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Avalon Waterways The Rhine & Moselle with 1 Night in Amsterdam (Southbound) (WHZQ)

12 days from Amsterdam to Basel 
Begin your vacation on the Rhine and Moselle your way with a one-night stay in Amsterdam! Join us for an off-the-beaten-path guided walking tour through its cobblestone streets before starting your European river cruise vacation with 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. Beauty, new discoveries, and delightful surprises are plentiful on your European river cruise on the Rhine and Moselle Rivers!

Ships: Tranquility II - Imagery II

Avalon Highlights & Sightseeing

Day 1 Amsterdam: Welcome to Amsterdam

Day 2 Amsterdam (Embarkation): Off the beaten path walking tour; onboard welcome reception

Day 3 Amsterdam: Canal cruise

Day 4 Cologne: Choice of Cologne highlights walking tour, or Jewish Heritage walking tour or bike with your Adventure Host

Day 5 Cochem: Choice of guided walk, visit Reichsburg Castle or visit to Bundesbank bunker or bike tour with your Adventure Host

Day 6 Trier-Remich: Choice of guided tour in Trier or 'Roman Trier,' see the Porta Nigra or hike with your Adventure Host; free time in Remich in the evening

Day 7 Bernkastel: Guided walk or bike with your Adventure Host

Day 8 Koblenz-Rhine Gorge-Rüdesheim: Choice of guided tour or visit to Sayn Manor House or bike tour with your Adventure Host; scenic cruise through the Rhine Gorge; free time in Rüdesheim

Day 9 Ludwigshafen-Speyer. Excursion to Heidelberg: Choice of guided tour of Heidelberg Castle, see the Great Vat, or visit Frankenstein Castle or hike up Philosophers' Way with your Adventure Host; free time in Speyer

Day 10 Strasbourg: Choice of guided tour, visit La Petite France district and the Gothic cathedral or bike tour with your Adventure Host

Day 11 Breisach: Choice of excursion to Black Forest or visit to a local winery in Breisach

Day 12 Basel (Disembarkation): Your cruise ends this morning

Related Avalon Tours

WHZ - The Rhine & Moselle (Southbound)
WHZ1 - With 2 Night in Lucerne
WHZ2 - With 1 Night Amsterdam & 2 Nights in Lucerne
WHZQ - With 1 Night in Amsterdam
WZH - The Rhine & Moselle (Northbound)

Itinerary (2024)

Day 1AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND
 Welcome to Holland. Your day in Amsterdam is free to explore at your leisure.
Day 2AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (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.

You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to beautiful Zaanse Schans where you’ll see a wonderful collection of well-preserved historic windmills and Dutch houses.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM

(B,D)
Day 3AMSTERDAM
 Colorful Canals of Amsterdam

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

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)
Day 4COLOGNE, 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)
Day 5COCHEM
 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 REMICH

(B,L,D)
Day 6REMICH. EXCURSION TO TRIER
 Ancient Worlds and Old World Charm

Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.

ACTIVE Explore Trier on foot, hike around the city with your Adventure Host, OR:

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, OR:

CLASSIC Join a history-focused Roman Trier Guided Tour to learn more about the history of Roman civilization in this Moselle River city, and visit the ruins of a 20,000-seat amphitheater, and imperial baths.

This afternoon choose among the Guided Optional Excursions available.

Later, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BERNKASTEL

(B,L,D)
Day 7BERNKASTEL
 Hillside Vines and German Wines

ACTIVE Bike along the Mosel river with your Adventure Host, 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)
Day 8KOBLENZ–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.

RÜDESHEIM

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country

Enjoy free time this evening to explore this picturesque village.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO LUDWIGSHAFEN

(B,L,D)
Day 9LUDWIGSHAFEN. 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 a hike up Philosophers’ Way for an inspiring view of the city below, OR:

CLASSIC Take an entertaining Guided Tour to the famous Frankenstein castle, nestled in the hills of the Western Odenwald area, and enjoy a breathtaking view on the Rhine Valley, 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)
Day 10STRASBOURG, 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.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH

(B,L,D)
Day 11BREISACH, 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.

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 12BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION)
 Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.

Flights should not leave Zürich airport before 10 am or Basel airport before 8 am.

(B)

Avalon Pricing Details

Gateway city for departures is Zürich.

Port charges:
$300

Gratuities to Local Guides & Excursion Drivers are included on Avalon portion only.

Avalon offers the opportunity for solo travelers to sail with no single supplement (subject to availability).

Please call for single accommodation price. Triples not available.

Avalon Notes

  • In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
  • Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
  • Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.

Avalon Waterways Fleet

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Avalon Tour Dates

Tour Land StartAvalon RetailRequest Quote
*06/22/2024 $5,758.00
*08/14/2024 $5,558.00
*10/08/2024 $5,658.00
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