Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Zürich or Basel
You'll arrive in Switzerland with flights landing by 3 pm, then head to the ship and get settled into your suite. After checking out your cabin, you'll have dinner on board and explore the ship before it departs for Breisach later in the evening.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Day 2
Black Forest and Rhine Valley
Today you can pick what appeals to you most. There's a relaxing bike ride along the Rhine, or you might go for the full-day guided tour to the Black Forest with stops at the Vogtsbauernhof open-air museum and a traditional butter-making demonstration. Freiburg's medieval city center is another option, plus there's an optional morning trip to Colmar if you want to add that in.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the Rhine with Adventure Host
- Guided Tour to Black Forest including Vogtsbauernohf open-air museum, authentic water mill, and traditional butter-making demonstration
- Guided Tour of Freiburg's medieval city center
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Colmar village with half-timbered medieval and early Renaissance buildings
Landmarks Vogtsbauernohf Freiburg Colmar - Day 3
Strasbourg
You can bike through Strasbourg or take a city sightseeing tour that covers the Gothic cathedral with its stained-glass windows and astronomical clock, then moves through the La Petite France district. If you're interested in history, optional excursions include the Maginot Line or wine country in Alsace. The afternoon leaves time to wander through museums or the city center on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Discover Strasbourg by bike with Adventure Host
- City Sightseeing Tour including Gothic cathedral with stained-glass windows and astronomical clock, and La Petite France District
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to historic Maginot Line fortifications
- Guided Optional Excursion to Alsace wine country
- Museum visits in Strasbourg
- Free time to stroll city center
Landmarks Strasbourg Cathedral La Petite France Maginot Line - Day 4
Heidelberg and Mainz
Start your morning with a walk in Heidelberg along the Philosophers' way, then visit Heidelberg Castle to see the Renaissance ruins and the World's Largest Wine Barrel. Alternatively, explore Mainz with a guided tour including the Gutenberg Museum. This evening, live entertainment plays on board as you sail to Rüdesheim.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Inspiring walk in Heidelberg - Philosophers' way with Adventure Host
- Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle with Renaissance ruins and Great Vat (World's Largest Wine Barrel)
- Guided City Walk in Mainz including Gutenberg Museum
- Live entertainment on board
Landmarks Heidelberg Castle Philosophers' way Gutenberg Museum - Day 5
Rüdesheim and Rhine Gorge to Koblenz
You'll have several options in Rüdesheim. Hike through the vineyards, visit the Mechanical Music Museum with authentic Rüdesheimer coffee tasting, or tour Johannisberg Castle and its wooden-barrel cellar with wine tasting included. Later, the ship sails through the UNESCO World Heritage Rhine Gorge past ancient cliffside castles and the legendary Rock of the Lorelei. You'll have free time in Koblenz before dinner and live entertainment on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike through vineyards of Rüdesheim with Adventure Host
- Guided Tour of Mechanical Music Museum with Rüdesheimer coffee tasting
- Guided Visit to Johannisberg Castle with wine tasting
- Sailing through Rhine Gorge (UNESCO World Heritage site) with views of ancient castles and Rock of the Lorelei
Optional Activities
- Free time in Koblenz
Landmarks Johannisberg Castle Rhine Gorge Rock of the Lorelei - Day 6
Cologne
In Cologne, you can bike with your Adventure Host, explore the city's Jewish heritage sites on a walking tour, or take a guided walk to see the soaring twin-steepled gothic cathedral. Free time lets you sample Kölsch pale lager, which has been locally brewed for over 100 years. The evening brings your departure to Amsterdam.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike ride in Cologne with Adventure Host
- Guided Walking Tour of Cologne's Jewish heritage sites
- Guided City Walk of Cologne with twin-steepled gothic cathedral
Optional Activities
- Free time to enjoy Kölsch beer
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral - Day 7
Amsterdam
Start early in Amsterdam with a morning walk, or join an off-the-beaten-path guided walking tour through cobblestone streets. You can also explore the waterways on a guided canal cruise past Golden Age homes. During tulip season, Keukenhof gardens are an option; otherwise, visit the historic windmills at Zaanse Schans or take a biking tour. Plenty of free time to walk through colorful streets, check out canal houses, galleries, and shops.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Early morning walk in Amsterdam with Adventure Host
- Off-the-beaten-path Guided Walking Tour through cobblestone streets
- Guided Canal Cruise past stately Golden Age homes
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens during tulip season (over seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths)
- Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and Dutch houses outside tulip season
- Optional Biking Tour of the countryside
- Free time to explore colorful streets, canal houses, galleries, and shops
Landmarks Keukenhof Zaanse Schans - Day 8
Amsterdam to Paris
