Romantic Rhine with Swiss Alps, 1 Night in Lucerne & 3 Nights in Lake Como (Southbound) 2025 - 12 Day River Cruise Amsterdam to Lake Como

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Romantic Rhine with Swiss Alps, 1 Night in Lucerne & 3 Nights in Lake Como (Southbound) 2025

12 Day River Cruise Amsterdam to Lake Como



Tour Description:

One of Europe’s most legendary rivers awaits you on this exciting journey on a Rhine River cruise, which takes you across Germany—and touches in Holland, France, and Switzerland! This magnificent European river cruise begins in the ever popular, modern city of Amsterdam, Holland. Experience the best way to see the treasures of this 700-year-old city with a canal cruise along the elegant grachten lined with homes dating back to the city’s “Golden Age.”

Visit Cologne, Germany—a 2,000 year-old city known for its Gothic-style architecture—with its famous twin-spired cathedral and Old Town with many shops, cafés, and taverns. Sail through the dramatic Rhine Gorge—the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine River where ancient castles stand on cliffs 400 feet above the water. In the charming wine town of Rüdesheim, visit the unique Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Continue your Rhine River cruise to Mainz for a guided walk and visit to the captivating Gutenberg Museum, or take an excursion to Heidelberg to visit the ruins of its red-walled castle. In Strasbourg, France, marvel at 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. Visit 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.

Disembark your river cruise ship in Basel and continue your vacation in Lucerne and Lake Como, starting with a special excursion up Mount Pilatus (or Mount Stanserhorn per seasonal accessibility) for spectacular Swiss Alpine panoramas and a guided walking tour to explore lovely Lucerne. Transfer by motorcoach to Como and enjoy a stop and sightseeing on the way in Lugano. In Como, an included guided walking tour features the charming historic district, the Gothic-style Town Hall, and the impressive Duomo. Enjoy a relaxing boat ride on Lake Como to renowned Bellagio with its centuries-old buildings, cobblestone lanes, and charming shops. In your free time, you might like to travel to fashionable Milan, or ride the funicular to the village of Brunate. The perfect end to your magnificent vacation!

Map for Romantic Rhine with Swiss Alps, 1 Night in Lucerne & 3 Nights in Lake Como (Southbound) 2025 - 12 Day River Cruise Amsterdam to Lake Como
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Dates & Pricing

Saturday 22 Mar 25 — Thursday 03 Apr 25Starting at $4,926Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 20 Jun 25 — Wednesday 02 Jul 25Starting at $4,935Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 18 Jul 25 — Wednesday 30 Jul 25Starting at $5,685Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 01 Aug 25 — Wednesday 13 Aug 25Starting at $5,685Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 26 Sep 25 — Wednesday 08 Oct 25Starting at $5,585Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 20 Oct 25 — Saturday 01 Nov 25Starting at $5,932Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 03 Nov 25 — Saturday 15 Nov 25Starting at $5,732Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Check Mark Icon 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

Day 1 Amsterdam (Embarkation): Onboard welcome reception
Day 2 Amsterdam: Choice of canal cruise or off-the-beaten path walking tour
Day 3 Cologne: Choice of Cologne highlights walking tour, or Jewish Heritage walking tour or bike with your Adventure Host
Day 4 Rhine Gorge-Rüdesheim: Cruise through the scenic Rhine Gorge with breathtaking views of ancient castles, towering cliffs, and the legendary Rock of the Lorelei; visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in Rüdesheim or hike in the vineyards with your Adventure Host
Day 5 Mainz. Excursion to Heidelberg: Choice of guided walk in Mainz with a visit to the Gutenberg Museum, or a guided tour of Heidelberg Castle, see the Great Vat, or walk the Philosophers’ Way with your Adventure Host
Day 6 Kehl. Excursion to Strasbourg: Choice of guided sightseeing, visit the La Petite France district and the Gothic cathedral or bike with your Adventure Host
Day 7 Breisach: Choice of excursion to Black Forest or Freiburg sightseeing
Day 8 Basel (Disembarkation)-Swiss Alps-Lucerne: Excursion to Mount Pilatus or Mount Stanserhorn per seasonal accessibility (in case of bad weather, visit the Swiss Transport Museum instead), guided walking tour in Lucerne with the Lion Monument and Chapel Bridge
Day 9 Lucerne-Lugano-Lake Como: Transfer to Lake Como with stop and guided tour in Lugano
Day 10 Lake Como: Como walking tour; boat ride on Lake Como to Bellagio
Day 11 Lake Como: Full day at leisure
Day 12 Lake Como: Your vacation ends with breakfast 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, 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 *Due to increased harbor traffic expected for the 2025 “SAIL Amsterdam” event, departure August 19 will embark in Rotterdam with slight modifications to the itinerary. AMSTERDAM-CANAL.jpg

