Rhine Enchantment, Amsterdam to Milan - Southbound Aboard ms Grace

Our popular journey along the River Rhine explores five countries and features a seven-night cruise from the Netherlands to Switzerland, plus three nights in the historic Italian fashion capital of Milan and a visit to glamorous Lake Como. Tauck Exclusive experiences include a special evening at Schloss Biebrich, a Baroque palace on the Rhine.



Our River Rhine cruise explores five countries from Switzerland to the Netherlands, including three nights in the historic Italian fashion capital of Milan and a visit to glamorous Lake Como. Highlights include: Milan - three nights at Hotel Principe di Savoia, a historic landmark in the heart of the city; Lake Como - a private boat ride on Lake Como and a visit to Bellagio. Basel - your choice of walking tours discovering the city's art and architectural masterpieces or tasting its culinary heritage. Heidelberg - Germany's original university town, including a guided visit to legendary Heidelberg Castle. Wiesbaden - discovering a city that's grown around one of Europe's oldest spa towns. Linz am Rhein - a picturesque town lined with colorful half-timbered houses. Dusseldorf - spend an afternoon exploring this riverside center of art and fashion. Amsterdam - lunch aboard a private canal boat cruise. Tauck Exclusive experiences include a special evening at Schloss Biebrich, a restored Baroque palace on the bank of the Rhine in Wiesbaden.

Our River Rhine cruise explores five countries from Switzerland to the Netherlands, including three nights in the historic Italian fashion capital of Milan and a visit to glamorous Lake Como. Highlights include: Milan - three nights at Hotel Principe di Savoia, a historic landmark in the heart of the city; Lake Como - a private boat ride on Lake Como and a visit to Bellagio. Basel - your choice of walking tours discovering the city's art and architectural masterpieces or tasting its culinary heritage. Heidelberg - Germany's original university town, including a guided visit to legendary Heidelberg Castle. Wiesbaden - discovering a city that's grown around one of Europe's oldest spa towns. Linz am Rhein - a picturesque town lined with colorful half-timbered houses. Dusseldorf - spend an afternoon exploring this riverside center of art and fashion. Amsterdam - lunch aboard a private canal boat cruise. Tauck Exclusive experiences include a special evening at Schloss Biebrich, a restored Baroque palace on the bank of the Rhine in Wiesbaden.

Traveling Well Includes:
  • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE - A gala evening at a Baroque palace on the Rhine
  • A private boat ride on Lake Como
  • All private Tauck shore excursions - $3,953 Value
  • All gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director
  • Three nights at the Hotel Principe di Savoia
  • Lunch aboard a private canal boat cruise in Amsterdam
  • In Basel, a choice of walking tours discovering the city's art and architectural masterpieces or tasting its culinary heritage

  • Day 1 - Embark on your cruise in Amsterdam

    Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Welcome to Amsterdam! Transfers are included from Schiphol Airport or Amsterdam Centraal Station to your riverboat, where embarkation will begin any time after 4:00 PM. Enjoy a welcome cocktail reception followed by a leisurely dinner as you settle into your floating hotel for a memorable weeklong cruise on the Rhine and a visit to Italy's sparkling Lake Como region and remarkable Milan.



    Lodging: ms Grace

    Meals: D

    Day 2 - Amsterdam & its canals

    Awaken in Amsterdam and disembark the riverboat to be introduced to this unique city in two distinct ways - on an orientation tour of the city center, and aboard a canal boat cruise. As you float through the city's 17th-century network of canals you'll pass under bridges, check out the distinctive houseboats, see the historic buildings lining the canals, and watch the locals navigate the city on their bicycles. After your canal cruise, you may enjoy some free time in Amsterdam if you wish or return to your riverboat. This afternoon, your ship sets sail for Dusseldorf, Germany.



    Lodging: ms Grace

    Meals: B, L, D

    Day 3 - A choice of discoveries in Dusseldorf

    Arrive this morning in Dusseldorf - one of Germany's wealthiest cities, known for its charming Altstadt (Old Town) on the riverfront; its modern avant-garde architecture; Konigsallee (the Ko), a super high-end shopping street near Altstadt; and a lively promenade by the river. Walk off the riverboat into town for your choice of a Taste of Dusseldorf walking tour focused on the city's history, architecture and culinary traditions, along with some tasty local treats; a tour of Dusseldorf's MedienHafen sector, formerly an abandoned old harbor, this area was transformed to become one of the most modern sectors of the city, view it's spectacular architecture designed by renowned architects such as Frank Gehry as well as a bird's eye view of the city from the Rhine tower; or a bicycling excursion along the city's Rhine River waterfront. Back aboard ship this afternoon, your riverboat continues on towards the Middle Rhine. As you cruise, enjoy an onboard lecture by your Tauck Director.



