Cruising the Rhine: Amsterdam to Switzerland

Arrive in Amsterdam, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure. This evening, join your Resident Tour Director for a welcome dinner.

Enjoy a guided visit to the world-famous Rijksmuseum, home to an extensive collection of Dutch masters, followed by time for lunch at leisure. Embark on a private canal boat cruise, the best way to see this city linked by 165 canals spanning more than 30 miles, before taking advantage of priority boarding onto your river ship. After settling in to your premium cabin or suite, gather for a welcome cocktail and dinner aboard.

This morning, transfer by coach to the university town of Leiden, where you enjoy a private, before-hours visit to the American Pilgrim Museum. Afterward, spend some time at leisure to explore Leiden at your own pace. Rejoin the ship in Utrecht for lunch as your cruise continues. This evening, enjoy a private cocktail party.

Arrive this morning in Cologne, where you disembark to explore the major sites on a walking tour, including the Gothic cathedral, an edifice so massive its construction spanned centuries; it was only officially completed in 1880. Following your sightseeing, return to the ship for lunch and some time at leisure. Then, go ashore to enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities. Visit the Fragrance Museum with a guide to learn the history of the city’s iconic Eau de Cologne. Join a Guide at the Museum Ludwig who introduces you to the diverse cross section of modern art on display. Cycle the Streets of the City, discovering Cologne’s many charms as you bike carefree past its hallmark sites. Later this afternoon, gather to visit a 100-year-old brewery, where you enjoy a beer tasting and light snacks.

Arrive in Cochem on the Moselle River, a tributary of the Rhine, this afternoon. Disembark to visit the neo-Gothic castle, including its famous Witches Tower, the only part of the original Gothic structure still standing. Tonight, sit down to a private Chef's Highlights dinner aboard the ship.

Cruise to Koblenz, where you rejoin the Rhine River. Koblenz’s history dates back to Roman times, when Julius Caesar built the first bridge to span the Rhine. Take a guided walking tour of the city. Then, cruise the lovely Rhine Gorge, one of the most scenic stretches in all of Europe. Its magical mix of rocky, winding riverbanks, quaint riverside towns and castles perched high on cliffsides helped earn it a spot on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. Later, arrive in Rüdesheim, regionally renowned for its excellent wines. Join your Resident Tour Director for a wine tasting and dinner ashore at a local restaurant.

Set out on a full-day excursion to Heidelberg, starting with a visit to the Altstadt (old town) for time at leisure; the Market Square is an excellent place to soak up local life. Then, ride by funicular to explore the ruins of Heidelberg Castle. Abandoned in the 18th century, the crumbling fortress nevertheless remained a source of inspiration for later Romantic painters and poets, who seized on it as a symbol of faded glory. Afterward, stop for lunch at a local restaurant followed by time at leisure, before rejoining the ship in Speyer.

The capital of France’s Alsace region, Strasbourg has been a focal point of French-German conflict for centuries, bearing the combined stamp of both nations as a result. Experience this for yourself on a walking tour of the old town that includes a specially arranged tasting at the Cave des Hospices, the city’s oldest wine cellar. Cruise to Basel, Switzerland’s third-largest city. Tonight, attend a captain’s gala dinner aboard your vessel.

Disembark and drive to Lucerne for a guided walk. Since the mid-19th century, this beautiful city has been the most visited in Switzerland, and today, it strikes an ideal balance between timeless historic beauty and modern development. Visit the Chapel Bridge, a city landmark and the oldest covered wooden bridge in Europe. View its interior, decorated with vivid paintings, many of which date back to the 17th century and depict events from the Lucerne’s storied past. Also stop at the Lion Monument, a rock relief commemorating the Swiss Guard. Savor lunch at a traditional wirtshaus, and then ascend Mount Pilatus by cable car to absorb the postcard-worthy mountaintop views. After descending via cog railway, continue to Zurich and check in to your hotel.

Switzerland is synonymous with chocolate, and no visit here is complete without a stop at a Swiss chocolatier’s workshop, where you enjoy some delectable treats. After time at leisure for lunch, gather for a guided walk of the city, taking in its alluring mix of modern and Old World architecture while strolling its pedestrian-friendly avenues. Zurich is known for its churches, and your walk incorporates several noteworthy examples, including the Fraumünster, with its Marc Chagalldesigned stained glass windows, and the Grossmünster, supposedly founded by Charlemagne and later playing a key part in establishing the Reformation in Switzerland. Tonight, attend a farewell dinner.

Transfer to the airport and board your homebound flight.