Day 1: Basel (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. D
Day 2: 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.
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:
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. B,L,D
Day 3: 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. B,L,D
Day 4: 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.
Enjoy live entertainment on board your ship this evening.
Overnight docking in Mainz. B,L,D
Day 5: Rüdesheim–Rhine Gorge–Koblenz
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.
Enjoy free time in Koblenz before a relaxing evening on board with dinner and live entertainment.
Overnight docking in Koblenz. B,L,D
Day 6: 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. B,L,D
Day 7: 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. B,L,D
Day 8: Amsterdam (disembarkation)
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. B
Avalon have an excellent choice of Rhine cruises - to see the colleciton request a brochure here
You can claim our 7% discount off the cruise price only, by booking direct with Avalon on 0330 0588 237 and quoting TRAVEL55. You can claim the discount on any cruise, whether it is showing on our site or not.
Here are just some of their Rhine cruises -
Romantic Rhine with 2 nights in Lucerne (northbound) : Romantic Rhine with 2 nights in Lucerne (southbound)
Romantic Rhine with 1 night in Amsterdam, Mount Pilatus, 1 night in Lucerne and 3 nights in Lake Como (southbound) : Romantic Rhine with 3 nights in Lake Como and1 night in Lucerne and Mount Pilatus (northbound)
Romantic Rhine with 1 night in Amsterdam and 2 nights in Lucerne (southbound)
Romantic Rhine with 1 night in Amsterdam (southbound)
Romantic Rhine (southbound)
Romantic Rhine with Mount Pilatus, 1 night in Lucerne and 3 nights in Lake Como (southbound)
Rhine and Rhône Revealed (southbound) : Rhine and Rhône Revealed (northbound)
Spectacular Switzerland with Romantic Rhine
