The Rhine & Moselle (Southbound) 2026 - 11 Day River Cruise Amsterdam to Basel

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The Rhine & Moselle (Southbound) 2026

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) 2026 - 11 Day River Cruise Amsterdam to Basel
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Dates & Pricing

Friday 11 Sep 26 — Tuesday 22 Sep 26Starting at $5,699 Get a Quote
Tuesday 20 Oct 26 — Saturday 31 Oct 26Starting at $5,099 Get a Quote


Destination & Sightseeing

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. Join a Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM

Day 2
AMSTERDAM Colorful Canals of Amsterdam Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host. CLASSIC 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. Alternatively spend some free time this afternoon visiting one of Amsterdam’s many fascinating museums or galleries. AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COLOGNE
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Day 3
COLOGNE, GERMANY Prost! Celebrate in the Rhineland This morning, enjoy leisurely sailing. 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
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Day 4
COCHEM The Charm of the Moselle Valley This morning, select a Guided Optional Excursion to Eltz Castle. ACTIVE Bike along the Moselle 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 TRIER
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Day 5
TRIER. EXCURSION TO LUXEMBOURG Ancient Worlds and Old-World Charm Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities. ACTIVE Get your daily dose of exercise through a walk in Trier with your Adventure Host, 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 Guided Tour of Luxembourg City—with its dramatic views, ancient ruins, and modern architecture along the deep gorge terrain. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BERNKASTEL
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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
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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 Enjoy a Guided Visit to the Sayn Manor House and its Butterfly Gardens. 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 After dinner, enjoy free time to explore this picturesque village or enjoy live entertainment on board your ship. OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO LUDWIGSHAFEN
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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." EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO STRASBOURG
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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. Later, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH
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Day 10
BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black Forest CLASSIC 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 in the morning, with its half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL
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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

Accommodations

AmsterdamAmsterdamZurich
Movenpick Amsterdam City
Superior First-Class

Hotel as shown or similar

Piet Heinkade 11 Amsterdam Netherlands

A stylish 408-room hotel in the perfect location, this waterfront property offers Free Wi-Fi internet access throughout. The chic restaurant serves creative international cuisine and there is a fabulous bar serving drinks and light snacks which is also a great spot for a nightcap. For relaxation there is a Lifestyle Studio featuring a gym, Finnish sauna, bio sauna & ice fountain.

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.