Itinerary
- Day 1
Basel
You'll be picked up at Zurich airport and driven to your Emerald Cruises ship in Basel. Once on board, the captain and crew will welcome you, and then you'll have dinner with the other passengers that evening. It's a chance to settle in and get to know who you'll be traveling with over the next week.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner on board)
Included Activities
- Dinner on board
- Day 2
Freiburg
Head to Freiburg, which locals call the Capital of the Black Forest. A guided tour takes you through the city, and you'll get to try some real Black Forest specialties as part of your included experience. If you prefer, there's an optional guided tour to Colmar available for an extra fee, but the Freiburg option gives you a solid sense of the region's food and culture.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Freiburg with tasting
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Colmar (extra expense)
- Day 3
Kehl to Strasbourg
The ship docks at Kehl, and from there you're transferred across the river to Strasbourg. An included walking tour takes you through the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town, where you'll see places like the Maison Kammerzell and walk around the Petite France canal area. After the tour, you have free time to wander on your own. There's also an optional spa experience in Baden Baden available if you want to add that on.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Panoramic tour of Strasbourg
- Walking tour of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town
Optional Activities
- Baden Baden Spa Experience (extra expense)
Landmarks Maison Kammerzell Petite France Strasbourg Old Town 
- Day 4
Mannheim to Heidelberg
You'll spend the morning on deck watching the Rhine River wind through the countryside, particularly where it meets the Neckar River. After that, you're heading to Heidelberg by coach for a guided walking tour through this UNESCO City of Literature. The tour covers the main historical sites, with Heidelberg Castle being the centerpiece. It's one of Europe's most significant Renaissance ruins, perched up on the hillside overlooking the old town below.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Heidelberg
- Visit to Heidelberg Castle
Optional Activities
- Rüdesheim with specialty coffee (extra expense)
Landmarks Heidelberg Castle Rhine River Neckar River 
- Day 5
Rhine Gorge to Koblenz
The ship sails through the UNESCO Rhine Gorge, where you'll see castles sitting on hillsides above forested slopes and old half-timbered villages dotting the landscape. In Koblenz, you join a winery tour to walk through vineyards and learn how Riesling wine is made, with tastings included. Later that evening, there's a cooking demonstration on board as you continue along the river.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to a local winery
- Cooking demo on board
Optional Activities
- Moselle Valley & Cochem Castle visit (extra expense)
Landmarks Rhine Gorge 
- Day 6
Koblenz to Cologne to Düsseldorf
You arrive in Cologne and spend time in one of Germany's oldest cities. A guided tour takes you to the famous Cathedral and through the Old Town. Then the ship sails north to Düsseldorf, a modern city with stylish shops and a charming Old Town. You can walk along the Rhine and get a feel for the city's personality. Back on the ship in the evening, there's a cocktail making demonstration where you'll learn to craft drinks from the ship's bartenders.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Cologne's Old Town
- Panoramic tour of Düsseldorf
- Cocktail making demo on board
Optional Activities
- German Beer Experience (extra expense)
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral 
- Day 7
Amsterdam
You'll begin with a glass-top canal cruise through Amsterdam's UNESCO-listed waterways, passing Roman houses and merchant buildings that date back to the Dutch Golden Age. The waterways themselves tell the story of how the city was built and expanded over centuries. This afternoon, you have options depending on what interests you. There's an exclusive clog painting session happening right on board your Star-Ship, or you can head out on optional city tours to explore Amsterdam at your own pace. It's a good mix of relaxation and exploration, so you can decide what suits your mood.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks served with dinner on board)
Included Activities
- Glass-top canal cruise through Amsterdam's UNESCO World Heritage-listed canal network
Optional Activities
- Clog painting on board Star-Ship (EmeraldPLUS)
- Private hidden Gems tour of Amsterdam (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
- Dutch Delights tour (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
Landmarks Amsterdam Canal Network 
- Day 8
Amsterdam to Airport
After breakfast, you pack up and leave the ship, saying goodbye to the people you've met over the week. A transfer takes you to the airport with memories of the Black Forest, Strasbourg's canals, and all the riverside towns you've seen along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast
