|
|
Rhine River Escapade All-Gay Cruise 2025
From Basel to Dusseldorf
6 days from Basel, Switzerland to Dusseldorf, Germany
August 15 – 20, 2025
Van Loon Cruises The Gentleman
 We are very fortunate to be a part of this beloved community, and we are committed to providing meaningful experiences that bring our friends closer together, both at home and abroad. That’s why we’re excited to announce a Rhine River All-Gay cruise journey aboard The Gentleman from Basel, Switzerland to Dusseldorf, Germany in collaboration with our LGBTQ+ partners at Transcend Cruises.
This truly remarkable program featuring private performances by the incredible Grammy Nominee Deborah Cox has been uniquely curated for our guests and is available only to invitees and their guests. During this extraordinary journey, we’ll explore the heart of the Rhine River, boarding our exclusively chartered floating hotel, The Gentleman, for a scenic cruise from Basel to Dusseldorf during the best time of year to cruise Europe’s rivers.
This is an all-inclusive trip, which means all meals, drinks, transfers, activities, and on-board entertainment are all included in your package.
What's Included?
• Roundtrip Airport Transfers: transfers from designated airports on published travel program dates.
• 5-Nights Accommodations: Five nights aboard The Gentleman in one of seven (7) stateroom categories with a fully stocked minibar (replenished daily) with water, juices, soft drinks, beers, and spirits.
• Meals: While in Interlaken, breakfast (days two and three), lunch (days two and three). Aboard The Gentleman, all meals from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day, featuring curated nightly regionally themed dinners.
• Unlimited Beverages Onboard: Unlimited house wines, beers, spirits, zero-alcohol options, specialty coffees, soft drinks, and juices. Additionally, complimentary 24-hour coffee & tea service is available.
• Exclusive Performances: The region’s top classical and contemporary music talents are featured every evening throughout the cruise.
• All Shore Excursion Experiences: Excursions with expert guides, applicable gratuities, QuietVox listening devices, and options for Gentle Walkers are included.
• Concierge Service: A Dedicated cruise management team and concierge to facilitate your every need.
• Fitness & Wellness: Access to fitness center, wellness spaces, and E-bicycles.
• Unlimited Wi-Fi: Complimentary Wi-Fi access throughout the ship.
Featured Guests
Deborah Cox
Deborah Cox is a Grammy-nominated recording artist, Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee, and international talent spanning music, Broadway, television, film, and fashion.
An established songstress, Cox has scaled the R&B and Pop charts with six top 20 Billboard R&B singles and an impressive thirteen No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play Chart. Her sophomore album spawned 2 No. 1 R&B songs, including the record-breaking “Nobody’s Supposed To Be Here,” which spent 14 weeks at the top (the longest in history at the time), and “We Can’t Be Friends.”
In May 2022, Deborah reached a career milestone when she made history as the first Black woman inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The same year, Deborah was given the Key to the City of Toronto, and September 23rd was declared Deborah Cox Day. She also received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, rounding off an incredible year.
Envy Peru
After two months of competing in the Dutch version of RuPaul’s Drag Race and winning four challenges, Envy Peru has made history as the first ever crowned contestant of Drag Race Holland, as well as the first Peruvian queen in the franchise to emerge supreme. As reigning Queen, Envy Peru has not only achieved fame and publicity in the Netherlands but also worldwide; Drag Race Holland was broadcast online and subtitled in four different languages. Based in Amsterdam, Envy is known for her sweet personality, professional work, amazing performances, fashion style and make-up looks.
Janey Jacké
First Dutch drag queen to participate in the international version of RuPaul's Drag Race. This talented queen stole the hearts of fans from all around the world during her participation in the first season of Drag Race Holland, and the first international All Stars season: RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs The World. In both seasons, Janey showed her ‘charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent’ and was very loved by the judges and the people at home. Janey is a gorgeous, outspoken queen with a guarantee for loads of fun.
Danny Beard
Liverpool-born drag sensation Danny Beard reigns supreme as an electrifying showperson and vocalist, leading a live music and comedy experience that fuses club kid aesthetics with classic drag performance style. Danny’s journey to stardom reached new heights after claiming victory as the season four champion of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, making history as the first bearded queen from any franchise worldwide to snatch the crown. Since their monumental Drag Race win, Danny Beard has solidified their place as a seasoned entertainer, renowned for headlining Pride events and captivating audiences across the UK and internationally, with a highlight being a daily residence at Sziget Festival.
Welcome Aboard Brand New River Cruiser The Gentleman
The Gentleman is a river cruiser that – contrary to other ships – was designed from the inside out. It is fitted
with all the luxury any guest could ask for, with a sporty, yacht-like appearance.
Where naval architects often work from the inside out, an interior with a ship around it, at Van Loon Cruises we work
exactly the other way around. The Gentleman streamlined shape is leading, giving the ship an elegant and dynamic yacht appearance.
As a passenger you do not have to make any concessions. The set-up is such that you can enjoy every luxury on board.
Tranquility and Warmth
Creating designs with tranquility and warmth are important in spaces where
people come together. Natural fabrics in calm colours and in different
textures contribute to a contemporary balance. Large art walls with great
memory value give intimacy and a nice atmosphere at any time of the day.
Luxurious Atmosphere
The contemporary balanced design is filled with elements of surprise. The
interior parts are sophisticated and reveal aesthetic language in the choice of exclusive materials such as; wood,
marble, glass, bronze metal and leather. Matching handcrafted accessories give the lounge an exiting and luxurious atmosphere.
Attractive and Ergonomic
To achieve a natural feeling, round shapes and flowing lines are
used. Curves break through straight and symmetrical lines. The playful effect
creates an attractive and ergonomic interior. Biophilic design is bringing nature into our interior. By bringing the outdoors in, a
calming atmosphere is created.
