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Swiss Alps & Rhine Castles Cruise Only

From Basel, Switzerland to Amsterdam, Netherlands
Length: 8 Days - Departs: Mon, Aug 04, 2025
Operator
Ship
Departure
Aug 04, 2025
Arrival
Aug 11, 2025

Please see below brochure cabin pricing

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River Cruise Itinerary

Start with 2 nights in Zurich, 2 nights in Lake Lucerne and ending with an enchanting 7-night cruise from Basel to Amsterdam

  1. Day 1
    Mon, Aug 04, 2025
    BASEL, SWITZERLAND - EMBARKATION. Embark your ship in Basel for your Swiss Alps & Rhine Castles cruise. (D)
  2. Day 2
    Tue, Aug 05, 2025
    BASEL. Enjoy getting to know Basel, Switzerland'''s third largest city. Long an important university, banking and trade center, Basel'''s glorious past is still evident in its medieval town hall, richly decorated market square and exquisite 18th-century patrician homes. Tour the city by foot or on a guided bike tour that takes you through three countries: Switzerland, France and Germany. Alternatively, go on a full-day excursion to Lake Lucerne, or opt for one of the morning excursions and visit Lake Lucerne in the afternoon. With either Lake Lucerne excursion, you'''ll have the opportunity to see its Lion Monument ''' the figure of a dying lion carved into a hillside in memory of the Swiss Guards massacred during the French Revolution in 1792 ''' which Mark Twain described as '''the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world.''' You'''ll also see Lake Lucerne'''s spectacular medieval walls and towers, dating back to the 13th century. (B,L,D)
  3. Day 3
    Wed, Aug 06, 2025
    STRASBOURG, FRANCE. Strasbourg offers flavors of both France and Germany because of its borderline location. Enjoy a panoramic tour past the stunning Parc de l'''Orangerie, the European Parliament and the Place de la R''publique before walking through its iconic '''La Petite France''' district, lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. Wander through charming streets past the Cath''drale de N''tre Dame with its famous astronomical clock. Alternatively, take a guided bike ride through the city and Parc de l'''Orangerie. (B,L,D)
  4. Day 4
    Thu, Aug 07, 2025
    LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY ''' R''DESHEIM. Ludwigshafen is your gateway to a choice of four excursions. Visit Heidelberg, the perfectly preserved medieval city nestled in the Neckar River Valley along Germany'''s Castle Road. Discover the iconic red sandstone Heidelberg Castle and Great Vat, an 18th-century, 49,000-gallon wine cask. For a more active adventure while in Heidelberg, join a guided hike up the Philosopher'''s Path, aptly named during the Romantic Period, and enjoy panoramic views of the city. Alternatively, you can visit one of Germany'''s oldest cities, Speyer, known for the largest Romanesque cathedral in Europe'''a UNESCO World Heritage Site'''and the medieval Old Gate, Altp''rtel. Or pedal along the river Neckar to the picturesque medieval city center of Ladenburg and enjoy some free time to explore the shops. Later in the day, cruise to the charming village of R''desheim and let Siegfried'''s Mechanical Instrument Cabinet charm you with its remarkable collection of self-playing musical instruments; or taste one of the town'''s special delights, R''desheimer coffee, ceremoniously made with brandy, coffee and whipped cream. (B,L,D)
  5. Day 5
    Fri, Aug 08, 2025
    R''DESHEIM. Join a wine tasting to discover the flavors of the town'''s iconic vineyards and drink up the stunning views by soaring high above the vineyards with a gondola ride to the Niederwalddenkmal. For a more active adventure, hike through the town'''s beautiful vineyards or join a guided bike tour along the scenic Rhine River. Later in the day, cruise through the captivating UNESCO-designated Rhine Gorge, the most stunningly beautiful stretch of the river before reaching Lahnstein, where you will enjoy a unique evening visit at Lahneck Castle. (B,L,D)
  6. Day 6
    Sat, Aug 09, 2025
    COLOGNE, GERMANY. Enjoy cruising to Cologne, then join a guided tour through the enchanting Old Town, where you will see sites such as the Cologne Rathaus, Germany'''s oldest town hall; the Fishmarkt, which dates back to the 12th century and the Great St. Martin Church. End your city tour with a visit to a local tavern to taste its famous K''lsch beer. As an alternative, examine the historic architectural styles on display throughout the Cologne Cathedral during a guided tour. This 13th-century Gothic marvel and UNESCO World Heritage Site was the tallest building in the world at the time of its completion, and the church withstood 14 hits from aerial bombs during World War II. Active guests will want to join a guided bike ride along the Rhine and through the historic Stadtgarten. (B,L,D)
  7. Day 7
    Sun, Aug 10, 2025
    AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS. There are 165 canals in Amsterdam, and you'''ll get to enjoy some of them on your canal cruise. Alternatively, get a taste of local flavor, passing iconic canals, gabled houses, narrow bridges and house boats while tasting Dutch specialties at one of Amsterdam'''s grand cafes. (B,L,D). . *Depending on docking location, A Taste of Amsterdam may not operate; therefore, an alternative tour will operate instead.
  8. Day 8
    Mon, Aug 11, 2025
    AMSTERDAM ''' DISEMBARKATION. Bid Farewell to Amsterdam and prepare for your homeward flight. (B)

