Sailing on Three Rivers with Tauck River Cruises

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

In August 2024, we got the chance to learn more about Tauck River Cruises. We were invited to sail on the Three Rivers Cruise with Tauck River cruises.

Full disclosure: for the first time in 30 years, we were invited to experience the Tauck product for free—every other of our 26 river cruises, we have paid to go on the cruise. We want to emphasize that this in no way influences our opinions. We will write two blogs, one focused on the excursions (this one) and one devoted to food, as one day or so of food is not enough to fully rate this area

Due to some train maintenance and construction problems, we were only able to join the tour in Cologne on Day 3, despite being in Hamburg on the starting day of the cruise. It should have been a 5 hour trip but turned into a two day delay.

So, let’s take a 10-day trip on Three Rivers—The Rhine, Main and Danube to learn about their excursions and our experiences. We sailed with 73 guests.

Route Map and Overview

Here is how Tauck describes in its overview of this route the highlights you will experience and see (this route sails in two directions and we were to embark in Amsterdam (going south).

• Explore three glorious rivers on this very exciting cruise.

• Travel Germany's Romantic Road, visit the famed Nürburgring motorsports complex, savor the tastes of Frankfurt, and fully immerse in the historic beauty of towns like Nijmegen, Rothenburg and Cologne.

• Embark your riverboat in Regensburg, Germany, cruising the Danube to Nüremberg for tours above and underground.

• Make your way into the countryside to visit Bayreuth, Bamberg and Rothenburg along the Romantic Road. Artisan crafts and passions add local color to your cruise along the Main, where you'll enjoy a hands-on visit to a historic paper mill or be privy to a private piano collection during a visit with your eclectic host.

• Frankfurt's name alone evokes images of the all-American hotdog that took its cue from the sausages that are made here; discover the city's local specialties on your foodie tour, before a sparkling dinner at Schlösshotel Kronberg raises the culinary bar.

• Set a course for the racetrack at Nürburgring or slow your pace on a bicycle ride.

Day 1 Embark in Amsterdam

• Tour begins: 4:00 PM. A transfer is included from Schiphol International Airport or Amsterdam Centraal Station to your riverboat.

• Check-in time aboard ship is 4:00 PM for all guests.

• Join us for a welcome reception followed by dinner onboard your riverboat tonight and an evening cruise on Amsterdam's storied canals, after-dinner drink in hand.

Day 2 Pursue your interests in Nijmegen

• You have a choice of sightseeing adventures today.

• Join our local guide for a walking tour into the heart of Nijmegen, the oldest town in the Netherlands and vibrant with medieval sights that straddle streets from the 16th-century Lower Town by the banks of the Waal River to the older Upper Town.

• Alternatively, learn about the Dutch passion for horticulture during an expertly guided visit to the Gardens of Appeltern and a water pumping station,

During conversations with other guests, many liked this garden tour. One person, knowing we missed the first part told us Tauck also paid for beverages at the end of the tour. This is one of the perks of an all-inclusive cruise line.

• or venture to the Freedom Museum in Groesbeek, chronicling 20th century history in the Netherlands.

• Your ship sails this afternoon, bound for Köln, Germany.

Here are some of the great sights to see in Nijmegen had we selected this tour:

Day 3 Köln (Cologne) & Bonn

• Spend a leisurely morning aboard the riverboat, arriving in Köln before lunch for a walking tour with a local guide.

• Founded by the Romans in 38 BC, the city is like a living textbook of history and architecture, with Roman ruins, medieval churches, avant-garde buildings and the famous filigree-towered Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

St Martin's Cathedral and the Old Fish Market in Cologne

Day 4 The Middle Rhine Valley

• Dock in Koblenz for your choice of excursions.

This was the original docking location provided online, but we actually docked in Boppard, which is 12 miles south of Koblenz. To compensate for this change, Tauck offered a walking tour in the small village of Boppard, an old walled city.

Boppard--the church in the center of the picture are the Saint Severus's Church.

The Electorial Castle. It now houses the Thonet Collection, who is a famous furniture maker Michael Thonet and was born here. It also houses the Boppard Museum. An unusual place for a castle so close to the river, it was used to collect tolls in the Middle Ages.

• Drive to the Nürburgring racetrack that was featured in the movie Rush; see its Grand Prix racetrack built in 1984, and a long Nordschleife "North loop" track, built in the 1920s, around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel Mountains.

We talked with several that went on this tour and they liked it but said the was no free time and no cars were being tested during their visit.

• Or, go at your own pace as you ride a bicycle along the Rhine from Koblenz to Boppard.

There was a bike tour that departed from Boppard. The time we were ported in Boppard was a little over an hour and we stopped briefly to pick up the riders later after they finished their ride.