Day 2
AMSTERDAM* Canals of Colorful Amsterdam Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities. DISCOVERY Discover the true beauty of Amsterdam with an off-the-beaten-path Guided Walking Tour through its cobblestone streets for a captivating look at this legendary city, OR: 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 or take some free time to explore Amsterdam’s colorful streets and canal houses, galleries, and shops. AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COLOGNE * Due to “SAIL Amsterdam” event coinciding with August 19 departure, Amsterdam excursions commence from ship docking location in Rotterdam. AMSTERDAM-CANAL-CRUISE.jpg
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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! Later, local musicians will join us on board for live entertainment. OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO RÜDESHEIM COLOGNE-BEER.jpg
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Day 4
RHINE GORGE–RÜDESHEIM Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country En route to Rüdesheim, 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. 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. Enjoy live entertainment on board your ship this evening. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN RÜDESHEIM RUDESHEIM-COFFEE.jpg
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Day 5
MAINZ. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG Printing Halls, 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 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”. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KEHL HEIDELBERG.jpg
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Day 6
KEHL. EXCURSION TO STRASBOURG, FRANCE A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France Ask about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities. 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. Choose 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 BREISACH STRASBOURG-PETIT-FRANCE.jpg
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Day 7
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: 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, with half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL BLACK-FOREST-SCENIC.jpg
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Day 8
BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION)–SWISS ALPS Spectacular Views in Switzerland This morning disembark your Avalon ship and take a motorcoach transfer which will bring you in the heart of Swiss Alps. CLASSIC Enjoy a special highlight excursion to Mount Pilatus (or Mount Stanserhorn per seasonal accessibility) for spectacular views over central Switzerland (in case of bad weather, visit the Swiss Transport Museum instead). LUCERNE A Historic Bridge and Heart of a Lion CLASSIC Join a Guided Walking tour to explore beautiful Lucerne, which includes Thorvaldsen’s poignant Lion Monument and the famous Chapel Bridge. MOUNT-PILATUS.jpg

Day 9
LUCERNE–LAKE COMO, ITALY History in Grand View CLASSIC En route to Como, enjoy a stop in Lugano and a guided sightseeing of this charming Swiss city. Continue to Como, the city on the lake that bears its name. LAKE-COMO.jpg
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Day 10
LAKE COMO Legendary Lake Houses CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking tour which includes the charming historic center, the Broletto (Town Hall) with its fascinating Gothic façade, and the imposing, marble-clad Duomo. CLASSIC Experience a Boat Ride on Lake Como for panoramas of stunning mountain scenery and luxury lakeside villas. Disembark at picturesque Bellagio for exploration on your own, returning by boat to Como. LAKE-COMO-BOAT-RIDE.jpg
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Day 11
LAKE COMO Italian Beauty on the Banks Enjoy a free day to explore Como and its surroundings at your own pace. There is no shortage of ways to explore Lake Como with free time. Choose a boat trip on the lake, a relaxing walk on the riverbanks or do some shopping in the city centre. And be sure to taste authentic Italian specialties in a local restaurant! LAKE-COMO-CAFE.jpg
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Day 12
LAKE COMO Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. LAKE-COMO-DETAIL.jpg
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Accommodations

AmsterdamAmsterdamLucerneLucerneLake ComoLake Como
Westcord Jakarta
Superior First-Class

Hotel as shown or similar

Javakade 766 Amsterdam Netherlands

A unique sustainable hotel in Amsterdam, where two worlds connect. At the former location where ships left for Jakarta, lies a green oasis in the centre of the city. Hotel offers 200 luxurious rooms with a Indonesian influenced style. Enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at Café Jakarta or get a drink at the Malabar. Be pampered in luxury and relax in our wellness and swimming pool with views towards the river IJ.
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.