The Rhine & Moselle – Southbound

13 days
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4.7/5 Excellent
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River Cruise
Your river cruise vacation starts in marvelous Amsterdam where there is much to see! Discover the treasures of this popular, historic city on a canal cruise which takes you through the elegant Grachten lined with stately homes dating back to the city’s “Golden Age.” Explore the magnificent city of Cologne, Germany, which straddles both sides of the Rhine Rive...

Overview

Trip type
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • Onboard welcome reception
    • Canal cruise
    • Choice of Cologne highlights walking tour, or Jewish Heritage walking tour
    • Choice of guided tour, or visit Sayn Manor House
    • Choice of guided walk, or hike to castle ruins with your Adventure Host; wine tasting
    • Choice of guided tour in Metz, or excursion to the Maginot Line area
    • Choice of guided sightseeing in Trier, or “Roman Trier,” see the Porta Nigra
    • Free time in Beilstein; excursion to a medieval castle
    • Cruise through the Rhine Gorge; choice of visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, or cable car ride to the Niederwald Monument in Rüdesheim; special treat
    • Guided tour of Heidelberg Castle, see the Great Vat

What's this trip about?

    Your river cruise vacation starts in marvelous Amsterdam where there is much to see! Discover the treasures of this popular, historic city on a canal cruise which takes you through the elegant Grachten lined with stately homes dating back to the city’s “Golden Age.” Explore the magnificent city of Cologne, Germany, which straddles both sides of the Rhine River. Visit Koblenz, strategically located at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, before coming to the charming wine village of Bernkastel with its half-timbered houses from the Middle Ages still standing! Here, you’ll go on a guided walk through the delightful marketplace and see the renaissance-era Town Hall and taste some of the famed Moselle wines! Sail through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, considered the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine River, and see ancient castles standing majestically on cliffs 400 feet above the water. Visit the charming Rhine Valley wine town of Rüdesheim, then visit the ruins of Heidelberg’s castle, towering magnificently over the city. Continue your stunning European river cruise to Strasbourg, France, where a local expert will show you 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. At the foot of Kaiserstuhl Mountain on the French-German border sits Breisach—known to be the gateway to Germany’s famous Black Forest, an area of unrivaled natural beauty. Disembark on this exciting river cruise in Basel, Switzerland. Beauty, new discoveries, and delightful surprises are plentiful on your European river cruise on the Rhine and Moselle Rivers!

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeOperator does not provide
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityAMSTERDAM
End CityBASEL

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Switzerland
  • Germany
  • France
  • Netherlands

Attractions

  • Amsterdam
  • Basel
  • Boppard
  • Heidelberg
  • Heidelberg Castle
  • Koblenz
  • Rudesheim
  • Strasbourg
  • Trier

Activities

  • Culture
  • River cruise

View Similar Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1

AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (EMBARKATION) Welcome to Amsterdam. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding Flights into Amsterdam must arrive by 3:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm. Your day in Amsterdam is free to explore at your leisure. During tulip season, you m...

Day 2

AMSTERDAM Colorful Amsterdam—with Canals, Crooked Houses, and Cuisine of a Golden Age CLASSIC Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age.” You may choose to spend some free time this afternoon visiting one of Amsterdam’s many fascinating museums or galleries. AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COLOGNE (B,L,D)

Day 3

COLOGNE, GERMANY Prost! Celebrate in the Rhineland’s Capital City ACTIVE This afternoon join your Avalon Adventure Host for a Walk in Cologne, OR: CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk of Cologne—with its soaring twin-steepled gothic cathedral, OR: DISCOVERY Choose a Gui...

Day 4

KOBLENZ Fortress Walls and Manor Halls Where the Rhine and Moselle Meet CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk amid ancient fortress walls, towers, squares, and monuments, OR: CLASSIC Visit the Sayn Manor House on a Guided Tour. Spend free time on a cable-car ride, or a h...

Day 5

BERNKASTEL Gracious German Vineyards of the Moselle Valley CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of the charming wine village of Bernkastel—with its medieval marketplace and 17th-century gabled timber-framed houses, OR: ACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for a hike...

Day 6

THIONVILLE, FRANCE Ornate Palaces, Opera Houses, and Old Battle Lines CLASSIC Visit the historic Maginot Line—pre-WWII defensive fortifications designed to protect the eastern border of France, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Excursion to Metz—a city with 3,000 years of h...

Day 7

GREVENMACHER. EXCURSION TO TRIER Ancient Worlds, Old World Charm, and World-Class Wine ACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for an early Morning Run in Grevenmacher on the banks of the Moselle River in beautiful wine country. This morning you may choose to join a ...

