Romantic Rhine with 2 Nights in Innsbruck & Oberammergau 2020

One of Europe’s most legendary rivers awaits you on this exciting Rhine River cruise, which takes you across Germany and touches in Holland, France, and Switzerland! You’ll also be our guest in the Bavarian village of Oberammergau for the once-a-decade performance season of the world renowned Passion Play.

This magnificent European river cruise begins in the ever popular, modern city of Amsterdam, Holland, where you’ll enjoy a guided cruise along its legendary canals. Visit Cologne, Germany a 2,000 year-old city known for its gothic architecture, famous twin spired cathedral, and Old Town with many shops, cafés, and taverns. Pass through the dramatic Rhine Gorge where ancient castles stand on cliffs 400 feet above the water. Visit the unique Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in the charming wine town of Rüdesheim, then continue your cruise to Mainz to visit to the captivating Gutenberg Museum or Heidelberg Castle. In Strasbourg, France, you’ll be amazed by the red sandstone gothic cathedral with ancient murals and the fascinating astronomical clock. Stop in Breisach, Germany, the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest an area of unrivaled natural beauty best known for Black Forest ham, cherry cake, and the cuckoo clock.

Continue your European vacation on shore for a guided tour of Austria and Germany and Italy, starting with sight-seeing in Innsbruck. Continue with a visit to Merano, Bolzano, and Neuschwanstein Castle. The highlight of your trip is a visit to the idyllic Bavarian village of Oberammergau, Germany, to attend the Passion Play. Performed once every ten years by the residents of Oberammergau, the Passion Play is a stunning theatrical event dating back to 1634. Enjoy VIP seating and accommodations in the heart of Oberammergau. Next, enjoy guided sightseeing in Munich, including Nymphenburg Palace, the Marienplatz, and gothic Frauenkirche. Sample Munich’s Biergärtens and cafés, and see the famous Glockenspiel. The perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and inspiration your Avalon Rhine River cruise with the once-a-decade performance of Oberammergau’s Passion Play is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

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ITINERARY

Day 1 AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (EMBARKATION)

Welcome to Amsterdam. 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, 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. Outside of tulip season, join a Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM
Dinner

Day 2 AMSTERDAM

Canals of Colorful Amsterdam CLASSIC Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age” You may like to join a Guided Optional Excursion to Muiderslot Castle, or a Guided Optional Biking Excursion to the Dutch countryside. Take some free time to explore Amsterdam’s colorful streets and canal houses, galleries, and shops. AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COLOGNE
BreakfastLunch Dinner

Day 3 COLOGNE, GERMANY

Prost! Celebrate in the Rhineland CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk of Cologne—with its soaring twin-steepled gothic cathedral, OR: DISCOVERY Choose a Guided Walking Tour of Cologne’s important Jewish heritage sites. Don’t miss the chance to enjoy free time over a glass of Kölsch pale lager—locally brewed for over 100 years! Later local musicians will join us on board for live entertainment. OVERNIGHT SAILING TO KOBLENZ
BreakfastLunch Dinner

Day 4 KOBLENZ—RHINE GORGE

Travel Through 2000 Years of Monumental History Enjoy free time in Koblenz before sailing through the Rhine Gorge to Rüdesheim. Sail past the legendary rock of the Lorelei—where the siren of mythology sang songs to lure ill-fated sailors. RÜDESHEIM Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country DISCOVERY Based on your departure, enjoy either a Coffee Tasting or a Wine Tasting. DISCOVERY Take a Guided Tour of the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience. Enjoy live entertainment on board your ship this evening. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN RÜDESHEIM
BreakfastLunch Dinner

Day 5 MAINZ. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG

Printing Halls, Castle Walls, and the World’s Biggest Barrel of Wine CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Walk, including a visit to the Gutenberg Museum to see the captivating history of printing, 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: ACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for a Hike up Philosophers’ Way for an inspiring view of the city below. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO STRASBOURG
BreakfastLunch Dinner

Day 6 STRASBOURG, FRANCE

Gothic Giants, Petit France & Varietal Vintages CLASSIC Join a City Sightseeing Tour, including Strasbourg’s s gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District. You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to the splendid Alsace wine country, or a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar, with its half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings. Alternatively, enjoy a free afternoon sampling the local cuisine in Place Kléber. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH
BreakfastLunch Dinner

Day 7 BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST

History, Artistry, and the Beautiful Black Forest DISCOVERY Visit to Badische Winzerkeller, the largest German wine producer in Europe. Discover Germany’s southernmost wine country in Baden—ideally situated between the hills of the Black Forest and the Rhine River. Learn about the vintners’ process in the vineyards here, and enjoy a wine tasting, OR: 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 Bavarian butter-making demonstration. Follow your visit to Badische Winzerkeller with a free afternoon in Breisach. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL
BreakfastLunch Dinner

Day 8 BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION)-INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA

This morning bid farewell to your crew after breakfast and drive to Innsbruck, capital of the Austrian region of Tyrol. This afternoon, join your local guide for a guided sightseeing of Innsbruck, visit St. James Cathedral and the Hofkirche. This evening a Folklore Show will be on offer
Breakfast

Day 9 INNSBRUCK. EXCURSION TO MERANO AND BOLZANO, ITALY

Today enjoy a full day excursion which will bring you in Italy to discover South Tyrol. Join your local guide for a guided sightseeing of the Alpine towns of Merano and Bolzano
Breakfast

Day 10 INNSBRUCK. VISIT TO NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE, GERMANY—OBERAMMERGAU

This morning take a scenic drive through the Bavarian Alps to King Ludwig’s fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle, high above the village of Hohenschwangau. Continue to picturesque Oberammergau
Breakfast Dinner

Day 11 OBERAMMERGAU. PASSION PLAY

The afternoon and evening are dedicated to the world-famous PASSION PLAY, held every 10 years and performed by the people of Oberammergau. Dinner will be served during intermission
BreakfastLunch Dinner

Day 12 OBERAMMERGAU–MUNICH

This morning, depart for Germany’s lively city–Munich. Then, enjoy time on your own in this vibrant city. Watch the famous Glockenspiel, which recreates a royal wedding from the 16th century; enjoy the pedestrian zone; linger at an outdoor café; or relax alongside the locals at one of the many Biergärten or breweries to sample one of the Bavarian beer specialties. An evening optional dinner is on offer
Breakfast

Day 13 MUNICH

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Accommodations