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Romantic Rhine with 2 Nights in Lucerne (Northbound) 2024
10 days from Lucerne to Amsterdam
Tour Description:
You’ll start your European vacation with a 2 night stay in Lucerne, Switzerland. Enjoy a guided walking tour in-cluding the Lion Monument, Old Town, Chapel Bridge, the Water Tower, Jesuit Church, and a special highlight excursion to Mount Pilatus. Your dramatic river cruise on the Rhine will commence in Basel, Switzerland, with stops in France, Germany, and Holland. Sail to Breisach, your starting point for an excursion to Black Forest. Then venture on to Strasbourg, France, to see its Gothic cathedral with stunning murals and stained glass. Sail to Mainz for an excursion to Heidelberg Castle, or join your Avalon Adventure Host® for a hike up Philosophers’ Way. You can alternatively visit the Gutenberg Museum for amazing history of the early pioneers of printing. Sail to Rüdesheim and through the spectacular Rhine Gorge—the most beautiful view of the Rhine River where ancient castles stand on cliffs 400 feet above the water. You'll visit Koblenz and Cologne, and arrive in Amsterdam for a guided canal cruise through the colorful city. Your scenic river cruise on the Rhine River, with a 2-night stay in Switzerland are the perfect combination to unlock a guided European vacation of a lifetime.
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Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & Sightseeing| Day 1 Lucerne, Switzerland: | Welcome to Switzerland |
| Day 2 Lucerne: | Guided walking tour with the Lion Monument and Chapel Bridge |
| Day 3 Lucerne, Mount Pilatus-Basel (Embarkation): | Excursion to Mount Pilatus (in case of bad weather, visit the Swiss Transport Museum instead); onboard welcome reception |
| Day 4 Breisach: | Choice of excursion to Black Forest, or visit to a local winery in Breisach or sightseeing of Freiburg or bike with your Adventure Host |
| Day 5 Strasbourg: | Choice of guided sightseeing, visit La Petite France district and the Gothic cathedral or bike with your Adventure Host |
| Day 6 Mainz: | Choice of guided tour of Heidelberg Castle, see the Great Vat, or walk Philosophers’ Way with your Adventure Host, or visit the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz |
| Day 7 Rüdesheim-Rhine Gorge-Koblenz: | Visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in Rüdesheim; cruise through the scenic Rhine Gorge with breathtaking views of ancient castles, towering cliffs, and the legendary Rock of the Lorelei; free time in Koblenz |
| Day 8 Cologne: | Choice of “Cologne Highlights” walking tour, or Jewish Heritage walking tour or bike with your Adventure Host |
| Day 9 Amsterdam: | Choice of canal cruise or walk with your Adventure Host |
| Day 10 Amsterdam (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
ITINERARYDay 1
LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND Welcome to Switzerland
The day is free to start exploring this delightful town on the Reuss River. Discover the many squares and churches and how tradition and modernity stand side-by-side or spend your free time to enjoy some shopping in the city center.
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Day 2
LUCERNE A Historic Bridge and Heart of a Lion
CLASSIC Join a Guided Walking Tour, which includes the poignant Lion Monument, Old Town, Chapel Bridge, the Water Tower, and Jesuit Church.
LUCERNE-CHAPEL-BRIDGE.jpg
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 3
LUCERNE–MOUNT PILATUS–BASEL (EMBARKATION) Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding
CLASSIC This morning enjoy a special Highlight Excursion to Mount Pilatus. Journey almost 7,000 ft. (2,132 m) up for spectacular views over central Switzerland (in case of bad weather, visit the Swiss Transport Museum instead).
EVENING CRUISE TO BREISACH
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Day 4
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:
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 follow your visit to Badischer Winzerkeller with 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 STRASBOURG
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 5
STRASBOURG, FRANCE A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France
ACTIVE 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
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 6
MAINZ, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG Castle Walls, and the World’s Biggest Wine Barrel
ACTIVE 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
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 7
RÜDESHEIM–RHINE GORGE Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country
ACTIVE Enjoy a hike with your Avalon Adventure Host through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim, OR:
DISCOVERY 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.
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.
KOBLENZ
Travel 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
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 8
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
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 9
AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND Canals of Colorful Amsterdam
ACTIVE Start your day joining your Adventure Host on an early morning walk in Amsterdam, 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. Outside of tulip season, join a Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses. 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
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 10
AMSTERDAM (DISEMBARKATION) Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.
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Accommodations
Accommodations| Lucerne | Amsterdam | Amsterdam |
Astoria
First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
Pilatusstrasse 29 Lucerne Switzerland
Ideally located in the heart of Lucerne, surrounded by mountains, close to its lake boasting crystal clear waters, the historic old town, and famous Chapel Bridge. All 252 contemporary rooms have a minibar and Wi-Fi. There's a plush cocktail lounge, a stylish café, and a rooftop bar affording city views. Other facilities include a full equipped modern gym.
First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
Pilatusstrasse 29 Lucerne Switzerland
Ideally located in the heart of Lucerne, surrounded by mountains, close to its lake boasting crystal clear waters, the historic old town, and famous Chapel Bridge. All 252 contemporary rooms have a minibar and Wi-Fi. There's a plush cocktail lounge, a stylish café, and a rooftop bar affording city views. Other facilities include a full equipped modern gym.
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.
