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Rhine & Rhone Revealed With Amsterdam And Nice (Wine Appreciation)

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Operated by Avalon Waterways
Tripcode: WALYW
Overview
Destination:
France
Netherlands
Start:Amsterdam, Netherlands
Finish:Nice, France
Duration:18 days
Type:Group tour (max 90)
Style:
River/Small ship/Barge,
This product has sold out, you can still contact us for other options.
Immerse yourself in French and German culture on this fabulous Europe holiday along the Rhine, Saône, and Rhône Rivers. You’re the spectacular views of your Rhine & Rhône Revealed river cruise holiday begins with an overnight stay in Amsterdam! Join us for an off-the-beaten-path guided walking tour through its cobblestone streets. Awaken the next day to explore Holland’s popular, modern capital of Amsterdam . with a canal cruise to see the treasures of this 700-year-old city along the elegant Grachten.

Cruise on your Avalon Suite Ship to Cologne, Germany—a 2,000-year-old city best known for its Gothic architecture and famous twin-spired cathedral., See the city come alive on a guided walk. Sail through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, the most beautiful view of the Rhine River where ancient castles stand on cliffs 400 feet above the water. Strasbourg, France, located on the French-German border, perfectly blends the cultures of both countries. Stop in Breisach, Germany, the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest—an area of unrivalled natural beauty.

A Master of Wine will accompany you on this portion of your cruise with presentations, tastings, and wine pairings along the way. Cruise to Tournus for an excursion to a Chardonnay wine cellar. Continue to Lyon— a showcase of medieval and Renaissance architecture—to explore the maze of medieval alleyways in Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a culinary walk and enjoy a tour of the famous wine region of Beaujolais. Continue to the city of Tournon beautifully nestled among vineyards to enjoy a guided walk with a wine-and-chocolate tasting or a walk in the vineyards. In Avignon, visit the Palace of the Popes and take a guided tour to Châteauneuf du Pape. This remarkable river cruise will take you to Arles, the capital of the Provence region and famous for its 1st-century Roman Amphitheatre.

Enjoy two nights in Nice on the French Riviera. Relax along the remarkably blue water of the Mediterranean Sea—a perfect ending to this once-in-a-lifetime European river cruise on three beautiful rivers—the Rhine, Saône, and Rhône Rivers!

