Itinerary
- Day 1
Departure
After breakfast, you'll say goodbye to Switzerland and head out for your return flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 2
Breisach
Breisach serves as your starting point for several day trips. You can visit the old town of Riquewihr to see Alsatian architecture, or head to Freiburg to check out its Gothic cathedral. If you prefer something more active, there's cycling through the countryside or hiking in the Black Forest nearby.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Riquewihr with views of historic architecture and the Dolder Gate
- Visit to Freiburg and its Münster Gothic cathedral
- Cycling through the countryside
- Hiking in the Black Forest
Landmarks/POIs Riquewihr Dolder Gate Freiburg Münster Black Forest - Day 3
Strasbourg
Strasbourg blends French and German influences throughout the city. A panoramic tour takes you past the Parc de l'Orangerie and European Parliament, then you'll walk through the La Petite France district and see the Cathédrale de Notre Dame with its famous astronomical clock. There's also an option for a guided bike ride if you'd rather explore by cycling.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Panoramic tour of Parc de l'Orangerie, European Parliament and Place de la République
- Walking tour through 'La Petite France' district
- Visit to Cathédrale de Nôtre Dame and its astronomical clock
- Guided bike ride through Strasbourg and Parc de l'Orangerie
Landmarks/POIs Parc de l'Orangerie European Parliament Place de la République La Petite France Cathédrale de Nôtre Dame - Day 4
Ludwigshafen
From Ludwigshafen, you have multiple options. Head to Heidelberg to see the red sandstone castle and the Great Vat, or join a guided hike up Philosopher's Path for views of the city. You could also visit Speyer to see its UNESCO cathedral, or bike along the Neckar River to the medieval town of Ladenburg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit to Heidelberg Castle and the Great Vat
- Guided hike up Philosopher's Path in Heidelberg with panoramic views
- Visit to Speyer and its UNESCO World Heritage Romanesque cathedral
- Visit to Speyer's medieval Old Gate (Altpörtel)
- Guided bike tour along the Neckar River with stop in Ladenburg
Landmarks/POIs Heidelberg Castle Great Vat Philosopher's Path Speyer Cathedral Altpörtel Ladenburg - Day 5
Rüdesheim
The ship cruises through the UNESCO-designated Rhine Gorge and arrives at Rüdesheim, a town known for wine. You can join a wine tasting, take a gondola ride above the vineyards to the Niederwalddenkmal, or hike through the vineyards. Siegfried's Mechanical Instrument Cabinet is worth a visit, and the local Rüdesheimer coffee is popular with travelers.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through the Rhine Gorge
Optional Activities
- Wine tasting in Rüdesheim
- Gondola ride to the Niederwalddenkmal
- Hike through Rüdesheim's vineyards
- Guided bike tour along the scenic Rhine River
- Visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Instrument Cabinet
- Rüdesheimer coffee tasting
Landmarks/POIs Rhine Gorge Niederwalddenkmal Siegfried's Mechanical Instrument Cabinet - Day 6
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is a major cultural and commercial center with two main options. Take a short trip to Cologne to see its Gothic cathedral and historic Old Town, or explore Düsseldorf on foot with a guide and try the local Altbier specialty beer.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Trip to Cologne with guided tour of the Old Town
- Visit to Cologne Cathedral
- Visit to Cologne Rathaus (oldest town hall)
- Tour of Old Market and Heumarkt in Cologne
- Walking tour of historic Düsseldorf
- Altbier tasting in Düsseldorf
Landmarks/POIs Cologne Cathedral Cologne Rathaus Old Market Heumarkt - Day 7
Amsterdam
If you didn't do the canal cruise earlier, join a boat tour gliding beneath Amsterdam's bridges and past the city's signature architecture. Alternatively, explore Amsterdam through food by trying bitterballen and Dutch cheese at one of the large cafes. Later in the afternoon, the ship departs from Amsterdam.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Canal cruise through Amsterdam
- Walking tour with sampling of local delicacies including bitterballen and Dutch cheese
Landmarks/POIs Amsterdam Canals - Day 8
Amsterdam
You'll get a guided tour of the Rijksmuseum, the Netherlands' national museum with 800 years of Dutch history. Walking through the galleries, you'll see the world's largest collection of Dutch and Flemish art, including works like Rembrandt's The Night Watch and Vermeer's The Milkmaid.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Special tour of the Rijksmuseum
