Last week we were contacted by the organisers of the “Rhine in Flames” a traditional firework event on the Rhine that takes place during our “Majestic Rhine & Moselle Rivers” tour, to choose the boat we would like to be on for this event. Every year we reserve the tickets a year ahead for this event to make sure that our customers do not miss this once in a lifetime experience. The price of the ticket (which is included in the price of the tour) has always included a two-course meal on the boat, but any drinks consumed were paid separately and the bill settled at the end of the trip. For 2025 there are only two boats still offering this and we were lucky to get tickets on one of them.
However as last year many of the people on the boats “forgot” to pay for their drinks before leaving the boat, several of the boat owners now only have an “all inclusive” price which includes the meal and all drinks and of course have increased the price dramatically. We have been told that for 2026 all the boats will be doing this and although we can understand why this is necessary, it will unfortunately also force us to increase the price for the Rhine tour in 2026 significantly.
After having said all this, for 2025 we will be on the MS Bingen, which is the boat you can see on the above picture in front of the Rheinstein castle. This boat has ample room on the open decks, so everyone can see the firework displays outside on what will hopefully be a mild summer evening. The boat leaves from the pier in Rüdesheim, which is only a short walk from the campsite, and sails through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Middle Rhine Valley, where you will be able to view numerous castles, historic towns and vineyards while enjoying a meal on the boat. At dusk we make the return journey in a convoy of about 50 illuminated boats, passing numerous large firework displays and blazing castles. It is a fascinating, romantic, and unforgettable evening. On our website you can see the official video of the event recorded during the 40thanniversary of Rhine in Flames in 2017.
If you enjoy boat trips, you could also join us on our “Perfect Portugal” tour where, as a group event, we will enjoy a boat ride through Aveiro’s canals in a colourful and traditional Moliceiro boat. You can see unique views of one of the most picturesque cities of Portugal from the water. Aveiro is crossed by a network of canals through which moliceiros meander. In the past these slim, colourful vessels were used to collect algae and seaweed, but today are only used for sightseeing trips. These are the only two organised boat trips in 2025, but you have of course other opportunities to get on a boat e.g. if you join our “Springtime in Holland” tour, you can go on a canal cruise along the historical Amsterdam waterways. So, this tour is not only about flowers and cheese, but also about boats 😊. Finally, on our “Breathtaking Black Forest” tour we will also be staying at lake Constance, Germany’s largest lake nicknamed the “Swabian Sea”. There you could go on a three-country panoramic boat tour departing from Lindau in Germany and stopping also in Austria and Switzerland.
We call the “Springtime in Holland” and the “Majestic Rhine & Moselle Rivers” our “starter tours”, not only because we offer the option of the Calais Pickup Service, but also because they have short daily mileages and the starting point for both (Bruges and Aachen) can be reached quickly and easily via the motorway. Therefore, they are very popular, but not only for people that have not travelled to Europe in their motorhome before, but also for seasoned travellers, as the highlights, for example, in Holland the Flower parade and the Keukenhof are very interesting for everybody, just like the Rhine in Flames.
If you are interested in any of our upcoming tours, you can find more information on the tour by clicking on the links below:
2025 Tours
Springtime in Holland
Tour date: Sat. 5th April – Sat. 19th April
Calais pick-up: Fri 5th April
Timeless Tuscany
Tour date: Thu. 15th May – Wed. 4th June
Majestic Rhine & Moselle Rivers
Tour date: Sat. 28th June – Sat. 12th July
Calais pick-up: Sat. 28th June
Breathtaking Black Forest
Tour date: Sat. 12th July – Sat. 26th July
Spectacular Spanish Northern Coast
Tour date: Sat. 30th August – Fri. 12th September
Perfect Portugal
Tour date: Sat. 13th September – Fri. 3rd October
All information regarding dates, prices, and itinerary can be found on our website. If you have any additional questions or require any further information, just send us an email. If you would like to book a tour you can do this online, or send us an email and we will send you a booking form.
Regards and safe travels.
Audrey & Michael