Welcome to Switzerland! Travel from Zurich airport to the Rhine–side town of Basel and board your luxurious ship, where your friendly captain and crews are waiting to welcome you. This evening, join your fellow guests for dinner on board

The Black Forest is a captivating region, known for its cuckoo clocks and the live oompah bands that grace sun-filled gardens with their music during the summer months. Today, you have the opportunity to visit a Black Forest village and learn how people in the region lived for centuries. If you are feeling more active, then you may instead choose to hike through the Black Forest, passing under an idyllic canopy of evergreens.

Later, enjoy one of the region’s most famous treats during a Black Forest gateau demonstration and tasting.

This morning, your ship docks in Kehl and you are transferred across the river to the medieval town of Strasbourg, the capital of France’s Alsace Region. Cobbled squares surrounded by half-timbered houses make Strasbourg appear as if it has been effortlessly suspended in time, and you get the opportunity to explore the past during your included walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town. Witness the ornate beauty of many of Strasbourg’s highlights, including the Maison Kammerzell and the canal network that weaves through Petite France, before enjoying free time to explore at leisure. 

Schwetzingen Palace is famous for the beauty and harmony of its gardens. Remarkably, the original design, in all its diversity, survives to this day. Besides the palace interior, you will also visit the Palace Gardens which are a cultural heritage site of European significance boasting more than 100 sculptures. Alternatively, you can embark on a hike through the beautiful vineyards of the quaint wellness town of Bad-Dürkheim.

Cruise to the 2000-year-old town of Koblenz today to discover its fairytale-like surrounds, nestled on the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. Your local guide takes you on a tour through the town, touching on the twin-towered façade of the Church of Our Lady and the German Corner, where the two inspirational waterways meet. Journey by cable car to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, offering exceptional views of the surrounding area from its hilltop position.

Effortlessly steeped in history and tales of the past, Cologne encapsulates a timeline that spans more than two millennia and is one of the oldest cities in Germany. Your included tour of Cologne takes you to the heart of its old town, where Roman mosaics and the Great St. Martin Church tell the stories of the people who first laid out plans for this mighty city. Your tour concludes at the soaring UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cologne Cathedral.

A visit to the iconic Keukenhof Gardens is certain to be a memorable experience today, as you stroll down serene paths that showcase spring in a quintessentially Dutch manner, with more than 800 varieties of spring-flowering tulips and regular flower shows. Each year, an annual theme spreads across the gardens, and you will have every opportunity to learn about different planting techniques and the work completed behind the scenes by landscape architects during your time here.
Soak in sights of tulips, hyacinths, and orchids of every color, creating a swath of natural beauty as they have been expertly arranged. You will also have the opportunity to see statues that have been commissioned by artists from around the world, each honing in on the annual theme.

After breakfast, it is time to say farewell to your fellow guests and disembark the ship for your transfer to the airport, taking memories of the region's charm with you.