Style : River cruise
Enchanted Europe (Eastbound) tour
Bamberg Basel Enchanted Europe (Eastbound) Trip

Enchanted Europe (Eastbound)

Avalon Waterways
4.7 . Excellent
97%
Travel Style: Array Relaxed
Physical Level: Normal generally flat walking in urban or suburban environments. Very Easy
Lodging Level: Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels. Value (3*)
16 days
From: $ 7,898 $ 494 / day
Checking price

Overview

Highlights (Bullets)

  • Onboard welcome reception
  • Choice of excursion to Black Forest or guided visit to a local winery in Breisach
  • Guided tour, visit to La Petite France district and the Gothic cathedral
  • Choice of visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, cable-car ride to the Niederwald Monument in Rüdesheim, or a hike in the vineyards with your Adventure Host; scenic cruising through the Rhine Gorge; time at leisure in Boppard
  • Choice of guided tour or bike with your Adventure Host in Frankfurt, or guided tour in Seligenstadt
  • Guided tour
  • Guided tour, visit to the Bishop's Residence
  • Guided tour, see the Old Town Hall
  • Full day guided tour in Munich
  • Choice of guided sightseeing in Roth or hike with your Adventure Host or guided tour in Nuremberg, or Nuremberg Rally Grounds tour; onboard lecture
  • Guided walk, see Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and Porta Pretoria
  • Guided walk in Passau; free time in Linz
  • Guided tour of the Benedictine Abbey in Melk or walk with your Adventure Host; scenic cruising through the Wachau Valley; free time in Vienna
  • Choice of guided sightseeing or bike with your Adventure Host
  • Choice of guided tour, see Heroes' Square or hike with your Adventure Host
  • Your breathtaking river cruise begins on the Rhine River in Basel, Switzerland
  • You’ll sail to Breisach, your starting point for a Black Forest excursion, and to the city of Strasbourg, France, along the way

Short Description

Your breathtaking river cruise begins on the Rhine River in Basel, Switzerland. You’ll sail to Breisach, your starting point for a Black Forest excursion, and to the city of Strasbourg, France, along the way. Sail to Rüdesheim and through the spectacular Rhine Gorge. The modern and charming city of Frankfurt is also on your route along the Rhine, and you’ll sail on the Main River to visit an authentic village. Visit Würzburg, and take a guided tour of Bamberg, before reaching Nuremberg, from where you will take a full-day excursion to Munich. Sail from Nuremberg to Regensburg, the only German city not bombed during WWII. Cruise next to Passau, with its narrow streets and baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral. In Melk, you will visit Austria’s majestic Benedictine Abbey. Take in the breathtaking views before continuing through the picturesque Wachau Valley to the romantic sights of Vienna, the “City of Music.” Your European river cruise ends in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, with guided sightseeing and free time to explore this vibrant city on your own.

Style River cruise
See all the highlights and popular spots on a classic tour.
Itinerary Focus Classic Highlights
Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels.
Lodging Level Value (3*)
Flight & Transport Inclusions All internal ground transport
Start City BASEL, SWITZERLAND (EMBARKATION)
End City BUDAPEST (DISEMBARKATION)

Itinerary

Day 1: BASEL, SWITZERLAND (EMBARKATION)

Welcome to Switzerland! Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.

Flights into Zürich or Basel must arrive by 3 pm.

Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.

Enjoy dinner and explore the ship on your first night on board as you sail to Breisach.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH

(Dinner)

Day 2: BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST

German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black Forest

DISCOVERY 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, OR:

DISCOVERY Visit to a local winery in Breisach, where you will learn about German winemaking and enjoy a wine tasting.

You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar in the morning.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO STRASBOURG

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 3: STRASBOURG, FRANCE

A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France

Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.

CLASSIC Join a City Tour of Strasbourg’s sights, including Gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District.

You may also choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to the historic Maginot Line—the pre-WWII fortifications designed to protect the eastern border of France, or visit Alsace’s wine country today.

Alternatively, take some free time in Strasbourg to visit a museum, or stroll across the city center.

AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO RÜDESHEIM

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 4: RÜDESHEIM, GERMANY–RHINE GORGE

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country

ACTIVE Enjoy a hike with your Avalon Adventure Host through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim, OR:

DISCOVERY Tour the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience; based on your departure enjoy a local special treat, OR:

ACTIVE Take an open-air Cable Car Ride to the Niederwald Monument, then ride or walk back down through the vineyards; based on your departure enjoy a local special treat.

This afternoon, stretch out on the Sky Deck as you pass through the spectacular Rhine Gorge on your way to Boppard.

BOPPARD

A Peaceful Jewel in the Rhine Gorge

Enjoy some free time to relax, or explore the Rheinallee Promenade for delicatessen fare with a cup of German coffee or glass of Riesling wine.

Later, enjoy onboard entertainment while sailing to Frankfurt.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO FRANKFURT

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 5: FRANKFURT. EXCURSION TO SELIGENSTADT

Charm in Frankfurt

ACTIVE Enjoy a biking experience in the city of Frankfurt with your Adventure Host, OR:

CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Frankfurt to see the city’s cultural landmarks and gleaming financial headquarters combined with the cozy ambience of quaint neighborhoods, OR:

DISCOVERY Take a Guided Tour to Seligenstadt—one of Germany’s oldest towns and home to the Einhard Basilika—dubbed “minor basilica” in 1925 by Pope Pius XI.

Later, enjoy live entertainment onboard.

AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MAIN RIVER VILLAGE

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 6: MAIN RIVER VILLAGE

Beauty on the Main River

Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.

CLASSIC Join a Guided Walking Tour of a picturesque Bavarian village.

AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO WÜRZBURG

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 7: WÜRZBURG

A Perfect Day in the Pearl of the Romantic Road

CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Würzburg with its Old Main Bridge, towering fortress, and baroque Bishop’s Residenz—with the largest known ceiling fresco.

You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to the beautiful Bavarian town of Rothenburg. See the local sights and enjoy the fairytale atmosphere that has inspired artists.

Enjoy live entertainment on board as you set sail for Bamberg.

AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BAMBERG

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 8: BAMBERG

The City of Seven Hills

CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of the historic home to imperial dynasties, and see its Romanesque cathedral, Old Town Hall, and seven hills crowned with churches.

After the tour, spend free time with a glass of German-style Rauchbier (smoked beer).

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO NUREMBERG

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 9: NUREMBERG. EXCURSION TO MUNICH

A King’s Palace and Town Halls

CLASSIC Take a full-day Guided Tour of the highlights of fascinating Munich. See Nymphenburg Palace—a former residence of German monarchs, along with the old and new Town Halls of Marienplatz.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN NUREMBERG

(Breakfast,Dinner)

Day 10: ROTH. EXCURSION TO NUREMBERG

Legends and History Lessons

Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.

ACTIVE Explore Roth's Lauter valley with your Adventure Host, OR:

CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Sightseeing Tour of the Bavarian town of Roth—with its half-timbered houses, market square, and 1535 hunting lodge Schloss Ratibor, OR:

CLASSIC Choose a Guided Tour of Nuremberg’s medieval architecture, gilded fountain, Gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle, OR:

CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of the historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds—used by the Third Reich.

DISCOVERY Enjoy an Onboard Lecture about the Main-Danube Canal—linking these two rivers to make a vital connection enabling navigation between the North and Black Seas.

AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO REGENSBURG

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 11: REGENSBURG

Bavaria’s Medieval Miracle

CLASSIC Join a Guided City Walk and see Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and Porta Pretoria—built in 179 AD as the entrance to Castra Regina fortress.

You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the Benedictine Monastery in Weltenburg.

Alternatively spend a free afternoon exploring Regensburg on foot or by bike through its charming streets.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO PASSAU

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 12: PASSAU

Where the Danube, Inn, and Ilz Rivers Meet

CLASSIC Join a Guided City Walk to learn more about this beautiful “City of Three Rivers.”

Alternatively, join a full day Guided Optional Excursion to Salzburg—the city of Mozart—or to the picturesque Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov.

Sail to Linz this afternoon, or join your ship after your selected full-day excursion.