This morning you'll board a high-speed train to Paris and get settled on your Avalon Suite Ship. After checking into your cabin, dinner awaits on board this evening before the ship departs for Vernon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 9
Vernon and Les Andelys
Walk through Vernon and explore Chateau des Tourelles, or head to Giverny to see Claude Monet's residence and his famous gardens. Bizy Castle (known as Normandy's Versailles) is another option if that interests you. You'll enjoy a traditional French luncheon with authentic crêpes and a pastry demonstration while sailing, then cruise to Les Andelys in the afternoon. There you can hike to Château Gaillard ruins or take a walking tour of this scenic Seine town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional French luncheon with authentic French crêpes), Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles with Adventure Host
- Guided Tour of Giverny including Claude Monet's residence and flower and water gardens
- Guided Visit to Bizy Castle
- Traditional French luncheon with authentic French crêpes and Pastry Demonstration
- Guided Hike to Château Gaillard castle ruins
- Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys
Landmarks Chateau des Tourelles Giverny Bizy Castle Château Gaillard Les Andelys - Day 10
Caudebec and Normandy Abbeys
Take a relaxing bike ride along the river with your Adventure Host, or go on a guided trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route to see over 100 medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches. An optional afternoon trip to the old seaside town of Honfleur is available. Before all that, you'll attend an onboard lecture about D-Day and the Normandy landing.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along river with Adventure Host
- Guided Trip along Normandy Abbeys Route with medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches
- Onboard Lecture about D-Day and Normandy landing
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Honfleur old seaside town
Landmarks Normandy Abbeys Route Honfleur - Day 11
Normandy D-Day Sites
Choose between a guided tour of WWII American landing beaches including Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery, a tour of British and Canadian commemorative sites and cemeteries, or an authentic Normandy experience with brandy tasting in Calvados. You'll have evening entertainment on board before cruising to Rouen.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Normandy WWII American landing beaches including Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc monument, and American Cemetery
- Guided Tour of British and Canadian commemorative sites including British cemetery, Pegasus Memorial, Arromanches, Juno Beach Center, and Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery
- Guided Tour of authentic Normandy region with brandy tasting in Calvados
- Live entertainment on board
Landmarks Omaha Beach Pointe du Hoc American Cemetery Pegasus Memorial Arromanches Juno Beach Center Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery - Day 12
Rouen
Take a guided bike tour to discover Rouen's monuments and hidden spots, or walk through this historic city where Saint Joan of Arc was martyred. Either way, you'll see the medieval quarter with its 16th-century Astronomical Clock and the Notre-Dame Cathedral.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Bike Tour of Rouen's famous monuments and hidden gems
- Guided Walking Tour of Rouen including Saint Joan of Arc martyrdom site, medieval quarter, 16th-century Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral
Landmarks Rouen Cathedral Joan of Arc Memorial - Day 13
Auvers-sur-Oise, Malmaison, and Versailles
You can bike along the Seine with your Adventure Host, visit Auvers-sur-Oise where Vincent van Gogh lived and is buried, or tour Château de Malmaison, the opulent home of Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine. An optional excursion to the Palace of Versailles is available if you want to add it. Evening entertainment plays on board before you depart for Paris.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the Seine with Adventure Host
- Guided Visit to Auvers-sur-Oise, home and resting place of Vincent van Gogh
- Guided tour of Château de Malmaison
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Palace of Versailles
Landmarks Auvers-sur-Oise Château de Malmaison Palace of Versailles - Day 14
Paris
Walk along the Seine with your Adventure Host, or discover ancient Paris on a guided walk through the Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, Île de la Cité, Left Bank, and Latin Quarter. You can also join a guided city tour covering iconic sites like the Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and Champs-Élysées. Plenty of time to stroll through Paris on your own or sit back with a glass of wine at a literary café.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Experience the Seine by foot with Adventure Host
- Captivating Guided Walk featuring Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, ancient sites on Île de la Cité, Left Bank, Latin Quarter
- Guided City Tour showing iconic Paris sites including Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and Champs-Élysées
Optional Activities
- Free time to stroll through Paris or linger in literary cafés on the Left Bank
Landmarks Palais-Royal Louvre Museum Île de la Cité Left Bank Latin Quarter Arc de Triomphe Eiffel Tower Opéra Garnier Champs-Élysées - Day 15
Departure from Paris
Your cruise ends this morning. Enjoy breakfast on board before you disembark and head home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
