New Years Cruise on the Rhine - a festive Extravaganza
27 Dec - 02 Jan 2024

SO MUCH IS INCLUDED

6 nights aboard in your choice of stateroom or suite, all with private bathrooms and fine organic vegan toiletries
Ship exclusive to Vegan Travel
Vegan fine dining (full board)
Welcome & Farewell cocktail
Self-service coffee and tea station
New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner and New Years day brunch
Glamorous New Year’s Eve Party
Most activities on board
Onboard Entertainment and Enrichment
Shipwide Internet and Wifi access
Onboard Yoga Classes with a certified instructor
Vegan Travel Cruise Director to guide and assist
Friendly, English-speaking staff who deliver consummate personal service throughout your journey
All taxes, port charges and fees
Gym facilities

New Years Cruise on the Rhine - a festive Extravaganza

What better way to welcome the new year than on a New Years Cruise with Vegan Travel?

If you’re looking to celebrate the holidays and welcome the New Year 2024 in incredible style, this special cruise is for you. You’ll sail from Germany through The Netherlands and Belgium along the legendary Rhine river and past incredible sights on this unique itinerary which covers the most breathtaking destinations. Explore charming old-world villages and Gothic cathedrals, and escape the hurry and hassle of the holidays as you relax onboard a luxurious river ship.

Raise a glass and revel in the best party of the year - minus all the work. Spend quality time toasting and dining with family and friends and leave all the details to us.

Enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne at midnight, party favors, and celebrate with friends and family for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam. You and your loved ones are invited to the big countdown bash, which includes a live band OR a DJ.

THIS IS YOUR ALL VEGAN FLOATING HOTEL

Welcome to another world, welcome aboard the MS Swiss Sapphire. Throw everything you've ever heard or read about exclusive river cruises overboard. This newly redesigned riverboat debuts in 2017 with a new deck plan optimized for the utmost in spaciousness – with 70% of her cabins measuring 225 square feet or larger. Despite being over 360-foot in length, the MS Swiss Sapphire has a relatively small capacity of just 104 guests and therefore offers an excellent guest-to-space ratio (similarly sized river ships average 160 guests).

Guest amenities inside her 14 lush 300-square-foot Suites include brocade upholstery, roomy walk-in closets with built-in drawers, spacious bathrooms with separate showers, and two French balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows that open to idyllic riverscapes. She also sports twenty roomy 225-square-foot cabins, four 183-square-foot cabins and one 182 square-foot cabin, similarly furnished. Eight 150-square-foot cabins are cozy and comfortable, and are similar in décor and style to our larger suites. 85% have floor-to-ceiling windows with real French balconies that open on to a balcony in the fresh air; all have in-room movies, minibar, adjustable heating and cooling, private bathroom and shower with pampering vegan toiletries. In addition to our main dining room, The Compass Rose, the ship also features Arthur's, a second dining venue offering casual fare.

Indescribable Comfort

We couldn’t find just the right words to describe the sumptuous bedding and amenities we custom ordered for your in-cabin cruising comfort... puffy white duvets and pillows of very fine mako cotton... 100% cotton blankets, temperature balancing and so soft to the skin... and thick pillow-top mattresses that lull you to sleep... along with the vegan bath products... absorbent terry cloth robes and fluffy towels... hair dryers... but we do know they are key for waking up refreshed and relaxed for your traveling pleasure.

day 1

Welcome onboard the beautiful Swiss Sapphire, your home for the next 7 nights and 8 incredible days. After you checked in at the reception of the ship and you made yourself comfortable in your cabin or suite, relax in panorama lounge and enjoy a welcome drink before getting to know the Vegan Travel Team during your cruise. Enjoy your first all-vegan dinner while our ship is already on the way to our first stop: Gorinchem.

Embarkation details:
Embarkation starts usually around 1 PM as your cabin or suite will be ready for you at that time. If you arrive earlier, you can already store your luggage onboard the ship and walk around Düsseldorf or relax in the panorama lounge of the ship. Latest arrival at the ship: 10 minutes before we set sail.

