The Enchanting Rhine

Arrive in Amsterdam and board your luxurious river cruise ship. Meet your fellow travelers tonight at the Welcome Dinner.

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 and see the great landmarks of Amsterdam, including a photo stop at a windmill. Afterwards, enjoy some free time to explore Amsterdam before returning to the ship. 

Your guided tour of Cologne this morning includes the Old Town, Cathedral Square, and the city’s majestic Gothic cathedral. Afterwards, use your free time to visit some of the local shops or have a coffee at a quaint café. This afternoon the ship cruises to Koblenz and moors overnight. 

This morning, sail through the fascinating Rhine Gorge, passing castle after castle and the infamous Lorelei Rock. This afternoon, arrive in Rüdesheim, where you can enjoy an afternoon wine tasting with a local vintner. Explore the Drosselgasse, a narrow alley lined with wine taverns and restaurants during your free time. This evening, visit the historic Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, housing a remarkable collection of robotic and self-playing musical instruments from the 18th to 20th centuries. 

Arrive in Mannheim, where you have a choice of one of three excursions this afternoon. Your first option is a half-day excursion to the historic university town of Heidelberg, where you can visit the red-walled castle with its Great Vat (a 49,000-gallon wine cask) and enjoy beautiful views of the Neckar Valley and city below. Or, for your second option, enjoy a hike up the Philosopher's Path to a panoramic viewpoint of Heidelberg. Your third option is a city tour of Speyer. One of Germany’s oldest cities, it is known for its cathedral, numerous churches, and the medieval Altpörtel (Old Gate). This evening, the ship continues onward to Strasbourg, France. 

Capital and principal city of the Alsace region in northeastern France, Strasbourg is situated on the Ill River, where it flows into the Rhine on the border with Germany. Enjoy a canal cruise of this picturesque town, known for its black and white timber-framed buildings, covered bridges, and medieval watchtowers. Then take a walking tour through this charming town lined with narrow cobbled streets. See the European Parliament and visit the “La Petite France” district, where you can see the sandstone Gothic cathedral with its famous astronomical clock. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. In the afternoon, a guided bicycle tour (capacity controlled) takes you past the Orangery, the town’s oldest park, the European Parliament, and Place de la Republique. The ship moors overnight. 

You have three exciting excursions to choose from today. The first is a walking tour of Riquewihr, a picturesque town renowned for its historic architecture and for its Riesling wines. A second option is a tour of the beautiful towns of Breisach and Freiburg, where you visit the historical city center and Freiburg’s Münster, a Gothic cathedral constructed of red sandstone. Your third choice is guided bike tour of Breisach that takes you through the Rheinau woods. Tonight, the ship cruises towards Switzerland. 

Disembark after breakfast for 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 exquisite 18th-century patrician homes. After free time for lunch on your own, depart for Lucerne. Visit the Lion Monument en route and arrive mid-afternoon to check in to the hotel.

After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of this medieval gem. See some of the city’s lovely cobblestone streets, monuments, fountains, public squares, covered bridges and colorful frescoed buildings. The afternoon offers free time to shop for Swiss-made watches, knives, and delicious chocolates. 

This morning, take a leisurely cruise across the tranquil waters of Lake Lucerne to Vitznau. Here, board a motor coach for a scenic drive through the countryside, passing alpine lakes and small villages. Stop in one, Brunnen, where you may explore and try local cuisine. Later arrive in Zurich, check into your hotel and spend the rest of the day at your leisure. 

Your morning walking tour of picturesque Zurich includes Grossmünster, St. Peter, with the largest church clock face in the world, Old Town, Town Hall and Fraumünster, which was fully renovated in 2004 and now offers an exceptional 360° panoramic view of Zurich. The afternoon and evening are free for you to explore the town on your own.

After breakfast, bid farewell to Switzerland and prepare for your return flight home.