Begin your winter adventure in Amsterdam, amidst the city’s legendary canals and colorful holiday surroundings. Embark upon an enchanting 7-night Rhine River cruise that takes you through the fabled Black Forest region and the Alsace region. Also visit Heidelberg and Cologne, famous for its majestic Cathedral and bustling Christmas markets. Disembark your journey in Basel, and make your way to two of Switzerland's loveliest cities, Zürich and Lucerne, where you can enjoy a lake excursion, magical Christmas markets, and pristine Alpine vistas.
Highlights
Cruise through the canals of Amsterdam, the "Venice of the North"
Tour Cologne, Germany and browse the festive Christmas market
Visit the historic Siegfried's Mechanical Instrument Museum in Rüdesheim
Explore the streets and monuments of Lucerne, Switzerland
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
After breakfast, your tour of Amsterdam begins with a scenic canal cruise through the city known as the “Venice of the North.” See the beautiful homes that line the water, the fabled Skinny Bridge, and the famous Anne Frank House. Then enjoy a panoramic city tour, where you see the great landmarks of Amsterdam, including the brewery windmill. Afterwards, enjoy some free time to explore Amsterdam on your own before returning to the ship. Depart early this afternoon for Germany.
The ship arrives in Cologne around lunch time. Take a guided tour of the city, stroll through the Old Town and Cathedral Square, and visit the fabled 13th-century Gothic Cathedral. During your free time, browse the festive Christmas Market in Cathedral Square – one of Europe’s best – or explore the city on your own. The ship cruises overnight.
This morning, cruise through the fascinating Rhine Gorge, passing dozens of castles and the infamous Lorelei Rock. Arrive in Rüdesheim in time to visit the historic Siegfried’s Mechanical Instrument Museum and its collection of robotic and self-playing musical instruments, made during the 18th-20th centuries. Explore the town’s Christmas Market during your free time, or the Drosselgasse, a narrow alley lined with wine taverns and restaurants. The ship departs very late tonight and cruises to Speyer.
Arrive in Speyer around lunchtime. Speyer is one of Germany’s oldest cities, known for its Cathedral, churches, and the Altpörtel – a 13th-century gate tower. Choose either a tour of Medieval Speyer or a half-day excursion to Heidelberg, where you can visit the red-walled Castle and its Great Vat, a 49,000-gallon 18th-century wine cask, and see beautiful views of the Neckar Valley and Heidelberg below. Wander what is said to be the longest pedestrian shopping street in Germany, the “Haupstrasse,” or some of the city’s colorful Christmas Markets. This evening, the ship cruises to Strasbourg, France.
Capital of the Alsace region in France, Strasbourg is situated on the Ill River, where it flows into the Rhine on the German border. Enjoy a panoramic tour that takes you past the Orangery, the town’s oldest park, the European Parliament and the Place de la Republique. Afterwards, take a walking tour of the lovely “La Petite France” neighborhood, where you can see the Gothic cathedral with its famous astronomical clock. Also visit Strasbourg’s famous Christmas market – said to be the oldest and best in all of France. The remainder of the day is yours to spend as you wish. The ship moors overnight in Strasbourg.
Choose one of two exciting excursions after lunch today: a visit to Riquewihr, a picturesque town that looks much as it did back in the Middle Ages, or a walking tour of Breisach and Freiburg. Breisach is a beautiful town that houses one of Europe’s largest wine cellars. In Freiburg, visit the historical city center and the Freiburg’s Münster, a Gothic cathedral constructed of red sandstone. This evening, set sail for Basel, Switzerland.
Day 8: Basel, Switzerland | Disembark | Lucerne
1 Breakfast
Disembark after breakfast and head off on a city tour of cosmopolitan Basel. Long an important university, banking, and trade center, Basel’s glorious past is still evident in its medieval Town Hall and old, elegant homes. Enjoy lunch on your own in Basel. Later, depart for Lucerne, stopping en route to visit the Lion Monument, built to honor the Swiss Guards who fought for King Louis XVI during the French Revolution. After arriving mid-afternoon and checking in to your hotel, the remainder of the evening is yours to spend at your leisure, perhaps visiting Lucerne’s Christmas Market.
Day 9: Lucerne
1 Breakfast
Situated on Lake Lucerne, this city is truly a medieval gem. After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour that explores some of the city’s famous cobblestone streets, monuments, fountain-embellished public squares, covered bridges, and colorful fresco-covered buildings. Take some free time in the afternoon to shop or you may take an optional tour and cable car ride to the top of a Swiss mountain, which offers incredible views.
Day 10: Lucerne | Zurich
1 Breakfast
Enjoy a free morning in Lucerne before checking out of your hotel. Afterwards, cruise across the tranquil waters of Lake Lucerne to Vitznau, where you board a motor coach for a scenic drive to Zurich. After checking into your hotel, the remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore the town or visit Zurich’s enchanting indoor Christmas Market (located inside the city’s main train station).
Day 11: Zurich
1 Breakfast
Begin your morning with a walking tour of picturesque Zurich that includes the Grossmünster and St. Peter, which has the largest church clock face in the world. You may also see the Old Town, the Town Hall and Fraumünster, which offers an exceptional 360° panoramic view of Zurich. The afternoon and evening are free for you to explore on your own or visit Europe’s largest indoor Christmas Market.
Day 12: Depart Zurich
1 Breakfast
Bid farewell to Switzerland and prepare for your return flight home.
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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!