Itinerary
- Day 1
Amsterdam
You'll arrive in Amsterdam with your day free until the ship departs at 5 pm (flights need to land by 3:30 pm). If it's tulip season, there's an optional guided tour to Keukenhof gardens where you can see over seven million tulips and bulbs. Outside that season, you can head to Zaanse Schans instead to check out historic windmills and traditional Dutch houses. Just make sure you're back before boarding time.
- Meals
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens (during tulip season)
- Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses (outside tulip season)
Landmarks/POIs Keukenhof gardens Zaanse Schans - Day 2
Amsterdam to Cologne
Amsterdam gives you choices this morning. You can join a guided walking tour through cobblestone streets off the usual path, or take a canal cruise past the grand Golden Age homes. After lunch, pick from optional excursions or take free time to walk around the colorful streets, explore canals and galleries, or shop. Then you'll head back to the ship for an afternoon departure and overnight sail to Cologne.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Walking Tour through cobblestone streets of Amsterdam (choice activity)
- Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam's Golden Age (choice activity)
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursions in Amsterdam (afternoon)
Landmarks/POIs Amsterdam Canals - Day 3
Cologne
In Cologne you've got three options to start your day: bike ride with a local Adventure Host, guided tour of Jewish heritage sites, or city walk that includes the famous gothic cathedral with its twin spires. Later you'll have time to grab a glass of locally brewed Kölsch pale lager. This evening local musicians perform on board before you sail overnight to Rüdesheim.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike ride in Cologne with Adventure Host (choice activity)
- Guided Walking Tour of Cologne's Jewish heritage sites (choice activity)
- Guided City Walk of Cologne including gothic cathedral (choice activity)
Landmarks/POIs Cologne Cathedral - Day 4
Rüdesheim
While sailing to Rüdesheim, you'll pass through the UNESCO Rhine Gorge and see ancient castles on cliffs 400 feet above the water, plus the legendary Rock of the Lorelei. You can choose between a vineyard hike with an Adventure Host, the Mechanical Music Museum, or a tour of Johannisberg Castle's historic wooden-barrel cellar with wine tasting (all include Rüdesheimer coffee). Live entertainment happens on board this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike through vineyards of Rüdesheim with Adventure Host and authentic Rüdesheimer coffee tasting (choice activity)
- Guided Tour of Mechanical Music Museum and authentic Rüdesheimer coffee tasting (choice activity)
- Guided Visit to historic 18th-century wooden-barrel cellar of Johannisberg Castle and wine tasting (choice activity)
Landmarks/POIs Rhine Gorge Rock of the Lorelei Johannisberg Castle Mechanical Music Museum - Day 5
Heidelberg to Kehl
Three activities are available in Heidelberg: walk along Philosophers' Way with an Adventure Host, guided city tour including the Gutenberg Museum about printing history, or tour Heidelberg Castle ruins and see the Great Vat, the world's largest wine barrel. You'll board the ship this evening for an overnight cruise to Kehl.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk along Philosophers' Way in Heidelberg with Adventure Host (choice activity)
- Guided City Walk including Gutenberg Museum (choice activity)
- Guided Tour of Heidelberg Castle including the Great Vat/World's Largest Wine Barrel (choice activity)
Landmarks/POIs Philosophers' Way Gutenberg Museum Heidelberg Castle - Day 6
Strasbourg to Breisach
Strasbourg offers a bike ride with an Adventure Host or a city tour featuring the Gothic cathedral with stained glass and astronomical clock, plus the charming La Petite France District. Afterward, you can join an optional excursion to the Maginot Line pre-WWII fortifications or tour Alsace's wine country. Or take free time to visit a museum or walk the city center. The ship departs this evening for Breisach.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike tour of Strasbourg with Adventure Host (choice activity)
- City Sightseeing Tour including Gothic cathedral and La Petite France District (choice activity)
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to historic Maginot Line pre-WWII fortifications
- Guided Optional Excursion to Alsace's wine country
Landmarks/POIs Strasbourg Cathedral La Petite France Maginot Line - Day 7
Black Forest to Basel
You get to choose a full-day guided tour: either visit the Black Forest and see Vogtsbauernhof open-air museum, an authentic water mill, and traditional butter-making, or explore Freiburg's medieval city center surrounded by vineyards and gardens. There's also an optional morning excursion to charming Colmar with its half-timbered medieval buildings. Board the ship this evening for an overnight cruise to Basel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Full-day Guided Tour to Black Forest including Vogtsbauernhof open-air museum, water mill, and butter-making demonstration (choice activity)
