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The Best of the Rhine with 2 Nights in Frankfurt and 2 Nights in Lucerne
Overview
Highlights (Bullets)
- Welcome to Frankfurt
- Guided tour
- Guided tour of Heidelberg Castle, see the Great Vat; onboard welcome reception
- Cruise through the scenic Rhine Gorge with breathtaking views of ancient castles, towering cliffs, and the legendary Rock of the Lorelei.
- Choice of guided sightseeing, visit La Petite France district and the Gothic cathedral or bike with your Adventure Host
- Choice of excursion to Black Forest or wine tasting
- Excursion to Mount Pilatus (in case of bad weather, visit the Swiss Transport Museum instead); guided walking tour in Lucerne with the Lion Monument and Chapel Bridge
- Full day at leisure
- Discover extraordinary destinations in Germany, France and Switzerland on this Rhine River cruise to sample local charms and traditions from Frankfurt to Basel
- Before your cruise, spend two nights in Frankfurt, with guided sightseeing of this charming city
Short Description
Discover extraordinary destinations in Germany, France and Switzerland on this Rhine River cruise to sample local charms and traditions from Frankfurt to Basel. Before your cruise, spend two nights in Frankfurt, with guided sightseeing of this charming city. Enjoy a guided tour of Heidelberg before boarding your Avalon Suite Ship®. Relax on the Sky Deck and pass through the dramatic Rhine Gorge—the most beautiful view of the Rhine River where ancient castles stand on cliffs 400 feet above the water. In Strasbourg, France, you’ll be amazed by the red-sandstone Gothic cathedral with ancient murals and fascinating astronomical clock. Also, stroll through the lovely La Petite France district with its quaint shops, delightful bistros, and peaceful waterfront promenade. Before the end of your European river cruise vacation, stop in Breisach, Germany, the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest. Here, find unrivaled natural beauty in the area best known for Black Forest ham, cherry cake, and the cuckoo clock.Cruise to Basel, Switzerland, to disembark from your Avalon Suite Ship® and begin your Monograms vacation with a visit to Mt. Pilatus and a walking tour in Lucerne. Your Monograms® vacation package includes a Local Host® to arrange your sightseeing, free-time recommendations, and any other assistance you need during your 2-night stay in Lucerne. Your Rhine river cruise and vacation package in Switzerland are the perfect combination to unlock a wonderful European vacation.
Itinerary
Day 1
FRANKFURT, GERMANY Welcome to Germany. Your day in Frankfurt is free to explore at your leisure.
Day 2
FRANKFURT Charm in FrankfurtCLASSIC 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.(B)
Day 3
FRANKFURT. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG (EMBARKATION) Castle Walls and the World’s Biggest Wine BarrelCLASSIC 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."Sail to Rüdesheim while having dinner on your first night onboard. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN RÜDESHEIM(D)
Day 4
RHINE GORGE The Most Beautiful View of the Rhine RiverDISCOVERY While sailing enjoy a cup of Rüdesheimer Coffee, a local drink prepared mixing brandy and sugar, topped with coffee and a layer of whipped cream and chocolate shavings.Enjoy a relaxing day onboard and 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.ACTIVE Join your Adventure Host to discover today’s special activities and classes.DISCOVERY Enjoy a wine tasting onboard.Enjoy live entertainment on board your ship this evening. OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO STRASBOURG(B,L,D)
Day 5
STRASBOURG, FRANCE A Grand Cathedral and La Petite FranceACTIVE Discover Strasbourg by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC Join a City Sightseeing Tour, including Strasbourg’s Gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District. Choose a Guided Optional Excursion to visit Alsace’s wine country today. Alternatively, take some free time in Strasbourg to visit a museum, or stroll across the city center. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH(B,L,D)
Day 6
BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black ForestDISCOVERY 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 Badischer Winzerkeller, the largest German wine producer in Europe. Learn about German winemaking in the vineyards of Baden, and enjoy a wine tasting.You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar in the morning, with its half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL(B,L,D)
Day 7
BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION)–MOUNT PILATUS–LUCERNE Disembark your Avalon ship and join the Monograms portion of your vacation. Enjoy a special highlight excursion to Mount Pilatus. Journey almost 7,000 ft. (2,132 m) up for spectacular views over central Switzerland (in case of bad weather, visit the Swiss Transport Museum instead). Later join a guided walking tour to explore beautiful Lucerne which includes Thorvaldsen’s poignant Lion Monument and the famous Chapel Bridge. (B)
Day 8
LUCERNE Today, enjoy a day at leisure in Lucerne. Your Local Host can help you plan your day. (B)
Day 9
LUCERNE Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Availability
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1,479 Avalon Waterways Travel Reviews & Ratings
The Best of the Rhine with 2 Nights in Frankfurt and 2 Nights in Lucerne
Company Reviews
Would never book with Avalon again.