    Lodging: ms Grace

    Meals: B, L, D

    Day 4 - Middle Rhine cruising & an exclusive palace dinner in Wiesbaden

    Today, enjoy a full day of cruising through the Middle Rhine Valley. It's a great day to enjoy your riverboat's amenities, and your Tauck Director provides commentary as you glide past sloping vineyards and rocky bluffs, sharing the stories of the Lorelei Rock and the castles standing watch onshore. Arrive this evening in the city of Wiesbaden. With a name that translates to meadow baths, Wiesbaden is one of Europe's oldest spa towns, famous around the world for its hot springs, which have been in use since Roman times, and blossomed during the Middle Ages. Join us for tonight's Tauck Exclusive evening featuring dinner and entertainment at Schloss Biebrich, an 18th-century Baroque palace on the bank of the Rhine in Wiesbaden.



    Lodging: ms Grace

    Meals: B, L, D

    Day 5 - The many charms of Old Heidelberg

    Drive to Heidelberg today for a guided visit to the splendid ruins of Heidelberg Castle, a sprawling red sandstone compound high above the city, and a reminder of 600 years of history, followed by a walking tour of town. Check out the Heidelberg Tun, the biggest wine barrel in the world (and walk on top of it). Learn about centuries of movers and shakers, and the romantic story of the Elisabeth Gate, built in 1615 as a present from Elector Frederic V to his wife Elisabeth Stuart, the daughter of King James I of England. He had the triumphal arch secretly crafted in sections and put up as a whole the night before her birthday to surprise her the next morning. The views of the Neckar River Valley from the castle are unforgettable. While strolling in Old Town Heidelberg below, be sure to try a Heidelberg Student Kiss - a special treat invented in the 19th century by a sympathetic chocolatier to give young men a way to express their affections for young women they were not allowed to talk to! Lunch today is at a local beerhouse, then meet your riverboat in Germersheim and spend the afternoon cruising south. You'll have time to enjoy the gym, get a massage... or curl up in a chair on the Sun Deck with a snack and your favorite drink. Have dinner onboard tonight followed by some evening entertainment.



    Lodging: ms Grace

    Meals: B, L, D

    Day 6 - Explore the Alsatian wine route

    This morning, your riverboat arrives in historic Strasbourg, France - capital of the Alsace and known as the Crossroads of Europe, home to the European Union's headquarters. You have two choices for exploring today. Drive along the bucolic Alsatian wine route, through countryside where some of the world's best Rieslings are made; following lunch, enjoy a tasting at one of the local wine cellars. Alternatively, bicycling is a great way to explore the lush green vineyards and rolling hills of the Alsace region. Your bike ride finishes with lunch at a local restaurant followed by a wine tasting. Return to Strasbourg this afternoon and continue cruising to Basel, Switzerland.



    Lodging: ms Grace

    Meals: B, L, D

    Day 7 - Choose to discover either Zurich or Basel

    Today you're off to explore the Swiss city of Basel on a choice of excursions. One possibility is to go on a walking tour in Old Town Basel with a local guide before setting off on your own. There's much to discover: the city is known for its many contemporary buildings by noted international architects, and it has the highest density of museums in the country, including the world-class Basel Art Museum. Your other options explores Basel's culinary heritage. A melting pot of culinary influence due to its close proximity to Germany, France and of course, Switzerland, see and taste Basel on a walking tour indulging in the city's culinary delicacies of beer, cheese and chocolate. Tonight, enjoy a farewell toast and dinner aboard your riverboat. You're off to Milan tomorrow.



