Enchanting Rhine River Cruise from $2,999

River Cruise Team > AMA Waterways > Enchanting Rhine River Cruise from $2,999

*(Itinerary may be in reverse depending on cruise dates)

DAY 1    Amsterdam

EMBARKATION

Welcome Dinner

Arrive in Amsterdam and board your luxurious river cruise ship. Meet your fellow travelers tonight at the Welcome Dinner. (D)

DAY 2    Amsterdam

City tour and canal cruise

The famous canals of Amsterdam await discovery on your city tour. Begin with a scenic canal cruise and see the tall narrow homes lining the water, the Skinny Bridge, and the house where Anne Frank and her family lived in hiding during WWII. Next, you’ll walk to Begijnhof, known for its historic buildings dating back to the Middle Ages and have some free time to explore. Later, enjoy a panoramic city tour on which you’ll see the Royal Palace, Westerkerk and stop for photos at a Dutch windmill before returning to the ship. This afternoon depart for Germany. (B,L,D)

DAY 3    Cologne

City tour and cathedral visit

Koblenz

Evening walk

Your guided tour of Cologne this morning includes the Old Town, Cathedral Square, and the city’s majestic Gothic cathedral. Afterwards, you’ll have free time to visit some of the local shops or have a coffee at a quaint café. This afternoon the ship cruises to Koblenz and moors overnight. (B,L,D)

DAY 4    Rhine Gorge

Cruise past Rhine castles

Rüdesheim

Wine tasting

OR Gondola ride

OR Rheingau bike tour

Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum

OR Rüdesheimer Coffee

This morning, cruise through the picturesque Rhine Gorge, admiring its many castles and fortress ruins and the legendary Lorelei Rock. This afternoon you will arrive in the winemaking town of Rüdesheim where you will have the option to take one of three excursions: wine tasting with a local vintner, a gondola ride above the town to see the Niederwalddenkmal Statue, or a guided bike tour along the Rhine River to one of Germany’s best wine regions. Later you’ll have free time to explore the Drosselgasse, the town’s most famous and charming street, a narrow passage lined with shops and taverns. This evening, visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum, home to a remarkable collection of old robotic and self-playing musical instruments, or join us for some Rüdesheimer Coffee. The ship sails overnight. (B,L,D)

DAY 5    Mannheim

Heidelberg excursion

OR Heidelberg Philosopher’s hike

OR Speyer excursion

Arrive in Mannheim, where you have a choice of one of three excursions this afternoon. Your first option is a half-day excursion to the historic university town of Heidelberg, where you will visit the red-walled castle with its Great Vat (a 49,000-gallon wine cask) and enjoy beautiful views of the Neckar Valley and city below. Or, for your second option, enjoy a hike up the Philosopher’s Path to a panoramic view point of Heidelberg. Your third option is a city tour of Speyer one of Germany’s oldest cities, is known for its cathedral, numerous churches and the medieval Altpörtel (Old Gate). This evening, the ship continues onward to Strasbourg, France. (B,L,D)

DAY 6    Strasbourg

City tour

OR Old Town bike tour

OR Strasbourg hike

Capital city of France’s Alsace region, Strasbourg is situated on the Rhine at the German border. After arriving this morning, enjoy either a panoramic bus tour or guided bike tour that will take you past the Orangery, the town’s oldest park, the European Parliament and the Place de la Republique. Afterwards, explore on foot with a walking tour of the lovely “La Petite France” neighborhood, where you will see the Gothic cathedral with its famous astronomical clock. You also have the option of exploring Strasbourg on a guided hike that begins at the Orangery and makes its way to the cathedral. The remainder of the day is yours to spend as you wish before the ship departs tonight. (B,L,D)

DAY 7    Breisach

Riquewihr walking tour

OR Breisach and Freiburg excursion

OR Breisach bike tour

Basel

Free time

You have three exciting excursions to choose from today. The first is a walking tour of Riquewihr, a picturesque town renowned for its historic architecture and for its Riesling wines. A second option is a tour of the beautiful towns of Breisach and Freiburg, where you will visit the historical city center and Freiburg’s Münster, a Gothic cathedral constructed of red sandstone. Your third choice is guided bike tour of Breisach that takes you through the Rheinau woods. Tonight, the ship cruises towards Switzerland. (B,L,D)

DAY 8    Basel

DISEMBARKATION

Disembark after breakfast. (B)