LINZ, AUSTRIA

Legendary, Lovely Linz

Enjoy a free afternoon to linger in Linz. Take a bicycle from the ship and cycle along the Danube, or follow one of Linz’s many nature trails for a bird’s-eye view of the city and river below.

Later, enjoy live entertainment onboard.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MELK

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 13: MELK–WACHAU VALLEY

. Frescoes Above and Vineyards Below

ACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for a Morning Hike through Melk’s beautiful countryside, OR:

CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey to marvel at its frescoed ceilings, statues, incredible library, and ornate pipe organ.

Enjoy a coffee or a cocktail on the Sky Deck as you sail through the picturesque Wachau Valley to Vienna.

VIENNA

Viennese Waltzes on the Blue DanubeThis evening, you may choose to attend an Optional Excursion to a Royal Waltz Concert for an unforgettable evening of music in an elegant hall.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN VIENNA

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 14: VIENNA

Royal Collections, and Amusing Attractions

ACTIVE Explore Vienna's Danube Island by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:

Ask about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities.

CLASSIC Explore the Habsburg empire this morning on a Guided City Tour of Vienna’s gilded landmarks. See the Imperial Palace complex—the winter residence of the Imperial Family, the iconic Vienna Opera House and stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

Join a Guided Optional Excursion to Schönbrunn Palace— summer home of the Habsburg Empire.

Enjoy free time to take a tram to visit Vienna’s Prater amusement park or one of the many museums nearby. You may also borrow a bike from ship to explore Vienna’s square or the banks of the Danube.

Later, relax on board with live entertainment as you sail to Budapest.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BUDAPEST

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 15: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

War Heroes and Hot Water

ACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for a walk along the Danube river and around Melk, OR:

CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Sightseeing, including the iconic Heroes’ Square.

This afternoon, select from a variety of Guided Optional or spend free time soaking in one of Budapest’s famous thermal baths. Consider a scenic hike above the Danube, or enjoy Budapest’s cafés, pubs or nightlife.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BUDAPEST

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 16: BUDAPEST (DISEMBARKATION)

Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.

(Breakfast)

Availability

Checking price
Price From $ 7,898
Price Per Day: $ 494 per day
Checking price
Start DateFinish DateBase PriceDeparture GuaranteedAvailability 
Jul-05-2023Jul-20-2023$ 8,027YesAvailable Reserve
Sep-04-2023Sep-19-2023$ 8,527YesPlease Call Reserve
May-20-2024Jun-04-2024$ 8,498NoSold Out Reserve
Jul-03-2024Jul-18-2024$ 8,198YesAvailable Reserve
Sep-21-2024Oct-06-2024$ 8,798YesAvailable Reserve
Oct-25-2024Nov-09-2024$ 7,898YesAvailable Reserve

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Avalon Waterways .

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

1,595 Avalon Waterways Travel Reviews & Ratings

97%
4.7 out of 5 (100+ reviews)
Excellent 1,371
Great 131
Average 44
Disappointing 14
Terrible 35
Value
4.7
Guide
4.7
Activities
4.7
Lodging
4.7
Transportation
4.7
Meals
4.7

Enchanted Europe (Eastbound)

No reviews yet for this trip. Be the first one to write a review

Company Reviews

South of France

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
My mom, cousin and I had the best time sailing through the south of France with Avalon. Everything about the ship was incredible from the Cruise Director to the local guides who took us around their home towns, from the gourmet meals to the cheese tasting on board, and the stunning cabins with the beds that face the window. My favorite thing was going to a truffle farm and watching the dogs hunt for truffles, then eating them in the farm's tasting room. I can't wait for my next cruise with Avalon!
Read more

We had a fabulous cruise

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
We had a fabulous cruise. We love Avalon. Everything was perfect from the food, to the service, to the state room. We did the active in discovery Holland and Belgium, which featured lots of great excursions. Our cruise Director Bram and our hotel manager Akos were just amazing. It was such a great time.
Read more

