Itinerary
- Day 1
Departure
After breakfast, you'll say goodbye to Switzerland and head to the airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 2
Breisach
Breisach gives you options for the day. You can walk through Colmar, a historic Alsatian town with old architecture and a small Statue of Liberty replica. If you prefer being active, cycle through the countryside or hike the Kaiserstuhl volcanic region, which has interesting landscapes and vineyards scattered throughout.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Colmar with historic architecture viewing
- View of the Statue of Liberty replica in Colmar
- Countryside cycling excursion
- Hiking through the Kaiserstuhl volcanic region and vineyards
Landmarks Colmar Statue of Liberty (Colmar replica) Kaiserstuhl 
- Day 3
Strasbourg
Strasbourg sits right on the French-German border, so you'll notice influences from both countries here. Walk through La Petite France district with its narrow streets, then check out the Cathedral of Notre-Dame and its famous astronomical clock. Another option is a guided bike tour through the city and Parc de l'Orangerie if you'd rather get around on two wheels.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Short drive to Place de la République
- Walking tour through La Petite France district
- Viewing of Cathédrale de Nôtre Dame and astronomical clock
- Guided bike ride through Strasbourg and Parc de l'Orangerie
Landmarks Place de la République La Petite France Cathédrale de Nôtre Dame Parc de l'Orangerie 
- Day 4
Ludwigshafen
From Ludwigshafen, you have three main choices. Head to Heidelberg to see the red sandstone castle in the Neckar River Valley and the Great Vat wine cask, or hike the Philosopher's Path for city views. You could also visit Speyer for its UNESCO cathedral, or take a guided bike tour along the Neckar River toward the medieval town of Ladenburg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Heidelberg including Heidelberg Castle
- Viewing of the Great Vat, an 18th-century 49,000-gallon wine cask
- Guided hike up the Philosopher's Path in Heidelberg
- Visit to Speyer and the largest Romanesque cathedral in Europe
- Viewing of the medieval Old Gate, Altpörtel in Speyer
- Guided bike tour along the Neckar River to Ladenburg
Landmarks Heidelberg Castle Great Vat (Heidelberg) Philosopher's Path Speyer Cathedral Altpörtel (Medieval Old Gate, Speyer) Ladenburg - Day 5
Rüdesheim to Lahnstein
Start your Rüdesheim day with one of three activities: ride a gondola to Niederwalddenkmal Statue for river views and Riesling wine tasting, hike through vineyards with views of the town and Bromersburg Castle, or bike along the Rhine. Later, you'll sail through the Rhine River Gorge to Lahnstein and tour Lahneck Castle.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic sailing along the Rhine River Gorge to Lahnstein
- Visit to Lahneck Castle
Optional Activities
- Gondola ride to Niederwalddenkmal Statue
- Riesling wine tasting in the vineyards
- Hiking through Rüdesheim's vineyards
- Viewing of Roman Bridge and Bromersburg Castle
- Guided bike ride through Rüdesheim and along the Rhine River
Landmarks Niederwalddenkmal Statue Bromersburg Castle Roman Bridge Rhine River Gorge Lahneck Castle 
- Day 6
Cologne and Düsseldorf
This morning, take a guided tour to Cologne's Old Town, seeing the Rathaus (one of Germany's oldest town halls), the Old Market, and Heumarkt. In the afternoon, you'll head to Düsseldorf where you can walk with a local guide through historic areas and try Altbier, a local specialty, or explore by guided bike tour instead.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Full-day guided tour of Cologne
- Morning guided tour of Cologne
- Guided tour through Cologne Old Town
- Visit to Cologne Rathaus (Germany's oldest town hall)
- Viewing of Old Market and Heumarkt in Cologne
- Walking tour through historic Düsseldorf
- Altbier tasting (Düsseldorf specialty)
- Guided bike tour through Düsseldorf
Landmarks Cologne Old Town Cologne Rathaus Heumarkt - Day 7
Utrecht and Amsterdam
Start in Utrecht with a walking tour or beer tasting tour of this charming town. Later, cruise on your river ship near Amsterdam, then board a boat designed for Amsterdam's narrow canals for close-up views. If you'd rather experience the city through food, you'll walk past traditional canals and gabled houses to sample Dutch specialties at a local café.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic cruise around Amsterdam on river cruise ship
- Boat tour through Amsterdam's famous canals
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Utrecht
- Beer tasting tour in Utrecht
- Strolling past traditional canals, gabled houses, narrow bridges and houseboats
- Tasting Dutch specialties at a grand Amsterdam café
Landmarks Amsterdam Canals 
- Day 8
Amsterdam (Rijksmuseum)
You'll take a guided tour of the Rijksmuseum, which holds 800 years of Dutch history. Walk through the collection of Dutch and Flemish art, including pieces like Rembrandt's The Night Watch and Vermeer's The Milkmaid.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Special guided tour of the Rijksmuseum
