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Castles on the Rhine: Family Riverboat Adventure
Northbound
Tour Description:
Create cherished family memories on our unforgettable Basel to Amsterdam riverboat cruise along the Rhine River, exploring Switzerland, France, Germany and The Netherlands for an adventure unlike any other.
Family travel experiences include a bicycle ride through forests and vineyards along the Rhine riverside; Swiss folklore and more in lakeside Lucerne; a ride aboard the world's steepest cogwheel train to the top of Mt. Pilatus in the Swiss Alps; exploring the fascinating ruins of hilltop Heidelberg Castle in the medieval university town of Heidelberg; learning about the Lorelei and other Rhine River legends while keeping an eye out for fairy tale castles; discovering the art treasures and historic canals of Amsterdam; an exclusive gala dinner for Tauck guests only at Burg Satzvey, a medieval moated castle in Germany; becoming "French for a Day" with French language lessons, songs, and a chocolate tasting; and much more!
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Dates & Pricing
| Wednesday 26 Jun 24 — Wednesday 03 Jul 24 | Starting at $5,390 |  SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 10 Jul 24 — Wednesday 17 Jul 24 | Starting at $5,190 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 02 Jul 25 — Wednesday 09 Jul 25 | Starting at $5,690 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 16 Jul 25 — Wednesday 23 Jul 25 | Starting at $5,690 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
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 Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice.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.
Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & Sightseeing
Create cherished family memories on our unforgettable Basel to Amsterdam riverboat cruise along the Rhine River, exploring Switzerland, France, Germany and The Netherlands for an adventure unlike any other.
Family travel experiences include a bicycle ride through forests and vineyards along the Rhine riverside; Swiss folklore and more in lakeside Lucerne; a ride aboard the world's steepest cogwheel train to the top of Mt. Pilatus in the Swiss Alps; exploring the fascinating ruins of hilltop Heidelberg Castle in the medieval university town of Heidelberg; learning about the Lorelei and other Rhine River legends while keeping an eye out for fairy tale castles; discovering the art treasures and historic canals of Amsterdam; an exclusive gala dinner for Tauck guests only at Burg Satzvey, a medieval moated castle in Germany; becoming "French for a Day" with French language lessons, songs, and a chocolate tasting; and much more!
Highlights
TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Private medieval evening including tour and dinner at a historic moated castle, Burg Satzvey
Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $1,991
All gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides and drivers
Descending Mt. Pilatus aboard the world's highest cogwheel train with sweeping views of the Swiss Alps
Tarte flambée, chocolate and French lessons – become "French for a Day"
Bicycling through forests and vineyards beside the Rhine
Visit to the legendary ruins of Heidelberg Castle
Highlights
TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Private medieval evening including tour and dinner at a historic moated castle, Burg Satzvey
Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $1,991
All gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides and drivers
Descending Mt. Pilatus aboard the world's highest cogwheel train with sweeping views of the Swiss Alps
Tarte flambée, chocolate and French lessons – become "French for a Day"
Bicycling through forests and vineyards beside the Rhine
Visit to the legendary ruins of Heidelberg Castle
ITINERARY
ITINERARYWelcome to Basel and embark your riverboat
Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Basel. Transfers are included from EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg or Basel's SBB train station to the riverboat where embarkation begins at 4:00 PM; guests can also transfer from Zürich Airport or Zurich Hauptbahnhof (train station) to the riverboat in Basel. Meet your riverboat crew for a welcome briefing, then kick off your fun family river cruise by joining your shipmates for a welcome reception and dinner aboard the riverboat this evening.
By rail to Mt. Pilatus and explore Lucerne
Depart your riverboat this morning for an excursion to Switzerland's Lake Lucerne area and Mt. Pilatus – where mountain peaks, forests and meadows straight out of a picture book await your family. Travel to Kriens where you'll board a cable car for your ascent to the summit of Mt. Pilatus. Mt. Pilatus, by the way, was so named because (a) ancient Roman governor Pontius Pilate was rumored to have been buried there, or (b) it resembles the belly of a large man (perhaps Pilate) lying on his back – depending on which local legend you believe! Descending aboard the world's steepest cogwheel train from the very top (Oberhaupt), nearly 7,000 feet high, is most definitely part of the fun as you travel downward at a really steep 48° angle, while taking in the views of Alpine meadows and mountain streams. Back in Lucerne, enjoy a Swiss folklore show accompanied by a cheese fondue tasting before meeting up with your ship late this afternoon in Kembs. Tonight, your ship departs for Strasbourg, France.
