heritage highlighted by the UNESCO World Heritage Site Wilhelmshöhe Mountain Park. Enjoy a guided city tour where you’ll visit the Park, the famous Hercules monument and GRIMMWELT Kassel to learn more about the epic storytelling Grimm Brothers. B, D

DAY 4: MARBURG

Enjoy a guided walking tour of Marburg to explore its cobblestone streets, half-timber houses, and medieval architecture, including a bustling, local farmers market. In the afternoon, hop aboard the Castle Train for a 1-hour scenic tour of Marburg's landmarks such as Marburg Castle and St. Elizabeth’s Church. Spend the rest of the afternoon at your leisure. B, D

DAY 5: COLOGNE

Bid farewell to Marburg as you depart from your hotel to set off for the vibrant city of Cologne. Lunch in Cologne will include a glass of Cologne’s famous Kolsch beer! Afterwards, embark on a guided walking tour led by a local guide; you’ll discover many of the city’s architectural marvels such as the famous Cologne Cathedral and stroll along the scenic Rhine River waterfront. Embark on the beautiful MS Amadeus Brilliant. Check into your stateroom, explore the ship, and enjoy your first dinner on board. B, L, D

Day 6: COCHEM

Enjoy a relaxing morning cruise to Cochem, nestled in the Moselle Valley, as you enjoy the surrounding views from the sun deck or cozy up in the lounge with a book. An included excursion features a walking tour of Cochem; the harmonious trio of the unique Mosel landscape, thousands of years of growing grapes for vine, and its rich culture make Cochem a popular town to explore by foot. Following the guided walking tour, quench your thirst at a local winery for a taste of the product that made the Valley famous. B, L, D

Option—Eltz Castle Excursion Skip the walk and wine tasting in Cochem for a short motorcoach ride to Burg Eltz, set atop a rock 230 feet above a tributary of the Moselle River, the Castle has been owned by the Eltz family since the 12th century! Known as “the most beautiful castle in Europe”, a tour of Burg Eltz offers a glimpse of life through nine centuries of German history. $90 per person

DAY 7: BERNKASTEL TOUR & WINE TASTING

Explore medieval Bernkastel-Kues during an entertaining guided tour of the old town and learn about the town’s landscape and wine culture. In front of the St. Nicholas Hospital, hear about the famous philosopher‘s ball game and get a chance to try it out yourself. Enjoy a short walk through the vineyards and taste two wines, one of which is the world famous Bernkasteler Doctor wine. Board the ship for lunch and an afternoon of sailing as you head to Saarburg. B, L, D

DAY 8 : SAARBURG

See Saarburg’s Little Venice, the Schleif lookout point, the church of St. Laurentius, and the Buttermarkt, then pass the whimsical castle complex on your way into the old town with its colorful fishermen’s and boatmen’s houses. You won’t want to miss the waterfall in the center of town where the River Leuk makes a breathtaking 60-foot drop to join the Saar River, bisecting the city. This afternoon, set sail for Saarlouis. B, L, D

DAY 9: SAARLOUIS

Named for Louis XIV of France, the sixth largest city in the Saarland, Saarlouis, was considered impregnable due to its fortifications built during the 17th century. Today’s walking tour will take you from the Great Market over the lock bridge into the city garden, and to the remains of the fortress walls of Saaraltarm, a recreational area which also features meandering paths and charming bridges. Afterwards, enjoy free time to take a leisurely stroll through the old town and relish the charming character of the city. Enjoy another afternoon of sailing, this time across the border into Grevenmacher, Luxembourg. B, L, D

DAY 10: GREVENMACHER/THE LUXEMBOURG MOSELLE/TRIER

Today we encounter the wine-growing town of Grevenmacher and one of the four capitals of the European Union ­– Luxembourg City. Enjoy a tour of Grevenmacher, starting at the 12th-century fortress tower before visiting notable sites like Peter von Osburg’s House and the Trier Gate. Board a motorcoach headed for the capital city of Luxembourg where you’ll see Constitution Square, the Grand Ducal Palace, and Kirchberg Plateau. After lunch on the ship, explore Trier, the oldest city in Germany. Visit the Porta Nigra, Three Kings' House, Main Market Square, St. Peter’s Cathedral, the Church of Our Lady, and Kornmarkt with its neoclassical casino and St. George’s fountain. B, L, D

Day 11: KOBLENZ

Today’s itinerary is yours to decide in picturesque Koblenz, a historic city known as one of the most pedestrian-friendly and oldest towns in Germany, with over 2,000 years of history. Choose between one of our two optional afternoon excursions: a guided city walk with a scenic tram ride to visit to Fortress Ehrenbreitstein OR a guided city walk with a visit to the Sparkling Wine Museum. Later, enjoy the Captain’s Dinner on board with dinner and entertainment. B, L, D

DAY 12: RETURN HOME

After breakfast, disembark the MS Amadeus Brilliant for your included flight home from Frankfurt, with memories of historic towns, enchanting castles, and scenic waterways. B, Meals in-flight

ACCOMMODATIONS:

