Bike & Boat on the Rhine, Main & Neckar, MS CASANOVA

Travel to Frankfurt am Main on your own. Boarding is from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. We’ll be casting off as early as 5:00 p.m.! Enjoy your first dinner cruise as we sail down the Main River into the Rhine. Your ship will moor for the night in the idyllic town of Nierstein.

With nearly 1,000 hectares of vineyards, Nierstein is the largest wine-growing community on the Rhine. Start by visiting the historic town center with its medieval market square and noble mansions. Cycling directly along the Rhine from Nierstein on the Rhine Cycle Path, you’ll first head to the imperial city of Worms. The beautiful bike path across Friesenheimer Island later offers a striking contrast to the BASF complex on the opposite bank of the Rhine. A few kilometers further on, you’ll reach the confluence of the Neckar and the Rhine near Mannheim, where your ship is already waiting for you. Perhaps you’ll still have time for a detour through the “City of Squares” to the Baroque palace.

Enjoy your breakfast on board as your ship takes you first to Heidelberg. Here, you’ll begin today’s bike tour along the Neckar River, passing through Ziegelhausen and the Odenwald Forest on your way to Nackarsteinach. Via Hirschhorn, you’ll reach today’s destination, Eberbach. As you stroll through the winding alleys and across the small squares, you can enjoy the lively atmosphere of this historic Staufer town.

Look forward to one of the most beautiful stretches of the Neckar River. Between Eberbach and Bad Wimpfen, your ship glides past wooded slopes, sun-drenched vineyards, and historic castles. Impressive structures such as Hornberg Castle and Horneck Palace dominate the landscape, before the medieval silhouette of Bad Wimpfen, with its striking towers, provides the grand finale to this delightful river journey. Afterward, you’ll enjoy a leisurely bike ride along the Neckar toward Heilbronn—the heart of the Württemberg wine region. This lively city combines historic sights with a modern vibe and invites you to stroll, savor the moment, and linger.

Today you’ll have the opportunity to experience a change of scenery: In the morning, your ship will first take you back to Bad Wimpfen. From here, you’ll set out on your bike tour through the romantic Neckar Valley, along one of the most beautiful sections of the Neckar Valley Bike Trail. Wooded slopes, historic towns, castles, and vineyards will accompany you along the way. Charming towns like Gundelsheim and Eberbach invite you to take a break before you reach Hirschhorn, one of the most beautiful little towns on the Neckar. The picturesque old town and the castle perched high above the river mark the end of this impressive cycling stage. Late in the evening, your ship will take you to Heidelberg. Enjoy the passing scenery from the sun deck and relax as you reflect on the past few days of cycling.

In the morning, it’s worth taking a detour to Heidelberg’s Old Town. Visible from afar, the ruins of Heidelberg Castle tower over the Old Town. Stroll across the famous Heidelberg Sandstone Bridge or through winding alleys and picturesque squares. Afterward, you can choose between two bike tours. The shorter route takes you, among other places, to the Roman town of Ladenburg with its historic old town, before you reach Mannheim, known as the “City of Squares.” On the longer bike tour along the Kurpfalz Route, one of Germany’s most significant palace complexes awaits you. Schwetzingen Palace is best known for its magnificent palace gardens and combines Baroque elegance with a sprawling English landscape garden. In the evening, your ship will set sail again to moor for the night in Nierstein on the Rhine.

Today you’ll complete your 3-Rivers Tour: To wrap up your trip, you’ll follow the Main Cycle Route from Mainz, the capital of Rhineland-Palatinate, to the vibrant Main metropolis of Frankfurt. The mostly flat route runs along the Main River through idyllic floodplain landscapes, past small riverside towns and green parks. Enjoy the leisurely ride before Frankfurt’s impressive skyline comes into view on the horizon. Amid the historic old town, modern architecture, and lively banks of the Main, a perfect conclusion to your cycling trip awaits you.

Disembarkation by 9:00 a.m., followed by individual travel home.