Itinerary
- Day 1
Amsterdam
Welcome to Holland and your river cruise. Flights need to land by 3:30 pm so you can board by 5 pm. After getting settled into your suite, the rest of your day in Amsterdam is yours to spend however you'd like. During tulip season, there's an optional guided tour to Keukenhof gardens where you'll see over seven million tulips and bulbs. If you're visiting outside that season, you can join a guided optional tour to Zaanse Schans instead to check out historic windmills and traditional Dutch houses.
- 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 Keukenhof gardens Zaanse Schans - Day 2
Amsterdam to Cologne
Your Adventure Host has special activities lined up for exploring Amsterdam. You can choose between a guided walking tour through cobblestone streets off the typical tourist path, or hop on a guided canal cruise to see stately homes from Amsterdam's Golden Age. This afternoon brings more choices with optional excursions or free time to wander the colorful streets and canal houses. There's also a wine lecture from a Certified Sommelier onboard. Later this evening, the ship sails toward Cologne.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Walking Tour through Amsterdam's cobblestone streets (Activity classic - one choice option)
- Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam's Golden Age (Activity classic - one choice option)
- Onboard lecture hosted by Certified Sommelier (Activity discovery)
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursions available this afternoon
Landmarks Amsterdam Canal Houses - Day 3
Cologne
Start your morning with an onboard wine and cheese tasting led by your Certified Sommelier. In Cologne, you'll pick between three options: bike around like a local with your Adventure Host, take a guided walking tour of the city's Jewish heritage sites, or join a guided city walk to see the soaring twin-steepled gothic cathedral. Grab some free time to enjoy a glass of Kölsch, the locally brewed pale lager that's been made here for over 100 years. Later, live musicians perform onboard for entertainment.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Onboard wine and cheese tasting hosted by Certified Sommelier (Activity discovery)
- Bike ride with Adventure Host in Cologne (Activity active - one choice option)
- Guided Walking Tour of Cologne's Jewish heritage sites (Activity discovery - one choice option)
- Guided City Walk of Cologne with its twin-steepled gothic cathedral (Activity classic - one choice option)
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral - Day 4
Rüdesheim
As you sail toward Rüdesheim, you'll pass through the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where ancient castles sit perched on cliffs 400 feet above the water and the legendary Rock of the Lorelei comes into view. On land, choose between a hike through vineyards with your Avalon Adventure Host, a guided tour to the 13th-century Eberbach Monastery with wine tasting, or visit the Mechanical Music Museum and taste wine there. Back onboard, live entertainment happens this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike with Avalon Adventure Host through vineyards of Rüdesheim (Activity active - one choice option)
- Guided Tour to Eberbach Monastery with wine tasting (Activity discovery - one choice option)
- Guided Tour of Mechanical Music Museum with wine tasting (Activity classic - one choice option)
Landmarks Rhine Gorge Rock of the Lorelei Eberbach Monastery Mechanical Music Museum - Day 5
Speyer or Heidelberg
You have two main options for today. Either take a guided tour through Speyer's vibrant streets with wine tasting, or head to Heidelberg Castle to see the renaissance ruins and the Great Vat, which holds the record as the world's largest wine barrel. After exploring, the ship then cruises to Kehl as evening arrives.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour through streets of Speyer with wine tasting (Activity classic - one choice option)
- Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle with Great Vat (World's Largest Wine Barrel) (Activity classic - one choice option)
Landmarks Heidelberg Castle - Day 6
Strasbourg
Strasbourg offers several ways to spend your day through Adventure Host activities. You can bike around the city, join a city sightseeing tour that includes the Gothic cathedral with ancient murals and an astronomical clock plus the magical La Petite France District, or take a guided tour along the famous Alsace Wine Route to explore France's wine country and sample local wines. An onboard food and wine pairing dinner with your Certified Sommelier happens tonight before you cruise to Breisach.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike tour of Strasbourg with Adventure Host (Activity active - one choice option)
- City Sightseeing Tour including Gothic cathedral and La Petite France District (Activity classic - one choice option)
- Guided Tour along Alsace Wine Route with wine tasting (Activity discovery - one choice option)
- Onboard food and wine pairing dinner hosted by Certified Sommelier (Activity discovery)
Landmarks Strasbourg Cathedral La Petite France - Day 7
Black Forest, Colmar, or Freiburg
Today brings three full-day options. You can tour the Black Forest to experience the Vogtsbauernohf open-air museum, see an authentic water mill, and watch a traditional butter-making demonstration. Or explore charming Colmar with its medieval and renaissance buildings, then visit a countryside chateau wine cellar. A third option takes you through Freiburg's medieval city center, nestled among vineyards and sheltered by the Black Forest. You'll cruise to Basel this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Full-day Guided Tour to Black Forest with Vogtsbauernohf open-air museum, water mill, and butter-making demonstration (Activity classic - one choice option)
- Full-day Guided Tour to Colmar with countryside chateau wine cellar visit (Activity discovery - one choice option)
- Guided Tour to Freiburg's medieval city center in Black Forest region (Activity classic - one choice option)
Landmarks Black Forest Colmar Freiburg - Day 8
Basel to Burgundy
