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The Rhine & Moselle with 2 Nights in Lucerne (Southbound)

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Operated by Avalon
Tripcode: WHZ1
Overview
Destination:
Netherlands
Switzerland
Start:Amsterdam, Netherlands
Finish:Lucerne, Switzerland
Duration:13 days
Type:Group tour (max 90)
Style:
River/Small ship/Barge,
Travel Period
July 2025 - October 2026
13 days from Amsterdam to Lucerne
Your European river cruise vacation starts in marvelous Amsterdam where there is much to see! Discover the treasures of this colorful, historic city on a canal cruise through the elegant Grachten lined with stately homes dating back to the city’s “Golden Age.” Explore the magnificent city of Cologne, Germany, which spans both sides of the Rhine River, then visit Koblenz, strategically located at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers. Explore the charming wine village of Bernkastel with its half-timbered houses from the Middle Ages still standing! Take a guided walk through the delightful marketplace, see the Renaissance-era Town Hall, and taste famed Moselle wines! Sail through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, considered the most beautiful view of the Rhine River, and see ancient castles standing majestically on cliffs 400 feet above the water. Visit the charming Rhine Valley wine town of Rüdesheim, and visit the ruins of Heidelberg’s Castle, towering magnificently over the city. Continue your stunning European river cruise to Strasbourg, France, where a local expert will show you the red-sandstone Gothic-style cathedral with ancient murals and fascinating astronomical clock. Also, stroll through the lovely La Petite France district with its quaint shops, delightful bistros, and peaceful waterfront promenade. At the foot of Kaiserstuhl Mountain on the French-German border sits Breisach—the gateway to Germany’s legendary Black Forest, an area of unrivaled natural beauty.

Disembark your river cruise in Basel, Switzerland, and continue your vacation with a visit to Mt. Pilatus (or Mount Stanserhorn per seasonal accessibility) and a walking tour in Lucerne. Your Rhine and Moselle Rivers cruise and vacation in Switzerland are the perfect combination to unlock a guided European vacation of a lifetime.
Itinerary
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AMSTERDAM*, HOLLAND (EMBARKATION)
Welcome to Holland. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.

Flights into Amsterdam must arrive by 3:30 pm.

Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.

Your day in Amsterdam is free to explore at your leisure.

During tulip season, don’t miss a Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens—with more than seven million flowering bulbs. Outside of tulip season, join a Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM

(D)

*Due to increased harbor traffic expected for the 2025 “SAIL Amsterdam” event, departure August 24 will embark in Rotterdam with slight modifications to the itinerary.

AMSTERDAM*
Colorful Canals of Amsterdam

Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.

DISCOVERY 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, OR:

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. Alternatively spend some free time this afternoon visiting one of Amsterdam’s many fascinating museums or galleries.

AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COLOGNE

(B,L,D)

* Due to the “SAIL Amsterdam” event coinciding with August 24 departure, Amsterdam excursions commence from ship docking location in Rotterdam.

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 Kölsch pale lager—locally brewed for over 100 years!

Local musicians will join us on board for live entertainment.

OVERNIGHT SAILING TO COCHEM

(B,L,D)

COCHEM
The Charm of the Moselle Valley

This morning, select a Guided Optional Excursion to Eltz Castle.

ACTIVE Bike along the Mosel river with your Adventure Host, OR:

DISCOVERY Visit the former bunker of Germany's Central Bank (Deutsche Bundesbank) and immerse yourself in the underground vault where millions of German Mark were kept during the Cold War, OR:

CLASSIC Join a Guided Walk of Cochem to see the charming town’s half-timbered houses and winding streets. Visit Cochem’s hilltop Reichsburg Castle with a bird’s-eye-view of the Moselle Valley and river bend.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO TRIER

(B,L,D)

TRIER. EXCURSION TO LUXEMBOURG
Ancient Worlds and Old World Charm

Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.

CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing tour of Trier—Germany’s oldest city with ancient remnants dating from 144-152 AD. Starting from Porta Nigra, walk through the city center.

CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Luxembourg City—with its dramatic views, ancient ruins, and modern architecture along the deep gorge terrain.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BERNKASTEL

(B,L,D)


BERNKASTEL
Hillside Vines and German Wines

ACTIVE Join your Adventure Host for a hike in this beautiful area, OR:

CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of the charming wine village of Bernkastel—with its medieval marketplace and 17th-century gabled timber-framed houses.

This afternoon, select a Guided Optional Excursion to a local winery for a wine tasting.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KOBLENZ

(B,L,D)

KOBLENZ–RHINE GORGE
Fortress Walls and Manor Halls

ACTIVE Explore Koblenz's Mosel side by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:

CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk amid ancient fortresses walls, towers, squares and monuments, OR:

CLASSIC Visit the Sayn Manor House on a Guided Tour.

Enjoy the breathtaking views as you cruise through the spectacular Rhine Gorge on your way to Rüdesheim.



Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country

Enjoy free time this evening to explore this picturesque village.

This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO LUDWIGSHAFEN

(B,L,D)

LUDWIGSHAFEN. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG–SPEYER
Philosophers’ Views and the World’s Biggest Wine Barrel

Ask about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities.

ACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for an inspiring walk in Heidelberg, the Philosophers' way, OR:

CLASSIC Discover Schwetzingen Palace—the heart of a stunning site consisting of the palace, palace gardens, and historic palace square, 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."

This afternoon a short sailing will bring you to Speyer, where you will have free time to explore at your own pace.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO STRASBOURG

(B,L,D)

STRASBOURG, FRANCE
A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France

ACTIVE Discover Strasbourg by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:

CLASSIC Take a City Sightseeing Tour, including the city’s Gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District.

This afternoon choose among the Guided Optional Excursions available.

Alternatively, take some free time in Strasbourg to visit a museum or stroll across the city center.

Later, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH

(B,L,D)

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:

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/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL

(B,L,D)

BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION)*–SWISS ALPS
Spectacular views in Switzerland

This morning disembark your Avalon ship and take a motorcoach transfer which will bring you in the heart of Swiss Alps.

CLASSIC Enjoy a special highlight excursion to Mount Pilatus (or Mount Stanserhorn per seasonal accessibility) for spectacular views over central Switzerland (in case of bad weather, visit the Swiss Transport Museum instead).


Historic Houses and a Wooden Bridge

CLASSIC Join a guided walking tour to explore beautiful Lucerne, which includes Thorwaldsen’s poignant Lion Monument and the famous Chapel Bridge.

(B)

* Some departures may disembark in Hüningen (France), just across the river or in Breisach (Germany).

LUCERNE
At Leisure in Lovely Lucerne

Today, enjoy a day at leisure in Lucerne. Discover the many squares and churches and how tradition and modernity stand side-by-side or spend your free time to enjoy some shopping in the city center.

(B)

LUCERNE
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

(B)

Departure dates

Select your preferred date or enquire

Enquire now

Travellers

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.

Important Information
*Terms and conditions
Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice. For more information, please see Terms of Use
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12 nights
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