Itinerary
- Day 1
Amsterdam
You'll arrive in Amsterdam with the day to yourself until you board your ship by 5 pm. If you're visiting during tulip season, there's a guided tour option to Keukenhof gardens where you can see over seven million tulips and bulbs spread across the grounds. When it's outside that season, Zaanse Schans offers historic windmills and traditional Dutch houses that give a real sense of the area's character.
- Meals
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens (during tulip season)
- Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and Dutch houses (outside tulip season)
Landmarks Keukenhof gardens Zaanse Schans - Day 2
Amsterdam
Your Adventure Host will help guide the day with two walking options: an off-the-beaten-path tour through the cobblestone streets or a canal cruise showing the Golden Age homes from the water. After that, you've got free time to wander through Amsterdam's colorful streets, check out galleries, do some shopping, or explore the canal houses on your own. Later in the afternoon, the ship starts heading toward Cologne.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Walking Tour through Amsterdam cobblestone streets (activity discovery option)
- Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam's Golden Age (classic option)
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursions in Amsterdam (specific excursions not detailed)
- Day 3
Cologne
Cologne gives you three tour choices: cycling like locals do, a guided walk through the city's Jewish heritage sites, or a city tour featuring the famous twin-steepled gothic cathedral. During your free time, try a glass of Kölsch pale lager, a local brew that's been made here for over 100 years. This evening, local musicians will perform live on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike ride in Cologne with Adventure Host (activity active option)
- Guided Walking Tour of Cologne's Jewish heritage sites (activity discovery option)
- Guided City Walk of Cologne with twin-steepled gothic cathedral (activity classic option)
- Live entertainment on board with local musicians
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral - Day 4
Rüdesheim
As you sail toward Rüdesheim, you'll pass through the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with ancient castles perched 400 feet above the water and the legendary Rock of the Lorelei visible from the ship. On land, pick between a hike through vineyards with your Adventure Host or a guided tour of the Mechanical Music Museum with Rüdesheimer coffee tasting included. Live entertainment happens on board this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sailing through Rhine Gorge UNESCO World Heritage site with views of ancient castles and Rock of the Lorelei
- Hike through vineyards of Rüdesheim with Avalon Adventure Host (activity active option)
- Guided Tour of Mechanical Music Museum with Rüdesheimer coffee tasting (activity discovery option)
- Live entertainment on board
Landmarks Rhine Gorge Rock of the Lorelei Mechanical Music Museum - Day 5
Heidelberg
Heidelberg offers three excursions: a walk along the Philosophers' way, a city tour that includes the Gutenberg Museum to learn about printing history, or a guided tour of Heidelberg Castle with its renaissance ruins and the Great Vat, known as the world's largest wine barrel. Later in the evening, you'll cruise toward Kehl.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk along Philosophers' way in Heidelberg with Adventure Host (activity active option)
- Guided City Walk including Gutenberg Museum (activity classic option)
- Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle including Great Vat, the 'World's Largest Wine Barrel' (activity classic option)
Landmarks Heidelberg Castle Gutenberg Museum Philosophers' way - Day 6
Strasbourg
In Strasbourg, your Adventure Host has active and relaxed options available. You can explore by bike or join a city sightseeing tour covering the Gothic cathedral with its stained-glass windows, ancient murals, the astronomical clock, and La Petite France District. There are also optional excursions to the Maginot Line or Alsace wine country if those interest you, or just spend time exploring museums and the city center at your own pace. The ship heads to Breisach this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike tour of Strasbourg with Adventure Host (activity active option)
- City Sightseeing Tour including Gothic cathedral, La Petite France District (classic option)
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to historic Maginot Line
- Guided Optional Excursion to Alsace wine country
Landmarks Strasbourg Cathedral La Petite France Maginot Line - Day 7
Black Forest Region
Today's a big choice day. You can take a full-day guided tour to the Black Forest to see the Vogtsbauernhof open-air museum, an authentic water mill, and watch a traditional butter-making demonstration. Or head to Freiburg's medieval city center with the Black Forest as a backdrop. There's also an optional excursion to Colmar, a charming village with half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings. Later, you'll cruise toward Basel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Full-day Guided Tour to Black Forest including Vogtsbauernhof open-air museum, authentic water mill, and traditional butter-making demonstration (activity discovery option)
- Guided Tour of Freiburg's medieval city center (activity classic option)
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Colmar village with half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings
Landmarks Black Forest Vogtsbauernhof Freiburg Colmar - Day 8
Lucerne, Switzerland
You'll disembark the ship and transfer by motorcoach into the Swiss Alps. A special highlight excursion takes you to Mount Pilatus or Mount Stanserhorn depending on what's accessible seasonally, for views over central Switzerland, or the Swiss Transport Museum if the weather isn't cooperating. After that, a guided walking tour shows you Lucerne, including Thorvaldsen's Lion Monument and the famous Chapel Bridge.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Motorcoach transfer to Swiss Alps
- Mount Pilatus excursion with spectacular views over central Switzerland (or Mount Stanserhorn per seasonal accessibility, or Swiss Transport Museum in bad weather)
- Guided Walking tour of Lucerne including Lion Monument and Chapel Bridge
Landmarks Mount Pilatus Mount Stanserhorn Swiss Transport Museum Lion Monument Chapel Bridge - Day 9
Lucerne
This day is yours to do as you please in Lucerne. You can discover the various squares and churches, seeing how tradition and modern life mix together in the city, or spend time shopping in the city center if that's more your style.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 10
Lucerne
Your trip concludes with breakfast this morning and then your return home, ending your time traveling through the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland.
- Meals
- Breakfast
