Romantic Rhine (Northbound) – 9 Day River Cruise from Basel to Amsterdam

Arrive Basel, Meet & Greet and treansfer to your hotel for

Basel, switzerland (embarkation) Welcome to switzerland. Your suite ship is ready for boarding. Flights into zürich or basel must arrive by 3 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm. Enjoy dinner and explore the ship on your first night on board. Evening cruise to breisach Dinner

Breisach, germany. Excursion to black forest German winemaking and the beautiful black forest Visit the adventure center for today’s activities with your adventure host. Active enjoy the view on a relaxing bike ride along the rhine with your adventure host, or: Discovery join a full-day guided tour to the magical black forest to experience the vogtsbauernohf open-air-museum, visit an authentic water mill, and see a traditional butter-making demonstration, or: Discovery visit to a local winery in breisach, where you will learn about german wine making and enjoy a wine tasting. Classic join a guided tour to explore freiburg’s medieval city center, sheltered by the black forest amid vineyards and gardens of the upper rhine valley. You may choose to join a guided optional excursion to visit the charming village of colmar in the morning, with its half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings. Evening cruise to strasbourg breakfast/lunch/dinner

Strasbourg, france A grand cathedral and la petite france Active discover strasbourg by bike with your adventure host, or: Classic join a city sightseeing tour, including strasbourg’s gothic, stained-glass cathedral With its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical la petite France district. You may also choose to join a guided optional excursion to the historic maginot line—the pre wwii fortifications designed to protect the eastern border of france, or visit alsace’s wine Country today. Alternatively, take some free time in strasbourg to visit a museum, or stroll across the city center. Evening/overnight cruise to mainz breakfast/lunch/dinner

Mainz, germany. Excursion to heidelberg Castle walls, and the world’s biggest wine barrel Active join your avalon adventure host for an inspiring walk in heidelberg, the philosophers' Way, or: Classic enjoy a guided tour to heidelberg castle to see the ruins of the magnificent Renaissance treasure towering above the city, and its famed great vat, the “world’s largest wine Barrel,” or: Classic enjoy a guided city walk in mainz, including a visit to the gutenberg museum to see The captivating history of printing. This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship after a short sailing to rüdesheim. Overnight docking in rüdesheim Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Rüdesheim–rhine gorge Eat, drink, and be merry in wine country Active enjoy a hike with your avalon adventure host through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim, or: Discovery take a guided tour of the incredible mechanical music museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience; enjoy a tasting of the authentic rüdesheimer coffee. En route to koblenz, sail through the rhine gorge (a unesco world heritage site). Take in the Breathtaking views of ancient castles perched on cliffs 400 feet above the water, and pass the Legendary rock of the lorelei—where the mythological siren’s songs lured ill-fated sailors. Koblenz Travel through 2000 years of monumental history Enjoy free time in koblenz before a relaxing evening on board with dinner and live Entertainment. Overnight docking in koblenz Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Cologne Prost! Celebrate in the rhineland Join your adventure host for today’s special activities. Active enjoy a bike ride like the locals in cologne with your adventure host, or: Discovery choose a guided walking tour of cologne’s important jewish heritage sites, or: Classic take a guided city walk of cologne—with its soaring twin-steepled gothic cathedral. Spend free time over a glass of kölsch pale lager—locally brewed for over 100 years! Afternoon/overnight cruise to amsterdam breakfast/lunch/dinner

Amsterdam, holland Canals of colorful amsterdam Active start your day joining your adventure host on an early morning walk in amsterdam, or: Classic explore the iconic waterways of amsterdam on a guided canal cruise past stately Homes of amsterdam’s “golden age.” During tulip season, you may take a guided optional excursion to keukenhof gardens—with More than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, as well as other bulbs, planted each year. Outside of tulip season, join a guided optional excursion to zaanse schans to see historic Windmills and charming dutch houses. You may also choose an optional biking tour to discover The countryside. Take some free time to explore amsterdam’s colorful streets and canal houses, galleries, and Shops. Overnight docking in amsterdam breakfast/lunch/dinner

Amsterdam (disembarkation) Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. Breakfast