Embark on a 13-day cruise aboard the MS Amaserena through Europe, featuring fairytale castles, historic vineyards, and the glacial beauty of Italy's Lake Como on this enchanting Rhine River cruise and land adventure. Begin in Amsterdam, a city of picturesque canals and rich history, before venturing to Germany to explore the vibrant city of Cologne, the winemaking charm of Rudesheim, and the scholarly allure of Heidelberg—cruise through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge, where 40 castles grace the riverbanks like a string of pearls. Cross into France's Alsace region to discover the magic of Strasbourg, soak in breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps, and conclude in the glamorous retreat of Lake Como. Spanning the Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland, and Italy, this itinerary offers iconic landmarks, majestic landscapes, and unforgettable experiences—a true European dream.
Highlights
Discover Amsterdam’s canals and vibrant atmosphere with picturesque views
Explore Cologne’s Old Town and Gothic architecture, including its cathedral
Cruise the Rhine Gorge, marveling at castles along scenic shores
Visit Rudesheim’s vineyards, sampling wines and enjoying gondola views
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.
Check out of your hotel and, before transferring to your ship, visit Zaanse Schans, observing life as it used to be in the Netherlands. Authentic windmills, houses, and shops were relocated to this picturesque area, creating a typical 17th- to 18th-century village.
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.
Cruise through the captivating UNESCO-designated Rhine Gorge, the most stunningly beautiful stretch of the river, before reaching the winemaking town of Rudesheim. Drink up the stunning views by soaring high above the vineyards with a gondola ride to the Niederwalddenkmal, then join a wine tasting to discover the flavors of the town's iconic vineyards. 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, 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.
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, Altpörtel. Or pedal along the river Neckar to the picturesque medieval city center of Ladenburg and enjoy some free time to explore the shops.
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 République before walking through its iconic "La Petite France" district, lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. Wander through charming streets past the Cathédrale de Nôtre Dame with its famous astronomical clock. Alternatively, ride a guided bike through the city and Parc de l'Orangerie.
Enjoy getting to know Basel, Switzerland's third-largest city. Long an important university, banking, and trade center, Basel's glorious past is still evident in its medieval town hall, richly decorated market square, and exquisite 18th-century patrician homes. Tour the city on foot or on a guided bike tour that takes you through three countries: Switzerland, France, and Germany. Alternatively, go on a full-day excursion to Lucerne, or opt for one of the morning excursions and visit Lucerne in the afternoon. With either Lucerne excursion, you can have the opportunity to see its Lion Monument – the figure of a dying lion carved into a hillside in memory of the Swiss Guards massacred during the French Revolution in 1792 – which Mark Twain described as "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world." You can also see Lucerne's spectacular medieval walls and towers, dating back to the 13th century.
*Not combinable with other tours on this day.
Day 10: Basel | Disembark | Lake Como
1 Breakfast
Disembark the ship and transfer to Lake Como, Italy, stopping in Bellinzona, Switzerland, along the way, where you can enjoy a brief tour and free time for lunch. Once in breathtaking Lake Como, nestled at the foot of the Alps, check into your hotel for the evening.
Day 11: Lake Como
1 Breakfast
Be treated to a walking tour of Lake Como, a former glacial lake and popular resort area for the rich and famous since Roman times. Gaze at the azure waters and impressive villas that line the lakeside from the hills above and perhaps recognize the scenery from such Hollywood blockbusters as Ocean's Twelve and Casino Royale.
Day 12: Lake Como | Bellagio
1 Breakfast
Let the wind tousle your hair as you board your boat for a scenic ride along Lake Como to its stunning pearl, Bellagio. This intimate village offers postcard-perfect views whether you stroll along the lakeside or venture uphill to its cobbled streets. Browse the shops or sample the local fare at Bellagio's restaurants before returning to the boat.
Day 13: Lake Como
1 Breakfast
Bid farewell to Lake Como and prepare for your 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.
$6,4192-3 travelers
Please confirm embark/disembark locations before reserving flights, as this itinerary operates in reverse on alternating departures.
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%.
We are so glad that we chose Adventure Life. The service is top-notch. Everything is well taken care of and we just have to print the documents and go. Franny even gave us timely updates on possible airport strike.
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.
/454x364.webp)
