DAY 1, FLIGHT TO HOLLAND
DAY 2, ARRIVE IN AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND - EMBARKATION
Arrive in charming Amsterdam and embark your luxurious river cruise ship. Meet your fellow travelers tonight at the Welcome Cocktail Reception. (B)
DAY 3, AMSTERDAM
After breakfast, admire beautiful 17th-century homes, charming churches and 16th-century merchant houses on a guided canal boat tour. Enjoy an afternoon information briefing as you cruise towards Germany. Tonight you'll be a guest at the Captain's Gala Welcome Dinner. (B,L,D)
DAY 4, COLOGNE, GERMANY - KOBLENZ
Early riser cruise past fashionable Dusseldorf, before arriving in Cologne for a guided morning walking tour through the old part of the city and a visit to the fabled 13th-century Gothic cathedral. Continue to 2,000-year-old Koblenz, located at the confluence of the Rhine and the Mosel rivers. Take an after dinner walk through this charming town. (B,L,D)
DAY 5, KOBLENZ - RUDESHEIM
Today, sail through the fascinating Rhine Gorge, passing castle after castle and the infamous Lorelei Rock. After lunch, arrive in Rudesheim and visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Explore the Drosselgasse, a narrow alley lined with wine taverns and restaurants during your free time. The ship moors here tonight. (B,L,D)
DAY 6, WORMS - HEIDELBERG
This morning, arrive in one of Germany's oldest cities, Worms, renowned for its great historical and cultural significance. Surrounded by lush vineyards, Worms is noteworthy for its famous white wine, Liebfraumilch, and as a location described in the ancient Nibelungenlied (The Song of the Nibelungs), an epic poem from the Middle Ages. The city is also known for its many excellent examples of Romanesque architecture, including the majestic 12th-century St. Peter's Cathedral. During your tour, visit the impressive monument to Martin Luther and other leaders of the Reformation along the "Luther Trail." You will also see the 11th-century "Heiliger Sand," one of the largest and oldest Jewish cemeteries in Europe with some tombstones dating back nearly a millennium. Enjoy lunch onboard the ship before disembarking for your excursion to Heidelberg, where you will visit the red-walled Castle, as well as the Great Vat, a 49,000-gallon 18th-century wine cask and beautiful views of the Neckar Valley and Heidelberg below. (B,L,D)
DAY 7, STRASBOURG, FRANCE
Capital and principal city of the Alsace region in northeastern France, Strasbourg, is situated on the Ill River, where it flows into the Rhine on the border with Germany. This morning, take a tour through this medieval charming town lined with narrow cobbled streets. See the European Parliament and visit the "le petite France" district, where you will see the sandstone Gothic Cathedral with its famous astronomical clock. Then enjoy a canal cruise, revealing the picturesque town, known for its black and white timber-framed buildings, covered bridges and medieval watchtowers. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. Perhaps, take a stroll through Strasbourg's historic city center, the "Grande lle" ("Grand Island"), a UNESCO World Heritage site, or sample the local cuisine and wine that merges the best of French and German influences. The ship moors overnight. (B,L,D)
DAY 8, BREISACH - COLMAR, FRANCE OR FREIBURG, GERMANY
Today, choose between a city tour of Colmar or Freiburg. If you decide to travel to Freiburg, you will visit its historical city center and visit the Augustinerplatz, site of Freiburg's Muster, a gothic minster cathedral constructed of red sandstone, noted for its towering spires. The town is bordered by the Black Forest mountains, Rosskopf and Bromberg, and is known for meticulous wood carvings and cuckoo clocks. Or, choose to travel to medieval Colmar, situated along the Alsatian Wine Route and is self-proclaimed as the "Capital of Alsatian Wine." During your city tour, you will see remarkable half-timbered framed houses, the German influenced old quarter filled with streets of unexpected twists and turns, canals and the Launch River. Late tonight, the ship set sails for Basel, Switzerland. (B,L,D)
DAY 9, BASEL, SWITZERLAND - LUZERN
Disembark after breakfast for a city tour of tour of cosmopolitan Basel. Switzerland's second largest city is ideally located at the crossroads of Switzerland, France and Germany. Long an important university, banking and trade center, Basel's glorious past is still evident in its medieval Town Hall and exquisite 18th- century patrician homes. After free time for lunch on your own, depart for Luzern. Arriving mid afternoon, you will check into the hotel. (B)
DAY 10, LUZERN
Situated on the exit of the Reusse River, on Lake Luzern, the city is a medieval charm. After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of Luzern. Small cobbled stoned streets, squares with fountains, fresco'd buildings typify Luzern. The two most famous monuments are the Lion monument, the figure of a dying lion carved into a hillside - representing the Swiss Guard of the French King who died defending the Royal Palace during the revolution. Easily the symbol of the city, The Chapel Bridge, is a medieval covered bridge, which for centuries was part of the city defenses. The eves of the roof have paintings depicting the cities rich history. The afternoon is free, you can choose to shop (watches, knives and Swiss chocolate) or join our optional tour to Mount Pilatus, the mountain which dominates the city. (B)
DAY 11, LUZERN - ZURICH
This morning, check out of the hotel. Prior to leaving Luzern, enjoy a cruise across the tranquil waters of Lake Luzern. Amazing scenery is the back drop of the cruise, with mountains looming over the city, coming right to the edge of the lake. There is time for lunch in Luzern before departing for a scenic drive around the Lakes before reaching Zurich this afternoon. Upon arrival, check into the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. (B)
DAY 12, ZURICH
Your morning walking tour of picturesque Zurich will include Grossmunster, St.Peter, with the largest church clock face in the world, Old Town, Town Hall and Fraumunster, which was fully renovated in 2004 and now offers an exceptional 360 panoramic view of Zurich. The afternoon and evening is free for you to explore the town on your own. Perhaps, return to the Old Town, which offers engaging cafes, restaurants and a wealth of nightlife, or shop along Bahnhofstrasse and Niederdorf. (B)
DAY 13, ZURICH - USA
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight home. |
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