- Viewing of Rembrandt's The Night Watch
- Viewing of Vermeer's The Milkmaid
Landmarks Rijksmuseum - Day 9
Amsterdam and Utrecht
Start with a canal cruise through Amsterdam's 165 waterways to see the city from the water. Later, sail through the IJsselmeer to Utrecht, which has been the religious center of the Netherlands since the 8th century. You can do a walking tour that includes the Museum Speelklok with its collection of automatically playing musical instruments. Alternatively, visit De Haar, Holland's largest castle, which has fairytale turrets, moats, and suspension bridges to explore by foot or bike.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Canal cruise through Amsterdam canals
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Utrecht
- Visit to Museum Speelklok with automatically playing musical instruments
- Viewing of Utrecht's medieval old town, canals and Gothic cathedral
- Walking tour of De Haar castle
- Biking tour of De Haar castle
Landmarks Museum Speelklok De Haar Castle Utrecht Gothic Cathedral - Day 10
Hellevoetsluis
After a morning cruise through the delta, you'll arrive in Hellevoetsluis on an island in South Holland. Tour this medieval harbor town to see the working De Hoop windmill and charming wharf houses. You can learn about the Delta Works storm surge barrier at the Flood Museum, which was built after the devastating 1953 flood. If you're active, visit a traditional Dutch flat bottom boat or bike across the Haringvlietdam.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic morning cruise through the delta
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Hellevoetsluis medieval harbor town
- Viewing of De Hoop windmill
- Viewing of wharf houses
- Visit to the Flood Museum
- Visit to a traditional Dutch flat bottom boat
- Cycling excursion from Hellevoetsluis across the Haringvlietdam
Landmarks De Hoop Windmill Flood Museum Haringvlietdam - Day 11
Ghent and Bruges
Ghent gives you several choices. Walk through this East Flanders capital on a guided tour or bike through the town instead. You could also take a full-day trip to Bruges, one of Europe's best preserved medieval cities, to see the Church of Our Lady with its Carrara marble sculpture by Michelangelo. Or spend your afternoon at Ghent's moated Castle of the Counts back in town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Ghent
- Guided bike tour through Ghent
- Full-day excursion to Bruges
- Visit to Church of Our Lady in Bruges
- Viewing of Michelangelo's Madonna and Child sculpture in Bruges
- Afternoon visit to Bruges
- Visit to Castle of the Counts in Ghent
- Viewing of Castle of the Counts medieval torture devices collection
Landmarks Ghent Bruges Church of Our Lady (Bruges) Castle of the Counts (Ghent) - Day 12
Brussels
Explore Belgium's capital on a guided walking tour or bike through Laeken Park to see the Far East Museums and the Atomium. If food interests you, there's a Belgian chocolate tasting available. In the afternoon, head to Gaasbeek Castle, one of the oldest moated castles in Flanders.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided walking tour of Brussels
- Guided bike ride through Laeken Park
- Viewing of Far East Museums architecture
- Viewing of the Atomium sculpture
- Belgian chocolate tasting
- Visit to Gaasbeek Castle
Landmarks Laeken Park Far East Museums Atomium Gaasbeek Castle 
- Day 13
Antwerp
Antwerp, known as the City of Diamonds, can be explored on a walking tour past Steen Castle, Grote Market, Brabo Fountain, and the UNESCO Cathedral of Our Lady. If you prefer biking, that option is available. Later, beer lovers can taste local brews while food enthusiasts sample Belgian waffles and other specialties. You can also bike through the city or visit the Red Star Line Museum about the historic shipping line.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Antwerp
- Viewing of Steen Castle
- Viewing of Grote Market
- Viewing of Brabo Fountain
- Viewing of Cathedral of Our Lady (UNESCO-designated)
- Guided bike tour through Antwerp
- Belgian beer tasting
- Belgian culinary delights tasting (waffles)
- Afternoon guided bike tour of Antwerp
- Visit to Red Star Line Museum
Landmarks Steen Castle Grote Market Brabo Fountain Cathedral of Our Lady (Antwerp) Red Star Line Museum 
- Day 14
Dordrecht, Rotterdam and Kinderdijk
Dordrecht, founded in 1220, was nearly destroyed by a major 15th-century flood that shaped the city's wetlands. Take a walking tour to learn its history, or visit Rotterdam (Gateway to Europe) and Delfshaven, where the Pilgrim Fathers left in 1620. In the afternoon, go to Kinderdijk, a UNESCO site with the country's largest collection of 18th-century windmills. You can explore on foot or by bike.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Dordrecht
- Visit to Rotterdam (Gateway to Europe)
- Visit to Delfshaven
- Visit to UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinderdijk
- Viewing of 18th-century windmills in Kinderdijk
- Guided bike tour through Kinderdijk windmills
Landmarks Dordrecht Rotterdam Delfshaven Kinderdijk Windmills - Day 15
Departure
Board your ship for the return journey home on your Grand Rhine cruise.
- Meals
- Dinner
