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POSTAL SERVICE Should you wish to mail postcards or letters , we are happy to do that on your behalf from the Reception . Postage charges for Postcards are €2 . 00 EUR and for Letters €2 . 50 EUR
CRYSTAL LIFE SPA Refresh , relax and revitalize with our exclusive treatments at the Crystal Spa , located on Harmony Deck 1 , Midship . Dial " 9 " to make an appointment .
FITNESS CENTER Crystal proudly offers an indoor Fitness Center which boasts equipment from TechnoGym including cardio equipment .
COLOGNE BEYOND THE CATHEDRAL MUSEUMS , CHURCHES , ROMAN RUINS , OLD TOWN ALLEYS . . . A CHOCOLATE MUSEUM , TOO You think you only need to see Cologne ' s world - famous cathedral and then you ' re done ? Au contraire ! Although most of Cologne was leveled during WWII , Germany ' s fourth largest city has been rebuilt and transformed into one of Europe ' s great cultural , historical and social hubs . Its world - class museums , Romanesque churches , ruins and restored Old Town takes you from the Roman Empire to modern times . You can sniff your way through three centuries of fragrances at the Farina fragrance Museum ; Cologne ( Eau de Cologne ) is where it all began . And those with a sweet tooth can quench their cravings at the chocolate fountain of the world ' s largest chocolate museum .
Guests are invited to join the complimentary fitness classes on Vista Deck 4 or in the Fitness Center throughout the cruise . Please refer to the Daily Activity Sheet delivered each day to your Suite for class times .
KÖLNER DOM – GERMANY ' S MOST VISITED LANDMARK Cologne ' s great cathedral has long been considered a masterpiece of German Gothic art ; its twin spires tower over the skyline , an orientation point for tourists and locals alike . The foundation was laid in the 13th century to house the relics of the Three Magi , but building wasn ' t completed until the mid - 19th century . The cathedral exemplifies the Rayonnant Gothic style , a period when architects became less interested in achieving great size than in decorative forms . Architectural statues , steep gables , the lavish use of tracery and a unifying series of spires grace the exterior . Rare works of religious art include the Shrine of the Three Kings and a high choir regarded as one of the most outstanding Rayonnant sculptures of the Middle Ages . For an exercise fix , climb 533 stone steps to the viewing platform with its impressive panoramas of the city and the Rhine River
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even re - created the inner courtyards to the layout of the ancient villa .
12 ROMANESQUE CHURCHES - A RESPECTFUL DICHOTOMY OF THE NEW AND THE OLD Less renowned but equally worth visiting are Cologne ' s twelve beautiful churches huddled together within the old city walls . Most of them are designed in the imperial Rhineland Romanesque style , built to impress with their wealth and size . The churches were repeatedly altered down through the centuries , and many were severely damaged during World War II . But thanks to first - rate restoration and the juxtaposition of the new and the old , their renovation has been extraordinarily successful , helping to restore and even recreate the historic charms of the Old Town .
Good thing the main attractions are within easy walking distance of the port to give you more time to look around . But if you miss something on your " to see " list , just go with the flow to the nearest brauhaus for a fresh pour of Kölsch ( a light beer brewed in town , celebrated as the city ' s favorite beer ) from the tap - another great reason to visit Cologne .
If you don ' t have time to see all 12 , do visit Gross St Martin ; its huge square tower has shaped the skyline of the city ' s Old Town since the Middle Ages . St . Ursula is the other one not to be missed . It was built on the site of a Roman cemetery to honor the saint and her 11 , 000 virgins who were martyred here in about 451 ; bones from the cemetery line the walls of the remarkable reliquary inside the church : the Golden Chamber .
THE WORLD ' S THIRD LARGEST COLLECTION OF PICASSOS A mecca of contemporary art , Museum Ludwig houses works that represent most of the key 20th century movements , from the pop art of Warhol and Lichtenstein to American abstract artists including Rothko and Pollock . It holds one of the most important collections of Expressionism in Europe including The Dreamers ( 1916 ) by Emil Nolde , and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner ' s famous Half - Length Nude with Hat ( 1911 ) . But its greatest claim to fame occurred in 2001 with the sensational gift of 774 Picassos from Irene Ludwig , widow of the chocolate magnate Peter Ludwig . All told there are 864 works by the artist , the world ' s third largest collection of Picassos after Paris and Barcelona .
A MUSEUM BUILT AROUND A ROMAN EXCAVATION . You can gain an insight into the city ' s omnipresent Roman past at the Roman - Germanic Museum showcasing many notable displays including Roman jewelry and the world ' s largest collection of glass from the Roman period . Most impressive is the museum ' s additional role as an archaeological site . In 1941 , construction of an air - raid shelter led to the discovery of a 3rd - century villa . The magnificent mosaics on the floor of the main room prompted architects to design a museum around the excavations , rather than risk the potential damage of moving it . Along with preserving the mosaics the museum has