• Enjoy head-turning scenic beauty this afternoon as your riverboat charts a course through the picture-book landscapes of the Middle Rhine Valley, designated a UNESCO World Heritage for its history as an important transport route and its castle-crowned hilltops.

Now the most scenic groups of castles in Europe, as we sail the Middle Rhine. Most of us were on the top deck during this phase of the cruise and like many cruise lines, one of the cruise directors added in-depth commentary about these scenic castles. It was the best, detailed commentary I have heard from any river cruise line. Having sailed this perhaps 10 or more times, it never gets old.

Lorelei—this tree-covered cliff inspired the legend of a love forsaken siren who lures sailors to their death by her enchanting song in this swift flowing, narrow part of the Rhine.

Schönburg Castle on the rock massif above Oberwesel

I always wondered about these small castles on this route. I learned they were fake castle built by the Nazis to make it appear the tunnels and bridges were important castles and avoid bombing by the Allied Forces during WW II

• Arrive in Wiesbaden this evening where a Tauck Exclusive dinner at Schlosshotel Kronberg, built in 1893 under the commission of Empress Victoria Friedrich and sparkling with antiques and paintings from her private estate.

In a constant theme of this cruise, we actually ported in Mainz. After about a 10 minute walk, we arrived at the buses.

We arrived at Schlosshotel Kronberg after about a 50 minute bus ride on one of Tauck coaches (buses). 3 buses followed us during the entire trip and they were excellent and comfortable. Here are 2 photos of the outside of the venue for tonight’s meal.

The Castle Hotel where we had the special dinner.

The castle hotel is stunning and we were greeted with champagne before the start of the meal. The wines were excellent and from the vineyards on the estate. They served a white and a red with the meal.

The menu was a soup, sea bass main course and dessert. The menu was fixed with no options, and not being a fish lover, was not my favorite meal during this trip. That being said, the fish was properly prepared and I did enjoy it. Several other guests told me that they would have preffered a different meal, but most seemed to enjoy the quality food and setting. The service was a five star experience.

These wines are produced on the estate and were excellent.

Day 5 A Taste of Frankfurt

• While its name evokes images of the famous sausage that inspired modern-day hot dogs, Frankfurt is home to one of the most impressive skylines in Germany, with world-renowned museums, historic cathedrals and ornately gabled half-timbered houses lining its streets and squares.

• Join a local guide for a walking tour of its landmark sites or whet your appetite for some of the city's most tempting culinary specialties on a tasting walk.

• Return to your riverboat for an afternoon of cruising, followed by dinner at leisure onboard.

Old Town Frankfurt The Fountain of Justice in 2022

Old Town Frankfurt Old St. Nicholas Church during the Christmas Markets in 2022

Old Town in 2024 during this cruise. This building is the Historical Museum of Frankfurt.

Wertheim House is the only original half-timbered house in the Old Town. We ate in the restaurant here in 2022--the German fare was very good.

Old Town Frankfurt main square preparing for a festival.. In the distance you can see the Fountain of Justice (compare it to the previous picture during our visit in 2022 during the Christmas Markets to see the detail of this fountain).

Our tasting tour--the Frankfurt hot dog and the special green sauce which is a specialty of Frankfurt.

This is the store that provided us the taste of Frankfurt

Day 6 Paper or Pianos in Middle Main

• Dating back to the 7th century, Wertheim is located where the Main River meets the Tauber River in southwest Germany in a fairy-tale setting.

• It is crowned with a hilltop castle that reigns over the city with delightful views, is renowned for its Franconian wine and glass making – and is home to a paper mill and piano collection that are yours to experience on a choice of excursions.

• See how paper is made on an interactive visit to a working paper mill

• or meet the owner of a private piano collection as your host shows you his prized musical instruments.

They also added a tour to a Blacksmith Workshop and Museum.

We learned also that at the end of these tours, there was a wine tasting not listed on the website, which many enjoyed.

We did not take any of these tours, as they all incuded long bus rides. I really couldn’t understand why there was not a tour of the pretty village of Wertheim, but it soon became apparant—once the tours departed , we were sailing again. You either took the tour, or stayed onboard. This cruise did not really allow any independent walking time and there often seemed to be be little free time.

Day 7 Bavarian Beauty on the Romantic Road

• Arrive in Würzburg this morning, set on the banks of the Main River in the heart of Franconian wine country along the Romantic Road for a choice of shore excursions.

• Join a local guide for a walking tour of Würzburg, known for its lavish Baroque and Rococo architecture, including the 18th-century Residenz Palace.

• Or visit the walled Bavarian town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber at the north end of the Romantic Road, resplendent with medieval architecture, half-timbered houses and a cobblestoned Old Town.

The fresco shows paintings of 4 continents--Europe, America, Asia and Africa.

