André Rieu Maastricht and Cruise 2026

Vrijthof Square Andre Rieu Maastricht 2026 Seating Plan

Rank 1, 3 & 5 tickets are available.

The concert –what to expect

Most concert goers will descend into the city an hour before the show begins.

Our shuttle bus leaves at 7.30pm from the Garner Hotel Maastricht and drops the group at the town hall which is only a 5 minute walk (10 in heels) from the concert. The bus remains at the same location for pick up back to the hotel after the concert.

If you are staying in the city centre hotels, you can simply walk straight to the concert location.

Once inside the grounds of the concert there are several stalls and vendor’s. A majority of these will only accept cash so please remember this if you wish to purchase refreshments or programmes before the concert.

The concert is fully seated, with large viewing screens either side of the main stage.

The concert begins at 9pm sharp! and ends at approx. 11.45pm.

It really is an experience of a lifetime, all the songs tell a story and lift your spirt right up into the skies above in Maastricht. Prepare to be astounded!

You can choose to stay in Garner Hotel Maastricht or upgrade to the Superior Crowne Plaza Hotel Maastricht.

Garner Hotel Maastricht

The Garner Hotel Maastricht provides the perfect blend of comfort and elegance for classical music lovers. Located just outside of the historic city centre, the hotel features 165 soundproofed, air-conditioned rooms with extra-long beds, flat-screen TVs and desks. Guests can enjoy a rich breakfast buffet, dine at the Dreamz Restaurant and unwind at the stylish hotel bar. With scenic surroundings and easy access to transport links, it has proven to be an ideal stay for our clients for many years. Our Stein Travel escort will stay here for the full duration of your trip and will be on hand to help with any issues or queries you might have. 

Superior Crowne Plaza Hotel Maastricht

Nestled along the banks of the River Meuse, the Crowne Plaza Maastricht offers a luxurious experience in the heart of the historic city center. The hotel boasts spacious and comfortable rooms featuring superior bedding for a restful stay. Just around the corner, you’ll find high-end boutiques on Hoogbrugstraat and Rechtstraat. The historic sights of Maastricht’s old town, including charming squares lined with cafés, are only a short walk away, as is the Bonnefanten Museum, showcasing art from medieval times to the present. Guests can savor regional dishes while enjoying scenic river views at de Mangerie restaurant or indulge in Japanese cuisine at Kobe.

About Maastricht

Maastricht, in the south of Holland boasts beautiful historic little districts, welcoming and exceptionally good restaurants and eateries, and plenty of art and attractions. And the best thing is that you can see the entire city centre on foot. If you want to enjoy the beautiful nature and castles outside the city boundaries, a bicycle can be easily hired.

Maastricht is one of the oldest cities in Holland, as you will quickly discover when strolling through the historic inner city. Churches, city walls, monumental merchant houses and big squares merge seamlessly with a comprehensive and varied range of shops. Maastricht is also a city of indulgence and culinary highlights. There are pleasant lunchrooms, Michelin-starred restaurants, vineyard farms and an extensive range of excellent regional products and dishes. In short, ‘bons vivants’ should not miss out on Maastricht!

Maastricht highlights

Maastricht is a great city with many historical structures and squares. But there’s one place in particular that you cannot miss visiting and that’s ‘het Vrijthof’. This square has attracted people since Medieval times when pilgrims came to see the grave of Saint Servatius. These days, Vrijthof is known for its outdoor cafés and events.

Around Vrijthof Square

Het Vrijthof is a beautiful square in the center of old town Maastricht, paved with old cobblestones and surrounded by trees. Many very nice restaurants and cafes encircle the square. Adjacent to the Vrijthof is the St. Servatius Basilica, a Romanesque cathedral with crypts and treasures.

Outdoor cafés of Maastricht

Maastricht is renowned the world over for it's great terraces and cafes. During the summer you can enjoy the outdoor cafés of Vrijthof Square. Enjoy one of the many different kinds of beers that are served in Maastricht or try a piece of Limburgse Vlaai, a fruit pie famous among the Dutch.

Day 1 – 19th July – Arrival in Cologne

Transfer by coach to your five-star cruise ship moored in picturesque Cologne. The dedicated English-speaking crew welcomes you on board and helps you to your cabin. After settling into your spacious and tastefully furnished accommodation, there is time to familiarise yourself with this splendid ship.

Day 2 – 20th July – Koblenz & Boppard

Arrive in Koblenz located at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers for a guided tour, before continuing to Boppard.

