Active & Discovery on the Rhine with 2 Nights in Lucerne (Southbound)

Itinerary ▼

1. Day 1: AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS (EMBARKATION)

   How Suite It Is! Welcome Aboard Your Avalon Suite Ship®.Flights into Amsterdam must arrive by 3:30 pm.Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.The day is yours to relax and discover this delightful 700-year-old city with its elegant and classic architecture, cafés, restaurants and lively marketplace.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM(D)

2. Day 2: AMSTERDAM

   Colorful Canals of Amsterdam Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.ACTIVE Enjoy a Guided Kayak Tour for an adventure which will provide you a unique perspective of the “Venice of the North” from the waters of its magnificent canals, OR: ACTIVE Join a Biking Tour through the Dutch countryside past polders, dykes, and quaint centuries-old villages, OR:DISCOVERY Take a Tour to the Street Art Museum, see nearly 200 large-scale artworks featuring artists from around the world. Afterwards, attend a hands-on workshop with an instructor who will guide you in creating your own group mural to discover your inner artist, OR:CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Canal Cruise to explore the iconic waterways and sites of Amsterdam.This afternoon, enjoy relaxing sailing on the Sky Deck. OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO DÜSSELDORF(B,L,D)

3. Day 3: DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY

   Avant-Garde Architecture and Amazing Altbiers ACTIVE Join a City Biking Tour to discover interesting stories about the sights and the city itself along the way, OR: DISCOVERY Experience Düsseldorf’s Old Town and get an insight into its culinary diversity, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Düsseldorf. Visit the Old Town, but also discover its spectacular subway line, where each station has an individual magic character.This afternoon you might take a Guided Optional Excursion to Düsseldorf’s microbreweries to try a variety of Altbiers. Later enjoy live entertainment on board. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KOBLENZ(B,L,D)

4. Day 4: KOBLENZ—RHINE GORGE

   Fortress Walls and Manor Halls Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.ACTIVE Take a Guided E-Bike Tour in the vineyards surrounding this beautiful city at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, OR: DISCOVERY Join a Guided Tour of a famous local brewery which reputation is based on their traditional way of brewing tasty beers following old recipes. Afterwards taste some of their classical brewed beers, OR: CLASSIC Enjoy a leisurely Guided Walk of ancient Koblenz, including a cable car ride to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress for a spectacular panoramic view. En route to Bingen, sail through the Rhine Gorge (a UNESCO World Heritage site). Take in the breathtaking views of ancient castles perched on cliffs 400 feet above the water and pass the legendary Rock of the Lorelei—where the mythological siren’s songs lured ill-fated sailors.DISCOVERY Enjoy an experience fit for royalty during an exclusive private reception at Rheinstein Castle.OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO LUDWIGSHAFEN(B,L,D)

5. Day 5: LUDWIGSHAFEN. EXCURSIONS TO HEIDELBERG

   The World’s Biggest Wine Barrel ACTIVE Follow the road less traveled on this exciting Guided Hike along the Philosophers’ Way for an inspiring view of the city below, 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. While visiting the city, enjoy a tasting of local specialties.Enjoy live entertainment on board your ship this evening. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KEHL(B,L,D)

6. Day 6: KEHL. EXCURSION TO STRASBOURG, FRANCE

   A Grand Cathedral and La Petite FranceAsk about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities.ACTIVE Enjoy a walking tour along the river and explore Strasbourg’s lovely European District around the Marne-Rhein Canal, OR:DISCOVERY Join a Culinary Walk to discover the Alsatian cuisine and traditions, so influenced by the unique history of a region, whose control alternated between Germany and France for centuries, OR:CLASSIC Join a City Sightseeing Tour, including Strasbourg’s s Gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH(B,L,D)

7. Day 7: BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST

   German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black ForestACTIVE Take a Guided E-bike Tour to experience the magical Black Forest from a unique point of view, OR:ACTIVE Join a Bike Ride north along the Rhine River toward the small fortified Medieval village of Burkheim, OR:DISCOVERY Discover Freiburg’s charming old town on a Guided Tour, then enjoy a behind-the-scenes visit to a local brewery with tastings of traditional German beer, OR: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.You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar, with half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL(B,L,D)

8. Day 8: BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION—SWISS ALPS

   Spectacular Views in SwitzerlandThis morning disembark your Avalon Suite Ship and take a motorcoach transfer which will bring you in the heart of Swiss Alps.CLASSIC Enjoy a special highlight excursion to Mount Pilatus (or Mount Stanserhorn per seasonal accessibility) for spectacular views over central Switzerland (in case of bad weather, visit the Swiss Transport Museum instead).LUCERNEA Historic Bridge and Heart of a LionCLASSIC Join a Guided Walking tour to explore beautiful Lucerne, which includes Thorvaldsen’s poignant Lion Monument and the famous Chapel Bridge.(B)

9. Day 9: LUCERNE

   Lake Scenes and Swiss Cuisine DISCOVERY Enjoy a Guided Walking Tour to discover the rich culinary heritage of this beautiful Swiss city—complete with tastings of local specialties.(B)

10. Day 10: LUCERNE

    Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)