Itinerary
- Day 1
Amsterdam
You'll arrive in Amsterdam with the day entirely yours to spend however you like. Wander the streets, grab a canal-side lunch, check out museums, or just walk around and get a feel for the city. It's a good chance to settle in before your ship boarding tomorrow.
- Day 2
Amsterdam
Time to board your ship and get settled in your suite. After that, you'll take a guided walk through Amsterdam's quieter neighborhoods with cobblestone streets and local character. Depending on when you're traveling, you can either visit Keukenhof gardens if it's tulip season or head to Zaanse Schans to see traditional windmills and authentic Dutch architecture.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Walking Tour - Off the Beaten Path Amsterdam
- Overnight docking in Amsterdam aboard the river cruise ship
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens (during tulip season only, features more than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths)
- Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans (outside tulip season, historic windmills and charming Dutch houses)
Landmarks Amsterdam Keukenhof Zaanse Schans - Day 3
Amsterdam to Cologne
The morning brings a guided canal cruise where you'll see the grand homes from Amsterdam's Golden Age along the waterways. After lunch, you can either join one of the optional guided tours or take free time to walk around, check out galleries, browse shops, and explore the colorful canal houses at your own pace. Later this evening, the ship sails toward Cologne.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Canal Cruise - Amsterdam waterways and Golden Age homes
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursions (specific options not detailed in itinerary)
- Free time to explore Amsterdam's streets, canal houses, galleries, and shops
Landmarks Amsterdam Canal Houses 
- Day 4
Cologne
In Cologne, you have three main options to choose from: bike around the city like a local with your Adventure Host, join a guided walk focused on Jewish heritage sites, or take a city walk that includes the famous Gothic cathedral with its twin spires. Later, grab a glass of local Kölsch beer and take some free time to explore. This evening features live music performed by local musicians on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Activity choice - Bike ride with Adventure Host in Cologne, OR Guided Walking Tour of Cologne's Jewish heritage sites, OR Guided City Walk of Cologne featuring the gothic cathedral
Optional Activities
- Free time to explore Cologne and enjoy Kölsch pale lager at local venues
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral - Day 5
Rüdesheim
As you sail toward Rüdesheim, you'll pass through the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO site where 400-foot cliffs line the river and castles perch above. You can join a hike through vineyards with your Adventure Host or visit the Mechanical Music Museum and enjoy a local treat. The ship offers live entertainment again this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sailing through Rhine Gorge with views of castles and Rock of the Lorelei
- Activity choice - Hike through Rüdesheim vineyards with Avalon Adventure Host, OR Guided Tour of the Mechanical Music Museum
Landmarks Rhine Gorge Rock of the Lorelei Mechanical Music Museum 
- Day 6
Heidelberg
Heidelberg gives you several choices: walk along the Philosophers' Way with your Adventure Host for views of the town below, take a guided city walk that includes the Gutenberg Museum and its printing history, or tour Heidelberg Castle to see Renaissance ruins and the Great Vat, the world's largest wine barrel. After exploring, the ship heads to Strasbourg for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Activity choice - Walk along Philosophers' way with Avalon Adventure Host, OR Guided City Walk including Gutenberg Museum, OR Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle and the Great Vat
Landmarks Philosophers' Way (Philosophenweg) Gutenberg Museum Heidelberg Castle 
- Day 7
Strasbourg
In Strasbourg, bike around the city with your Adventure Host or join a City Sightseeing tour that covers the Gothic cathedral with its ancient murals and astronomical clock, plus the charming La Petite France district. You can also choose a guided tour of the Maginot Line fortifications, visit Alsace wine country, take free time to check out museums, or just wander the city center. The ship sails to Breisach in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Activity choice - Discover Strasbourg by bike with Adventure Host, OR City Sightseeing Tour including Gothic cathedral and La Petite France district
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to the Maginot Line - pre-WWII fortifications designed to protect France's eastern border
- Guided Optional Excursion to Alsace wine country
- Free time to visit museums or stroll the city center
Landmarks Strasbourg Cathedral La Petite France Maginot Line - Day 8
Breisach
You have several full-day options: explore the Black Forest with a guided tour of an open-air museum, see a working water mill, and watch a traditional butter-making demonstration, or visit a local winery in Breisach to learn about German wine and taste some. Another option is a guided tour to the medieval village of Colmar with its half-timbered buildings. Later, cruise to Basel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Activity choice - Full-day Guided Tour to Black Forest including Vogtsbauernohf open-air museum, authentic water mill, and butter-making demonstration, OR Visit to a local winery in Breisach with German winemaking education and wine tasting
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Colmar - charming village with half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings
Landmarks Black Forest (Schwarzwald) Vogtsbauernohf Colmar - Day 9
Basel
Have breakfast on board this morning, then it's time to disembark in Basel. You'll head out with your onward travel plans, taking the memories of your Rhine journey with you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