• Guided tour of Koblenz
• Visit to Boppard
• A live folk music performance on board

Koblenz

When you peek out from your cabin this morning, you will realise the ship has slipped quietly away from Cologne; the view that greets you is of vine-covered valleys sides aglow in the morning light, bidding you a warm welcome to the charms of the Rhine.

There is nothing quite like that feeling of anticipation when gliding alongside the promenade of a river port, snatching tantalising glimpses of what lies ashore, and Koblenz – beautifully located at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers – doesn’t disappoint.

The city is immersed in two millennia of history: founded by the Romans, it was successively occupied by the Franks, chosen as a residence of the German prince electors, conquered by the French and fortified by the Prussians! All have left their marks in the city’s rich array of castles, churches and historic buildings.

Koblenz is a romantic’s dream – forest-covered hillsides dominate the skyline, while the lower slopes are strewn with pretty, half-timbered buildings so typical of the Rhineland. After a satisfying breakfast, disembark to enjoy an insightful guided tour through ‘Old Koblenz’, a patchwork of narrow streets and squares, many lined with exquisitely restored traditional houses and cosy cafés.

There is time to explore on your own, maybe taking in a little shopping, before ambling back to the cruise ship.

Continue upstream as you enjoy your first relaxing lunch on board and before long you arrive in Boppard, a gorgeous town on a dramatic, almost U-shaped river bend. 

Boppard

Known as the ‘Pearl of the Rhine’, Boppard is renowned for its storybook medieval atmosphere of cobbled streets and ancient houses. Here you will enjoy free time to explore highlights including the beautiful white stone St. Severus and Carmelite churches, the marketplace with the ruins of the fortress and the old town with its charming winding alleys and half-timbered houses.

The early evening is an ideal time to wander along the town’s attractive riverside Rheinallee promenade before thoughts turn to tonight’s menu. After dinner, delight in the upbeat sounds of Rhenish folk music with a live performance on traditional instruments. 

Optional Excursions

• Rhine wine tasting 

  Duration: 1.5hrs

  Price: €12pp (2025) & 2026 prices will be available soon

  Sample a selection of the delightful wines produced in this section of the Rhine Valley, famous for its Riesling production. Visit a local winery and learn all about the different wines grown in this area during the tasting.

  Optional excursion can be done during free time.

  Please contact us for more information and to add the above experience to your booking, or you may have the chance on board to book. Minimum numbers apply, so if not enough guests opt for this extra, it may not happen. 

• Cable car ride to Ehrenbreitstein fortress and visit

  Duration: At leisure

  Price: £19pp (2025) & £21pp (2026)

  Take a scenic cable car over the Rhine River to the impressive Ehrenbreitstein fortress, which stands 118 meters tall on its riverbanks. Built by the Prussians to fend off the French, it's the second-largest preserved fortress in Europe, with an unparalleled view of Koblenz and the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. Here, you can explore the castle's 1000-year history at leisure before returning to Koblenz by cable car.

  Optional excursion can be done during free time or instead of the walking tour of Koblenz.

  Please contact us at least two weeks before you’re set to depart to add the above experience to your booking before departure. 

Day 3 – 21st July – Rhine Gorge & Mainz

Marvel at the natural beauty as you cruise through the Rhine Gorge, then see Mainz with your local guide.

• Scenic morning cruise through the Rhine Gorge
• Guided tour of Mainz

Rhine Gorge

Slipping your moorings in Boppard, cruise through the Rhine Gorge, where the waters narrow to one-fifth their normal width and flow more swiftly. Sheer valley walls soar and magnificent birds of prey glide on the thermals above.

Teutonic knights built the numerous redoubtable castles as symbols of their power and to extract tolls from ships, but the fortresses now stand as silent ruins on forested hillsides as reminders of how fortunes change with the passage of history. This really is the magical Rhine of our imagination, so find a comfortable spot on the Sun Deck or in the forward observation lounge and enjoy the experience of cruising this famous stretch of water.

Mainz

Leave the ship and embark on a guided tour of Mainz’s historic old town, a fascinating journey through its charming cobblestone streets. Your guide will share intriguing stories and insights about the town's rich history and architectural highlights along the way. The tour will end at the exquisite St. Stephan’s Church, renowned for its captivating Chagall windows, which you will have the opportunity to admire up close.

After exploring the church, you will have some free time to wander the vibrant market square, where local vendors showcase a variety of goods. You can also visit the magnificent St. Martin’s Cathedral, an architectural gem that is a prominent feature in Mainz's cityscape and is over a thousand years old.

