So many delights lie along the banks of The Rhine and Moselle rivers – let us share them with you on this newest of our Rhine River cruises aboard the MS Swiss Emerald or MS Swiss Sapphire. From Switzerland to the Netherlands, through Germany, France and Luxembourg, this fascinating cruise travels through engaging cities, charming towns and rural landscapes. See the marriage of French and German culture in Strasbourg; mingle with the jet setters in the glamorous spa town of Baden-Baden; enjoy a special lunch at a grand hotel overlooking Bonn and the Rhine; and discover the secrets of the ancient university town of Heidelberg, 2,000-year-old Boppard, and medieval masterpieces such as Bernkastel, Trier and Cochem. Pay tribute to those who gave their lives in the Battle of the Bulge at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial, and get a true taste of Europe with regional culinary specialties, locally grown wines and traditional songs and dances.
If you’d like to make your European vacation last a little longer, consider a City Extension after your cruise ends.
Day 1: Willkommen nach Basel
Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Basel, Switzerland. A transfer is included from Basel-Mulhouse International Airport to the Swiss Emerald or the Swiss Sapphire. Your Moselle and Rhine River cruise begins when all guests check in at 4:00 PM.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Beguiling Basel
This lovely city on the banks of the Rhine River will engage you today during an orientation tour followed by a walking tour in the Old Town, where you’ll see the bright-red Rathaus, Basel’s Town Hall. After lunch, explore more of one of Europe’s most attractive and best-preserved Old Towns on your own or perhaps visit one of the city’s 40 museums. This evening, the Captain welcomes you aboard with a festive dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3: A taste of France, past and present
Awaken in stunning Strasbourg, France, seat of the European Council, the European Parliament and the European Court of Human Rights. You’ll see the Parliament Buildings before stepping back in time to discover La Petit France, noted for its medieval half-timbered houses set beside its lovely canals. While visiting the famous Gothic Cathédrale de Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, you’ll be inspired by the graceful, expressive statuary of the Pilier des Anges [Pillar of Angels], and the magnificent stained glass windows. Return to the riverboat for lunch or choose to dine at one of the city’s many intriguing restaurants on your own.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4: Lifestyles of the rich and healthy in Baden-Baden
Your Rhine River cruise reveals that the elegant Belle Èpoque period is still alive and well in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden. For generations, wealthy folks have flocked here to see and be seen, and to take the healing thermal waters for which the town is famous. Join us on a walking tour and time spent on your own discovering some of the town's treasures ranging from the ruins of Roman baths to the ornate 250-year-old Casino, which movie star Marlene Dietrich once described as “the most beautiful casino in the world.”
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5: The Realm of The Student Prince
A full day in the historic college town of Heidelberg, home to one of the oldest universities in Europe, as well as the setting for the famous operetta, The Student Prince, awaits you today during your Rhine River cruise. Take a walking tour of Heidelberg for a close-up look at the Old Town and imposing Heidelberger Schloss, perched 300 feet above the city; view its examples of medieval, Renaissance and Baroque architecture, and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Perhaps you’ll be as captivated by this lovely old city as America’s first travel writer, Mark Twain, was when he spent three months here with his family. Rejoin the riverboat in Speyer.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6: In the Middle Rhine Valley
Today on your Rhine River cruise, explore the Middle Rhine Valley and the land of the Lorelei. During its 2,000-year history, Celts, Romans and Franconians have all called Boppard home. Discover this marvelous medieval town and enjoy lunch at the Old Monastery Cellar. Your riverboat continues on to Koblenz, where you’ll be indulged with some lively local entertainment.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7: In the shadow of Reichsburg Castle
Stepping ashore at Cochem in the Moselle Valley is like stepping into the pages of a medieval fairy-tale. Tour picture-perfect 1,000-year-old Reichsburg Castle, which looks down on the quaint market square. Explore this jewel of a town – complete with Baroque town hall and ancient town gates – breathing in its historic charm and ambiance. Honor the area’s centuries-old winemaking with a tasting of the excellent locally produced wines at a famed winery before returning to the riverboat.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8: Luxembourg bound
Dock in Trier, the oldest city in Germany, this morning for a poignant journey to tiny Luxembourg, site of the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial. Over 5,000 American casualties of the Battle of the Bulge lie buried here, as does General George S. Patton. After lunch, return to Trier and discover this ancient city during a walking tour that includes a visit to Dom St. Peter, a historic cathedral dating from Roman times.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9: Bernkastel and the rhythm of the river
Charming Bernkastel, known as the both the “Pearl of the Moselle” and the “international town of vines and wine,” is known for its wines and its medieval market square surrounded by half-timbered houses. After a walking tour of the town, explore on your own; the 1608 city hall, the narrow 15th century Spitzhäuschen (Pointed House), St. Michael’s Well, and the town museum located at the impressive Graachter Tor, an old town gate, are well worth seeing. Then enjoy an afternoon of classic river cruising, watching the scenery slip by from the sun deck as your riverboat glides along the Moselle.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 10: The many faces of Bonn
Beethoven’s birthplace, the home of musicians Robert and Clara Schumann, and the capital of Germany from 1949 to 1991 and is still a center of German administration and politics. Tracing its roots back to the Romans, the city engages with history spanning ancient times to the present day. Discover it all during a sightseeing tour and a walk through Old Town; enjoy a memorable lunch in a grand hotel used to host visiting dignitaries, set in an ideal location overlooking Bonn and the Rhine.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 11: Works of art by Mother Nature and Vincent van Gogh
Set off for Arnhem and the 5,500-hectare De Hoge Veluwe National Park, home to many endangered plant and animal species. In the midst of this natural glory, you’ll find the inspiring Kröller Müller Museum, featuring works of such luminaries as Pablo Picasso, Georges Seurat and Vincent van Gogh, along with Europe’s largest sculpture garden. Rejoin the ship in Nijmegen for lunch, followed by a free afternoon to spend exploring this 2,000-year-old city – the oldest in the Netherlands – as you choose. Whether you’re intrigued by Roman and medieval history, the legacy of World War II, African art or modern-day Dutch life, you’ll find something interesting here. Join us for the Captain’s farewell dinner aboard the riverboat this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 12: Amazing Amsterdam
As your Moselle and Rhine river cruise comes to an end, indulge yourself in all the many charms of this city of canals today. You'll be introduced to Amsterdam on a city tour, followed by a visit to the engaging Vincent van Gogh Museum, home to over 700 works by the celebrated Dutch Post-Impressionist artist. Discover the city's historic architecture on a sightseeing cruise of its 17th-century canals, and enjoy some leisure time to explore the Netherlands' capital on your own.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 13: Journey’s end
Tour ends: Amsterdam. Your Moselle and Rhine River cruise ends today after breakfast. A transfer is included to Amsterdam’s Schiphol International Airport for your flight home; allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.
Meals: Breakfast
*****All itineraries are subject to change without notice.
This tour is also offered Southbound
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