Castles on the Rhine: Family Riverboat Adventure - Northbound 2025

8 days
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USTOA

Small Group Tour
Create cherished memories on our unforgettable family riverboat cruise along the Rhine River between Basel and Amsterdam visiting Switzerland, France, Germany and The Netherlands.
From$5,690
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

    • Create cherished family memories on our unforgettable Basel to Amsterdam riverboat cruise along the Rhine River
    • exploring Switzerland
    • France
    • Germany and The Netherlands for an adventure unlike any other.Family travel experiences include a bicycle ride through forests and vineyards along the Rhine riverside; Swiss folklore and more in lakeside Lucerne; a ride aboard the world's steepest cogwheel train to the top of Mt. Pilatus in the Swiss Alps; exploring the fascinating ruins of hilltop Heidelberg Castle in the medieval university town of Heidelberg; learning about the Lorelei and other Rhine River legends while keeping an eye out for fairy tale castles; discovering the art treasures and historic canals of Amsterdam; an exclusive medieval dinner for Tauck guests only at Burg Satzvey
    • a medieval moated castle in Germany; becoming 'French for a Day' with French language lessons
    • songs
    • and a chocolate tasting; and much more!

What's this trip about?

    Create cherished memories on our unforgettable family riverboat cruise along the Rhine River between Basel and Amsterdam visiting Switzerland, France, Germany and The Netherlands.

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start City Basel, Switzerland
End CityAmsterdam

Travel Themes

  • Family Friendly

Destinations

Activities

  • Kid-friendly activities

Trip includes

    • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Private medieval evening including tour and dinner at a historic moated castle, Burg Satzvey Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $2,358 All gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides and drivers Descending Mt. Pilatus aboardthe world's highest cogwheel train with sweeping views of the Swiss Alps Tarte flambée,chocolate and French lessons – become "French for a Day" Bicycling through forests and vineyards beside the Rhine Visit to the legendary ruins of Heidelberg Castle

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Welcome to Basel and embark your riverboat

Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Basel.
Transfers are included from EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg or Basel's SBB train station to the riverboat where embarkation begins at 4:00 PM; guests can also transfer from Zürich Airport or Zurich Hauptbahnhof (train station) to the riverboat in Basel. Meet your riv...
Day 2 By rail to Mt. Pilatus and explore Lucerne

Depart your riverboat this morning for an excursion to Switzerland's Lake Lucerne area and Mt. Pilatus – where mountain peaks, forests and meadows straight out of a picture book await your family. Travel to Kriens where you'll board...

Day 3 French for a day in Strasbourg

Wake up this morning aboard your riverboat, docked on the Rhine outside the historic city of Strasbourg, France, surrounded by the hills of southern Alsace. Renowned for its fairy-tale charm – and as the "Crossroads of Europe" for i...

Day 4 Castles on the Rhine

As a major transport link across the heart of central Europe for centuries, the mighty Rhine River was a source of great riches for those who controlled the trade that plied its waters... and today, the cities, towns and castles alo...

Day 5 Rüdesheim or cycling and an evening at a castle

This morning you have two choices for exploring – explore Rüdesheim, including a visit to magical Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett, home to 400 self-playing instruments, and enjoy an aerial view of the landscapes and vineyards ...

Day 6 Historic Köln

Germany's fourth-largest city, historic Köln (also known as Cologne) was founded by the Romans in the 1st century AD; nearly destroyed by Allied bombing during World War II, modern Köln's unique mix of rebuilt, restored and new stru...

Day 7 A windmill, canal cruise and more upon arrival in Amsterdam

Amsterdam, the remarkable capital of The Netherlands, is all about water; like Venice in Italy, it's dominated by a series of canals that link its many tiny islands. Known to the Dutch as grachten, the city's 17th-century canals fan...

Day 8 Journey home

Tour ends: Amsterdam.
 Disembark your riverboat this morning by 9:00 AM. A transfer is included from the riverboat to Amsterdam's Schipol Airport or Central Station. Fly home anytime. Allow 3 hours for flight check-in. For guests wishing to spend more time in Amsterdam, ask at booking about e...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $5,690
Price per day$711
Last Updated: 11/7/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Double Standard
Single Standard
Double Luxury
Availability
02 Jul 2025
10 Jul 2025
$5,690
$5,690
$8,140
16 Jul 2025
24 Jul 2025
$5,690
$5,690
$8,140

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.

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.

Tauck Reviews & Ratings

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Other Tauck Reviews

K

Kurlyk40

May 2024

Written on

Great Scenery but Accommodations Lacking for cost

My husband and I booked the Yellowstone tour with Tauck expecting so much more with the accommodations, food, and tour director based on the price point. We were sa...

S

Susan

Jun 2023

Written on

Nine Tours and Done

Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done o...

C

Cougess

Jan 2023

Written on

Skip this cruise - not worth it

My husband and I went on the Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles Trip jn October 2022. This was our third Tauck cruise with Ponnant but our first post covid and the...

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Tour Operator

Tauck

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It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energize and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters.

In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from Germany in search of the American dream. His determination and values were passed on to his son, Arthur Tauck, who would realize that dream. With ingenuity and an innovative spirit, Arthur started Tauck Motor Tours, a travel company that would give birth to a new industry. The first tour, through the back roads of New England, was created by this 27-year-old in 1925. It embodied the same successful formula used by Tauck today: do the right thing. Craft a life-enriching travel experience; provide it at a single all-inclusive price; ensure there is great value for money; and rely on recommendations of satisfied customers to build a following and grow the business.

Two elements that did change over the next 90+ years – and three generations of Taucks – were the scope of destinations served and the variety of modes of travel used. Today Tauck delivers life-enriching travel experiences to every corner of the globe, incorporating small cruise ships, premium riverboats, trains, helicopters and more. What started as a New England motor coach tour company has truly evolved into an extraordinary global travel company. The fourth generation of Taucks is now involved in the company. While remarkable in any business, this seamless continuity across generations speaks to shared vision and values.

Throughout its history, the concept of “family” at Tauck has gone far beyond those sharing the surname to include hundreds of valued employees, and hundreds of thousands of loyal guests. The story of Tauck is the story of a unique American family company celebrating a passion for travel – a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.

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What they’re known for
Fun group tours and cruises that are culturally-focused and great for families and seniors on vacation.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Ship & cabin information
MS GRACE
MS GRACE Maintaining Tauck’s high standards for quality and comfort, ms Grace cruises exclusively for Tauck on the Rhine River as part of our Destination Fleet. With a maximum of 130 guests, the 443-foot riverboat and her sister ships continue our tradition of providing more space per guest on Europe’s inland waterways, transporting fewer passengers than most longships (135 meters). Her deck plan is innovative; with a total of 67 cabins, our most popular cabins tend to be our largest... so we have used the added ship length to offer twenty-two 300-square-foot Tauck Suites – the most of any river cruise ship on any European river. To increase the amount of natural sunlight on the lower deck, we’ve created 8 loft cabins that extend from the first to the second decks, providing guests with an additional view; all windows in these loft cabins open.
MS GRACE
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
ALL_AGES
Additional Information
Trip ID
tauck-ZIX2025

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