Optional Excursions

• Guided tour of the Gutenberg Museum

  Duration: 1.5hrs

  Price: £10pp (2025) & £11pp (2026)

  With your guide, walk to the Gutenberg museum, dedicated to Johannes Gutenberg, a native of Mainz, who invented printing with movable metal type over 500 years ago! It houses a reconstruction of his workshop and, outstandingly, two original 1455 Gutenberg Bibles.

  Founded in 1900 by Mainz citizens, the museum highlights the history of letterpress printing through technical tools, typesetting machines, and printing presses. As a "World Museum for the Art of Printing," it features sections on the origins of printing in East Asia, scripts from the Islamic world, and the development of manuscripts. Other displays cover the history of printing presses, bookbinding, fine press techniques, and the production of paper and colours.

  Optional excursion can be done instead of the walking tour of Mainz.

  Please contact us at least two weeks before you’re set to depart to add the above experience to your booking before departure. Minimum numbers apply, and capacity is limited. 

Day 4 – 22nd July – Heidelberg

Explore Heidelberg – one of Germany’s most perfect architectural treasures – on a guided tour.

Option 1: Morning visit to Heidelberg with guided tour and some free time

Option 2: Extended visit to Heidelberg with guided tour and free time to explore, with lunch at leisure

Overnight cruise further downstream, and, after breakfast, take a short drive to Heidelberg, undoubtedly one of Germany’s most perfect architectural treasures and all the more remarkable because it escaped bombing during the Second World War.

Set in an almost idealised German landscape, this jewel sits on the banks of the River Neckar, surrounded by forests and with an imposing castle dominating the church spires and terracotta gabled roofs of the compact Aldstadt – the romantic Old Town. Its 14th-century university, one of the most prestigious in Europe, lends Heidelberg a genteel atmosphere rather similar to its ‘twin’ town – Cambridge. During the 19th century it was the centre of Germany’s Romantic Movement, on the route of the ‘Grand Tour’ and visited by many artists including JMW Turner, who captured its splendours for eternity.

There are few more delightful places to explore, as you will discover on your guided walking tour, which reveals its principal attractions – including the magical stone bridge with its twin white towers, its imposing castle that stands guard over its romantic old town – and local secrets. Afterwards, you will have time to explore on your own before returning to the ship for lunch.

The afternoon is free for you to relax on board or explore Mannheim.

Alternatively, you can choose to extend your stay to explore more of Heidelberg. Enjoy the local cuisine for lunch at your leisure and then return to Mannheim in the mid-afternoon for some free time. 

Day 5 – 23rd July – Strasbourg & Colmar

Arrive in France and discover the charming city of Strasbourg, with the option to take the famous wine route to Colmar.

Option 1: Morning guided tour of Strasbourg

Option 2: Full day excursion with guided tours of Colmar and Strasbourg with lunch at leisure

A live music performance on board.

By breakfast you will have arrived in France and the charming city of Strasbourg, capital of the Alsace region. The city is a complete delight – its centre a mosaic of winding alleys and lanes lined with quirkily crooked, half-timbered houses largely unchanged since the 14th century. During its history Strasbourg has been both German and French, and you see influences of both in its language, cuisine and appearance, creating a truly individual ambience.

This morning, you have a couple of exciting choices.

Strasbourg

Explore this delightful city on a walking tour with a local guide leading you to its enchanting centre – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – taking in the Petite France quarter of pretty canals lined with classic pastel-coloured houses crisscrossed with timbers and with flower-filled window boxes, the famous multi-towered Ponts Couverts, or covered bridges, and, of course, the stunning Gothic Notre-Dame Cathedral, which Victor Hugo memorably described as a ‘veritable tiara of stone’.

Return to the ship for lunch and this afternoon you are free to explore Strasbourg further.

Alternatively, join a full day excursion, starting with a drive along the legendary Alsace wine route to Colmar, passing through a string of picturesque villages, wine-producing towns and exceptional landscapes. Enjoy all this on a splendidly scenic drive, soon arriving in the medieval town of Colmar, the best-preserved in Alsace. 

Colmar

Little known outside the area, it’s a magical concoction of canals, former merchants’ houses, ancient religious buildings and antique shops.

The cathedral quarter is surrounded by pastel-coloured half-timbered houses displaying the intricate wrought-iron hanging signs so typical of this area of Europe. You have plenty of time here to sit, enjoy a coffee and a lunch at leisure, watch the world go by or just wander.

Return to Strasbourg for a guided tour of the Petit France quarter, after which you are free to explore at leisure.

Return to the ship for dinner, and afterwards unwind to a medley of live music and songs performed on board by a professional duo.

Optional Excursions

• Land train tour of Strasbourg

  Price: from €8pp

  Duration: 30-40 mins

  Hop on the Little Train and discover the charming narrow streets of Strasbourg's old town, the romantic 'Petite France', the many quays and covered bridges and the famous Cathedral Square.