Avalon Waterways cannot be trusted

1.0
Details
Value1.0
Guide1.0
Activities1.0
Lodging1.0
Transportation1.0
Meals1.0
Avalon Waterways cannot be trusted! We had a horrible experience with the company recently on a trip to Egypt, the Nile River along with Cairo, on what we’re supposed to be their riverboat, MS Farah. After we had paid for the trip in full we were sent an email saying the boat “is unavailable and you will now be sailing instead on the MS Movenpick Hamees. There was nothing we could do because of a disclaimer saying they could change the boat at any time. The boat we ended up traveling on, was in horrible shape, old and run down. We had traveled with Avalon previously, on one of their beautiful newer boats, which is why we decided to use them again. Also, the trip was supposed to be adult only and ended up having many families with babies and children on board. This was a completely different experience than we expected. To add insult to injury while we were going down the Nile, the boat we were supposed to be on floated by us, MS Farah. Our whole Avalon group of 28 passengers were irate. Please heed my warning.
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Awesome Cruise

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
We just took our second Avalon river cruise, the Tulip Cruise thru Netherlands and Belgium, which was a beautiful experience. It didnt hurt that the weather was great. Prior one and still my favorite was the Rhine Cruise.
Wife loves the experience. Food and service were great with many options and the kitchen/serving staff went out of their way to accommodate some special dietary needs. They had an hour long free happy hour every day before dinner and a cookie/coffee bar all day. Rooms were cleaned on a daily basis. Tour options were very good, especially the tour to the medieval city Bruges and the Keukenhof gardens. Their bed placement facing the outside windows is a winner. We highly recommend Avalon.
Read more

Amazing tulip river cruise

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
Did a tulip cruise with Avalon this spring and it was an amazing experience. The ship was beautiful, the crew were fantastic and the food was delicious. If you haven't taken a river cruise before, this is the way to travel. I can't imagine going back on a ship with 3000 people. I'll stick with Avalon. Can't wait to go again!
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dO nOt BoOk ThEsE tRiPs

1.0
Details
Value1.0
Guide1.0
Activities1.0
Lodging1.0
Transportation1.0
Meals1.0
Honest, helpful, and conSTRUCTIVE?!?!?!?! NO! NUH UH!!!!!!!!! I spent sooooooooooooooooooooo much money on this that I had to go to that place to get that credit card because I couldn't afford my daily gallon of wine. this site makes absolutely no sense and I just want you to know that it's a scam. I clicked on the amazon one and it led me to some off-brand version of amazon called," nozama". I bought 8 "nuggets" (no further explanation needed) For $40,000 and they were never delivered. I gave them some of my personal information that didn't really matter; social security, phone number, exact location, etc. I even emailed them back when they said I could get a coupon UP TO $999,999,999,999, but when I gave them MORE of my info, I only got a $0.01 coupon. Like, WHAT THE FIGS?!?!?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?? WHY DID MY WIFE LEAVE ME? WHY DID MY SON DIE IN A CAR CRASH??? Why am I here...?
Read more

Details

Deck & Cabin Plans

Optional Activities

WZB|Enchanted Europe (Eastbound)
WZB1|With 2 Nights in Lucerne
WBZ|Enchanted Europe (Westbound)

Flight & Transport Inclusions

All internal ground transport

Group Size

Standard Group - 25 + people

Accommodations

Radisson Blu Airport

This modern, stylish hotel 330-room property conveniently offers direct access to the airport terminal, the perfect location for arrivals & departures. Dining options include an Italian restaurant specializing in fresh Italian dishes crafted with a modern twist and a Grill restaurant offering seafood and steaks dishes prepared in an open kitchen. The atrium bar has a 16m-high glass wine tower with over 4,000 bottles of wine and champagne and the outdoor terrace is the place for cocktails and light bites. Other amenities include two fitness centers (one on site and one at the airport), a hammam, as well as a sauna set in a plane's cockpit. Free internet access is available throughout the entire hotel.

Zurich

Switzerland

Zuerich Flughafen

Budapest Marriott

This modern 364 room property enjoys a prime downtown location and offers convenience blended with style. Free Wi-Fi access is available in the lobby and the hotel has a fitness center with sauna and Jacuzzi. The trendy Mediterranean Grill restaurant serves tasty Hungarian dishes and the stylish lounge bar offers tapas style food and cocktails.

Budapest

Hungary

Apaczai Csere Janos U.4

Trip ID#:

AVALON-WZB

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