Rhine Highlights

Begin your journey in the picturesque city of Amsterdam. Spend the day happily wandering through a beautiful labyrinth of narrow laneways and historic canals, all framed by exquisitely preserved 17th-century buildings and charming cafes.

This afternoon, step aboard your ship to meet fellow travelers. Later, raise a glass at tonight's welcome reception to celebrate the start of a fascinating adventure. Since the ship departs late, take the opportunity to step ashore after dinner and experience some of the city's legendary nightlife.

Spend this morning exploring Amsterdam. As you navigate the Netherlands’ capital, experience a unique blend of history and art. Uncover a treasure trove of architectural beauty, galleries overflowing with masterpieces, 16th-century canals, narrow cobbled laneways, and streets bustling with cyclists. Often called the ‘Venice of the North,’ much of the city's World Heritage-listed canal system remains exactly as it did hundreds of years ago, elegantly framed by well-preserved houses and intersected by charming bridges.

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Discover more of the city on one of these excursions:

Excursion to Schermerhorn & Alkmaar: Windmills are an iconic feature of Dutch culture, travel out of town, enjoy the sweeping countryside landscape and explore the nearby villages of Schermerhorn, home to a number of World Heritage-listed windmills dating back to the 16th century, and Alkmaar. Walking tour of Amsterdam: Explore Amsterdam on foot, discovering the maze of canals and bridges in the city center. Your guide will be covering history, modern lifestyle and Dutch culture. You also get to taste herring, a local delicacy not to be missed.

Fabrique des Lumières: Art springs to life in this impressive digital art installation, the largest in the Netherlands. Located in a former 19th century gas works, pieces from renowned artists are projected onto the 17 meter high walls, accompanied by music to create an immersive ambience.

Cycling tour: Amsterdam is known as the bicycle capital of the world. Take a small ferry to the outskirts of town for an active biking tour to experience life on two wheels. Your local guide will be on hand to offer information about the everyday life of the Dutch people, many of whom are sharing your cycle path.

Dock in the 2,000 year old city of Cologne. Cologne suffered extensive damage during World War II but was painstakingly restored over the following decades. Set out on a walking tour of the Old Town, complete with a voucher to purchase a local beer, and admire its historic buildings, beautiful squares and the World Heritage-listed Cologne Cathedral. With a late departure tonight, you can have some free time to explore the city on your own and get a taste of the nightlife.

The ship docks in Koblenz this morning, giving you the opportunity to explore one of Germany’s oldest cities. Founded by the Romans more than 2,000 years ago, it is strategically placed where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet.

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Choose to explore your way with this morning’s Scenic Freechoice:

Walking tour of Koblenz: Join your guide to explore the old town’s winding streets, impressive townhouses, charming squares and historic churches, and visit the famed Florinsmarkt, the former political and economic center of the city.

Medieval Limburg: Travel by coach to the charming medieval town of Limburg an der Lahn. Walk the historic cobblestone streets lined with perfectly preserved half-timbered houses, visit the cathedral that overlooks the city and see Alten Lahnbrücke, the Old Bridge that straddles the Lahn River.

Cochem & Moselle Valley: Travel through the beautiful Moselle Valley to the town of Cochem. Take a walking tour through its picturesque center, where cobbled lanes are lined with half-timbered houses, then visit the grand Reichsburg Castle.

After lunch, the ship sets sail, giving you the chance to relax on board as you cruise through the picturesque Rhine Gorge, where the landscapes could have been pulled from the pages of a fairytale. This 65 kilometer stretch of the river is dotted with some 40 hilltop castles and fortresses that span a period of 1,000 years. Look out for the Lorelei statue, dedicated to the tragic legend of a beautiful maiden.

Arrive in Mannheim today. A large metropolitan center, Mannheim still runs along its recognizable 18th century grid pattern and is known for its grand Baroque squares, fountains and palace. Your Scenic Freechoice excursions today will take you away from the city to discover more of the surrounding region before you cruise to Rastatt.

