Itinerary
- Day 1
Lucerne
You'll have a free day to start getting to know Lucerne at your own pace. The town sits on the Reuss River and has plenty to explore, from the different squares and churches scattered throughout to how old traditions blend with modern life. If you're interested, there's good shopping in the city center as well.
Optional Activities
- Explore squares and churches in Lucerne
- Shopping in the city center
Landmarks Reuss River - Day 2
Lucerne
You'll join a guided walking tour that covers Lucerne's main attractions. The tour includes the Lion Monument, which has historical significance, the Old Town with its character and narrow streets, the Chapel Bridge that's been part of the city for centuries, the Water Tower, and the Jesuit Church. This gives you a solid overview of what makes the city special.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Walking Tour including Lion Monument, Old Town, Chapel Bridge, Water Tower, and Jesuit Church
Landmarks Lion Monument Chapel Bridge Water Tower Jesuit Church - Day 3
Lucerne to Breisach
This morning you'll head out on a special excursion to either Mount Pilatus or Mount Stanserhorn depending on what conditions allow. From the top you'll get views across central Switzerland that extend quite far. If the weather doesn't cooperate, you'll visit the Swiss Transport Museum instead. Later in the day, you'll board your cruise ship and set sail toward Breisach.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Highlight Excursion to Mount Pilatus (or Mount Stanserhorn based on seasonal accessibility)
- Swiss Transport Museum (weather alternative)
Landmarks Mount Pilatus Mount Stanserhorn Swiss Transport Museum - Day 4
Breisach to Kehl
You've got several activity options to choose from today. There's a relaxing bike ride along the Rhine if you want something low-key, or you can join a full-day tour into the Black Forest with an open-air museum and traditional demonstrations. Freiburg's medieval city center is also available as a guided option, and if you prefer, you can visit the village of Colmar in the morning. By evening, the ship heads to Kehl.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Activity choice: Bike ride along the Rhine with Adventure Host
- Activity choice: Guided Tour to Black Forest including Vogtsbauernohf open-air museum, authentic water mill, and traditional butter-making demonstration
- Activity choice: Guided Tour of Freiburg's medieval city center
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Colmar village with half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings
Landmarks Rhine River Black Forest Vogtsbauernohf Freiburg Colmar - Day 5
Kehl to Mainz
Multiple options are available for today. You can bike around Strasbourg with an Adventure Host, take a city tour that includes the Gothic cathedral with its astronomical clock and the charming La Petite France District, explore the historic Maginot Line, or spend time in Alsace's wine country. Free time is also an option if you'd rather check out museums or walk through the city on your own. You'll cruise to Mainz this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Activity choice: Discover Strasbourg by bike with Adventure Host
- Activity choice: City Sightseeing Tour including Gothic cathedral with ancient murals and astronomical clock, and La Petite France District
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to the historic Maginot Line (pre-WWII fortifications)
- Guided Optional Excursion to Alsace's wine country
- Free time to visit museums or stroll the city center
Landmarks Strasbourg Cathedral La Petite France District Maginot Line - Day 6
Mainz to Rüdesheim
You can choose between several activities today. One option is a walk through Heidelberg along the Philosophers' Way, or you might take a guided tour to Heidelberg Castle to see the renaissance ruins and the famous Great Vat. If you prefer to stay closer, there's a guided city walk in Mainz that includes the Gutenberg Museum. The ship sails to Rudesheim this evening with live entertainment on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Activity choice: Inspiring walk in Heidelberg on the Philosophers' Way with Adventure Host
- Activity choice: Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle including the Great Vat (World's Largest Wine Barrel)
- Activity choice: Guided City Walk in Mainz including Gutenberg Museum
Landmarks Heidelberg Castle Philosophers' Way Gutenberg Museum - Day 7
Rüdesheim to Koblenz
In Rudesheim you can hike through the vineyards with an Adventure Host or visit the Mechanical Music Museum with a tasting of the local coffee. As you sail toward Koblenz, you'll pass through the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage area with castles and the Rock of the Lorelei visible from the water. Once in Koblenz, there's free time before dinner and live entertainment on the ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Activity choice: Hike through vineyards of Rüdesheim with Adventure Host
- Activity choice: Guided Tour of Mechanical Music Museum with Rüdesheimer coffee tasting
- Sailing through Rhine Gorge (UNESCO World Heritage site)
Landmarks Rhine Gorge Rock of the Lorelei Mechanical Music Museum - Day 8
Koblenz to Amsterdam
In Cologne you have activity choices. You can bike around like locals do, take a walking tour focused on the city's Jewish heritage sites, or do a guided walk featuring the impressive twin-steepled gothic cathedral. There's time to relax over a glass of Kolsch pale lager, a local favorite brewed for over a century. You'll cruise to Amsterdam this afternoon and evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Activity choice: Bike ride in Cologne with Adventure Host
- Activity choice: Guided Walking Tour of Cologne's Jewish heritage sites
- Activity choice: Guided City Walk of Cologne with twin-steepled gothic cathedral
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral - Day 9
Amsterdam
You've got multiple options for your day in Amsterdam. Start with an early morning walk with an Adventure Host, try an off-the-beaten-path guided walking tour through the cobblestone streets, or take a guided canal cruise to see homes from Amsterdam's Golden Age. During tulip season, Keukenhof gardens with millions of tulips is available, or outside that time you can visit the historic windmills at Zaanse Schans. Biking tours and free exploration are also options.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Activity choice: Early morning walk in Amsterdam with Adventure Host
