Nicko Symphone With New Year's Eve On The Rhine With THY
Cologne – Nijmegen - Antwerp – Rotterdam(1) – Amsterdam – Arnhem – Cologne
Day 01 ISTANBUL – COLOGNE
We meet at the designated time in front of the Turkish Airlines counter at the International Terminal of Istanbul New Airport. After check-in and passport procedures, we depart for Cologne on Turkish Airlines' scheduled flight TK1671 at 09:05. We land in Cologne at 10:30 local time. After a panoramic city tour, we proceed to the port where our river cruise ship is located. Upon arrival in Cologne, after checking in on board, we settle into our cabins and have free time. Our ship will depart at 17:00.
Day 02 NIJMEGEN
Our ship docks at Nijmegen Port at 04:00 in the morning. Guests who wish may join an extra walking tour of Nijmegen with our guide. Despite being the tenth largest city in the Netherlands, founded by the Romans, this beautiful city carries the title of the oldest city in the Netherlands with its 2,000-year history. On our walking tour, we will visit St. Stephen's Church, the Old Town Square, Nijmegen Cathedral, Grote Markt (Market Square), Monday Market, and the shopping street. After the tour, there will be free time for shopping before returning to the ship. The ship will depart from Nijmegen at 12:00 heading to Antwerp port. Overnight stay will be on the ship.
Day 03 ANTWERP
After breakfast on board, guests who wish may join the extra organized Bruges and Ghent City Tour. After breakfast, we begin the city tour. After a journey of 1 hour and 15 minutes (90 km) we arrive in Bruges. Bruges is undoubtedly the most beautiful city we will see on this journey. Unesco listed it as a World Heritage Site and it was chosen as the European Capital of Culture. The fact that the city remained unaffected by any wars over the years is the main reason it has reached us today without damage. Upon arriving in Bruges, we get off the bus at Zand Square. After a short walk, we move to the famous Markt (Market) Square. Along the way, you can see canals filled with swans, St. John's Hospital, Grotus, Fish Market, and Monasteries. At Markt Square, after seeing the Belfry, Guild Houses and the Provincial Building, we have free time. During our free time, you can buy lace made by nuns, chocolates and souvenirs from the shops in the square, or try dishes specific to Belgian cuisine at restaurants. Remember, Belgians are renowned for their seafood. After visiting Bruges, you will agree why this city is called a 'place you must see before you die'. After the Bruges tour, we head to Ghent city (50 km). After our walking tour upon arrival in Ghent, we move towards our ship anchored at Antwerp port (50 km). The ship will stay overnight in Antwerp.
Day 04 ANTWERP - ROTTERDAM
After breakfast, guests who wish will move to Brussels, the capital of the European Union with our special bus organized as an extra activity (55 km). Upon arrival in Brussels, we first visit the Heysel area located in the north of the city. Here we see the stadium known in sports history as the Heysel Stadium tragedy. After seeing the Expo building and the Atomium building, which stands 102 meters high as a rival to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and taking a photo break, we will also see the Chinese House, Japanese Tower, Royal Palace, European Union Headquarters, European Commission Building, and the Arch of Victory. After moving to the city center, during the walking tour portion, you will see the famous Rue de Bouchere, Grand Place Square, and the Manneken Pis statue. After our commentary at the magnificent Grand Place Square, we have free time in the city. During this free time, we recommend you buy world-famous Belgian chocolates and try the famous Belgian beers at the beautiful cafes located in the square. In the afternoon at 14:00, our ship will depart for Rotterdam. The ship will arrive in Rotterdam at 23:30 in the evening.
Day 05 ROTTERDAM - AMSTERDAM
After breakfast on board, guests who wish may join the Delft and Rotterdam city tour organized as an extra activity by our guide. Delft, which has the oldest history in the Netherlands, will also be the place where we will have free time for lunch. Impressive Delft Cathedral, City Hall, and Markt Square will be among the places we visit. In Delft, you can purchase porcelain products which are synonymous with the city. After our Delft tour, we move to the city of Rotterdam. In the panoramic city tour here, you will see Euromast, Europort, Erasmus Bridge, Old Cruise Port, William Bridge, Cube Houses, and City Hall. The ship will depart from Rotterdam at 13:00. It will arrive in Amsterdam at 20:30 in the evening.
