Itinerary
- Day 1
Lake Como
You'll arrive at Lake Como and have the rest of the day to explore at your own pace. Whether you want to walk around town, grab a bite to eat, or just settle into your accommodations, it's up to you. It's a good chance to get your bearings and enjoy the relaxed vibe of the area.
Optional Activities
- Explore Lake Como and surroundings
Landmarks/POIs Lake Como - Day 2
Lake Como
A guided walking tour takes you through Como's historic center where you'll see the Gothic architecture and visit the Broletto Town Hall and Duomo. After that, you'll board a boat on Lake Como and cruise over to the charming village of Bellagio, giving you time to walk around and soak in the scenery before heading back.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Walking Tour of historic center, Broletto (Town Hall), and Duomo
- Boat Ride on Lake Como with stop in Bellagio
Landmarks/POIs Broletto (Town Hall) Como Cathedral (Duomo) Bellagio - Day 3
Lake Como
This day is yours to structure however you like around Lake Como. You could take a boat trip on the water, take a walk along the riverbanks, browse through shops, or sit down at a local restaurant to try authentic Italian dishes. There's no scheduled activity, just plenty of options depending on your mood.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Boat trip on Lake Como
- Walk along riverbanks
- Shopping
- Dining at local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Lake Como - Day 4
Lake Como to Lucerne
You'll travel to Lucerne for a guided walking tour that covers the city's main landmarks. The tour shows you Thorvaldsen's Lion Monument and the Chapel Bridge, which is one of the most recognizable sights in Switzerland. You'll get a solid overview of what makes Lucerne special during this time.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Walking Tour of Lucerne including Thorvaldsen's Lion Monument and Chapel Bridge
Landmarks/POIs Lion Monument Chapel Bridge - Day 5
Lucerne to Basel
A special excursion takes you up Mount Pilatus for views across central Switzerland (Mount Stanserhorn is available depending on the season, or the Swiss Transport Museum if weather doesn't cooperate). Later you'll head to Basel and board your Suite Ship in the evening, then spend the night cruising to Breisach.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Highlight Excursion to Mount Pilatus (or Mount Stanserhorn per seasonal accessibility, or Swiss Transport Museum in case of bad weather)
Landmarks/POIs Mount Pilatus Mount Stanserhorn Swiss Transport Museum - Day 6
Breisach to Kehl
You have three main choices for the day: a relaxing bike ride along the Rhine, a full-day guided tour of the Black Forest with stops at an open-air museum, water mill, and butter-making demonstration, or a guided walk through Freiburg's medieval city center. You can also add on a visit to the village of Colmar if you'd like. The ship overnight cruises to Kehl.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the Rhine (option 1)
- Full-day Guided Tour to the Black Forest including Vogtsbauernohf open-air museum, authentic water mill, and traditional butter-making demonstration (option 2)
- Guided Tour of Freiburg's medieval city center (option 3)
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Colmar village with medieval and Renaissance buildings
Landmarks/POIs Black Forest Vogtsbauernohf Open-Air Museum Freiburg Colmar - Day 7
Kehl to Mainz
Discover Strasbourg by bike or join a city sightseeing tour highlighting the Gothic cathedral with its stained glass windows, ancient murals, and astronomical clock. You'll also see La Petite France district. Optional excursions include the Maginot Line or Alsace wine country. Free time lets you check out museums or wander the city center. The ship cruises to Mainz overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Discover Strasbourg by bike (option 1)
- City Sightseeing Tour including Gothic cathedral, stained-glass windows, ancient murals, astronomical clock, and La Petite France District (option 2)
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to the historic Maginot Line
- Guided Optional Excursion to Alsace wine country
- Museum visit
- Stroll city center
Landmarks/POIs Strasbourg Cathedral La Petite France Maginot Line - Day 8
Mainz to Rüdesheim
Three options are available: walk the Philosophers' Way in Heidelberg, take a guided tour of Heidelberg Castle to see the Great Vat (the world's largest wine barrel), or join a guided city walk in Mainz with the Gutenberg Museum. After exploring, there's live entertainment onboard before you sail to Rüdesheim.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Inspired walk in Heidelberg along Philosophers' Way (option 1)
- Guided Tour of Heidelberg Castle including the Great Vat (World's Largest Wine Barrel) (option 2)
- Guided City Walk in Mainz with visit to Gutenberg Museum (option 3)
Landmarks/POIs Philosophers' Way Heidelberg Castle Gutenberg Museum - Day 9
Rüdesheim to Koblenz
Choose from a hike through Rüdesheim's vineyards, a guided tour of the Mechanical Music Museum with authentic Rücdesheimer coffee tasting, or a visit to 18th-century Johannisberg Castle with wine tasting. As you sail, you'll pass through the UNESCO World Heritage Rhine Gorge with views of ancient castles and the legendary Lorelei Rock. Free time in Koblenz before the overnight docking.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike through vineyards of Rüdesheim (option 1)
- Guided Tour of Mechanical Music Museum with authentic Rücdesheimer coffee tasting (option 2)
- Guided Visit to 18th-century Johannisberg Castle with wine tasting (option 3)
Landmarks/POIs Rhine Gorge Johannisberg Castle Lorelei Rock - Day 10
Koblenz to Amsterdam
In Cologne you can bike like a local, take a guided walking tour of Jewish heritage sites, or join a guided city walk featuring the twin-steepled Gothic cathedral. You'll have free time to relax over a glass of Kölsch pale lager, a local favorite. Then it's an afternoon and overnight cruise to Amsterdam.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike ride through Cologne (option 1)
- Guided Walking Tour of Cologne's Jewish heritage sites (option 2)
- Guided City Walk of Cologne with twin-steepled Gothic cathedral (option 3)
Landmarks/POIs Cologne Cathedral - Day 11
Amsterdam
Start early with a walk in Amsterdam, take an off-the-beaten-path guided walking tour through cobblestone streets, or explore the iconic waterways on a guided canal cruise past stately Golden Age homes. During tulip season, visit Keukenhof gardens with millions of tulips and bulbs, or outside that season head to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and Dutch houses. An optional countryside biking tour is available. Later, explore the colorful streets, canal houses, galleries, and shops at your leisure.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Early morning walk in Amsterdam (option 1)
