Rhine Getaway
8 Day River Cruise
Explore one of Europe’s best-loved rivers, the Rhine. Discover the turreted fortresses, grand cathedrals, historic cities, medieval towns and spectacular scenery of the Middle Rhine—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Taste the region’s renowned white wines, the roots of its terraced vineyards reaching back to Roman times. Savor the various culinary traditions of Alsace. From Amsterdam and Cologne to Basel, this journey reveals a rich landscape of beauty and culture.
Countries: France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland
River(s): Rhine
Pricing
River cruise starting at $3,499* CAD per person, based on double occupancy
8 Days – Amsterdam to Basel (reverse itinerary available)
Your package includes
Your stateroom includes
Day
Day 1
Location(s)
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Meals
Dinner
Description
Arrive in Amsterdam, then transfer to your ship. After boarding, the afternoon is yours to relax or explore the city on your own. If your arrival schedule permits, you may wish to visit the Rijksmuseum, or the van Gogh Museum next door.
Day 2
Kinderdijk
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursion: Visit the historic Kinderdijk Windmills
This morning we sail to Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a tour of this ingenious network of windmills and other flood management devices. You learn why the windmills were built and see how they work, plus you enter a working windmill for a tour of its mechanisms and living quarters.
Return on board for lunch and an enjoyable afternoon of Dutch diversions: sample handcrafted Dutch cheeses and jenever, a distilled juniper liquor, and take in a culturally enriching presentation on the Dutch Golden Age. We cruise through the night.
Day 3
Cologne, Germany
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursion: Walking tour of Cologne
Begin your day with a morning tour of Cologne, Germany’s fourth largest city. Stroll through Old Town past St. Martin’s Church and see the Dom, Germany’s largest cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend your free time enjoying Cologne’s atmospheric waterfront, or perhaps join an optional excursion on which you ascend to the Dom’s roof for up-close views of the cathedral’s architecture and bird’s-eye vistas of Cologne.
Afterward, return on board for dinner. Alternately, you may set off on an optional excursion to explore Cologne’s spirited beer culture, sampling Kölsch, a light, crisp beer brewed only in Cologne, and enjoying a brauhaus dinner. After, return to your ship for a late-evening departure.
Day 4
Koblenz – Rüdesheim
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursion: Walking tour of Koblenz
Proceed along the Rhine, disembarking for a walking tour of Koblenz. Alternately, choose an optional excursion to tour the 700-year old Marksburg Castle, or enjoy a lively and informative tour of Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.
After lunch on board, sail the scenic Middle Rhine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where turreted castles and fortresses overlook the river from their hilltop posts. Arrive in Rüdesheim in the late afternoon.
Spend free time in the pedestrian-only Drosselgasse and sample a glass of locally produced wine at one of the restaurants or wine bars. Dine on board your ship, or in town if you prefer. You may also choose to experience one of our optional dinners on shore tonight. We depart after midnight.
Day 5
Speyer
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursion: Walking tour of Speyer
Cruise into midmorning as you enjoy the passing scenery. After lunch, enjoy an included tour to visit the historic town of Speyer and take in views of the imposing Speyer Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the 11th century on the site of a former basilica, the building’s design influenced Romanesque architecture for centuries to come, and is the final resting place of eight German monarchs.
Alternatively, after breakfast, you may choose to disembark for a full day tour of Heidelberg, the home of Germany’s oldest university, founded in 1386. Visit the beautiful sandstone ruins of imposing Heidelberg Castle and admire the Neckar River Valley. Continue with a walking tour through Old Town to Heidelberg’s renowned gates.
After lunch, visit the historic town of Speyer on your way back to your ship.
Day 6
Strasbourg, France
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursion: Tour the highlights of Strasbourg
We dock this morning in Kehl and disembark for a guided tour of Strasbourg. See the European Parliament and tour the interior of the city’s famed cathedral.
The afternoon is free to further explore this Alsatian city’s blend of French and German cultures, resplendent churches, medieval covered bridges, verdant parks and handsome art nouveau and modernist architecture. Alternately, join our optional excursion into Alsatian wine country for an informative winery tour and tasting. Or, spend your full day exploring culinary Strasbourg on an optional excursion; as you explore the city and take in its sights, savor samples of the renowned Alsatian cuisine, from regional dessert specialties and meats to wine pairings with local foods.
On board this evening, enjoy a Taste of Germany dinner event.
Day 7
Breisach, Germany
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursion: Journey to the fabled Black Forest
Arrive in Breisach this morning, gateway to the Black Forest. Take a scenic excursion through the area’s renowned mountain landscape, rolling meadows and dense forests. Once there, visit a local workshop to see a cuckoo clock-making demonstration, and learn how Black Forest Cake is made.
Return to your ship for lunch. This afternoon, perhaps join an optional excursion to the quaint Alsatian town of Colmar to discover the storybook charm of its streets lined with medieval, Gothic and Renaissance buildings, and visit a fine arts museum. Alternately, choose an optional excursion that explores Colmar’s World War II history.
Dine on board this evening and cruise on through the night.
Day 8
Basel, Switzerland
Breakfast
After breakfast, disembark and proceed to the airport for your return flight. Or, extend your journey with 2 nights in Lucerne or Basel, or 3 nights in Lake Como.
Reverse Itinerary
This trip also runs in reverse from Basel to Amsterdam.
Interested in the itinerary above? Click on the “START PLANNING” button below and reference “Rhine Getaway” in the form, or give us a call at 587.997.5969 to book.
An adventure designed specifically for you
Let us work with you to tailor a journey based on your travel style and interests. We can use the existing itinerary above as a foundation, or build one from scratch to create your ideal vacation. Connect with us to start the conversation.
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*Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to change and availability.