Rhine Getaway

After you board your ship and settle into your stateroom, explore Amsterdam on your own. The city is easy to navigate on foot, with canals, bridges, and straightforward streets that connect different neighborhoods. Walk along the canals, see gabled houses, and visit local shops. Stop at a café for Dutch pancakes or pick up a stroopwafel. Museums and cultural sites are close by if you choose to visit.

Kinderdijk is a small village in South Holland, surrounded by low-lying land and waterways. It is easy to reach and explore, with paths that lead past 18 historic windmills and through peaceful countryside. The area is flat and open, making it ideal for walking or biking. Visitors can follow marked routes along dikes and canals to see the windmills up close and learn how they help manage water levels in the region.

The Kinderdijk Windmills Tour is included. Optional excursions are available for an additional charge: Kinderdijk Windmills by E-bicycle, Kinderdijk by Vintage Barge, Kinderdijk Windmills & Dutch Cheese Making

Cologne reveals its Roman heritage in its city layout and the ancient ruins that lie scattered through the town. Cologne’s modern plazas and Hohe Strasse host welcoming shops, enticing restaurants and cologne boutiques. Of note is the city’s 14th-century cathedral, a stunning example of Gothic artistry and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Having survived Allied bombs during World War II, the cathedral’s imposing twin spires are visible for miles and its stained glass windows fill the interior with brilliant colored light. Its steps lead to a platform with astounding views.

The Cologne Walking Tour is included. Optional excursions are available for an additional charge: Top of Cologne, Cologne’s Beer Culture & Dinner, Cologne by Bicycle, Bruhl UNESCO Palaces

Koblenz is a traditional German city, founded more than 2,000 years ago. This former trading settlement rests on a massif of the Middle Rhine Highlands. Its cobblestone streets, wood-beamed houses adorned with flowers, ancient market square and medieval churches recall the fairy-tale Germany of old. At the “German Corner,” a massive equestrian statue of Prince William I observes the lovely riverside scene. The famed Teutonic Knights set up their first base here in 1216. The Romanesque Basilica of St. Castor, Koblenz’s oldest building, dates to 836.

The Rhine River flows through one of Germany’s most scenic regions. As you sail its most picturesque stretch, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Middle Rhine, you will pass vineyard-blanketed hills whose steep slopes require vintners to pick grapes by hand, keeping a centuries-old tradition alive. Splendid castles line the banks, all of which have stories to share, and the Lorelei Rock presides at a dramatic curve in the river. This infamous river maiden mesmerized sailors with her song and lured them to their demise at her feet.

Located in the heart of Germany’s Rheingau region, Rüdesheim is the area’s center of winemaking. The famed Drosselgasse, a cobblestone street lined with taverns that pour local vintages and spill music into alleyways, attracts locals and visitors alike. Half-timbered houses, narrow warrens and old inns lend the town a medieval flavor. Castles once provided security for the region, including the 9th-century Brömserburg Castle, the oldest on the Rhine. The Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet museum also houses an impressive collection of self-playing instruments.

The Historic Koblenz excursion is included. Optional excursions are available for an additional charge: Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, Medieval Marksburg Castle, Wine Tasting & Dinner at Eberbach Monastery, Wine Tasting & Dinner at Schloss Johannisberg Estate, Dine in Rudesheim am Rhein

The quiet German town of Speyer lies on the west bank of the Rhine. The city features a Romanesque imperial cathedral, burial place of eight emperors including some of the most famous Holy Roman Emperors. Speyer was once a major Celtic center that traded hands several times between the Romans and the Huns. The term Protestant originated here at the Diet of Speyer in 1529, when 14 free cities of Germany and six Lutheran princes protested the Edict of Worms that had banned the writings of Martin Luther and labeled him a heretic and enemy of the state.

The Speyer Walking Tour is included. Optional excursions are available for an additional charge: Technik Museum Speyer, Panoramic Heidelberg & Lunch with University Students, Gardens of Schloss Schwetzingen

The largest port on the Upper Rhine, Strasbourg is the cultural center of France’s Alsace region. Thanks to its location at the border of France and Germany, it boasts a convivial mix of cultural influences. The well-preserved old town is enclosed on all sides by the little Ill River, with sites so compact that it is easy to explore the “island” on foot. And there is plenty to explore: cobblestone streets lined with wooden houses and intersected by picturesque canals. Indulging in Alsatian café culture is central to any visit here; enjoy coffee and cake amid lovely half-timbered houses.

The Strasbourg Highlights excursion is included. Optional excursions are available for an additional charge: Alsatian Wine Tasting, Flavors of Alsace, Strasbourg from the Top, Panoramic Strasbourg by Land & Water.

Breisach is a gateway to the fabled Black Forest region, built on a basalt rock outcropping in the Rhine plain. It is located in one of the warmest parts of Germany, across the river from French Alsace, famous for its wine growing. But Breisach, too, can boast about its wine: it is home to Europe’s largest cellars, with a storage capacity of more than 160 million liters. The most prominent landmark of Breisach is the Romanesque-Gothic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, built between the 12th and 13th centuries. Its two towers are visible from throughout the city and from the Rhine.

The Black Forest excursion is included. Optional excursions are available for an additional charge: Medieval Village of Colmar, The Colmar Pocket in World War II: Museum & Memorial, Into the Black Forest by E-Bike, Full Day Black Forest Experience

Bid farewell to your fellow guests and journey home. Or spend more time exploring, perhaps joining one of the extensions.