Staircase leading to the impressive fresco painting. It is the largest ceiling fresco ever painted. It was painted by Giovanni Basttista Tiepolo in 1752/53.

Detail of the Imperial Room. Some say the dog (shown at the lower right) eye's will follow you while you are in the room, as they seem to move--an interesting optical illusion..

There were excellent tapestry displays in many of the palace rooms

Sadly, this was a rushed tour. We were bused from the docking location, spent an hour and half viewing the palace with the extensive fresco explinations by the tour guide and there was not time to view the magnificant gardens. I often felt the sailing schedule was rushed and shortened tour time.

Here is another great choice the walled city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. These photos are from a past visit to this awesome city. The tour was all day (7 hours) and Tauck provided money for lunch (25 Euros per person) and bathroom tokens during this tour. This was my choice for the best tour on this cruise.

Plönlein Square, This is probably the most famous picture of Rothenburg . Translated from German, Plönlein is actually "the small square at a fountain”.

Burger Gate (Castle Gate) Rothenburg. This gate was built around 1460 and is the western gate entrance. It is the highest gate tower of the town fortifications.

Day 8 Bamberg or Bayreuth

• Your riverboat docks in Bamberg this morning, located on the River Regnitz close to the Danube Main Canal, for a day of Bavarian discoveries.

• You can choose to join our local guide for an in-depth tour of Bamberg, spread over seven hills that earned is nickname, "Franconian Rome."

• Explore its medieval old town, surrounded by Europe's largest intact wall and discover the special smoked beer it is famous for.

New Residence Rose Garden, Bamberg, Germany

Bayreuth tour

• Or drive to nearby Bayreuth to see its Baroque opera house, charming palaces, historical gardens and museums on a locally guided tour.

• At its center is the former home of composer Richard Wagner, whose music is featured every year at the Richard Wagner Festival, Germany's most important opera event.

We saw some pictures of the opera house—it is absolutely gorgeous. Others told us it was well worth the hour drive by the Tauck buses.

Dinner is at leisure onboard the riverboat.

Day 9 Choices in Nuremberg

• An important commercial hub from the Middle Ages onward, Nuremberg, the second largest city in Bavaria, is steeped in a rich historic legacy that can be seen and felt today, both above and below ground.

• View its well-preserved landmarks, including the imperial castle and the walled Old Town on a locally guided walk that provides insights about this Franconian capital

• or go underground with a local guide to learn about centuries of history both above and below ground.

• Explore the historic rock-cut tunnels that were cut into the rock starting in 1380.

• Their main uses were beer storage for local breweries but in the 1940s, they were also used as air raid bunkers.

• Enjoy time to discover the sights on your own before returning to the riverboat for a farewell cocktail and dinner.

Nuremburg Watch Tower. There are 4 km of walls and 67 defensive towers that ring the old town

Day 10 Journey Home

• Tour ends: Regensburg.

• Disembark ship in Regensburg this morning.

• A transfer from your riverboat to Munich's International Airport is included, approximately a 90-minute drive away. Most of these were private cars or vans.

• Flights should be booked after 12 noon. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport.

• For additional nights in Munich, ask at booking.

I have no idea why this cruise sailed all the way to Regensburg and we did not tour this wonderful city. Here is some what you would have seen:

Watch Tower Gate on the Old Stone Bridge Regensburg, Germany

Porta Praetoria Gate from the Roman ruins that are used in a new building in Regensburg

Our Final Thoughts

This is a very interesting tour, with some unique items included that are not offered by other river cruise lines. Since we have sailed these routes on different lines, some of the port stops were very familiar and some new.

We enjoyed this trip and would recommend it to all, but it is only happening in 2024—it will not be available in 2025. I think I know why—it is just too ambitious and too dependent upon the sailing schedule, but that is just a guess. One thing was clear—Tauck does an awesome job on the provided tours.

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Whatever your Dream Destinations are, we are here to help you get the best possible vacation based on what is important to you! We will provide you high quality, expertly planned travel. Please give me a call 713-397-0188 (Hank) or email me at hschrader@visitdd.com . We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!

ANNE has earned a degree from the University of Houston in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Serving as the President of Visit Dream Destinations, LLC, since 2016, she is uniquely experienced professional travel advisor with over 26 years’ experience in the travel industry. Among her numerous certifications, she is a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) by the Travel Institute, considered the gold standard in travel agent certification and she is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC) by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), as well Luxury Cruise Specialist also from CLIA. Having traveled often to Europe since 1989, she has expanded on her certification as a Destination Specialist in Western Europe (DS) with extensive first-hand experience in luxury vacations. She holds numerous other specialty designations from individual vendors. An expert photographer, she delights in capturing the true essence of destinations to share with all.

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 52 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

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