- Activity choice: Off-the-beaten-path Guided Walking Tour through cobblestone streets
- Activity choice: Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam's Golden Age
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens (during tulip season, with over seven million tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other bulbs)
- Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans (outside tulip season, featuring historic windmills and charming Dutch houses)
- Optional Biking Tour to discover the countryside
- Free time to explore Amsterdam's colorful streets, canal houses, galleries, and shops
Landmarks Keukenhof Zaanse Schans - Day 10
Amsterdam to Paris
This morning you'll board a high-speed train heading to Paris. When you arrive, you'll get on your Avalon Suite Ship and have dinner on board this evening. You'll start cruising toward Vernon overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 11
Vernon to Caudebec
In Vernon you can walk to the Chateau des Tourelles with an Adventure Host, visit Giverny to see Claude Monet's house and gardens that inspired his paintings, or tour Bizy Castle with its courtyard and water garden. During the sail, there's a traditional French lunch of crepes followed by a pastry demonstration. Later you'll arrive in Les Andelys where you can either hike to the ruins of Chateau Gaillard or take a walking tour of the town. The ship continues to Caudebec overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional French luncheon of authentic crêpes), Dinner
Included Activities
- Activity choice: Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles by foot with Adventure Host
- Activity choice: Guided Tour of Giverny (Claude Monet's home and gardens)
- Activity choice: Guided Visit to Bizy Castle (Normandy's Versailles)
- Traditional French luncheon of authentic crêpes with Pastry Demonstration
- Activity choice: Guided Hike to Château Gaillard castle ruins
- Activity choice: Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys
Landmarks Chateau des Tourelles Giverny Bizy Castle Château Gaillard Les Andelys - Day 12
Caudebec
You can bike along the river with an Adventure Host or join a guided tour following the Normandy Abbeys Route, which passes more than 100 medieval abbeys and churches built along the Seine. In the afternoon, there's an optional excursion to Honfleur, an old seaside town. The ship stays docked in Caudebec overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Activity choice: Relaxing bike ride along the river with Adventure Host
- Activity choice: Guided Trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to the old seaside town of Honfleur
Landmarks Normandy Abbeys Route Honfleur - Day 13
Caudebec to Rouen
You'll choose from guided tours today. One option covers Normandy's WWII landing beaches including Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, and the American Cemetery. Another focuses on British and Canadian sites like their cemeteries and Arromanches. You can also do a brandy tasting in Calvados for a different experience. There's live entertainment on board later, and the ship sails to Rouen this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Activity choice: Guided Tour of Normandy's WWII landing beaches including Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc monument, and American Cemetery
- Activity choice: Guided Tour of British and Canadian commemorative sites including Pegasus Memorial, Arromanches, Juno Beach Center, and Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery
- Activity choice: Guided Tour of authentic Normandy tradition with brandy tasting in Calvados
Landmarks Omaha Beach Pointe du Hoc American Cemetery Pegasus Memorial Arromanches Juno Beach Center Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery - Day 14
Rouen to Conflans
You can take a bike tour through Rouen to see famous monuments and hidden spots, or join a walking tour of the city where Joan of Arc was martyred. The walking option includes the medieval quarter, the 16th-century Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral. The ship continues to Conflans this evening and overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Activity choice: Guided Bike Tour of Rouen's famous monuments and hidden gems
- Activity choice: Guided Walking Tour of Rouen including Saint Joan of Arc martyrdom site, medieval quarter, 16th-century Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral
Landmarks Rouen Notre-Dame Cathedral Astronomical Clock - Day 15
Conflans to Paris
Several activities are available today. You can bike along the Seine with an Adventure Host, visit Auvers-sur-Oise where Vincent van Gogh lived and was buried, or tour the Chateau de Malmaison where Napoleon and his wife Josephine lived. There's also an optional excursion to the Palace of Versailles if you're interested. The ship sails to Paris this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Activity choice: Relaxing bike ride along the Seine with Adventure Host
- Activity choice: Guided Visit to Auvers-sur-Oise
- Activity choice: Guided Tour of Château de Malmaison
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to the Palace of Versailles
Landmarks Auvers-sur-Oise Château de Malmaison Palace of Versailles - Day 16
Paris
You'll have choices for experiencing Paris. Walk the Seine with an Adventure Host, take a guided tour of central Paris including the Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, Ile de la Cite, the Left Bank, and Latin Quarter, or join a city tour hitting iconic spots like the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opera Garnier, and Champs-Elysees. You can also explore Paris on your own or sit at a cafe with wine and a book.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Activity choice: Experience the Seine river by foot with Adventure Host
- Activity choice: Guided Walk of ancient Paris including Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, sites on Île de la Cité, Left Bank, and Latin Quarter
- Activity choice: Guided City Tour featuring Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and Champs-Élysées
Optional Activities
- Free time to stroll through Paris or linger over wine in a literary café on the Left Bank
Landmarks Palais-Royal Louvre Museum Île de la Cité Left Bank Latin Quarter Arc de Triomphe Eiffel Tower Opéra Garnier Champs-Élysées - Day 17
Paris
Your trip concludes this morning after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