- Guided Tour of Freiburg's medieval city center (choice activity)
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Colmar village in the morning
Landmarks/POIs Black Forest Vogtsbauernhof Freiburg Colmar - Day 8
Basel to Tournus
After leaving the ship, you'll drive to Beaune to visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital from 1443 and see Van der Weyden's Last Judgement painting. This afternoon you'll travel to Chalon-sur-Saône to board your new Suite Ship and sail to Tournus.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune
Landmarks/POIs Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital - Day 9
Tournus to Trévoux
Your local guide will show you around Tournus, one of Burgundy's oldest and most important monastic centers. You can optionally join a guided tour to a Chardonnay wine cellar or Castle of Cormatin. Later there's a cheese tasting on board before you sail to Trévoux.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Tournus highlights
- Cheese Tasting on board
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to a Chardonnay wine cellar
- Guided Optional Excursion to the Castle of Cormatin
Landmarks/POIs Tournus Castle of Cormatin - Day 10
Lyon
After sailing to Lyon this morning, you'll choose between three activities: bike ride with an Adventure Host across bridges and along the Rhône and Saône riverbanks, or guided city tour from Fourvière Hill down to the Old Town with medieval alleyways and Place des Terreaux. You'll attend a WWII and French Resistance lecture on board, then enjoy live entertainment after dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike tour of Lyon's architectural district with Adventure Host (choice activity)
- Guided Sightseeing Tour from Fourvière Hill and Old Town (choice activity)
- WWII & French Resistance Lecture on board
Landmarks/POIs Fourvière Hill Lyon Old Town Place des Terreaux - Day 11
Lyon to Tournon
Start with a culinary walk through Lyon to understand why it's the gastronomic capital of France. The rest of your day is yours to explore, relax, or shop. You can grab a bike from the ship to check out local produce markets and parks, or tour the city's more than 100 murals. This evening you'll cruise to Tournon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Culinary Walk through Lyon
Landmarks/POIs Lyon - Day 12
Viviers to Avignon
Your morning begins with a guided walking tour of Tournon, a medieval city with a 16th-century castle. After lunch you'll have a leisurely sail to Viviers. In the late afternoon there's a guided tour of Viviers' pale-stone buildings, the Romanesque cathedral, and Old Town showing Christian, Roman, and medieval influences. Live entertainment happens on board this evening before your overnight cruise to Avignon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Walking Tour of Tournon
- Guided Walking Tour of Viviers
Landmarks/POIs Tournon Tournon Castle Viviers Viviers Cathedral - Day 13
Avignon to Arles
In Avignon your Adventure Host leads special activities including a guided tour of the fortress city with its ramparts and the Palace of the Popes. You can choose optional excursions to the ancient Roman Pont du Gard aqueduct or tour Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine cellars. Or explore on your own visiting art galleries, theaters, museums, or photographing historic sites like the medieval Pont Saint-Bénézet. Live entertainment is on board this evening before you sail to Arles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Avignon fortress city and Palace of the Popes
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Pont du Gard ancient Roman aqueduct
- Guided Optional Excursion to Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine cellars
Landmarks/POIs Palace of the Popes Pont du Gard Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pont Saint-Bénézet - Day 14
Arles
Three activities are available in Arles: power walk with an Adventure Host for exercise, attend a painting workshop to learn van Gogh techniques and create your own work, or take a guided walking tour visiting the Roman Amphitheater. You'll have free time to stop by Café Van Gogh for wine and explore the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Power Walk in Arles with Adventure Host (choice activity)
- Painting Workshop learning Van Gogh techniques (choice activity)
- Guided Walking Tour of Arles including Roman Amphitheater (choice activity)
Landmarks/POIs Roman Amphitheater of Arles Café Van Gogh - Day 15
French Riviera
After breakfast you'll drive to the French Riviera, which runs along the Mediterranean coast from Toulon to the Italian border.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks/POIs French Riviera - Day 16
Nice
A guided tour of Nice shows you the narrow, winding streets and baroque churches of Vieux Nice, the old city that's changed little since the 1700s.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing in Nice including Vieux Nice
Landmarks/POIs Vieux Nice - Day 17
Departure
Your vacation ends after breakfast this morning.
- Meals
- Breakfast