Get there:
Our ship will leave from Düsseldorf. There is one international airport in Düsseldorf itself (DUS), but you can also book a flight to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and catch a train to Düsseldorf.
For the best flight options, we recommend www.kayak.com
The official website to book train tickets in Germany is https://www.bahn.com/

The exact coordinates where our ship will be docked on embarkation day will be announced to us only a few weeks before the cruise starts. You will get the information with your travel documents. Usually, the river cruise ships are centrally located in Düsseldorf.

day 2

After you enjoyed your first all-vegan breakfast buffet, get ready to explore the Dutch city of Gorinchem. Culture, history, architecture and the beautiful views of the characteristic waterways: with a variety of sights, it’s quite a challenge to select the top-rated tourist attractions. Did you know Gorinchem is the biggest authentic fortified city of The Netherlands? Only for this reason the city has so much to offer. Over 400 years ago the medieval city became a modern fortress. Gorinchem has also played an indispensable role at the Old Dutch Waterline. As a result of the great military importance, Gorinchem is also known as a garrison town. While looking for sights, you’re standing practically in the middle of it!

Why not visit the Dalempoort, an old city gate where you can also discover the beautiful nature, or get to know the story behind Hugo Grotius at the Loevestein Castle or climb up the big church tower, the most striking building of the city centre, to get a great view of the city from above?

Vegan Travel will also offer shore excursions (not included in the cruise fare) in Gorinchem and the other places we will visit. Details will be available 6 – 8 weeks prior to the cruise departure and will be send to all booked guests via email.

During dinner enjoy scenic cruising on our way to Rotterdam.

day 3

Today you´ll have the opportunity to get to know Rotterdam, famous for its modern architecture, with landmarks such as the cube houses, the market hall, the Erasmus bridge and its many skyscrapers.

This city is an in-your-face contrast to old-world Europe, with its angular glass-clad buildings and ever-changing skyline. Having been bombed flat during WWII, Rotterdam quickly transformed itself and, as hope springs eternal, sprouted a flurry of modern buildings, cementing itself as an architecturally trailblazing city. Wander around Rotterdam and you'll see examples of architectural styles spanning post-WWII to the present day. Some impressive highlights include the Overblaak Development, designed by architect Piet Blom, De Rotterdam, Netherlands’ biggest building, Centraal Station, completed in March 2014, the Erasmus Bridge, nicknamed ‘the Swan’ due to its graceful shape, and the Van Nelle Factory, a former coffee, tea and tobacco factory.

From cutting edge contemporary galleries to one of the oldest museums in the Netherlands, Rotterdam has a diverse collection of art and it’s not just confined to museums – you´ll find outdoor sculptures, installations and street art spread throughout the city.

Why not book one of Vegan Travels shore excursions to learn more about the highlights of Rotterdam?

At 6 PM our ship will continue to set sail to Antwerpen!

day 4

After your vegan breakfast, get ready to explore the city of Antwerp.

Antwerp (Antwerpen/Anvers in Dutch/French) is Belgium’s second city, biggest port and capital of cool. It has long been a powerful magnet for everyone from fashion moguls and club queens to art lovers and diamond dealers. In the mid-16th century, it was one of Europe’s most important cities and home to baroque superstar painter Pieter Paul Rubens – as many a museum will regularly remind you. Despite many historical travails thereafter, and severe WWII bombing, Antwerp retains an intriguing medieval heart with plenty of café-filled cobbled lanes, a riverside fortress and a truly impressive cathedral. Today, however, Antwerp’s top drawcards are its vibrant fashion and entertainment scene, along with its startling architectural and cultural contrasts.

day 5

At 9:30 AM we will arrive in beautiful Amsterdam.

The city’s olive-green canals and handsome gabled mansions are indeed beautiful, but perhaps above all, it’s the flavor of the city that appeals – its inhabitants a creative and imaginative bunch who quite simply bring the place alight.

In the 17th century, Amsterdam boomed as a trading city, its merchant fleet transporting goods to every corner of the globe. This was Amsterdam’s Golden Age, the age of Rembrandt and Frans Hals, and it witnessed the construction of the fine mansions that are such a feature of the city today. Yet, the grandeur did not last and, surprising as it may seem today, Amsterdam in the 1950s was a staid and rather provincial city with a hesitant future.

The 1960s changed all that. Suddenly, Amsterdam found a new counter-cultural voice, becoming a hotbed of hippy action and all that entailed – with sit-ins and love-ins galore. Neither were the hippies without humour, as their well-planned ‘happenings’ focused on playful games highlighting specific urban problems from pollution to a lack of social housing.

