Northbound
* Indicates cruise day
* Day 1 - Willkommen nach Basel
Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Basel, Switzerland. A transfer is included from Basel-Mulhouse International Airport to the Swiss Emerald or the Swiss Sapphire. Your cruise begins when all guests check in at 4:00 PM. Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 2 - Beguiling Basel
This lovely city on the banks of the Rhine River will engage you today during an orientation tour followed by a walking tour in the Old Town, where you'll see the bright-red Rathaus, Basel's Town Hall. After lunch, explore more of one of Europe's most attractive and best-preserved Old Towns on your own or perhaps visit one of the city's 40 museums. This evening, the Captain welcomes you aboard with a festive dinner on the riverboat. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 3 - A taste of France, past and present
Awaken in stunning Strasbourg, France, seat of the European Council, the European Parliament and the European Court of Human Rights. You'll see the Parliament buildings before stepping back in time to discover La Petit France, noted for its medieval half-timbered houses set beside its lovely canals. While visiting the famous Gothic Cathedrale de Notre-Dame de Strasbourg on this most extraordinary of Rhine River tours, you'll be inspired by the graceful, expressive statuary of the Pilier des Anges [Pillar of Angels], and the magnificent stained glass windows. Return to the riverboat for lunch or choose to dine at one of the city's many intriguing restaurants on your own. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 4 - Lifestyles of the rich and healthy in Baden-Baden
An excursion to the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden reveals that the elegant Belle Epoque period is still alive and well. For many generations, wealthy folks have flocked here to see and be seen, and to take the healing thermal waters for which the town is famous. Join us on a walking tour and time spent on your own discovering some of the town's treasures ranging from the ruins of Roman baths to the ornate 250-year-old Casino, which movie star Marlene Dietrich once described as 'the most beautiful casino in the world.' Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 5 - Heidelberg, realm of The Student Prince
A full day in the historic college town of Heidelberg, home to one of the oldest universities in Europe, as well as the setting for the famous operetta, The Student Prince, awaits you today during your most captivating of Rhine River tours. Take a walking tour of Heidelberg for a close-up look at the Old Town, and ride a funicular up to the imposing Heidelberger Schloss, perched 300 feet above the city; view its examples of medieval, Renaissance and Baroque architecture, and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Perhaps you'll be as captivated by this lovely old city as America's first travel writer, Mark Twain, was when he spent three months here with his family. Rejoin the riverboat in Speyer. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 6 - In the Middle Rhine Valley
While your riverboat glides through the Middle Rhine Valley en route to Boppard, listen to the legend of the Lorelei and see for yourself why this beautiful part of the river - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - has inspired composers, writers and artists for centuries. During its 2,000-year history, Celts, Romans and Franconians have all called Boppard home; discover this marvelous medieval town and enjoy lunch at the Old Monastery Cellar. Your riverboat continues on to Koblenz, where you'll be indulged with some lively local entertainment. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 7 - In the shadow of Reichsburg Castle
Stepping ashore at Cochem in the Moselle Valley is like stepping into the pages of a medieval fairy tale. Tour picture-perfect 1,000-year-old Reichsburg Castle, which looks down on the quaint market square. Explore this jewel of a town - complete with Baroque town hall and ancient town gates - breathing in its historic charm and ambiance. Honor the area's centuries-old winemaking with a tasting of the excellent locally produced wines at a family-owned wine museum before returning to the riverboat. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 8 - History galore in Bernkastel and Luxembourg
Dock in Bernkastel this morning for a journey to the tiny Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. A walking tour of its well-preserved old town reveals the Cathedral, Parliament, the Palace of the Grand Duke, and centuries-old battlements that are today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pay a poignant visit to the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial; over 5,000 American casualties of the Battle of the Bulge lie buried here, as does General George S. Patton. Later, return to charming Bernkastel, known as both the 'Pearl of the Moselle' and the 'international town of vines and wine.' The town is celebrated not only for its wines, but also for its medieval market square surrounded by half-timbered houses, which you'll see on a walking tour, along with its castle ruins, fortress-like 14th-century church and Renaissance-era town hall. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 9 - Trier and the rhythm of the river
On an excursion to Trier, discover this ancient city during a walking tour that includes a visit to Dom St. Peter, a historic cathedral whose site dates back to Roman times. After some leisure time back in Bernkastel, reboard your riverboat and enjoy an afternoon of classic river cruising, watching the scenery slip by from the sun deck as your riverboat glides along the Moselle. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 10 - The many faces of Bonn
This most enriching of Rhine River tours continues in Bonn; tracing its roots back to the Romans, the city engages with history spanning ancient times to the present day. Beethoven's birthplace, the home of musicians Robert and Clara Schumann, and the capital of Germany from 1949 to 1991, it is still a center of German administration and politics. Discover it all during a sightseeing tour and a walk through Old Town; enjoy a memorable lunch in a grand hotel used to host visiting dignitaries, set in a spectacular location overlooking Bonn and the Rhine. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 11 - Works of art by Mother Nature and Vincent van Gogh
Depart your riverboat in Rees and set off for Arnhem and the 5,500-hectare De Hoge Veluwe National Park, home to many endangered plant and animal species. In the midst of this natural glory, you'll find the inspiring Kroller-Muller Museum, featuring works of such luminaries as Pablo Picasso, Georges Seurat and Vincent van Gogh, along with Europe's largest sculpture garden. Rejoin the ship in Nijmegen for lunch, followed by a free afternoon to spend exploring this 2,000-year-old city - the oldest in the Netherlands - as you choose. Whether you're intrigued by Roman and medieval history, the legacy of World War II, African art or modern-day Dutch life, you'll find something interesting here. Please join us for the Captain's farewell reception and dinner aboard the riverboat this evening. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 12 - Amazing Amsterdam
As your cruise - and this most extraordinary of Moselle and Rhine River tours - comes to an end, indulge yourself in all the many charms of Amsterdam today. You'll be introduced to the city's historic architecture on a sightseeing cruise of its 17th-century canals, winding up at Museumplein, where you'll visit one of the city's engaging museums. Enjoy the rest of the day exploring Amsterdam on your own. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Day 13 - Journey's end
Tour ends: Amsterdam. Your Moselle and Rhine River cruise ends today after breakfast. A transfer is included from the riverboat to Amsterdam's Schiphol International Airport for your flight home; allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home. Meals: Breakfast |
|
