Embark on an 8-day river cruise aboard the MS Amaserena. Experience the charm of Europe’s holiday season on a Rhine River cruise through Switzerland, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Begin in Basel, then explore Strasbourg’s festive ambiance in the Alsace region. In Germany, visit Cologne’s grand cathedral, the winemaking village of Rudesheim, and Heidelberg’s historic university town—cruise through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge, where 40 castles line the riverbanks like twinkling holiday lights. Conclude in Amsterdam, known for its scenic canals and rich history. This journey blends Christmas markets, cultural landmarks, and breathtaking winter landscapes for a festive European adventure.
Highlights
Explore Basel’s medieval charm in Switzerland’s historic university city
Discover Lucerne’s iconic landmarks, including Lion Monument
Stroll Strasbourg’s streets, from La Petite France to its cathedral
Taste Rudesheim’s signature coffee, a local delight infused with brandy
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
Explore Basel, Switzerland’s third-largest city, known for its historic university, banking, and trade significance. Its medieval town hall, vibrant market square, and elegant 18th-century patrician homes reflect its rich heritage. Discover the city on a walking or guided bike tour through Switzerland, France, and Germany. Alternatively, take a full-day excursion to Lucerne or combine a morning tour with an afternoon visit. In Lucerne, see the Lion Monument, a tribute to Swiss Guards lost in the French Revolution, praised by Mark Twain as “the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world.” Admire the city’s well-preserved medieval walls and 13th-century towers.
Strasbourg offers flavors of both France and Germany because of its borderline location. Enjoy a panoramic tour past the stunning Parc de l'Orangerie, the European Parliament, and the Place de la Republique before walking through its iconic "La Petite France" district, lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. Wander through charming streets past the Cathedrale de Notre Dame with its famous astronomical clock. Alternatively, ride a guided bike through the city and Parc de l'Orangerie.
Ludwigshafen is your gateway to a choice of four excursions. Visit Heidelberg, the perfectly preserved medieval city 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 in Heidelberg, join a guided hike up the Philosopher's Path, aptly named during the Romantic Period, and enjoy panoramic city views. 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 Old Gate, Altportel. Or pedal along the river Neckar to the picturesque medieval city center of Ladenburg and enjoy some free time to explore the shops. Later in the day, cruise to the charming village of Rudesheim and let Siegfried's Mechanical Instrument Cabinet charm you with its remarkable collection of self-playing musical instruments, or taste one of the town's special delights, Rudesheimer coffee, ceremoniously made with brandy, coffee, and whipped cream.
Join a wine tasting to discover the flavors of the town's iconic vineyards. Drink up the stunning views by soaring high above the vineyards with a gondola ride to the Niederwalddenkmal. For a more active adventure, hike through the town's beautiful vineyards or join a guided bike tour along the scenic Rhine River. Later in the day, cruise through the captivating UNESCO-designated Rhine Gorge, the most stunningly beautiful stretch of the river, before reaching Lahnstein, where you can enjoy an exclusive evening visit at Burg Lahneck Castle.
Enjoy cruising to Cologne, then join a guided tour through the enchanting Old Town, where you can see sites such as the Cologne Rathaus, Germany's oldest town hall; the Fischmarkt, which dates back to the 12th century; and the Great St. Martin Church. End your city tour with a visit to a local tavern to taste its famous Kolsch beer. Alternatively, during a guided tour, examine the historic architectural styles on display throughout the Cologne Cathedral. This 13th-century Gothic marvel and UNESCO World Heritage Site was the world's tallest building at its completion, and the church withstood 14 hits from aerial bombs during World War II. Active guests will want to join a guided bike ride along the Rhine and through the historic Stadtgarten.
There are 165 canals in Amsterdam, and enjoy some of them on your canal cruise. Alternatively, taste the local flavor, passing iconic canals, gabled houses, narrow bridges, and houseboats while tasting Dutch specialties at one of Amsterdam's grand cafes.
Please note: A Taste of Amsterdam tour depends upon docking location and may be replaced with alternate tour.
**May be replaced with alternate tour based on docking location
Day 8: Amsterdam | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Bid farewell to Amsterdam as you 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.
$4,1392-3 travelers
E
Piano deck, fixed windows
D
Piano deck, fixed windows
C
Violin & Cello deck, French Balcony
BB
Cello deck, French Balcony & Outside Balcony
BA
Violin deck, French Balcony & Outside Balcony
AB
Cello deck, French Balcony & Outside Balcony
AA
Violin deck, French Balcony & Outside Balcony
AA+
Violin deck, French Balcony & Outside Balcony
Suite
Violin deck, French Balcony & Outside Balcony
Notes
Single supplement is 50%, except for Suites which are 100%.
This was my first experience with Adventure Life - and I couldn't have been more pleased with the trip. The guides and local staff in both Buenos Aires and Uruguay were terrific - extremely helpful and accommodating. I really enjoyed meeting the friendly staff in Buenos Aires in person (I left my bags with them for the afternoon).
Cruse ship was great. Fantastic food and service. Cruise itinary got changed so not what we expected, but not an major issue. Japan portion was great. Drivers/guides arranged by 80 Days were great. Hotels were mostly ok. Did not know that most hotels outside of major cities do not allow shoes to be worn in the hotel. again a minor inconvenience. Overall a great trip. Adventure Life communications were timely and much appreciated as far as changes/requests.
Peter Goff
2 days ago
We were a group of three that initiated our research by independently searching for the best agency to help us in the somewhat complex experience of traveling to the Galapagos. We chose adventure life because they were the most responsive in the website provided the most comprehensive overview of the trip. Their reviews were also very good.
Adventure, life splits up its booking process in two parts. First Jeff, the booking agent helped us decide which experience best suited are interests. We chose a small 14 to 16 group sized yacht. Once the booking was made with Jeff, we were handed off to Coleene, who oversaw the complex process of assembling all of the necessary documents and making sure we had everything we needed to make the trip go smoothly. The adventure, life website, then becomes your personal place of reference for all things related to your trip from door to door. It’s a lot of information to assemble, especially for three travelers, but the website makes it easy and Colleen‘s gentle reminders kept us on track. In all, from the beginning, we had four months from the time we started our research till the time we departed. We felt that was, a good amount of preparation time and don’t think it would be wise to do it in less than four months. Mostly because I think you have more options with that amount of time. There were others on our trip that took six months and more from the time they started planning.
The trip itself was outstanding. We ended up on an excellent yacht (Galapagos Angel II) with a great group of guests that we were able to connect with and put together a really nice google photos album to share.
Jed
1 week ago
Mary was very helpful. Quick to reply with helpful information and closure on arrangements.
Nicola Maxwell
1 week ago
Mary Curry and Elma are always so responsive and nice to deal with.
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