Nights 2-4: Vila Vita Rosenpark Hotel, Marburg, Germany
Nights 5-11:
MS Amadeus Brilliant

Dates:

  • Depart: August 28, 2025
  • Return: September 7, 2025

Pricing:

+$185 per person port charges & fees

Single Supplement: +$2,000 for Haydn (other than 2 single staterooms), +$3,500 for Strauss, +$4,500 for Suites


*Per person rates
*Included airfare from STL/MCI/SGF (call for other gateways)

Walking Distance
Travelers should be in good physical health and understand there are times when a good deal of walking is involved. Those who have difficulty walking may not want to take this trip or should discuss their personal situation with their doctor before deciding. You should be able to walk at a steady pace for a mile at a time and be able to manage steps to board/de-board the motorcoach several times a day.

We are finding that larger European cities are closing their historic districts to motor traffic. This adds to the amount of walking involved when visiting a city (sometimes on uneven and/or cobblestone walkways). In addition, you may be required to exit the motorcoach at each stop because local law often does not allow travelers to remain on the motorcoach while it is parked for a scheduled stop.

Currency
Euro

Time Zone
GMT+1 (5 hours ahead of New York)

Hotel Amenities
All AMADEUS ships have an elevator that operates between the Mozart, Strauss and Haydn decks. The sun deck is not accessible by elevator.

Wi-Fi is available aboard the ship and the price is fully covered by Sunrise. We will travel in rural river landscapes, meaning the Wi-Fi connection at times can be limited.

All cabins and suites are equipped with high-quality care products, such as soap, shampoo, body lotion, and shower gel. You will also find a hair dryer, sewing set, shower cap, and nail file in your cabin. Laundry is available onboard for a small fee.

Breakfast and lunch are lavish meals, with evenings featuring chef’s specialties and regional dishes. In addition, light breakfast and light lunch options are offered in the Panorama Bar. There is always a vegetarian option for all meals on board.

Additional Information
A total of three mailings are sent to assist you in preparing for your tour, including information sent upon receipt of your reservation.

Dress on tour is casual. Evening dinners aboard the ship will be a more elegant occasion, so we welcome you to dress in a business casual manner. Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, visors, and comfortable walking shoes will add to your enjoyment of this tour. Toward the end of the cruise, a Captain’s Dinner will be held. For this dinner, we suggest (for the women) dress pants or skirt along with a blouse or sweater, or possibly a dress, and (for the men) dress pants along with a collared long-sleeved shirt or sweater, and possibly a blazer of some sort (blazer not required).

An outlet converter that adapts to European outlets is needed. You can find these at many stores, including on Amazon and at Walmart.

Identification
Valid passport required to travel.

Other General Information
We will send 3 key communications for your tour; “Get Ready” is your email confirmation and initial tour information sent upon registration, “Get Set” email will be sent about two months before departure, “Go” trip documentation mailing is sent via USPS 3-4 weeks before departure and will include your daily itinerary, luggage tags and final departure information.

Travel Protection is optional and highly recommended and can be purchased until the day before departure. We offer Travel Guard from AIG, which costs 8.5% of your tour, information about which will be sent with your Get Ready email.

Unless otherwise noted, your Sunrise Tour includes: Professional Sunrise Tour Director, meals as indicated, local step on guides including gratuity (international tour guide gratuity inclusion vary by tour), deluxe motorcoach transportation w/rest room, admission to activities and events as indicated, airfare from designated airports, transportation to/from designated airports from our convenient local pickup points*, luggage handling at hotels when available

We believe tipping is a personal and discretionary interaction between our guests and our staff. A typical gratuity for your Sunrise Tour Director and motorcoach driver may be $5-$7per person, per day on tour. Sunrise Shuttle drivers appreciate gratuities (suggest $5 per person) for excellent service as well. Our staff will not solicit gratuities or pass out envelopes.

We are happy to offer refreshments on most motorcoach travel days on tour. We recommend you bring a refillable water bottle to maintain healthy hydration.

If less than 4 people request a pickup point, we may ask that you choose another pickup point from which to join your Sunrise Tour.

If you would like to join a tour from a city not listed as a departure point, we would love to have you along! Please discuss arrangements with our friendly reservation team. From a departure city not listed, typical airfare will be +$100 higher than our published fare for domestic tours, and +$200 for international tours.

If you have a TSA precheck or Airline Rewards numbers, you MUST give those numbers to our reservations team at least 60 days before departure, otherwise they may not be applied.

Preferred seating may not be available on group air. In some cases, seats are not assigned until the airport. Your tour fare includes an economy seat on the flight; it does not include seat selection. Seat upgrades may be available at an additional cost.

To help make our tours the most comfortable in the business, we limit Sunrise Tours motorcoaches to 80% capacity, or 44 passengers on a coach built for 55. We reserve the right to amend this practice.

Your Tour Director will rotate seats on the motorcoach each day of your tour. A single fare does not guarantee two seats on the coach; you may be seated next to another friendly Sunrise Tours guest.

Terms and Conditions
Please refer to our policies HERE for more information on our terms and conditions.

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