Day 06 AMSTERDAM – NEW YEAR'S EVE
After breakfast in the morning, guests who wish will go to Volendam and Zaanse Schans, organized as an extra activity by our guide. This is the northern part of Amsterdam, known as the real Holland, which we highly recommend you see. First, we visit the Zaanse region, famous for all the windmills you see on every postcard representing the Netherlands. Windmills dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries still function today; during our time here, you can tour the inside of the windmills (Fee-based) and take many beautiful photos. After Zaanse, we head to Volendam town. On the way, you will have the opportunity to taste and buy Holland's famous Gouda cheese at a local dairy farm. Volendam is undoubtedly the town most visited by tourists coming to Holland, where you can buy very cheap souvenirs. We also recommend you definitely try Holland's famous Herring fish or Fish & Chips. You can attend the New Year's Ball held on our ship in the evening. The ship will stay overnight in Amsterdam.
Day 07 AMSTERDAM - ARNHEIM
Our ship will depart from Amsterdam port at 14:00. After a pleasant day cruising on the river, it will dock in Arnhem at 22:00 in the evening. Overnight stay will be in Arnhem.
Day 08 ARNHEIM
In the morning, guests who wish may join an extra walking tour organized in Arnhem, followed by free time. The ship will depart from Arnhem port at 13:00 heading to Cologne.
Day 09 COLOGNE – ISTANBUL
After breakfast on board and checkout procedures, we will be transferred to Cologne Airport by our vehicle waiting for us at the port. After check-in, passport, and customs procedures, we depart for Istanbul Airport on Turkish Airlines' flight TK1676 at 18:10. Arrival at 23:25 local time and end of the program.
What's Included
SERVICES INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE TOUR PRICE
- Economy class round-trip flight ticket with Turkish Airlines on the Istanbul (IST) – Cologne (CGN) – Istanbul (IST) route
- Airport taxes & Port taxes
- 8 nights full board accommodation on a 5* Deluxe ship (Full board service begins with dinner on the day of boarding the ship and ends with breakfast on the day of disembarkation)
- Cologne panoramic city tour
- Airport transfers for the tour (on the day of boarding the ship and on the day of disembarkation)
- All-day coffee & tea station and afternoon tea refreshments on board the ship
- Welcome cocktail
- Captain's Gala Cocktail, Gala Special Menu
- Luggage handling service on the first and last day of the cruise
- Professional Turkish guiding and assistance services regardless of the number of participants
- Tourist city taxes
- TURSAB mandatory professional liability insurance
Not Included
SERVICES NOT INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE TOUR PRICE
- Visa fee and service charge
- Domestic connecting flight ticket
- All personal expenses
- Entrance fees to museums and historical sites not specified in the program
- Travel & Health Insurance and premium (for guests aged 65+)
- Tips for driver and guide
- Foreign departure tax fee
- Crew Service Fee
- In-ship WIFI internet services
- All alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages on board, including mini bar
Nicko Symphonie
Our ship, completely renewed starting in 2026, is 135 meters long with 82 cabins and a capacity of 196 passengers. All cabins include a seating area, TV, Wi-Fi service, safe, hair dryer, and other amenities.
This ship follows the award-winning model of Nicko Cruise ships but offers even more innovative developments. While preserving the popular spaciousness concept, our ship features not only expansive common areas but also larger cabins: The standout feature of the vessel is its indoor pool with a retractable roof for pleasant weather. In the evenings, this area can also be used for informative talks, events, and cinema screenings.