Young Amsterdammers were energized, and the hippy movement infused the city with an adventurous spirit that survives today: it’s reflected in a string of cultural events such as Pride and King’s Day, a platoon of inventive art and photography galleries, and a penchant for design, from designer toothbrushes to a specialty condom shop, which manages to stretch everyone’s imagination.

There is no getting away from it – Amsterdam is pancake-flat. The great bonus is that this makes it perfect for cycling, and that’s exactly what city folk do by the thousand. This is citizen cycling – so no need for figure-hugging lycra and other specialist clobber – and, even better, Amsterdam has a legion of bike-hire outlets. Cyclists can relax, too – well almost: motorists are especially keen not to clip cyclists; this is not to do with an excess of kindness, but rather highway rules that favor the pedallers.

At night get ready for our New Years’ Gala-Dinner with vegan fine dining followed by our New Years’ Party with a live-band or DJ!

day 6

Sleep in on the first day of the year and enjoy your vegan New Years’ brunch in restaurant of the ship or if you get up early you can observe the beautiful landscapes passing by along our way to Nijmegen.

Did you know that Nijmegen, situated in the Dutch province of Gelderland, is the country’s oldest city?

Its history dates back to Roman times, all the way back to the 1st century BCE! And its secrets have not all been revealed yet. Just recently, in 2021, a 2,000-year-old blue glass bowl was unearthed by archaeologists – in pristine condition.

Unsurprisingly, visiting Nijmegen treats visitors to many centuries-old landmarks and structures. But don’t think that Nijmegen is sleepy and ancient.

In the modern city center, there are constant reminders of Nijmegen’s history everywhere. Sit at one of the many terrace cafes and view the De Waagh, a 17th century renaissance ‘weighing house’. The Grote Markt (Big Market or Town Square) is of course worth visiting on its own especially on Mondays and Saturdays as these are the designated ‘open market days’ when various market stalls are set up to sell their wares from Grote Markt to Burchtstraat and the adjacent streets. Several buildings have been designated as National Monuments too such as the Boterwaag and the Sint-Stevenspoort so just a walk around the square is a visual treat.

Nijmegen is also known for its impressive, historic castles and Batenburg Ruins is one of them. It provides a glimpse into one of the oldest castles in Gelderland (mid-12th century).

At night, around 8 PM our ship will depart to get back to Düsseldorf. Enjoy your last night onboard the MS Swiss Sapphire!

Date	Ports of Call	Arrival	Departure
27-12-23	Düsseldorf	-	18:00
28-12-23	Gorinchem	07:30	18:00
28-12-23	Rotterdam	21:00	-
29-12-23	Rotterdam	-	18:00
30-12-23	Antwerpen	04:30	17:00
31-12-23	Amsterdam	09:30	-
01-01-24	Amsterdam	-	05:00
01-01-24	Nijmegen	13:00	20:00
02-01-24	Düsseldorf	08:30	-
Note: The itinerary presented is subject to modification due to water levels, lock closures or other uncontrollable factors. Every effort will be made to operate cruise programs as planned, but changes may still be necessary throughout the cruise. This schedule is su bject to change. Your final itinerary will be provided with the cruise tickets.

MS Swiss Sapphire

THIS IS YOUR ALL VEGAN FLOATING HOTEL

Indescribable Comfort

Ship Gallery

Cat. 1 Riverview Stateroom

The Category 1 Riverview Staterooms are located on the lower deck (Emerald Deck) and have only small windows, which you cannot open for safety reasons.

Cabin Size: 150 sq. ft. / 14 m²

Beds: 2 European twin beds that can slide together; 200 cm x 156 cm (two beds 200 cm x 78 cm each when separate); 79" x 61" (two beds 79" x 31"); 4 pieces of luggage can be stored under beds

Stateroom Furnishings: Two chairs plus a desk, Built-in closet with drawers, 400 thread count cotton linens\white duvets and pillows of mako cotton

Private Bathroom: Yes, with shower and fine vegan toiletries, terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers

Stateroom Amenities: Two 2' x 3' windows, minibar replenished daily (not included), 32" LED TV, 220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom, telephone, safe and individual climate control, onboard wi-fi available (sponsored by Vegan Travel), easy under-bed luggage storage

Includes the following cabin numbers :

Cat. 2 Large Riverview Stateroom

The only Category 2 Riverview Stateroom is located on the lower deck (Emerald deck) and has only small windows, which you cannot open for safety reasons. This cabin is larger than category 1 cabins and is located forward on the Emerald deck.

