Enjoy a tour of Amsterdam’s legendary canals, lined with narrow buildings, cafes, and the house where Anne Frank once lived in hiding. Visit Cologne and its majestic Gothic cathedral, then relax on board as you cruise the stunning Rhine River Gorge, lined with ruins of medieval castles and fortresses. Next, experience the university town of Heidelberg before wandering the streets of Strasbourg in Alsace. Conclude your journey amid Switzerland’s snow-capped vistas and cosmopolitan cities with a boat ride across the tranquil waters of Lake Lucerne.
Highlights
Cruise the canals of Amsterdam in a scenic tour
Enjoy optional excursions, such as guided bike tours and wine tastings
Visit the historic university town of Heidelberg and its red-walled castle
Explore Lucerne's cobblestone streets, monuments, fountains, public squares
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Get acquainted with Amsterdam on a scenic canal cruise, where you can see the beautiful wooden Skinny Bridge and Anne Frank's House. Continue on with a walk to the Begijnhof and be charmed by its Middle Age buildings followed by a city tour that includes the Royal Palace and Westerkerk. Later in the day, enjoy scenic cruising.
Enjoy cruising to Cologne, home to one of Germany’s most revered Gothic masterpieces, the Cologne Cathedral. Join a guided tour through the enchanting Old Town and explore the UNESCO-designated cathedral, where the remains of the fabled Three Kings—the Magi—are believed to rest. Continue on and discover the Cologne Rathaus, Germany’s oldest town hall, the Overstolzenhaus and the Festival Hall. Alternatively, ride a bike along the Rhine and through the historic Stadtgarten. Or visit a local tavern to taste Cologne’s traditional Kölsch beer and Reibekuchen—potato pancakes served with apple sauce.
Cruise through the captivating UNESCO-designated Rhine Gorge, the most stunningly beautiful stretch of the river before reaching the winemaking town of Rüdesheim. Set off on a walking tour through the vineyards and stop to sample wines at three different tasting stations. Or choose to drink up the stunning views by soaring high above the vineyards with a gondola ride to the Niederwalddenkmal Statue. For a more active adventure, join a guided bike tour along the scenic Rhine River. Later in the day, let Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum charm you with its remarkable collection of self-playing musical instruments; or taste one of the town’s special delights, Rüdesheimer Coffee, ceremoniously made with brandy, coffee and whipped cream.
Today choose between three excursions. Visit Heidelberg, the perfectly preserved medieval city nestled in the Neckar River Valley along Germany’s Castle Road. Discover the iconic red sandstone Heidelberg Castle and Great Vat, an 18th-century 49,000-gallon wine cask. For a more active adventure while in Heidelberg, join a guided hike up the Philosopher's Path, aptly named during the Romantic Period, and be rewarded with panoramic views of the city. Alternatively, you can visit one of Germany’s oldest cities, Speyer, known for the largest Romanesque cathedral in Europe—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and the medieval Altpörtel, Old Gate.
Strasbourg, the capital city of Alsace, has flavors of both France and Germany because of its borderline location, which you can discover. Enjoy a panoramic bus tour past the stunning Parc de l’Orangerie, the European Parliament and the Place de la République followed by a walking tour through its iconic “La Petite France” district, which appears to have been lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. Observe the Cathédrale de Nôtre Dame with its famous astronomical clock. The active adventurer can join a guided bike tour, which also takes you through the Parc de l’Orangerie.
Step back in time with a visit to the enchanting Alsatian town of Riquewihr. Having survived WWII without being badly damaged, this charming medieval hamlet looks much like it did in the 16th century. On your walking tour, admire historic architecture and surrounding vineyards as well as famous sights, such as the Dolder Gate. Alternatively, you may wish to visit Freiburg, founded in 1120 and home to the Freiburg Münster, a Gothic cathedral said to have “the most beautiful spire on earth.” Those wishing a more active excursion can cycle through the countryside.
Day 8: Basel | Disembark | Lucerne, Switzerland
1 Breakfast
Disembark the ship in the morning and transfer via motorcoach to Lucerne for a visit to the Lion Monument followed by a walking tour. Afterwards, enjoy some free time before checking into your hotel.
Day 9: Lucerne, Switzerland
1 Breakfast
Spend the day discovering even more of this breathtaking city adorned with covered bridges, candy-colored houses and a well-preserved medieval Old Town.
Day 10: Lucerne | Zurich, Switzerland
1 Breakfast
Take a leisurely cruise across the tranquil waters of Lake Lucerne to Vitznau. Here, board a motorcoach for a scenic drive through the countryside, passing Alpine lakes and small villages en route to Zurich where must check into your hotel.
Day 11: Zurich, Switzerland
1 Breakfast
Set alongside a gleaming lake and framed by the Alps, Switzerland’s largest city, Zurich, seamlessly blends its historic past with its progressive future—all of which are full display during your city tour. See Grossmünster Abbey; St. Peter, which boasts the world’s largest church clock face; Old Town; Town Hall; and Fraumünster Abbey.
Day 12: Depart Zurich, Switzerland
1 Breakfast
After breakfast, bid farewell to Switzerland and prepare for your return flight home.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Select a Date
E
160 square feet. 4 cabins on Piano Deck with fixed windows.
Select a Date
D
160 square feet. 8 cabins on Piano Deck with fixed windows.
Select a Date
CB
155 square feet. 4 cabins on Violin Deck with French balcony.
Select a Date
CA
170 square feet. 14 cabins on Violin and Cello Deck with French balcony.
Select a Date
BB
210 square feet. 15 cabins on Cello Deck with French balcony and outside balcony.
Select a Date
BA
210 square feet. 12 cabins on Violin Deck with French balcony and outside balcony.
Select a Date
AB
235 square feet. 10 cabins on Cello Deck with French balcony and outside balcony.
Select a Date
AA
235 square feet. 8 cabins on Violin Deck with French balcony and outside balcony.
Select a Date
Suite
350 square feet. 4 cabins on Violin Deck with French balcony and outside balcony.
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 182 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 182 reviews on
3 hours ago
Easiest trip to plan ever. We received quick answers and Mary was very knowledgeable about different areas of the world that we had questions about.
We have book 2 trips, FABULOUS trip to Antartica which we have already taken and just booked for a future trip to Africa.
Michelle
8 hours ago
Planning service is personal. people actually listening to you and using that information constructively to help you plan a great trip. They have extensive travel knowledge and experience in the area they cover. The planning is detailed and comprehensive in meeting your needs. It makes a difference!
Allison Wynn
18 hours ago
The pre-planning and execution of the plan was excellent. They were even able to help get glasses returned when a member or our party left them in a hotel.
Roger
1 day ago
What made our Costa Rica experience great was the wonderful places we stayed and transportation to get to our different areas to visit was excellent! The white water rafting and the snorkeling & dolphin watching were really fun!
Michell Murphy
2 days ago
I received a quick and friendly response from my contact, Christina Mayo, both in email and phone calls. My request for information was provided in less than a day. She took a few minutes to chat about family and events. Dealing with her has always been a pleasure!