Swiss Splendors by Train with Romantic Rhine Cruise

Itinerary ▼

1. Day 1: ARRIVE IN LAKE GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

   Your Small Group Discovery Begins! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)

2. Day 2: LAKE GENEVA

   Incredible Feats An orientation walk includes a visit to the Olympic Museum. * A guided tour of the city will be included when the museum is not available. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHT RULES OF THE GAMES The Olympic Museum was opened in 1993 and reflects the spirit of the sports games which bring nations together as the largest information center on the Olympic Games in the world.ENHANCED FREE TIME SMALL GROUP ADVANTAGE Take advantage of your small group optional experience with an exclusive wine tasting experience. Travel by train to the heart of Lavaux; stroll among the vines and taste the local wine. Continue to picturesque Vevey for some free time before enjoying a scenic boat ride on Lake Geneva.

3. Day 3: LAKE GENEVA–ZERMATT–GORNERGRAT EXCURSION

   All Aboard for Zermatt! Board the train for your journey from Lausanne to Zermatt. An included excursion takes you to the famous Gornergrat. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHTPEAK PERFECTION Travel on board Europe’s highest rack railway to marvel at the views of the Matterhorn from its summit. Spectacular!

4. Day 4: ZERMATT–INTERLAKEN

   Alpine Adventure Take a relaxing train ride from Zermatt to the welcoming heart of Interlaken, the gateway to the majestic Bernese Oberland. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHTNATURAL WONDERS Interlaken lies between the crystal-clear lakes of Thun and Brienz affording spectacular surrounding views of the alpine peaks of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.

5. Day 5: INTERLAKEN

   The Top of Europe Take advantage of your small group and [LF] ascend to the summit of the Jungfrau Massif on board the Eager Express Cable Car. (B)LOCAL FAVORITE SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Take advantage of your small group size with a thrilling experience aboard the Eiger Express Cable Car. Be treated to breathtaking views of the surrounding Alps before continuing your alpine ascent by cogwheel train to ascend to the “Top of Europe” - the Jungfraujoch. Disembark at Europe’s highest railway station and take in the 360-degree panoramic views from the summit of Jungfrau Massif.

6. Day 6: INTERLAKEN–BRIENZ–LUCERNE

   Natural Highs Sit back and relax for a boat ride on the turquoise waters of Lake Brienz. Enjoy wonderful views of the Bernese Oberland with its impressive mountains, historic castles, and romantic lakeside villages. After disembarking, continue your journey to Lucerne aboard the Lucerne Interlaken Express train. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHTLAKE STORIES Be immersed in the beautiful natural landscapes during your trip. Mighty mountainsides, dense forests, crystal-clear streams, and waterfalls surround you with picture-perfect scenery. The refreshing lake breeze is both invigorating and relaxing as waves ripple, merge, and heighten as your ship approaches the shore. Enjoy the expansiveness of the lake while pondering the depth of the water that has flowed through the Alps for thousands of years. ENHANCED FREE TIMESMALL PLEASURES Relax at a rustic table at a typical Old Town restaurant where colorful banners, wooden walls, and quaint balconies add to the atmosphere. Feel your spirits rise with merry accordion tunes and traditional dances as you indulge in a hearty feast of Swiss specialties such as classic cheese fondue.

7. Day 7: LUCERNE

   Lion Hearts Join your Tour Director for an orientation walk of Lucerne including the Lion monument, the Old Town, and the Chapel Bridge. This evening, a farewell dinner at a local restaurant awaits. (B,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHT CITY SIGHTS See the symbol of Lucerne at the famous Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe. Originally built in 1365, the bridge includes the Wasserturm (water tower) that once served as a prison. Today, this world-famous timber bridge is Lucerne’s most photographed landmark.ENHANCED FREE TIME EPIC RIDE Climb soaring Mount Pilatus on a thrilling ascent on the world’s steepest cogwheel railway with an incline of 48 degrees, this silent aerial tramway and panoramic gondola reveal a panorama of unmatched beauty. The rugged cliffs above Lucerne have been shrouded in mystery and legend since the Middle Ages with countless tales of mythical encounters with a dragon inhabiting the surrounding caves. As you ride higher, it’s easy to imagine the dragon soaring back and forth between the 10,000-foot (3,048-meter) Bernese Alps (Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau) and sparkling Lake Lucerne. The trip back down is just as inspiring with irresistible photo opportunities!

8. Day 8: LUCERNE–BASEL, SWITZERLAND (EMBARKATION)

   Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding. Transfer to Basel to embark your Avalon Suite Ship®.Enjoy dinner and explore the ship on your first night on board.EVENING CRUISE TO BREISACH (B,D)

9. Day 9: 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 CRUISE TO KEHL(B,L,D)

10. Day 10: KEHL. EXCURSION TO STRASBOURG, FRANCE

    A Grand Cathedral and La Petite FranceACTIVE 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.You may also choose to join 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 center. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MAINZ(B,L,D)

11. Day 11: MAINZ, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG

    Castle Walls, and the World’s Biggest Wine BarrelACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for an inspiring walk in Heidelberg, the Philosophers' way, 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,” OR: CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Walk in Mainz, including a visit to the Gutenberg Museum to see the captivating history of printing.This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship after a short sailing to Rüdesheim.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN RÜDESHEIM (B,L,D)

12. Day 12: RÜDESHEIM–RHINE GORGE

    Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine CountryACTIVE Enjoy a hike with your Avalon Adventure Host through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim, OR:CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience; enjoy a tasting of the authentic Rüdesheimer coffee, OR:DISCOVERY Take a Guided Visit to the historic 18th-century wooden-barrel cellar of Johannisberg Castle and enjoy a delicious wine tasting.En route to Koblenz, 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.KOBLENZTravel Through 2000 Years of Monumental History Enjoy free time in Koblenz before a relaxing evening on board with dinner and live entertainment. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN KOBLENZ(B,L,D)

13. Day 13: COLOGNE

    Prost! Celebrate in the Rhineland Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.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 CRUISE TO AMSTERDAM(B,L,D)

14. Day 14: 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.” 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. You may also choose an Optional Biking Tour to discover the countryside. Take some free time to explore Amsterdam’s colorful streets and canal houses, galleries, and shops. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM(B,L,D)

15. Day 15: AMSTERDAM (DISEMBARKATION)

    Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)