Disappointed on the cruise from Croatia to…
1. Dissatisfied with food:
a. The food quality was not even close to mediocre. Frozen foods were utilized to make dishes.
b. There was not even one day when the food tasted good. Even the desserts were horrible.
c. Choice of restaurants and menu items outside on excursions was horrible.
3. Cleanliness on the ship was not up to the mark. There were cob webs everywhere in the room. So many mosquitoes, moths, spiders and other bugs were everywhere.
4. There were no social evening activities planned. There was one informational talk at 6:45 pm by cruise director followed by dinner every night.
5. Enthusiasm of the staff members was low. They did not interact nor engaged in activities nor conversations.
6. For physical activity on the ship, there was a tiny gym on board and one 30 minute stretch class at 6:30am daily.
Overall we were very disappointed with Avalon waterways and will not be recommending it to any one in the future.
I have very good time in Europe trip…
German grandour East bound
Rooms-we stayed in the Panoramic suite. Wonderful room with big sliding doors. So nice to cruise with door open. Beds were extremely comfortable too.
Food- amazing!!! They really cater to your needs. The drinks flowed freely at lunch and dinner too.
I highly recommend this cruise. We will be back!
Ship was Tranquility II.
Danube cruise with Transylvania…
Beautiful ship with much larger cabins than many of its competitors. Pleasant public areas. Excellent, friendly, helpful staff.
The food was OK, but not wonderful. The soups tasted too similar and often had an oily skin. A prawn cocktail with one (!) prawn is not a prawn cocktail. Food was obviously cooked well in advance and kept hot, so the meat and fish was often dried out.
The tours and guides were good, especially the optional Puszta tour to a ranch, preceded by a Budapest city tour. Really enjoyable.
However, a lot of the tours were rushed. There was only enough time for a quick guided tour of the museum at Constanza and Lepenski Vir, then we had to rush back for meals, instead of having an extra 20 - 30 minutes to look around on our own.
As a superficial introduction to the region it is fine, but much too rushed to be really enjoyable.
Amsterdam Active Discovery was Amazing
Details
Deck & Cabin Plans
Optional Activities
WWZ|The Best of the Rhine
WWZ1|With 2 Nights in Lucerne
WWZ2|With 2 Nights in Frankfurt and 2 Nights in Lucerne
WWZQ|With 2 Nights in Frankfurt
Accommodations
The Westin Grand Frankfurt
This classic luxury 371-room hotel offers high quality service and an excellent location, just steps away from the famous Zeil shopping mile and exclusive Goethestrasse with Free Wi-Fi access available throughout the property.
Three restaurants and bars offer a great choice of cusine to suit every palate, you may choose between regional or international cuisine, Japanese sushi & teppanyaki as well as Chinese. For relaxation and revitalization, there is an indoor swimming pool and fitness area complete with Finnish sauna and steam room.
Frankfurt
Germany
Konrad-Adenauer Str. 7
Romantik Hotel Wilden Mann
Comprised of 7 historic town houses, this delightful property is an oasis of charm and hospitality snuggled in the picturesque old town of Lucerne. Complimentary coffee/tea making facilities are available in the public area, the spacious lounge is an inviting place to relax and the hotel's two restaurants offer a choice of local specialties and international cuisine.
Luzern 7
Switzerland
Bahnhofstrasse 30
Renaissance
A contemporary 87-room hotel set in an elegant turn-of-the-century building located in the heart of Lucerne. Amenities include a lively South American-inspired restaurant, hip cocktail bar, small fitness center, and a contemporary lounge area where complimentary tea and coffee can be enjoyed during the day.
Lucerne
Switzerland
Pilatusstrasse 15
Astoria
Ideally located in the heart of Lucerne, surrounded by mountains, close to its lake boasting crystal clear waters, the historic old town, and famous Chapel Bridge. All 252 contemporary rooms have a minibar and Wi-Fi. There's a plush cocktail lounge, a stylish café, and a rooftop bar affording city views. Other facilities include a full equipped modern gym.
Lucerne
Switzerland
Pilatusstrasse 29
Trip ID#:
AVALON-WWZ2
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