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

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

Package Trips to Europe - Avalon Waterways® Rhine

Cruise Netherlands Aw_Amsterdam Aw_Basel Aw_Cologne Aw_Europe Aw_France Aw_Germany Aw_Holland Aw_Moselle River + 30 More Aw_Rhine River Aw_Strasbourg Aw_Switzerland Basel Bernkastel Black Forest Breisach Cochem Cologne Europe France Germany Heidelberg Holland Koblenz Switzerland Ludwigshafen Luxembourg Moselle Moselle River Mount Pilatus Rhine Rhine Gorge Rhine River River Cruise Rudesheim Strasbourg Trier Avalon Waterways 13 days from Lucerne to Amsterdam
Your European vacation begins with a 2-night stay in Lucerne, Switzerland. Enjoy a guided walking tour, including the Old Town, Chapel Bridge, the Water Tower, Jesuit Church, and an excursion to Mount Pilatus (or Mount Stanserhorn per seasonal accessibility).

Your cruise on the Rhine and Moselle Rivers begins in Basel, Switzerland, to explore extraordinary cities in Germany and France, as well as Holland’s capital of Amsterdam. At the foot of Kaiserstuhl Mountain on the French-German border sits Breisach—the gateway to Germany’s beautiful Black Forest. Continue your river cruise to Strasbourg, France, where a local expert will show you the red-sandstone Gothic-style cathedral with ancient murals and its fascinating astronomical clock. Visit the ruins of Heidelberg Castle, towering magnificently over the city, then sail for the charming Rhine Valley wine town of Rüdesheim.

Cruise through the dramatic Rhine Gorge for the most beautiful view of the Rhine River and see ancient castles standing majestically on cliffs 400 feet above the water. Visit Koblenz, strategically located at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, before coming to the charming wine village of Bernkastel. Here, you’ll go on a guided walk and taste some of the famed Moselle wines! Visit a medieval castle, then sail back into the Rhine and explore the magnificent city of Cologne, Germany, which spans both sides of the Rhine River. Your river cruise vacation ends in marvelous Amsterdam. Take in the sights on a canal cruise through the elegant Grachten lined with stately homes dating back to the city’s “Golden Age."

Day 1: LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND

Welcome to SwitzerlandThe day is free to start exploring this delightful town on the Reuss River. Discover the many squares and churches and how tradition and modernity stand side-by-side or spend your free time shopping in the city center.

Day 2: LUCERNE

Lovely LucerneCLASSIC Join a guided walking tour which includes the Old Town, Chapel Bridge, the Water Tower, and Jesuit Church. (B)

Day 3: LUCERNE–SWISS ALPS–BASEL (EMBARKATION)

Your Suite Ship® is Ready for BoardingCLASSIC This morning, 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).Transfer to Basel to board your Suite Ship®.EVENING CRUISE TO BREISACH (D)

Day 4: 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.ACTIVE Enjoy the view on a relaxing bike ride along the Rhine with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC 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 STRASBOURG(B,L,D)

Day 5: 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. OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO LUDWIGSHAFEN(B,L,D)

Day 6: LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG

Philosophers’ Views and the World’s Biggest Wine Barrel 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."Enjoy a leisurely evening sailing to Rüdesheim.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN RÜDESHEIM(B,L,D)

Day 7: RÜDESHEIM–RHINE GORGE

Breathtaking ViewsThis morning leave Rüdesheim after breakfast and enjoy the breathtaking views as you cruise through the spectacular Rhine Gorge on your way to Koblenz. KOBLENZ 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 Enjoy a Guided Visit to the Sayn Manor House and its Butterfly Gardens.Later, enjoy live entertainment onboard.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BERNKASTEL(B,L,D)

Day 8: BERNKASTEL

Hillside Vines and German WinesJoin your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.This morning, enjoy leisurely sailing.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 TRIER(B,L,D)

Day 9: TRIER. EXCURSION TO LUXEMBOURG

Ancient Worlds and Old-World CharmACTIVE Get your daily dose of exercise through a Power Walk in Trier 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 Guided Tour of Luxembourg City—with its dramatic views, ancient ruins, and modern architecture along the deep gorge terrain.AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COCHEM (B,L,D)

Day 10: COCHEM

The Charm of the Moselle ValleyAsk about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities. ACTIVE Bike along the Moselle 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 the hilltop Reichsburg Castle with a bird’s-eye-view of the Moselle Valley and river bend. Enjoy free time to explore at your own pace. Alternatively, select a Guided Optional Excursion to Eltz Castle.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COLOGNE(B,L,D)

Day 11: COLOGNE

Prost! Celebrate in the Rhineland’s Capital City 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 SAILING TO AMSTERDAM(B,L,D)

Day 12: AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND

Canals of Colorful AmsterdamACTIVE Start your day joining your Adventure Host on an early morning walk in Amsterdam, OR: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, OR:CLASSIC Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age.” You may choose to spend some free time this afternoon visiting one of Amsterdam’s many fascinating museums or galleries. Alternatively, choose an Optional Biking Tour to discover the countryside.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM(B,L,D)

Day 13: AMSTERDAM (DISEMBARKATION)

Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Details

Cruise Line
Avalon
Ship Name
Imagery II
Departure Port
ZRH
Arrival Port
AMS
Number of Nights
12

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