nicko cruises has unveiled its 2027 programme of event and themed cruises. Two new additions stand out: an eight-day hiking cruise on the Danube aboard BOLERO and a four-day SingAlong Advent cruise aboard RHEIN SYMPHONIE. The programme also includes cruises centred on music, gastronomy, wine, culture and major events.
The cruises operate on the Danube, Rhine, Rhône and Seine. The programme ranges from short event cruises to themed journeys lasting eight to ten days.
Hiking Along the Danube
New for 2027 is an eight-day hiking cruise aboard BOLERO, available in spring and autumn. An experienced hiking guide will accompany participants on walks ashore.
The itinerary takes in a variety of landscapes and natural areas. Highlights include the Wachau, with its vineyards and panoramic viewpoints, the City Forest in Budapest, the hills around Vienna and the Ysper Gorge in the Waldviertel region of Lower Austria. Between the walks, guests stay aboard BOLERO.
Christmas Carols Aboard RHEIN SYMPHONIE
Another new addition is the SingAlong Advent cruise aboard RHEIN SYMPHONIE. The four-day cruise departs from Cologne, sails to Mainz and then returns to Cologne.
The focus onboard is on singing together. A presenter leads the sessions, with the lyrics projected on screen. The repertoire includes both traditional and modern Christmas songs.
Onshore, the itinerary includes visits to Christmas markets in Mainz and Heidelberg. The cruise also takes in winter landscapes, castles and half-timbered villages along the Rhine.
New Music Cruise
The existing programme is also being expanded. Schlagerzauber returns with music by artists including Roland Kaiser and Helene Fischer. New for 2027 is a three-day music cruise featuring Schlager and international hits.
There will also be cruises linked to Rhine in Flames and the Basel Tattoo. At Rhine in Flames, passengers can watch the fireworks from the river, while the Basel Tattoo brings together musical formations and bagpipe players.
Food lovers can join the gourmet cruise with YouDinner. The KRIMI total DINNER combines dinner with a crime story.
True Crime and Wine
The longer themed cruises last between eight and ten days. The True Crime Cruise on the Rhine focuses on real-life criminal cases.
The wine and gourmet cruises explore the wine regions along the Rhine, Danube and Rhône. Culture and music also feature on themed cruises along the Danube and Seine, combining excursions with concerts, performances and other cultural activities.
A Broader 2027 Programme
The new event and themed cruises form part of a wider programme of new river itineraries for 2027. nicko cruises is returning to China with VICTORIA SABRINA. The 14-day journey combines a cruise on the Yangtze with visits to Shanghai, Xi’an and Beijing.
In France, the Gironde will become a new cruising area. Aboard CYRANO DE BERGERAC, the eight-day itinerary from Bordeaux visits destinations including the Médoc, Blaye and Saint-Émilion. The cruise is followed by two hotel nights in Bordeaux.
There is also a new itinerary in Germany. nickoSPIRIT will operate a nine-day cruise from Cologne along the Rhine, Moselle and Saar. Stops include Andernach, Bernkastel, Cochem, Remich, Trier and Koblenz.
In Croatia, LIBERTY will join the fleet from 2027. Built in 2011 and extensively refurbished in 2024, the yacht accommodates 38 guests and will operate along the Dalmatian coast.
The Douro programme is also being extended with a stay in the Algarve. The 12-day journey combines the river region with destinations in southern Portugal, including Portimão, Nazaré and Cabo de São Vicente.
There are also new options for the winter season. RHEIN MELODIE will operate a six-day Advent cruise from Cologne via Strasbourg and Breisach. A 14-day Christmas and New Year cruise is planned via Amsterdam, Strasbourg and Mainz.
Pictures courtesy of nicko cruises
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