You disembark the river ship and drive to Beaune. There you'll visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital, built back in 1443, which now houses Van der Weyden's painting of the Last Judgement. This afternoon, you'll travel to Chalon-sur-Saône to board a different suite ship for the next part of your journey. You'll stay overnight in Tournus.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune (Activity classic)
Landmarks Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital - Day 9
Tournus
Head to the Adventure Center to meet your Adventure Host and plan today's activities. With a Local Guide, you can explore Tournus, one of the oldest and most important monastic centers in southeast Burgundy, to see the highlights. There's also an optional excursion to a Chardonnay cellar for wine tasting, or you can attend an onboard wine lecture from your Certified Sommelier. Later, the ship cruises to Trévoux.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Tournus (Activity classic)
- Excursion to Chardonnay cellar with wine tasting (Activity discovery)
- Onboard wine lecture hosted by Certified Sommelier (Activity discovery)
Landmarks Tournus - Day 10
Trévoux to Lyon
This morning you sail toward lovely Lyon. An onboard cheese and wine tasting from your Certified Sommelier happens while you're sailing. You can discover Lyon's architectural district by bike with your Adventure Host, crossing bridges and following the banks where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet. Or join a guided sightseeing tour that climbs to Fourvière Hill with its numerous churches and explores the Old Town with medieval alleyways. A WWII and French Resistance lecture plays onboard, followed by live entertainment after dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Onboard cheese and wine tasting hosted by Certified Sommelier (Activity discovery)
- Bike tour of Lyon with Adventure Host (Activity active - one choice option)
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Lyon from Fourviè re Hill and Old Town (Activity classic - one choice option)
- WWII & French Resistance Lecture on board (Activity discovery)
Landmarks Fourviè re Hill Vieux Lyon (Old Town) - Day 11
Lyon to Tournon
Join a culinary walk through Lyon to find out why it has the reputation as the gastronomic capital of France. You can also take a guided tour to the lovely Beaujolais area to learn about its light and pleasant wine. This evening, an onboard food and wine pairing dinner with your Certified Sommelier is on the schedule. The ship then cruises to Tournon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Culinary Walk through Lyon (Activity classic)
- Guided tour to Beaujolais area with wine tasting (Activity discovery)
- Onboard food and wine pairing dinner hosted by Certified Sommelier (Activity discovery)
Landmarks Beaujolais wine region - Day 12
Tournon to Viviers to Avignon
Start your morning with a hike through the vineyards with views, or take a guided walking tour to explore Tournon, one of France's oldest medieval cities with its 16th-century castle. You'll also do a wine and chocolate tasting at Cité du Chocolat at Valrhona. After lunch onboard, there's a wine and cheese tasting from your Certified Sommelier while sailing. Later in the afternoon, join a guided walking tour of the charming village of Viviers to see its Romanesque cathedral and Old Town. Live entertainment follows, then the ship cruises to Avignon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike in vineyards with views (Activity active - one choice option)
- Guided Walking Tour of Tournon with wine and chocolate tasting at Cité du Chocolat at Valrhona (Activity classic - one choice option)
- Onboard wine and cheese tasting hosted by Certified Sommelier (Activity discovery)
- Guided Walking Tour of Viviers (Activity classic)
Landmarks Tournon Castle Cité du Chocolat at Valrhona Viviers Cathedral - Day 13
Avignon
Your Adventure Host has special activities organized for today. Take a guided sightseeing tour of the fortress city of Avignon with its ramparts that encircle the city and visit the Palace of the Popes. You can also arrange a trip to the famous wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape for a real taste of the Rhône wine region. Live onboard entertainment happens this evening before you cruise to Arles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Avignon with Palace of the Popes (Activity classic)
- Trip to wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape with wine tasting (Activity discovery)
Landmarks Palace of the Popes Avignon Ramparts - Day 14
Arles
Get your exercise with a power walk in Arles alongside your Adventure Host, attend a painting workshop to learn Vincent van Gogh's techniques and create your own artwork in his style, or enjoy a guided walking tour of Arles to visit the Roman Amphitheater in this visually striking city of Provence. Take free time to stop at Café Van Gogh for a glass of wine. An onboard wine and chocolate tasting with your Certified Sommelier rounds out the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Power Walk in Arles with Adventure Host (Activity active - one choice option)
- Painting Workshop in the style of Vincent van Gogh (Activity discovery - one choice option)
- Guided Walking Tour of Arles with Roman Amphitheater (Activity classic - one choice option)
- Onboard wine and chocolate tasting hosted by Certified Sommelier (Activity discovery)
Landmarks Roman Amphitheater of Arles Café Van Gogh - Day 15
Arles to Nice
After breakfast, you'll be driven to Nice on the spectacular French Riviera. This Mediterranean coastline stretches from Toulon all the way to the border of Italy, offering coastal views throughout the drive.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks French Riviera - Day 16
Nice
Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Nice today. You'll discover the narrow, winding streets and baroque churches of Vieux Nice, the old city, an area that has remained relatively unchanged since the 1700s.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Nice including Vieux Nice (Activity classic)
Landmarks Vieux Nice - Day 17
Nice
Your vacation comes to an end this morning after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
