Day 1 Basel
Arrive in Basel. We meet you at the airport and transfer you to your ship. After boarding, enjoy free time and get acquainted with the city - or join our 'welcome walk' to stretch your legs and start getting oriented. (D)
Day 2 Basel
After breakfast, join a tour of this multicultural city. See its historic Middle Bridge, cathedral and steep winding streets. Take the afternoon to explore one of the city's many outstanding art museums - as always, your Program Director can help you plan your free time. Lunch and dinner are served aboard. (B, L, D)
Day 3 Breisach
This morning, arrive in Breisach, gateway to the Black Forest. After breakfast, enjoy an excursion through the area's mountain landscape, meadows and dense forests and see a cuckoo clock-making demonstration. Afternoon is free to discover Breisach's charming downtown district and catch sweeping Rhine Valley views from the cathedral hill. You may wish to participate in a painting workshop - create your own masterpiece to take home. Or, join our optional guided walking tour of Colmar, a quaint Alsatian town. Dine aboard. (B, L, D)
Day 4 Strasbourg
After breakfast take a guided tour of Strasbourg. See the European Parliament and enjoy a guided visit inside the city's famed cathedral. Free time allows you to further explore the old section of this French-German city steeped in traditions that defy shifting international borders. Dinner aboard; cruise through the night. (B, L, D)
Day 5 Heidelberg and Rudesheim
After breakfast, take a journey to Heidelberg, home to Germany's oldest university founded in 1386. A guided tour features imposing Heidelberg Castle, a red sandstone ruin overlooking the Neckar River. Continue with a walking tour through the Old Town and marketplace. Return aboard for afternoon cruising, lunch and a delightful introduction to Rudesheimer coffee. Arrive at dinnertime in Rudesheim and enjoy a free evening in the Drosselgasse, a pedestrian-only street lined with restaurants, bars and shops. Dock overnight. (B, L, D)
Day 6 Rhine River and Koblenz
This morning we sail through the glorious Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, passing charming villages, many castles and the legendary Lorelei Rock. This afternoon, take an excursion to the 700-year-old Marksburg Castle and tour its museum. Return to your ship in Koblenz at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle and relax before dinner aboard. (B, L, D)
Day 7 Cochem and Cologne
After breakfast, take a walking tour through the quaint village of Cochem. See its medieval town gate and marketplace. Then, visit a winery and taste some local vintages before returning to your ship for lunch. This afternoon we continue cruising along the Rhine, sampling some local specialties along the way. We arrive in Cologne late tonight. (B, L, D)
Day 8 Cologne
Your morning walking tour takes you past St. Martin's Church to Cologne's Old Town and includes a visit to the magnificent Gothic cathedral. Lunch and dinner are served aboard, but dockside there are many taverns, cafes and shops to explore. Depart late tonight. (B, L, D)
Day 9 Arnhem
Arrive during breakfast in Arnhem and enjoy an excursion to the site of Operation Market Garden and the Airborne Museum. After lunch aboard, explore this quaint town rich in World War II history on your own. Dine aboard. Evening departure. (B, L, D)
Day 10 Amsterdam
This morning, enjoy a glass-topped canal cruise past merchant houses and Amsterdam's famed Skinny Bridge. Enjoy free time to explore the city; you may wish to visit the Van Gogh Museum and explore works by the famed artist and others. Lunch and dinner aboard; dock overnight. (B, L, D)
Day 11 Gouda and Rotterdam
After breakfast, take a journey to Hoogerwaard Cheese Farm for a guided tour and demonstration of the craft of artisanal cheese-making. Continue to Gouda to see the Town Hall and St. John's Church, both Gothic in style. Return to your ship in Schoonhoven for lunch aboard. Enjoy afternoon free time exploring this delightful medieval town known for its silversmiths. Sail through dinner to Rotterdam. (B, L, D)
Day 12 Rotterdam and Dordrecht
You have the morning free to explore Rotterdam, Holland's second-largest city - or take an optional journey to Delft, famous for its blue-and-white pottery. Stop at one of the last Delftware factories for a demonstration. Return aboard for lunch; sail to Dordrecht. This afternoon's excursion takes you to see the 18th-century windmills of Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and tour a working windmill. Return aboard for dinner and cruise through the night. (B, L, D)
Day 13 Ghent and Brugge
This morning we dock in Ghent. From here, take a morning tour to Brugge. See the medieval Beguinage courtyard and gardens, beautiful canals and Simon Stevin Square. Stay in Brugge for lunch on your own, or return to Ghent for lunch aboard and an afternoon exploring the charming capital of East Flanders. Dine aboard; we sail this evening from Ghent, arriving in Antwerp at midnight. (B, L, D)
Day 14 Antwerp
This morning, tour Antwerp. See the Town Hall, Steen Castle and Our Lady Cathedral, with its four magnificent altarpieces painted by Peter Paul Rubens. After lunch aboard, the rest of your day is free to explore Antwerp's wonderful shops and cafes. Stay docked overnight. (B, L, D)
Day 15 Antwerp
After breakfast, disembark and we take you to the Brussels airport for your return flight. Or, extend your journey with 3 nights exploring the Flemish capital of Ghent. (B) |
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