Itinerary
- Day 1
Amsterdam
You'll arrive in Amsterdam and get transferred to your hotel. After checking in, the rest of the day is yours to wander around this historic city with its famous canals and 17th-century architecture. It's a good chance to get oriented and shake off travel fatigue at your own pace.
Optional Activities
- Explore Amsterdam's narrow laneways and canals lined with beautifully preserved 17th century buildings
- Visit charming cafés throughout the city
- Day 2
Amsterdam
A guided walking tour takes you through Amsterdam's canals and bridges, covering the World Heritage-listed city center. You'll learn about the city's history, modern culture, and Dutch way of life. Along the way you'll try local snacks like cheese and poffertjes (those small fluffy pancakes). The afternoon is free for your own exploration, so you can check out galleries or museums if that appeals to you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Amsterdam's canals and bridges
- Sampling local snacks including cheese and Poffertjes (mini pancakes)
Optional Activities
- Visit galleries with masterpieces
- Visit fascinating museums
- Day 3
Amsterdam
Start with a one-hour canal cruise to see Golden Age mansions, grand warehouses, and those narrow arched bridges that define the city. After some more free time to see what you missed, you'll transfer to your luxury Scenic Space-Ship for the next week. This is where your river cruise portion begins.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- One-hour canal cruise along Amsterdam's historic waterways
- Day 4
Amsterdam
Spend the morning on your own checking out Amsterdam's architecture, galleries, canals, and cobblestone streets. Later you'll choose one of four freechoice activities: a canal cruise, a walking tour with herring tasting, the digital art experience at Fabrique des Lumières, or an e-bike ride through the Dutch countryside.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Canal cruise: One-hour cruise along 100+ kilometres of canals to see Golden Age mansions, grand warehouses and narrow bridges
- Walking tour of Amsterdam: Guided exploration of canals and bridges with history, modern lifestyle and Dutch culture; includes herring tasting
- Fabrique des Lumières: Digital art installation experience in a former 19th-century gas works with immersive 17-metre high projections
- Dutch Countryside e-bike tour: Small ferry ride to outskirts of town followed by guided biking tour with local information about Dutch daily life
Landmarks Fabrique des Lumières - Day 5
Cologne
You arrive in Cologne (a 2,000-year-old Roman city) early in the afternoon. A walking tour shows you the Old Town's historic buildings, attractive squares, and the World Heritage Cologne Cathedral. Since your ship doesn't leave until late tonight, you have time to explore on your own and experience the local nightlife if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Cologne's Old Town including historic buildings and beautiful squares
Optional Activities
- Explore Cologne's nightlife
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral - Day 6
Koblenz
Koblenz comes next, another ancient Roman city sitting where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet. You can choose from three activities: walk through the old town, take a coach to medieval Limburg an der Lahn, or journey through the Moselle Valley to Cochem and see the castle. Later in the afternoon, relax on deck as the ship cruises through the Rhine Gorge with its 40 hilltop castles dotting the landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Rhine Gorge cruise through the scenic 65-kilometre stretch with views of 40 hilltop castles and fortresses
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Koblenz: Explore old town's winding streets, townhouses, squares, churches, and Florinsmarkt
- Medieval Limburg: Coach travel to Limburg an der Lahn to walk historic cobblestone streets with half-timbered houses, visit cathedral, and see Alten Lahnbrücke (Old Bridge)
- Cochem & Moselle Valley: Coach through Moselle Valley to Cochem for walking tour and visit to Reichsburg Castle
Landmarks Cochem Reichsburg Castle Lorelei Limburg an der Lahn Alten Lahnbrücke - Day 7
Mannheim - Rastatt
Mannheim greets you this morning with its distinctive 18th-century grid layout, grand Baroque squares, fountains, and palace. Pick one of three freechoice options: an orientation tour of nearby Heidelberg, a deeper historical tour of Heidelberg including its castle, or a vineyard excursion to Bad Dürkheim for wine tasting. In the evening you cruise to Rastatt, with an optional classical concert at the Baroque Palace if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Private classical evening concert and dinner at the Baroque Palace of Rastatt)
Included Activities
- Private classical evening concert at the Baroque Palace of Rastatt (Scenic Enrich experience)
Optional Activities
- Orientation tour of Heidelberg: Coach transfer and brief walking tour of Old Town with free time (note: some stairs and uneven ground)
- Historical tour of Heidelberg: Guided tour of Heidelberg with visit to Heidelberg Castle, Renaissance structure with views and world's largest Wine Barrel (note: some stairs and uneven ground)
- Excursion to Bad Dürkheim: Short drive through vine-covered landscapes to visit Fitz Ritter vineyard for tour and tasting
Landmarks Heidelberg Castle Heidelberg Old Town Baroque Palace of Rastatt Fitz Ritter Vineyard - Day 8
Baden-Baden
Morning in Rastatt, a charming Baroque town with green spaces and beautiful palaces. You'll pick one freechoice activity: a walking tour of Baden-Baden spa town, a relaxing thermal bath experience at Caracalla Spa, or a tour of Schloss Favorite (Germany's oldest porcelain palace). The rest of your day is unscheduled so you can relax or explore more.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Baden-Baden: Follow in the steps of 19th-century European elite; see the elegant Kurhaus built in the 1820s with casino and luxury shopping, and explore remains of Roman baths
- Baden-Baden spa visit: Relax in the thermal baths of Caracalla Spa, heated by natural thermal waters from 2,000 metres under the earth's surface
- Schloss Favorite: Tour the oldest German 'porcelain palace' and the only one to survive intact; originally built as an 18th-century hunting lodge and summer palace
Landmarks Caracalla Spa Kurhaus Baden-Baden Roman Baths Schloss Favorite - Day 9
Kehl - Strasbourg
Your ship docks in Kehl, right across from Strasbourg in the Alsace region. This town blends French and German culture beautifully with pastel half-timbered houses lining the canals. You'll select one of three activities: a guided walking tour of the city's key sites, a coach tour through Alsace's wine region, or an e-bike ride exploring Strasbourg's extensive 500+ km of bike trails.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Strasbourg: Walking tour of the cathedral, Petit France, Grand Ile, and explanation of French and German architecture and culture (note: this is an active walk)
- Alsace wine region: Coach through the Alsace wine region to village of Obernai for free time, then wine tasting in a local cellar at Mittelbergheim
- Cycle through Strasbourg: E-bike exploration of 500+ km of bicycle trails, cycling through city suburbs, historic buildings, parklands and charming canals
Landmarks Strasbourg Cathedral Petit France Grand Île Obernai Mittelbergheim - Day 10
Basel
Your cruise wraps up in Basel this morning. Have one final breakfast on board before disembarking, leaving with memories of Amsterdam, the Rhine Valley, and Alsace behind you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