Landmarks/POIs Rijksmuseum - Day 9
Dordrecht
Dordrecht, Holland's oldest city founded in 1220, offers several ways to spend your time. Take a walking tour to learn about the city's history, visit Rotterdam and Delfshaven where the Pilgrim Fathers departed in 1620, explore Gorinchem's old town, or try an architectural bike tour. In the afternoon, you'll head to Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its 18th-century windmills.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Dordrecht
- Visit to Rotterdam and Delfshaven
- Visit to Gorinchem Old Town
- Architectural bike tour through Rotterdam
- Visit to Kinderdijk UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Bike tour past Kinderdijk windmills
Landmarks/POIs Dordrecht Rotterdam Delfshaven Gorinchem Kinderdijk - Day 10
Antwerp
Antwerp, Belgium's trendy diamond center, can be explored on a walking tour showing you Steen Castle, Grote Market, and the Brabo Fountain plus the UNESCO Cathedral of Our Lady. Active travelers can bike through the city. Later, enjoy a beer tasting, try Belgian waffles and other local food, or take an afternoon bike tour that includes the Red Star Line Museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Antwerp including Steen Castle, Grote Market, Brabo Fountain and Cathedral of Our Lady
- Bike tour through Antwerp
- Local beer tasting
- Belgian culinary excursion featuring waffles and local specialties
- Afternoon bike tour with visit to Red Star Line Museum
Landmarks/POIs Steen Castle Grote Market Brabo Fountain Cathedral of Our Lady Red Star Line Museum - Day 11
Brussels
Brussels, Belgium's capital, is best explored on a guided walking tour or by cycling through on a guided bike ride. History buffs can spend the day visiting World War II Battle of the Bulge sites and have a Trappist beer tasting. If you're not doing the full-day tour, choose from afternoon options like Gaasbeek Castle or Belgian chocolate tasting.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided walking tour of Brussels
- Guided bike tour of Brussels
- Full-day World War II Battle of the Bulge history tour with Trappist beer tasting
- Visit to Gaasbeek Castle
- Belgian chocolate tasting
Landmarks/POIs Gaasbeek Castle - Day 12
Ghent
Ghent, the capital of East Flanders, can be walked or biked with a guide to learn about its unique history. Or take a full-day trip to Bruges, one of Europe's best preserved medieval cities. If you prefer a shorter outing, spend your afternoon at Ghent's Castle of the Counts, which sits on the moat and houses a medieval torture devices collection.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Ghent
- Guided bike tour of Ghent
- Full-day excursion to Bruges including Church of Our Lady with Michelangelo's Carrara marble Madonna and Child sculpture
- Shorter afternoon excursion to Bruges
- Visit to Castle of the Counts in Ghent
Landmarks/POIs Castle of the Counts Church of Our Lady Bruges - Day 13
Hellevoetsluis
After a scenic morning cruise through the delta, you'll arrive in Hellevoetsluis, an island in South Holland. During the tour, you'll see the working De Hoop windmill and charming wharf houses. Later, visit the Delta Works storm surge barrier at the Flood Museum, or if you're active, bike across the Haringvlietdam.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic morning cruise through the delta
Optional Activities
- Tour of Hellevoetsluis including De Hoop windmill and wharf houses
- Visit to the Flood Museum to learn about the Delta Works
- Bike tour from Hellevoetsluis across the Haringvlietdam
Landmarks/POIs Hellevoetsluis De Hoop Windmill Flood Museum Delta Works - Day 14
Amsterdam to Utrecht
Start with a canal cruise through some of Amsterdam's 165 canals, then take a scenic cruise through the IJsselmeer to Utrecht, which has been a religious center since the 8th century. You can explore the medieval old town, canals and Gothic cathedral on foot, or visit De Haar castle, Holland's largest castle with its fairytale turrets and surrounding moats.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Canal cruise in Amsterdam
- Scenic cruise through the IJsselmeer to Utrecht
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Utrecht including Gothic cathedral
- Visit to Museum Speelklok featuring automatically playing musical instruments
- Walking or biking tour of De Haar castle
Landmarks/POIs Amsterdam Canals IJsselmeer Utrecht Utrecht Gothic Cathedral Museum Speelklok De Haar Castle - Day 15
Cruise Departure
You'll board the ship and your Grand Rhine cruise begins.
- Meals
- Dinner