Countries Visited

France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland

Rivers Visited

Rhine

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Inclusions

  • SPACIOUS STATEROOMS
  • 7 nights luxury accommodation in an outside stateroom (most with twin balconies)
  • Entertainment-On-Demand in all staterooms featuring free high-speed internet access, movies, a music library and English language TV stations
  • Mini-fridge, desk and sitting area
  • Bottled water replenished daily
  • AN ARRAY OF AMENITIES
  • Wellness Activities with a dedicated Wellness Host leading various exercise classes as well as discussions on healthy eating and relaxation techniques, both on board and on shore.
  • Personalized service from a highly trained Cruise Manager during both cruise and land packages
  • Internet and Wi-Fi access
  • Sun Deck pool with swim-up bar and walking track
  • Fitness room
  • Main Lounge with panoramic views and bar
  • Bottled water in every stateroom replenished daily
  • Daily entertainment including cultural performances
  • AWARD-WINNING DINING
  • All onboard dining in a variety of venues
  • Regionally inspired cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients
  • The Chef'''s Table specialty restaurant
  • Welcome Cocktail, Welcome Dinner, La Cha''ne des R''tisseurs Dinner, Captain's Cocktail and Gala Dinner
  • La Cha''ne des R''tisseurs exclusive dining experience
  • Unlimited fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
  • Unlimited sparkling wine and fresh juice with breakfast
  • Sip & Sail Cocktail Hour with complimentary wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks
  • Tapas, sandwiches, snacks and refreshments served daily in the Main Lounge
  • A WORLD OF EXPLORATION
  • Immersive tours in every destination
  • Gentle, regular, active and late-riser tour options
  • Bike tours and hikes
  • Special interest tours
  • Knowledgeable guides
  • Personal headset for easy exploration
  • Airport transfers with purchase of air from AmaWaterways
  • Land Program
  • 3 nights hotel in Como at the Hilton Lake Como (or similar), including city tour, cruise to Bellagio and daily breakfast
  • Transfer from hotel in Lucerne to ship in Basel withhighlights tour

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Ship Information

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Cabins

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Life on Board

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Questions & Answers

Question: Will the day-by-day itinerary change?

Yes, the river cruise itineraries may change due to reasons such as inclement weather or unforeseen events. Your safety is the number one concern aboard and all precautions necessary will be taken in order to ensure passenger safety, including changing itineraries. Please note that when itineraries do change, the ship staff will do their best to substitute any missed port with an alternative destination.

Question: In what language is the river cruise conducted?

The river cruise will be conducted in English only.

Customer Reviews

Overall Rating
4.4
Accommodations
4.5
Itinerary
4.3
Professional Staff
4.8
Repeat with Operator
4.2
Value for Money
4.3

Ratings based off 20 reviews - currently showing 7 reviews with comments only

The excursions and local guides were excellent and AMA staff was professional and accomodative. We were disappointed by the quality of the food based on our past pre-COVID experiences with AMA. Not sure we would book another trip on AMA.

The staff was wonderful, always courteous and helpful. Loved all of the different foods served on board. The Chef's Table was a wonderful way of tasting new foods! The sites we saw were unbelievable! So much to learn and experience. I was a bit surprised with our cabin, I was expecting an outdoor balcony, we had a full length window instead. In the end it really did not matter, we were still able to see all of the beautiful views from our cabin and the sun deck.

we traveled with another river cruise line several years ago and much prefer ama waterways.

Our cruise was excellent. A perfect choice for us.

This trip with AMAWaterways was beyond outstanding from start to finish. The ship, crew, meals, and excursions were all excellent and exceeded my expectations. I loved it.

We were very well pleased with AmaWaterways, so much so that we made a deposit on a future trip with them. The ship was beautifully decorated for the Christmas market cruise. The tour manager and the ship's crew were highly professional and friendly. There were daily activities both off and on the ship to keep us entertained. The food and drink were wonderful. The itinerary was exactly as described.

AMA Waterways is indeed a first class operator. The shipboard staff were consistantly very helpful and courteous. The food was outstanding, plentiful and with many alternative dishes. Everything was very clean. The activities for the ports/cities visited were well planned with alternatives depending on whether one wanted a routine walking tour, agressive tour or biking tours. We enjoyed concerts, local entertainment, and scenic tours with local guides that were very knowledgeable and spoke perfect English. We cannot say enough about the experience on the AMA Waterways ship. Every situation was anticipated and accommodated. We look forward to the oppportunity to take another cruise on AMA Waterways.

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AffordableTours.com is a travel agent for AmaWaterways. Brochure Price is based on the itinerary's highest brochure price. Our price reflects our base price for the same departure as Brochure Price. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time. All prices are USD per person and based on double occupancy. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. All prices change frequently and our website prices are not guaranteed until a deposit has been received by us. The prices on our website are intended to serve as a guide only and may not accurately reflect current prices. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in these prices until a booking has been confirmed by one of our agents. Please call us toll free at 1-800-342-0019 to confirm current prices and availability. Prices listed are per person, cruise only, and based on double occupancy.

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