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Choose between these immersive Scenic Freechoice experiences this morning:

Orientation tour of Heidelberg: Transfer by coach to Heidelberg for a brief walking tour of the city, including the Old Town, and then enjoy some free time. (Note: the walk is not too strenuous but there are some stairs and uneven ground).

Historical tour of Heidelberg: Take a guided tour of Heidelberg, then visit Heidelberg Castle, one of the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps. Admire the views from the balcony and the great Heidelberg Tun, the world’s largest wine barrel. (Note: the walk is not too strenuous but there are some stairs and uneven ground).

Excursion to Bad Dürkheim: Take in the stunning vine-covered landscapes as you drive to Bad Dürkheim and visit the famed Fritz Ritter winery. This ninth-generation family-owned vineyard offers exceptional quality wine and be treated to a tour and tasting. (Note: a good degree of fitness is required).

Enrich
Private concert at the Baroque Palace of Rastatt: One of the most magnificent historic venues in the region, the Baroque Palace of Rastatt was modeled on the Palace of Versailles and hosts an evening of grandeur unlike any other. Explore the opulent palace and gardens before sitting down to a private performance from an accomplished pianist and accompanied vocalists.

The capital of the Alsace wine region is a captivating blend of France and Germany. It has a Gothic cathedral and an Old Town surrounded by a river, with sherbert-colored, half-timbered houses bordering a complex network of canals. Strasbourg proudly wears its medieval past while looking firmly towards the future and is known for its youthful energy and infectious spirit.

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Choose from these Scenic Freechoice experiences today:

Alsace wine route with tasting: Explore this culturally diverse wine-growing area and visit one of the region’s most famous wine growing villages to do a tasting at a local wine cellar before exploring the neighboring town of Obernai.

Cycling through Strasbourg: Journey by e-bike the region’s impressive bicycle trails during this active excursion. More than 500km of trails cover the city, and you can explore some of these while cycling through charming suburbs past historic buildings, beautiful parklands and sparkling canals.

Walking tour of Strasbourg: Located on the border of France and Germany, Strasbourg has been influenced by both cultures. See the city’s most important sites on foot, like the cathedral, Petit France and the Grand Ile as you learn how the two nations shaped this unique city.

Your ship will dock in Breisach for the day, giving you ample time to discover the region. There’s lots of reasons Breisach is a must-visit food and wine destination. Not only does it share a border with the Alsace region, it’s also located between the Rhine River and the legendary Black Forest. Don’t leave without trying the German Pinot Noir. The town was meticulously rebuilt after World War II, complete with its traditional cobbled streets and pastel houses.

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Explore the region on one of these Scenic Freechoice excursions:

Guided tour of Colmar: A walking tour of the cultural center of the Alsace shows off Colmar’s confluence of French and German architecture, lifestyle, and culture. A highlight of the tour is tasting a slice of the famed Kugelhopf cake at a local bistro.

Guided tour of Freiburg with tasting: It’s location right on the edge of the Black Forest makes Freiburg a magical place to visit. Enjoy a guided walking tour through the lively medieval town before a tasting of delicious black forest cake.

Walking tour of Breisach with wine tasting: This leisurely guided walk through Breisach’s Old Town will take in its pastel facades and cobbled lanes. Look up to see the hilltop cathedral of St. Stephansmünster before indulging in a tasting of delicious local sparkling wine.

Your cruise concludes this morning in Basel (Huningue). Enjoy one final breakfast on board, then disembark, and transfer to Zurich taking with you lifelong memories of a remarkable journey.

Please book your flight to depart out of Zurich after 12:00 PM.

Due to new restrictions on cruise ships at Amsterdam’s city docks, your cruise is now likely to embark and/or disembark at a port outside central Amsterdam. If your ship does not have a central Amsterdam docking, Scenic will provide a central Amsterdam meeting point and transfers to your ship as required. These changes are required by local authorities and are in line with the booking terms which allow changes to berthing or dock locations and ports where operationally necessary. You be advised of the confirmed docking location prior to departure.

This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to the terms and conditions.