The Rhine & Moselle (Southbound) 2024 - 11 Day River Cruise Amsterdam to Basel

Call Us 800.528.9300

The Rhine & Moselle (Southbound) 2024

11 Day River Cruise Amsterdam to Basel



Tour Description:

Your European river cruise vacation starts in marvelous Amsterdam where there is much to see! Discover the treasures of this colorful, historic city on 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!

Map for The Rhine & Moselle (Southbound) 2024 - 11 Day River Cruise Amsterdam to Basel
Click for larger view.

Dates & Pricing



Destination & Sightseeing

Day 1 Amsterdam (Embarkation): Onboard welcome reception
Day 2 Amsterdam: Canal cruise
Day 3 Cologne: Choice of Cologne highlights walking tour, or Jewish Heritage walking tour or bike with your Adventure Host
Day 4 Cochem: Choice of guided walk, visit Reichsburg Castle or visit to Bundesbank bunker or bike tour with your Adventure Host
Day 5 Trier-Remich: Choice of guided tour in Trier or “Roman Trier,” see the Porta Nigra or walk with your Adventure Host; free time in Remich in the evening
Day 6 Bernkastel: Guided walk or hike with your Adventure Host
Day 7 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 8 Ludwigshafen-Speyer. Excursion to Heidelberg: Choice of guided tour of Heidelberg Castle, see the Great Vat, or visit Schwetzingen Castle or walk Philosophers’ Way with your Adventure Host; free time in Speyer
Day 9 Strasbourg: Choice of guided tour, visit La Petite France district and the Gothic cathedral or bike tour with your Adventure Host
Day 10 Breisach: Choice of excursion to Black Forest or visit to a local winery in Breisach or Freiburg guided tour
Day 11 Basel (Disembarkation): Your cruise ends this morning
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.

ITINERARY

Day 1
AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (EMBARKATION) Welcome to Holland. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding. Flights into Amsterdam must arrive by 3:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm. Your day in Amsterdam is free to explore at your leisure. During tulip season, don’t miss a Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens—with more than seven million flowering bulbs. Outside of tulip season, join a Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM AMSTERDAM-CANAL.jpg

Day 2
AMSTERDAM 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 AMSTERDAM-CANAL-CRUISE.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 3
COLOGNE, 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 COLOGNE-BEER.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 4
COCHEM 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 COCHEM.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 5
REMICH. EXCURSION TO TRIER Ancient Worlds and Old World Charm Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities. ACTIVE Wander and Discover Trier. Follow your Adventure Host for a Walk in and around this city, 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 TRIER.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 6
BERNKASTEL Hillside Vines and German Wines 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 KOBLENZ BERNKASTEL-TOWN-SQUARE.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 7
KOBLENZ—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 RHINE-GORGE-RHEINSTEIN-CASTLE.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 8
LUDWIGSHAFEN. 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 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." 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 HEIDELBERG.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 9
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. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH STRASBOURG-PETIT-FRANCE.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 10
BREISACH, 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, 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 BASEL BLACK-FOREST-SCENIC.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 11
BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION) Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. Flights should not leave Zürich airport before 10 am or Basel airport before 8 am. BASEL-SUNRISE.jpg

Accommodations

Zurich
Renaissance Zurich Tower
Superior First-Class

Hotel as shown or similar

Turbinenstrasse 20 Zurich Switzerland

This 300 room luxury hotel is housed in a modern tower building located in the vibrant Zurich West quarter. The exclusive Grill restaurant serves urban cuisine and the lounge bar offers drinks, snacks and cocktails. Other amenities include a fitness area on the 15th floor with city views, sauna and steam bath.
Check Mark Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.

FAQ Avalon Cruises Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

Pavlus Travel tells you there's a wide World out there just waiting to be explored on river cruises by you, and Avalon Waterways like Pavlus Travel knows there is more than a river cruise for you and your family to see it all. Why not experience local cities, villages, and countrysides your way with a wide selection of active excursions and activities brought to you by Avalon River Cruises that put you right in the middle of it all. Borrow a bike to ride through the streets of Amsterdam, grab a Nordic walking stick to capture the castle with a hike up the vineyard off the Rhine River, or paddle a canoe along Austria’s river shores. Pavlus makes it easy to turn sightseeing into doing your adventure in real time. You’ll find all the guidance and gear you from Avalon Waterways staff to embark on an expedition of your own. From a complimentary yoga class aboard your Avalon River Cruise to a jogging tour of Vienna or an optional kayaking excursion. Know that Pavlus Travel discounts Avalon River Cruises be they in Europe or the Far East. You'll enjoy every Avalon River Cruises Ship.