About Masters of Wine

Seldom do travellers get the chance to learn about wines from a master! Avalon invites you to sail in the company of a Master of Wine (MW) who shares elite experience, unsurpassed knowledge, and personal passion for wines on board your ship. With only 450 Masters of Wine in the world, Avalon Waterways is honoured to welcome a Master of Wine on board our Wine-Lovers cruises to share their rigorous training and prestigious expertise recognised globally across the wine industry. A truly exclusive experience for wine lovers!
Standard inclusions
  • 17 breakfasts.
    12 lunches.
    14 dinners.
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Itinerary
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Day 1 - AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND
Welcome to Holland. Your day in Amsterdam is free to explore at your leisure.
Day 2 - AMSTERDAM (EMBARKATION)
Amsterdam Off the Beaten Path. Your Suite Ship is Ready for Boarding. CLASSIC - Discover the true beauty of Amsterdam with an off-the-beaten-path Guided Walking Tour through its cobblestone streets for a captivating look at this legendary city. 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, consider joining a Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM (B,D)
Day 3 - AMSTERDAM
Canals of Colourful Amsterdam Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities. CLASSIC - Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam's "Golden Age." This afternoon choose among the Guided Optional Excursions available or take some free time to explore Amsterdam's colourful streets and canal houses, galleries, and shops. AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COLOGNE (B,L,D)
Day 4 - COLOGNE, GERMANY
Prost! Celebrate in the Rhineland 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 Kolsch pale lager-locally brewed for over 100 years! Later, local musicians will join us on board for live entertainment. OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO RUDESHEIM (B,L,D)
Day 5 - RUDESHEIM
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country En route to Rudesheim, 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. ACTIVE - Enjoy a hike with your Avalon Adventure Host through the picturesque vineyards of Rudesheim, 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 Rudesheimer coffee. Enjoy live entertainment on board your ship this evening. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN RUDESHEIM (B,L,D)
Day 6 - MAINZ. HEIDELBERG EXCURSION
Printing Halls, 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 City Walk including a visit to the Gutenberg Museum to see the captivating history of printing, 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. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO STRASBOURG (B,L,D)
Day 7 - STRASBOURG, FRANCE
A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France Ask about today's energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities. 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. Choose 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 centre. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH (B,L,D)
Day 8 - BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST
German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black Forest 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 winemaking and enjoy a wine tasting, OR: CLASSIC - Join a Guided Tour to explore Freiburg's medieval city centre, 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/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL (B,L,D)
Day 9 - BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION)-BEAUNE-CHALON-SUR-SAONE (EMBARKATION)
Disembark your ship and drive on to Beaune. CLASSIC - Visit the Hotel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune, built in 1443, today home of the Van der Weyden's painting of the Last Judgement. This afternoon, travel to Chalon-sur-Saone to board your Suite Ship. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN TOURNUS (B,D)
Day 10 - TOURNUS
Pearl of Southern Burgundy Visit the Adventure Centre for today's activities with your Adventure Host. CLASSIC - Tucked away in the southeast corner of Burgundy, Tournus is one of the oldest and most important monastic centres in the region, Our Local Guide will show the highlights of this delightful town. DISCOVERY - Join a lecture about wine hosted by your Master of Wine while sailing to Macon. DISCOVERY - Join an excursion that will take you to a Chardonnay cellar for a wine tasting. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN TREVOUX (B,L,D)
Day 11 - LYON
La Vie En Rose in Lyon Sail for lovely Lyon this morning. DISCOVERY - Enjoy an onboard cheese and wine tasting hosted by your Master of Wine while sailing to Lyon. ACTIVE Discover Lyon's architectural district by bike with your Adventure Host, over bridges, and along the banks where the Rhone and Saone rivers meet, OR: CLASSIC - Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour to survey Lyon from Fourviere Hill with its numerous churches. You'll also explore the Old Town with its maze of medieval alleyways, and the lively cafes, monuments, and famed fountain of Place des Terreaux. DISCOVERY - Be our guest for a WWII & French Resistance Lecture on board your ship. Later enjoy live entertainment after dinner. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LYON (B,L,D)
Day 12 - LYON
Adventures in Food and Wine CLASSIC - Join a Culinary Walk through the city to discover why it is known as the gastronomic capital of France. DISCOVERY - Take a guided tour to the lovely Beaujolais area and learn more about its light and pleasant wine. DISCOVERY - This evening, join an onboard food and wine pairing dinner hosted by your Master of Wine. EVENING CRUISE TO TOURNON (B,L,D)
Day 13 - TOURNON
A Rendezvous with Castle Views and Vineyards ACTIVE - Hike in the vineyards and take in the breathtaking views from the hills (weather permitting), OR: CLASSIC - Take a morning Guided Walking Tour to explore Tournon-one of France's oldest medieval cities with its 16th-century castle. The tour also includes a wine and chocolate tasting at the Cite du Chocolat at Valrhona. Enjoy a leisurely sail to Viviers after lunch. VIVIERS World History in a Charming French Country Village CLASSIC - Explore the pale-stone buildings of Viviers on a late afternoon Guided Walking Tour of this charming village. You'll see its Romanesque cathedral and Old Town with a mix of historical Christian, Roman, and medieval influences. Later, enjoy live entertainment onboard. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO AVIGNON (B,L,D)
Day 14 - AVIGNON
The City of Popes in Picturesque Provence Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities. CLASSIC - Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of the fortress city of Avignon-with its ramparts encircling the city-and a visit to the amazing Palace of the Popes. DISCOVERY - Enjoy a trip to the famed wine cellars of Chateauneuf-du-Pape for a true taste of the Rhone wine region. Later, enjoy live onboard entertainment. EVENING CRUISE TO ARLES (B,L,D)
Day 15 - ARLES
Inspiring Sights and Avant-Garde Lights ACTIVE - Get your daily dose of exercise through a Power Walk in Arles with your Adventure Host, OR: DISCOVERY - Attend a Painting Workshop to learn techniques of Vincent van Gogh. Create your own painting in the style of the legendary artist, OR: CLASSIC - Enjoy a Guided Walking Tour of Arles-the captivating city of the Provence region. You'll visit the Roman Amphitheatre in this visually stunning city. Take free time to stop in Cafe Van Gogh for a glass of wine. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ARLES (B,L,D)
Day 16 - ARLES (DISEMBARKATION)-NICE
Spectacular Seascapes of the Mediterranean Coast After breakfast this morning, you'll drive to Nice on the spectacular French Riviera, which stretches along France's Mediterranean coast from Toulon to the border of Italy. (B)
Day 17 - NICE
The "Queen of the French Riviera" CLASSIC - Enjoy a Guided Sightseeing in Nice. Discover the narrow, winding streets and baroque churches of Vieux Nice, the old city-an area which has changed little since the 1700s. (B)
Day 18 - NICE
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Operator
Avalon Waterways

Designed from the bottom up for comfort, space, and room to dream, each Avalon Suite Ship consists of 80% Panorama Suites—offering the widest view in river cruising. Larger suites result in fewer passengers, so you’ll never feel crowded anywhere on board. From reclining on the open-air Sky Deck, relaxing in the spacious Panorama Lounge, or feeling the wind over the bough In the Observation Lounge, there’s never a shortage of comfortable spots to stretch out, day dream, or just watch the world go by. From our inception, Avalon Waterways has cast a light on the world’s most fascinating places and people – inviting wayfarers and wanderers like you to bask in their glory, intrigue and wonder. Along the way, we’ve helped travellers uncover ancient traditions while meeting the locals dedicated to preserving them; to meander historic hallways while giving back to the societies that safeguard them; and to put down the guidebooks and pick up a greater understanding of the world and its people.

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