AN ARRAY OF AMENITIES

AWARD-WINNING DINING

A WORLD OF EXPLORATION

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 : AMSTERDAM - EMBARKATION
Board the ship for your Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps cruise. (D)

Day 2 : AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
There are 165 canals in Amsterdam, and you'll get enjoy some of them on your canal cruise. Later in the day, set sail out of Amsterdam. (B,L,D)

Day 3 : COLOGNE, GERMANY
Enjoy cruising to Cologne. Join a guided tour through the Old Town and explore the UNESCO-designated Cologne Cathedral, one of Germany's most revered Gothic masterpieces. Continue to the Cologne Rathaus, Germany's oldest town hall, the Overstolzenhaus, and the Festival Hall. During your free time, browse through the city's most impressive Christmas markets, offering 160 attractively designed wooden pavilions. For a different view, visit a local tavern to taste its famous Kolsch beer, only made in Cologne, and reibekuchen mit apfelmus, potato pancakes typically served with applesauce. Active adventurists will want to join a guided bike ride along the Rhine and through the historic Stadtgarten. (B,L,D)

Day 4 : RHINE GORGE - RUDESHEIM
Cruise through the captivating UNESCO-designated Rhine Gorge, the most stunningly beautiful stretch of the river before reaching the winemaking town of Rudesheim. In the afternoon, join a wine tasting to discover the flavors of the town's iconic vineyards. Afterwards, enjoy free time in the town, perhaps to explore the Drosselgasse, the town's cultural heart, and the Christmas markets. Or drink up the stunning views by soaring high above the vineyards with a gondola ride to the Niederwalddenkmal and with free time visiting the Christmas markets. 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, let Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum charm you with its remarkable collection of self-playing musical instruments; or taste one of the town's special delights, Rudesheimer coffee, ceremoniously made with brandy, coffee and whipped cream. (B,L,D)

Day 5 : LUDWIGSHAFEN
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. Here you can also enjoy visiting some of the festive Christmas Markets. 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, Altportel. In your free time, you might choose to visit the Christmas Markets or Technik Museum featuring exhibits of vintage cars, military aircraft and even a submarine! (B,L,D)

Day 6 : 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 Republique before walking through its iconic 'La Petite France' district, lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. Wander through charming streets past the Cathedrale de Notre Dame with its famous astronomical clock. During the tour you will receive free time to visit the Christmas markets. Alternatively, take a guided bike ride through the city and Parc de l'Orangerie. (B,L,D)

Day 7 : BASEL, SWITZERLAND
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 Lucerne, or opt for one of the morning excursions and visit Lucerne in the afternoon. With either Lucerne excursion, you'll have the opportunity to visit its Christmas Markets as well as 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 Lucerne's spectacular medieval walls and towers, dating back to the 13th century. (B,L,D)

Day 8 : BASEL, SWITZERLAND - DISEMBARKATION
Bid farewell to Basel and prepare for your flight home. (B)