- Off-the-beaten-path Guided Walking Tour through cobblestone streets (option 2)
- Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes from the Golden Age (option 3)
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens (during tulip season)
- Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans (outside tulip season)
- Optional Biking Tour of countryside
- Explore Amsterdam's colorful streets, canal houses, galleries, and shops
Landmarks/POIs Keukenhof Zaanse Schans - Day 12
Amsterdam to Paris
You'll board a high-speed train to Paris and then get settled on your Avalon Suite Ship. Dinner is served onboard this evening before the overnight cruise to Vernon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 13
Vernon to Les Andelys
Several options are available: explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles on foot, take a guided tour of Giverny to see Claude Monet's home and gardens, or visit Bizy Castle (known as Normandy's Versailles). A traditional French luncheon of authentic French crêpes is served with an onboard history presentation. Later you'll sail to the picturesque town of Les Andelys where you can either hike to Château Gaillard castle ruins or take a guided walking tour. The ship cruises to Caudebec overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional French luncheon of authentic French crêpes), Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles by foot (option 1)
- Guided Tour of Giverny with Monet's home and gardens (option 2)
- Guided Visit to Bizy Castle (option 3)
- Traditional French luncheon of authentic French crêpes with onboard history presentation
- Guided Hike to Château Gaillard castle ruins (option 4)
- Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys (option 5)
Landmarks/POIs Chateau des Tourelles Giverny Bizy Castle Château Gaillard - Day 14
Caudebec
Choose from three activities: a relaxing bike ride along the river, a guided excursion to a V-1 flying bomb launch site, or a guided trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route visiting medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches. You can optionally visit the historic seaside town of Honfleur. An onboard lecture about WWII is included. The ship stays docked in Caudebec overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the river (option 1)
- Guided excursion to a V-1 flying bomb launch site (option 2)
- Guided Trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route visiting medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches (option 3)
- Onboard WWII lecture
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to the historic seaside town of Honfleur
Landmarks/POIs Honfleur - Day 15
Caudebec to Rouen
You have three guided tour options: explore Normandy's WWII landing beaches including Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, and the American Cemetery, visit British and Canadian commemorative sites including Pegasus Memorial and cemeteries, or experience authentic Normandy traditions with a brandy tasting in Calvados. After, the ship cruises to Rouen in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Normandy WWII landing beaches including Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, and American Cemetery (option 1)
- Guided Tour of British and Canadian commemorative sites including Pegasus Memorial, Arromanches, Juno Beach Center, and Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery (option 2)
- Guided Tour of authentic Normandy traditions with brandy tasting in Calvados (option 3)
Landmarks/POIs Omaha Beach Pointe du Hoc American Cemetery Pegasus Memorial Arromanches Juno Beach Center Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery - Day 16
Rouen to Conflans
Three activities are on the table: a guided bike tour exploring Rouen's famous monuments and hidden gems, a guided tour to Dieppe where Operation Jubilee took place during WWII, or a guided walking tour of Rouen including Saint Joan of Arc's martyrdom site, the medieval quarter with its 16th-century Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral. An onboard history lecture is included. The ship cruises to Conflans in the evening or overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Bike Tour of Rouen's monuments and hidden gems (option 1)
- Guided Tour to Dieppe (WWII Operation Jubilee site) (option 2)
- Guided Walking Tour of Rouen with medieval quarter, Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral (option 3)
- Onboard history lecture
Landmarks/POIs Rouen Cathedral (Notre-Dame de Rouen) Astronomical Clock Dieppe - Day 17
Conflans to Paris
You'll enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the Seine, visit Auvers-sur-Oise (Vincent van Gogh's home and burial site), or take a guided tour of Château de Malmaison (Napoleon Bonaparte's residence). The Palace of Versailles is available as an optional addition. Live entertainment happens onboard before the afternoon and evening cruise to Paris.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the Seine (option 1)
- Guided Visit to Auvers-sur-Oise, home and resting place of Vincent van Gogh (option 2)
- Guided tour of Château de Malmaison, home of Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine (option 3)
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to the Palace of Versailles
Landmarks/POIs Auvers-sur-Oise Château de Malmaison Palace of Versailles - Day 18
Paris
Multiple options let you experience Paris: walk along the Seine, take a WWII tour including the Les Invalides museum, discover the ancient heart of Paris on a guided walk featuring the Palais-Royal, Louvre, Île de la Cité, and Latin Quarter, or take a guided city tour showcasing the Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and Champs-Élysées. You'll have time to stroll through Paris or linger over wine in a literary café on the Left Bank.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Experience the Seine River on foot (option 1)
- WWII tour of Paris with Les Invalides museum (option 2)
- Guided Walk featuring Palais-Royal, Louvre, Île de la Cité, Left Bank, and Latin Quarter (option 3)
- Guided City Tour showcasing Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and Champs-Élysées (option 4)
Optional Activities
- Stroll through Paris
- Linger over wine in a literary café on the Left Bank
Landmarks/POIs Palais-Royal Louvre Museum Île de la Cité Latin Quarter Arc de Triomphe Eiffel Tower Opéra Garnier Champs-Élysées Les Invalides - Day 19
Paris
Your vacation ends this morning with breakfast before departure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