  Optional excursions can be done after or instead of the guided walking tour.

  This excursion can be arranged with your Cruise Concierge on board and is payable locally.  

• Take a cruise tour of Strasbourg

  Price: from €15.70pp

  Duration: 1hr 10mins

  Discover Strasbourg from a unique perspective – the water! As it flows through the centre of the city, you'll explore three of Strasbourg's 15 districts. Along the way, you'll spot the UNESCO-protect Grande Île, the imperial district of Neustadt, the European Parliament and more.

  Optional excursions can be done after or instead of the guided walking tour.

  This excursion can be arranged with your Cruise Concierge on board and is payable locally.  

Day 6 – 24th July – Rüdesheim

Relax as you cruise toward Rüdesheim this morning. Upon arrival, you can choose between free time or a selection of experiences.

Free morning sailing towards Rüdesheim

Afternoon option 1: Rüdesheim with visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet

Afternoon option 2: Rüdesheim with cable car to Niederwald Monument

Cruise towards Rüdesheim

As you started your journey back downstream, after a leisurely breakfast head up to the sun deck and take in the views from the comfort of a sun lounger or retire to the lounge to chat over a coffee with newly made friends. Watch the idyllic scenery slipping past through the panoramic windows: rolling hills and fertile vineyards, home to the Liebfraumilch wines of the region, oxbow lakes, long deserted by the river flow and now havens for bird and wildlife.

Rüdesheim

After a relaxing morning cruise, arrive in Rüdesheim after lunch for free time to explore – if you imagine a typical Rhine town, then this would be it. Narrow crooked streets lead down to the sweeping river with a backdrop of wooded and vine-covered slopes. Riesling is the speciality grape here and Rüdesheim has many atmospheric Weinstuben where you can sample local wines produced from the surrounding vineyards.

Alternatively, you can choose from one of the included experiences:

Consider exploring Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet, where you delve into the fascinating realm of automatic musical devices. You will encounter an incredible assortment of instruments that operate like machines, from intricate, delicate music boxes to a grand orchestrion.

If you would rather embrace nature, you could take a scenic ride in a two-person cable car above the renowned vineyards of Rüdesheim, soaking in the exquisite views of the Rhine River and the idyllic countryside. Once you reach the summit, the scenery becomes even more spectacular, and you can enjoy a leisurely walk around the Niederwald monument, which commemorates the unification of Germany by the Prussians in the 1870s, providing a tranquil spot to gaze upon the town below.

On board tonight, enjoy a culinary spectacular – the ‘Chef’s Dinner’, when the chef prepares his superb ‘signature’ dishes for you to enjoy in the splendid surroundings of the ship’s restaurant – a truly memorable experience.

Day 7 – 25th July – Cologne

Relax and enjoy the scenery as we progress majestically to Cologne to explore on a guided tour.

Free morning sailing towards Cologne

Afternoon option 1: guided tour of Cologne’s Old Town

Afternoon option 2: guided tour of Cologne Cathedral

Cruise towards Cologne

This morning, early risers can enjoy phenomenal views as once again you pass through the Rhine Gorge where, in Wagner’s Ring Cycle, the Rhine Maidens guard lost treasure, the ‘Rheingold’. What better way to spend the morning than relaxing on the Sun Deck beneath dramatic rocky, vineyard-topped valley sides dotted with romantic ruined castles. The valley sides dissolve and hills give way to plains as you progress majestically to Cologne.

Cologne

This afternoon you will have a choice of guided tours.

You may opt for a guided tour of Cologne’s historic old town, where a knowledgeable local guide will share captivating tales from the city’s past. Wander through the lively old town, characterised by its winding cobblestone lanes, beautifully restored architecture, fantastic shopping venues, and charming pubs, some of which still craft their own beer. The Great St. Martin Church has towered over the old town since medieval times, while the ancient City Hall proudly holds the title of Germany’s oldest town hall.

Alternatively, consider a specialised tour of the cathedral led by an expert. This majestic Gothic church, the largest in Northern Europe, remarkably withstood the bombings of the Second World War and is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After six centuries of construction, this iconic structure boasts numerous treasures, including fetching stained-glass windows and a golden sarcophagus believed to hold the remains of the three kings from the Nativity story. Please be aware that space for this tour is limited, and it will not be held on religious holidays.

As night falls, a sumptuous dinner provides the perfect finale to this memorable cruise through the romantic River Rhine.

Day 8 – 26th July – Return home

It’s time to say goodbye to your crew and start the journey home.