River Cruising the Castles on the Rhine with Tauck

The weather aboard Tauck’s MS Treasures in April 2018 could not have been better, with average highs of 72 and lows of 53 degrees. Stretching over 764 miles, the Rhine River is the second-longest river in Europe (and the longest river in Germany). It flows through six countries: Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France and the Netherlands, making it a truly international river.

The Middle Rhine, often referred to as the “Romantic Rhine,” showcases a fairytale-like landscape. Along this stretch between Mainz and Cologne, charming medieval towns, towering fortresses and vineyard-covered hills create a truly magical atmosphere.

The narrowing river and the mountains provided robber barons in the Middle Ages an overlook to build a fortress and exact tolls from river travelers. If they refused to pay, the result would be imprisonment to the castle dungeon or even death. These toll stations were an excellent source of income for the noblemen and church authorities. Tolls were charged on the Rhine River for approximately 1,000 years, roughly from around 800 AD to 1800 AD. The practice largely ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1814 which established freedom of navigation on major European rivers like the Rhine.

In Cologne (also known as Koln), Germany, we visited the Kölner Dom or the Cologne Cathedral. This gargantuan gothic structure took more than 600 years to finish! Construction began in 1248, halted in 1473, resumed again in 1842 and was finally completed in 1880. Cologne Cathedral is Germany’s most visited landmark, attracting an average of six million people a year, and features immense twin towers that stand 515 feet tall. Visitors can climb 533 stone steps of the spiral staircase to a viewing platform about 330 feet above the ground. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

We sailed onward to where the Rhine and Moselle Rivers meet at Koblenz, Germany, which was once a major trade city. A stroll through the old town is an absolute must and the hot pretzels are very popular. Twelve miles from Koblenz on the left bank of the Rhine was Boppard, Germany, which is known for its fine wines. We found the street art incredible.
In Heidelberg, Germany, we visited Hercules Fountain in the middle of Marktplatz. Completed in 1602, in medieval times petty criminals were chained to it and left to face the populace.

Heidelberg is home to Germany’s oldest university and we visited the student prison, located in the back of the Old University. The prison was established in the 1780s and was in operation until 1914. From 1823 to 1914, students were incarcerated for such transgressions as night-time carousing or other offenses against the public order. Located on a small hill above the old university town is Heidelberg Castle, also known as Heidelberger Schloss. The castle ruins are among the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps and attract around a million visitors each year.

From there we continued to Luzern, Switzerland, where visited the Lion Monument, or the Lion of Lucerne, a rock relief that commemorates the Swiss Guards who were killed in 1792 during the French Revolution, when revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris. It is one of the most famous monuments in Switzerland, visited annually by about 1.4 million tourists. We moved onward to Mount Pilatus Kulm (7,000 feet). Kulm is German for a mountain or peak. The journey took approximately 30 minutes onboard a closed gondola. For me, one of the highlights of our trip was the gondola ride. There is a brief stop at Krienseregg (3,369 feet) and at the top, we had spectacular views over the VIerwaldstattersee.

One of the more memorable experiences during the cruise was our elegant evening at Schloss Ehreshoven. Built in the 14th century and later expanded in the grand style of a Baroque manor house, Schloss Ehreshoven is surrounded by gracious 18th-century French gardens and a castle park. For nearly a century, the castle has been the heart of a charitable foundation whose main mission includes providing a home for unmarried aristocratic ladies without means in their golden years. Frequently used as a location for movies and TV shows, the Schloss provides an elegant setting for Tauck's exclusive cocktail reception and dinner, hosted by a member of the family.

The deck plan of MS Treasures is optimized for the utmost in spaciousness with over seventy-percent of the cabins measuring 225 square feet or larger. The ship boasts 14 spacious 300-square-foot Suites, 20 225-square-foot cabins, four 183-square-foot cabins, one 182-square-foot cabin and eight 150-square foot cabins.

Eighty-five-percent of the cabins have floor-to-ceiling windows with real French balconies. All cabins are equipped with in-room movies, a minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks, adjustable climate control, private bathroom with shower and pampering toiletries. Cabin beds are fitted with 400-thread satin bed linen, mako cotton pillows, 100% cotton blankets and thick pillow top mattresses. A variety of Tauck-exclusive Molton Brown bath products are provided along with terry cloth robes, towels and hair dryers. There are 110-volt and 220-volt outlets included in every cabin for small electronics and laundry service is available.

There is open seating in main dining room, the Compass Rose, with flexible dining times and vegetarian meals available. The alternate dining venue, Arthur's, offering classic favorites at lunch and dinner and lighter breakfasts in the morning. Al fresco dining is available on the Sun Deck, weather permitting. Unlimited complimentary beverages aboard ship include regional wine, beer and premium spirits in addition to specialty coffee, water and soft drinks.

Onboard entertainment includes enrichment lectures, piano music nightly and culinary demos. The ship offers guests use of a fitness center with massages available. Guests can also find a putting green and Jacuzzi on the Sun Deck.

Tauck delivered a first-class experience, with guests enjoying a high level of care and service with 41 crew plus one cruise director and one director for every 35 guests, along with handpicked local experts and guides – ensuring a seamless and enriching cruise experience.