Truly Remarkable Experience
In conclusion, The Gentleman offers a truly remarkable river cruising experience. Its
modern yacht-like design, use of premium materials, and attention to detail make
it an enticing choice for travelers seeking adventure and luxury. The ability to open
floor-to-ceiling windows on the middle and upper decks adds to the immersive
experience of taking in the breathtaking scenery. Furthermore, the ship’s expansive
sun deck caters to both relaxation and active pursuits.
Memorable Journey
The onboard amenities leave nothing to be desired, with a
spacious and elegant panorama salon, a luxurious lounge at
the stern, a stylish restaurant, a welcoming hotel reception, a
dedicated tour leader’s desk, and the convenience of an elevator
connecting all decks. The Gentleman promises not just a cruise,
but a lavish and memorable journey along the river.
|
|
Rhine River Escapade All-Gay Cruise
From Switzerland to Germany
Itinerary
|
|
Date |
Port |
Arrive |
Depart |
| 15 Aug |
Basel, Switzerland |
|
5 PM |
| 16 Aug |
Strasbourg, France |
5 AM |
7:30 PM |
| 17 Aug |
Speyer (Heidelberg), Germany |
6 AM |
10 PM |
| 18 Aug |
Koblenz, Germany |
4:30 PM |
|
| 19 Aug |
Koblenz, Germany |
|
8 AM |
| 19 Aug |
Bonn / Cologne (Konigswinter), Germany |
12 PM |
6 PM |
| 20 Aug |
Dusseldorf, Germany |
4 AM |
|
Day 1 - Basel, Switzerland
Once you’ve cleared customs at the Basel (BSL) or Zurich (ZRH) International Airports, you will be greeted by a Transcend Cruises representative and transferred to your floating hotel for the next six days, The Gentleman.
Upon arrival, enjoy lunch onboard and your afternoon at leisure, getting settled in.
Enjoy the beautiful, mild summertime weather in Switzerland by taking a walk as we’re docked in the heart of the city.
Later this evening, join your fellow travelers for a memorable sailaway Welcome Reception on deck, followed by an incredible culinary experience onboard.
Day 2 - Strasbourg, France
Upon arrival in Strasbourg, which has been controlled over the centuries by either France or Germany, the city—cross-cultural and bilingual—offers a delightful combination of old and new, and French and German characteristics.
Set off for the pier in downtown Strasbourg, where you will board a panoramic boat that will take you to the famous district of Petite France. Its canals, charming houses with colored, half-timbered walls, and narrow alleyways will enchant you. You will glide past the Tanners Quarter, the Covered Bridges (Ponts Couverts), and the Panoramic Terrace on the Vauban Dam. Our cruise will continue through the German Quarter. Following the French defeat in 1870, Germany planned to make Strasbourg the capital of the Reichsland or Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine. This district, referred to as the “new town”, represented a new form of urban planning, featuring wide roads, monumental administrative and cultural buildings, and luxurious private homes. Landscaping also played a crucial role in this impressive urban planning scheme. Then, you will get to see the European Parliament Building, completed in 1999, which was designed to host monthly sessions of the European Parliament. The architecture of the building is based on a combination of circles and ellipses, with the building laid out and organized into several identified areas. Finally, you’ll discover the Human Rights Building, which is where the European Court of Human Rights is located.
Day 3 - Heidelberg (Speyer), Germany
Heidelberg is sometimes called the most romantic city in Germany. It is home to the nation’s oldest university, a charming baroque Old Town lying along the banks of the Neckar River, and extraordinarily beautiful castle ruins overlooking the town. Your tour will take you to the castle, with its views of the red-tile roofs of the town below, the handsome Old Bridge and the wooded hillsides beyond, and then into Old Town, where you will see the late-Gothic Holy Spirit Church, the Student Prison and the longest pedestrian street in Germany.
Day 4 - Koblenz, Germany
This afternoon, we arrive at where the Rhine and Moselle rivers and three mountain ranges meet, Koblenz’s scenery is unmatched. Add to that the city’s 2,000-year-old history, hilltop fortress, and squares lined by classic Germanic architecture, and you will have a place ready-made for photos. Ambling along the town’s narrow lanes and river promenade, we’ll enjoy an afternoon “Weinstube” (wine tavern) tour for a sip (or few) of the Rhine River valley’s renowned Riesling, allowing time for independent exploration.
Day 5 - Bonn / Cologne (Konigswinter), Germany
Bonn, located at the heart of North Rhine-Westphalia, used to be the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany. Visit Beethoven Haus, Ludwig van Beethoven’s birthplace (December 1770), and enjoy a special performance that brings his legacy to life.
Alternatively, we visit the UNESCO-listed Cologne Cathedral, which dominates the skyline here, its magnificent Gothic twin spires reaching toward the heavens. A visit to the cathedral this afternoon gives a glimpse of the gilded shrine, one of the largest in the world, believed to contain relics of the Three Kings, or as we commonly know them, the Three Wise Men.
This evening, we prepare for our exquisite farewell reception aboard your private floating boutique hotel this evening followed by a very special farewell dinner.
Day 6 - Dusseldorf, Germany
Following breakfast, we bid you farewell and provide airport transportation to the Dusseldorf (DUS) or Frankfurt (FRA) International Airports, with memories of a remarkable cruise.
A city that inspires diversity and is built close to the water: The Rhine metropolis of Düsseldorf awaits you with modern architecture around the Medienhafen. Dusseldorf’s historic city center is also known as “the longest bar in the world”. In over 300 pubs, the freshly tapped Altbier brings a wide variety of people together.
 
 
|
|