Panoramic Window Exterior Cabin - Lower Deck (13 m²): Spacious bathroom, small panoramic window (non-opening), large wardrobe, bed configuration choice (double or twin beds), flat-screen TV, personal air conditioning control, en-suite bathroom with shower/WC, hair dryer, direct telephone, and in-room safe. Connecting rooms are also available upon request.
French Balcony Cabin - Middle or Upper Deck (16 m²): Spacious bathroom, opening panoramic window, mini bar, built-in closet, bed configuration choice (double or twin beds), flat-screen TV, personal air conditioning control, en-suite bathroom with shower/WC, hair dryer, direct telephone, and in-room safe.
Things You Need to Know About Our River Tours:
- For Turkish-speaking guide services on our tour, a minimum participation of 20 people is required. Our tour has a fixed departure date. Guests holding ordinary (Bordo) passports require a visa (Multiple Entry / Multiple Schengen).
- Guests holding green passports and service passports do not require a visa.
- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the end date of your travel and must not be older than 10 years.
- Obtaining Euros before your trip will facilitate cash payments during your shopping activities.
- For purchases over 100 Euros, you may request a tax refund form. After completing customs procedures at the last point of exit from the European Union, you can process your tax refund using this form.
- River ships do not have doctors or medical personnel on board. In case of emergencies, the reception will contact the nearest medical facility to send medical teams to the ship within a very short time. However, for any medical needs, our ship stops at the closest point to medical institutions to assist in urgently transferring affected guests to hospitals or similar facilities. Additionally, we recommend that you carry your regularly prescribed medications with their prescriptions and obtain comprehensive travel health insurance.
- Health services provided on the ship and at medical facilities are chargeable.
- We do not anticipate any health-threatening issues with the meals served during your voyage. However, when you are off the ship, please be cautious with food and drink: strictly consume bottled water, avoid ice, milk, and dairy products, eat meat and fish only if you are sure they are well-cooked, and for fruits, we recommend eating those that can be peeled, such as bananas and pineapples.
- Since it may be possible to enter different countries during your journey, the ship will specify the time applicable for each port of call. Your disembarkation and boarding times will be based on the local time of the respective port, so please adjust your schedules accordingly.
- On river ships, especially during country crossings, your mobile phone line is used if international calling (roaming) is enabled. Sometimes, in forested areas where there are no base stations, you may experience signal loss on your mobile phone.
- During your journey, for the Captain's Welcome & Farewell Cocktail nights, we recommend that male guests bring a suit and female guests bring an evening dress. If traveling in summer, we suggest bringing easy-to-wear T-shirts, short-sleeved and long-sleeved shirts, cotton trousers, shorts, comfortable walking shoes, a light jacket, and a thin sweater for the evenings. Additionally, you may bring hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, earplugs against potential noise, cameras, video cameras, and their chargers and spare memory cards. During winter, we recommend clothing that allows comfortable movement and keeps you warm. Note that the open areas of the ship can be cool in all seasons while sailing.
- Main meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are served in the main restaurant on board. Additionally, afternoon tea and light snacks are served in the lounge area on the upper deck.
- The electrical outlets in the cabins are the same as in Turkey.
- Accommodations in hotels before or after the river ship program may not meet the same standards as our river ship, and the same level of service should not be expected. During periods such as fairs, congresses, concerts, events, sports tournaments, etc., hotels may be located farther than the specified kilometers. Triple rooms are assigned based on hotel availability; in such rooms, the third bed may be smaller than standard beds. Triple rooms consist of one large bed and one extra bed. Since extra beds are foldable or convertible (coach beds), participants booking triple rooms for a third person and/or children are deemed to have accepted the potential crowding and bed type in the room. Child discounts apply only to one child staying with two adults and falling within the age group specified in the pricing section.
- If accommodation is provided in a hotel other than our ship as part of the tour program, breakfasts included are served according to the local breakfast culture of the country visited, typically as a limited continental menu consisting of butter, jam, bread, tea, or coffee, and may be served in a separate hall dedicated to the group.