Day 8

BEILSTEIN, GERMANY The Sleeping Beauty of the Moselle Enjoy free time in Beilstein—known as the “Sleeping Beauty of the Moselle” for its castle-dotted hills, vineyards, and inviting village of the Moselle River Valley. Go for a morning bike ride through the unspoile...

Day 9

BOPPARD—RHINE GORGE A Peaceful Jewel in the Rhine Gorge ACTIVE Go for a Run this morning through the village of Boppard with your Avalon Adventure Host. Alternatively, choose to explore Boppard’s beautiful views and forested surroundings on a bike ride or hike at yo...

Day 10

LUDWIGSHAFEN. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG Philosophical Views, a Hilltop Castle, and the World’s Biggest Barrel of Wine 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 ...

Day 11

STRASBOURG, FRANCE Gothic Giants and Varietal Vintages ACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for a Morning Walk, OR: CLASSIC Take a City Sightseeing Tour, including the city’s gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock...

Day 12

BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO THE BLACK FOREST History, Artistry, and the Beautiful Black Forest CLASSIC Visit the charming village of Colmar on a Guided Tour of its half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings, OR: DISCOVERY Join a full-day Guided Visit...

Day 13

BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION) Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Flights should not leave Zürich airport before 10 am. (B)

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,599
Price per day$354
Last Updated: 5/23/2019

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Avalon Waterways.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

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.

Avalon Waterways Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
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Average
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Terrible
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Other Avalon Waterways Reviews

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Stephanie Mantell

Jul 2024

Written on

A lot to recommend BUT .........

A beautiful boat, excellent food, although it would have been nice to experienced some international flavours eg: Japanese, Indian etc, however I could not fault the...

P

Patti Evans

Jul 2024

Written on

Fantastic service and experience

Well, speak as you find. I see many poor reviews of Avalon Waterways, but I have to say we have just returned from an Avalon river cruise on the Romantic Rhine from...

I

Ian S.

Jun 2024

Written on

Fantastic River Cruise With Avalon Waterways

My wife and I have just returned from our first River Cruise (Danube Dreams Westbound) operated by Avalon Waterways. This took us from Budapest in Hungary to Vilshof...

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Avalon Waterways

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CRUISING ELEVATED.
Innovative, transformative, original. Avalon Waterways has redefined cruising by going against the current and
away from the ordinary. Delivering unparalleled experiences and boundless exploration, Avalon puts you in the captain’s seat to navigate your journey, fuel your passions and steer clear of the unexpected as you cruise down the world’s most memorable and mesmerizing waterways. One step aboard our modern, luxurious Suite Ships with the grandest views in cruising and you’ll see how the tides they are a-changin’. 

Welcome to a new wave in cruising. Welcome aboard Avalon Waterways.

IT DOESN’T GET ANY SUITER.
Enjoy the perfect blend of elegance and ease – where little touches are bold, gestures are grand and the views even grander. There’s a reason our ships are the critics’ darlings and favorites among our most discerning guests. Our boutique-hotel-inspired Panorama Suites feature the industry’s only Open-Air Balconies with the widest-opening windows in cruising and decadent Comfort Collection beds that face the ever-changing scenery.

PACK YOUR PASSIONS.
As you set sail down the world’s most legendary waters, we’ve curated a collection of the most intriguing experiences to immerse yourself in – both on board and off.

SEE MORE THAN THE SEA/
On a typical cruise, you see waves, water and more water. On an Avalon cruise, legendary landmarks and postcard-perfect landscapes are always in view. Dock to discovery takes mere minutes. 

LET’S DISH.
While we naturally present the signature delicacies of the regions you visit, we enrich the gastronomic journey by offering multiple dining venues, bringing unexpected culinary experiences to the table.

What they’re known for
River cruises to classic and exotic destinations with a luxury flair and personalization options.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Moevenpick Amsterdam City A stylish 408-room hotel in the perfect location, this waterfront property offers Free Wi-Fi internet access throughout. The chic restaurant serves creative international cuisine and there is a fabulous bar serving drinks and light snacks which is also a great spot for a nightcap. For relaxation there is a Lifestyle Studio featuring a gym, Finnish sauna, bio sauna & ice fountain. Amsterdam Netherlands Piet Heinkade 11 Renaissance Zurich Tower This 300 room luxury hotel is housed in a modern tower building located in the vibrant Zurich West quarter. The exclusive Grill restaurant serves urban cuisine and the lounge bar offers drinks, snacks and cocktails. Other amenities include a fitness area on the 15th floor with city views, sauna and steam bath. Zurich Switzerland Turbinenstrasse 20,
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Optional Activities
WZRA|Cruise from Basel to Amsterdam
Additional Information
Trip ID
AVALON-WARZ

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