French for a day in Strasbourg
Wake up this morning aboard your riverboat, docked on the Rhine outside the historic city of Strasbourg, France, surrounded by the hills of southern Alsace. Renowned for its fairy-tale charm – and as the "Crossroads of Europe" for its role as home to the European Union – Strasbourg is the cultural capital of the French region of Alsace. Have some Franco-styled fun as your family becomes "French for a Day" in Strasbourg during a morning filled with learning French phrases, a sing-along featuring French songs, and a chocolate tasting! You can return to the riverboat for lunch, or stay in Strasbourg and spend the afternoon exploring as you please. Among the treasures you'll see here are the medieval canals, watchtowers and half-timbered houses of La Petite France, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; stately city residences; the modern buildings of the European Parliament' and the 11th-century Gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg. Back aboard the riverboat tonight, you'll continue your Basel – Amsterdam riverboat cruise along the Rhine to Speyer and Heidelberg, Germany.
Castles on the Rhine
As a major transport link across the heart of central Europe for centuries, the mighty Rhine River was a source of great riches for those who controlled the trade that plied its waters... and today, the cities, towns and castles along its banks remind us of that wealth and the power it created. You'll have a choice of excursion today. Visit the romantic ruins of Heidelberg Castle, perched high above the city of Heidelberg; you'll be awed by the castle's imposing ensemble of buildings from different centuries and architectural periods, radiating out from a central courtyard. Within its walls, you can feel the sweep of hundreds of years of history that was made here – and enjoy the sweeping views of the riverscapes from its terrace and gardens. Alternatively, visit the Technik Museum Speyer, introducing technological innovation from the underwater world to space. Return to the riverboat in Mannheim for lunch onboard and more Rhine cruising this afternoon; dock in Bingen tonight.
Koblenz or cycling and an evening at a castle
During a morning spent cruising the Rhine aboard the riverboat, keep your eyes peeled for riverside castles as you play our "I Spy a Castle" game, and hear legends and lore of the Lorelei – the mythical siren that was said to rise from the rocky bank of the river and bewitch passing sailors – from your Tauck Directors. Arrive in Rüdesheim am Rhein, a lovely town along the Rhine known for winemaking. This morning you have two choices for exploring – explore Rüdesheim, including a visit to magical Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett, home to 400 self-playing instruments, and enjoy an aerial view of the landscapes and vineyards aboard a gondola . Alternatively, join us for a bicycling tour*. Board the riverboat mid-afternoon and cruise to Köningswinter; disembark, and head to Burg Satzvey, a moated castle in Germany's Rhineland region dating back to the 12th century, for a rustic dinner and evening in the castle's banquet hall that transports your family back to the Middle Ages for some medieval fun! Rejoin the riverboat in Köln (Cologne) tonight.
Historic Köln
Germany's fourth-largest city, historic Köln (also known as Cologne) was founded by the Romans in the 1st century AD; nearly destroyed by Allied bombing during World War II, modern Köln's unique mix of rebuilt, restored and new structures sprawls across both sides of the Rhine. Start your exploration with a walking tour of the city, dominated by the immense, twin-spired Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), whose construction only took six hundred years! Completed in 1880, this Gothic "Dom" was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Your morning finishes with free time to explore Köln as you wish or a visit to the Chocolate Museum for an exploration through the cultural history of chocolate, complete with a tasting. The riverboat departs Köln midday for an afternoon and evening spent cruising the Rhine as you chart a course for Amsterdam.
A windmill, canal cruise and more upon arrival in Amsterdam
Amsterdam, the remarkable capital of The Netherlands, is all about water; like Venice in Italy, it's dominated by a series of canals that link its many tiny islands. Known to the Dutch as grachten, the city's 17th-century canals fan out in crescent-shaped rings from the northern waterfront. Upon arrival, get a unique view of the city on a canal boat cruise through the historic waterways with a local guide; the city's heart feels more like a village than the compact center of a cosmopolitan city. Aboard the canal boat, you'll glide beneath curved bridges carrying walkers and cyclists – as well as trams and cars – and past the narrow former homes of merchants who stored their goods on the upper floors. Along the way, see a host of 17th- and 18th-century structures, the 19th-century Centraal Station, the city flower market and more. This afternoon, travel to Zaanse Schans, a traditional Dutch windmill village, for a visit to a working windmill, a tasting of local cheeses, and a clog-making workshop. Back onboard this evening, please join us tonight for our farewell dinner – a great way to wrap up your family's unforgettable Basel to Amsterdam riverboat cruise!
Journey home
Tour ends: Amsterdam. Disembark your riverboat this morning by 9:00 AM. A transfer is included from the riverboat to Amsterdam's Schipol Airport or Central Station. Fly home anytime. Allow 3 hours for flight check-in. For guests wishing to spend more time in Amsterdam, ask at booking about extending your stay with an additional hotel night at Tauck's hotel.
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.