    Lodging: ms Grace

    Meals: B, L, D

    Day 8 - By rail through Switzerland & the Alps to Milan

    After breakfast onboard, bid your crew farewell and disembark your riverboat in Basel for a high-speed train journey to Lugano. Have you ever ridden through a mountain? Great things are done when men and mountain meet, wrote the poet William Blake, and he could have been talking about the Gotthard Base Tunnel, which you'll go through today, zipping through the base of the Alps. At 35 miles long, it's the longest railway tunnel in the world, a major feat of engineering that took 17 years to complete. Enjoy some free time in Lugano to explore; later in the afternoon, drive across the border into Italy for arrival in Milan, a city that reigns as a world capital of fashion and design. Check into the Hotel Principe di Savoia, a splendid 1920s landmark decorated in classic Italian and Art Deco style that is centrally located on the Piazza della Repubblica. Home to the national stock exchange, Milan has been Italy's financial engine since the Industrial Revolution, and is known for its upscale culinary scene and shops. Dinner is on your own. Tonight, you have reservations for a Tauck Exclusive - a private viewing of Milan's piece de resistance, Leonardo da Vinci's mural, The Last Supper, which adorns the dining room at the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent and has a way of drawing the viewer in. You might just feel as if you could walk into the picture, sit down at the table, and strike up a conversation with the apostles (subject to availability; the day of visit may vary).



    Lodging: Hotel Principe di Savoia

    Meals: B

    Day 9 - Villas and villages of Lake Como

    You're off for a day's tooling around Lake Como, one of Italy's most beautiful lakes, in the shadow of the snowcapped Alps - a mecca for the well-heeled on holiday since ancient Roman times. Drive to tiny Tremezzina, where you'll board a boat for bellissima Bellagio. Your Tauck Director leads an orientation walk in this resort village, known as the Pearl of the Lake, and you'll have a bit of free time. Take in the lake views and explore the centuries-old buildings, stone lanes, and cobbled stairways lined with shops. A boat cruise shows you more of Lake Como, which the poet William Wordsworth described as a treasure whom the earth keeps to herself. The forested shoreline is punctuated by small towns with ancient stone bell towers and opulent villas. Disembark the boat in the town of Cernobbio and head back to Milan. Tonight, Milan is yours to explore as you wish.



    Lodging: Hotel Principe di Savoia

    Meals: B, L

    Day 10 - Discovering Milan.

    Immerse yourself in magnificent Milan on an orientation and walking tour that includes an outside visit to the incredible Gothic Cathedral of Milan, il Duomo, the third largest Catholic church in the world. It took 500 years to finish this forest of spires and pinnacles topped by the iconic statue of the golden madonnina. Steps from il Duomo, stroll through the city's premier gathering place, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a.k.a. the living room of Milan. This massive yet elegant shopping arcade, topped by an airy glass octagonal dome, was built as a symbol of Italian unity in the late 19th century and named after the first king of Italy. The afternoon is free. You might want to take in La Scala, one of the most famous opera houses in the world, where Maria Callas sang her heart out... Pinacoteca di Brera, a great art collection including works by Raphael, Bellini, Piero della Francesca, and Caravaggio... the fashion district between pedestrianized Via della Spiga, via Montenapoleone, via Manzoni, and Corso Venezia... or the mildly bohemian Navigli neighborhood of canal-side bars, restaurants, and shops. As you go, be sure to taste the traditional flavors of Milan - sipping a Campari bitter aperitif and sampling dishes like yellow risotto, cassoeula, and ossobuco. Join us this evening to cap a memorable journey with a farewell reception and dinner at the hotel.



    Lodging: Hotel Principe di Savoia

    Meals: B, D

    Day 11 - Journey home

    Tour ends: Milan. Fly home anytime; a transfer from Hotel Principe di Savoia to Milan Malpensa or Linate Airports OR Milan's Central Train Station is included. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport. For additional hotel nights in Milan, ask at booking.



    Lodging:

    Meals: B

    Call (847) 455-8897 for more information or to book today! Mention code 18043470

    Cruise Line
    Tauck River Cruising
    Offer
    Offer valid through 6/30/2024
    Duration
    11 Days
    Cruise Ship
    ms Grace

    Click for more information on this ship.

    DayPortArriveDepart
    Day 1Amsterdam  
    Day 2Amsterdam  
    Day 3Dusseldorf  
    Day 4Wiesbaden  
    Day 5Heidelberg  
    Day 6Strasbourg  
    Day 7Basel  
    Day 8Milan  
    Day 9Milan  
    Day 10Milan  
    Day 11Milan  
    Dates/Pricing

    Click Quote or call us to get additional information on your chosen travel date. Special offers or competitive pricing may be available!

    DatePrice / DescriptionQuote
    05/08/2024Quote
    Disclaimer
    * Land / cruise price per person in U.S. dollars, based on double occupancy, includes cruise fare, most meals, port charges, shore excursions, applicable fuel surcharges, and gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides & drivers, and on all included meals.

    Itinerary Changes - Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. Further, museums and attractions may be subject to closure due to state, local or religious holidays.

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