Cabin Size: 183 sq. ft. / 17 m²

Beds: 2 European twin beds that can slide together; 200 cm x 156 cm (two beds 200 cm x 78 cm each when separate); 79" x 61" (two beds 79" x 31"); 4 pieces of luggage can be stored under beds

Stateroom Furnishings: Two chairs plus a desk, Built-in closet with drawers, 400 thread count cotton linens\white duvets and pillows of mako cotton

Private Bathroom: Yes, with shower and fine vegan toiletries, terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers

Includes the following cabin numbers :

Cat. 3 Riverview Stateroom with French Balcony

The Category 3 Riverview Staterooms with French Balcony are located on the main deck (Ruby Deck) and have one floor-to-ceiling French Balcony with one sliding door that opens.

Cabin Size: 150 sq. ft. / 14 m²

Beds: 2 European twin beds that can slide together; 200 cm x 156 cm (two beds 200 cm x 78 cm each when separate); 79" x 61" (two beds 79" x 31"); 4 pieces of luggage can be stored under beds

Stateroom Furnishings: Two chairs plus a desk, Built-in closet with drawers, 400 thread count cotton linens\white duvets and pillows of mako cotton

Private Bathroom: Yes, with shower and fine vegan toiletries, terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers

Stateroom Amenities: One floor-to-ceiling French Balcony (98 inches wide x 75 inches high) with one sliding door that opens, minibar replenished daily (not included), 32" LED TV, 220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom, telephone, safe and individual climate control, onboard wi-fi available (sponsored by Vegan Travel), easy under-bed luggage storage

Includes the following cabin numbers :

Cat. 4 Mini Suite with a French Balcony

The Category 4 Mini Suites with French Balcony are located forward on the main deck (Ruby Deck) and have one floor-to-ceiling French Balcony with one sliding door that opens.

Cabin Size: 183 sq. ft. / 17 m²

Beds: 2 European twin beds that can slide together; 200 cm x 160 cm (two beds 200 cm x 80 cm each when separate); 79" x 63" (two beds 79" x 31.5"); 4 pieces of luggage can be stored under beds

Stateroom Furnishings: Two chairs plus a desk, Built-in closet with drawers, 400 thread count cotton linens\white duvets and pillows of mako cotton

Private Bathroom: Yes, with shower and fine vegan toiletries, terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers

Includes the following cabin numbers :

Cat. 5 Mini Suite with a Frech Balcony

The Category 5 Mini Suites with French Balcony are located forward on the upper deck (Diamond Deck) and have one floor-to-ceiling French Balcony with one sliding door that opens.

Cabin Size: 183 sq. ft. / 17 m²

Beds: 2 European twin beds that can slide together; 200 cm x 160 cm (two beds 200 cm x 80 cm each when separate); 79" x 63" (two beds 79" x 31.5"); 4 pieces of luggage can be stored under beds

Stateroom Furnishings: Two chairs plus a desk, Built-in closet with drawers, 400 thread count cotton linens\white duvets and pillows of mako cotton

Private Bathroom: Yes, with shower and fine vegan toiletries, terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers

Includes the following cabin numbers :

Cat. 6 Junior Suite with a French Balcony

The Category 6 Junior Suites with French Balcony are located on the main deck (Ruby Deck) and have one floor-to-ceiling French Balcony with one sliding door that opens.

Cabin Size: 225 sq. ft. / 21 m²

Beds: 2 European twin beds that can slide together; 200 cm x 160 cm (two beds 200 cm x 80 cm each when separate); 79" x 63" (two beds 79" x 31.5"); 4 pieces of luggage can be stored under beds

Stateroom Furnishings: Two chairs plus a desk, Built-in closet with drawers, 400 thread count cotton linens\white duvets and pillows of mako cotton

Private Bathroom: Yes, with shower and fine vegan toiletries, terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers

Stateroom Amenities: One floor-to-ceiling French Balcony (98 inches wide x 75 inches high) with one sliding door that opens, minibar replenished daily (not included), 32" LED TV, 220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom, two chairs plus a desk, telephone, safe and individual climate control, onboard wi-fi available (sponsored by Vegan Travel), easy under-bed luggage storage

Includes the following cabin numbers :

Cat. 7 Master Suite

The Category 7 Master Suites with French Balcony are located on the upper deck (Diamond Deck) for best views and have twofloor-to-ceiling French Balcony with each one sliding door that opens.

Cabin Size: 300 sq. ft. / 28 m²

Beds: 2 European twin beds that can slide together; 200 cm x 180 cm (two beds 200 cm x 90 cm each when separate); 79" x 71" (two beds 79" x 35"); 4 pieces of luggage can be stored under beds

Stateroom Furnishings: Pull-out sleeping sofa 190 cm x 110 cm – 75" x 43", two club chairs & coffee table, a desk and a TV credenza, Walk-in closet and dresser, 400 thread count cotton linens\white duvets and pillows of mako cotton

Private Bathroom: Yes, large private bathroom with rainfall shower head and fine vegan toiletries, terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers

Stateroom Amenities: Two floor-to-ceiling French Balconies, each 98 inches wide x 75 inches high each with one sliding door that opens, pullout couch, minibar replenished daily (not included), 32" LED TV, Iron plus ironing board, 220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom, Easy under-bed luggage storage, Telephone, safe and individual climate control, onboard wi-fi available (sponsored by Vegan Travel)

Includes the following cabin numbers :

Cabin Category	PRICE PER PERSON
Cat. 1 Riverview Stateroom	1149€
Cat. 2 Large Riverview Stateroom	1299€
Cat. 3 Riverview Stateroom with French Balcony	1349€
Cat. 4 Mini Suite with a French Balcony	1399€
Cat. 5 Mini Suite with a Frech Balcony	1499€
Cat. 6 Junior Suite with a French Balcony	1689€
Cat. 7 Master Suite	1999€

Cruise Pricing Terms and Conditions:
Cruise prices listed above are the average "from prices," and are in Euros (unless noted otherwise), per person, based on 2 Guest(s) occupancy, and do not include airfare or any other additional charges (unless noted otherwise). Pricing and availability are subject to change at any time prior to successful payment processing and reservation creation. All prices and dates are subject to availability. All offers and upgrades are for select sailings and accommodation categories only, are subject to availability, and are capacity controlled. Bonus offers listed above (if any) are not combinable, unless noted otherwise. We reserve the right to correct errors.

Does the ship have Wifi?

Yes, there will be WiFi onboard the ship, which is also already included in your cruise fare! Being close to shore, the connection is quite good at river cruises but internet on board can never be as reliable as on land. There will always be some level of unreliability, especially the further out to sea you sail.

Our connection relies on a cellular or satellite terminal—the best possible solution for river cruising. Due to the nature of data bandwidth and latency, as well as potential interruptions in satellite signals based on terrain and weather, you may experience slower online connections than you are accustomed to at home. That’s why we recommend to download your content such as movies, series or software updates before the cruise, so there is enough data for everyone to use the WiFi.

What is not included?

International Flights
Airport transfers
Any additional food or beverages
Purchases of drinks, souvenirs, gifts and other personal items on board or ashore
Personal services such as spa, laundry and telecommunication charges
Baggage, travel cancellation and personal insurance

Where exactly will the ship be on embarkation day?

The exact coordinates will be announced to us only a few weeks before the cruise starts. You will get the information with your travel documents. What we can say by now is that you can assume the ship to be centrally located in Düsseldorf.

What are the typical demographics of other passengers onboard?

Travelers come from around the world, though all speak English fluently. They range in age from millenials to seniors. Couples, solo travelers, and honeymooners are all common. No one should feel out of place! A vegan journey of discovery not to be missed!

How can I book shore excursions?

Once we finished the planning of our shore excursions, all booked guests will receive an email with all details of our shore excursions.
Usually these details are available 6 - 8 weeks prior to cruise departure.

You will also be able to the details here at the FAQs. It is highly recommended to book shore excursions prior to the cruise.

When will I receive my cruise tickets and travel documents with all details?

Vegan Travel will send out the travel documents and cruise tickets via email 3 - 6 weeks prior to the cruise.

Which Airport do I fly to?

You would fly into Düsseldorf Airport (DUS).
For the best flight options we recommend to book flights via www.kayak.com

You could also fly into Frankfurt airport (FRA) as there are very good train connections to Düsseldorf: https://www.bahn.com/

If you live in or close to Germany we recommend using the train. There are very good train connections to Düsseldorf: https://www.bahn.com/

Do you offer any cruise extensions for this cruise?

No, for our New Year's cruise we won´t offer any cruise extensions.