(Embarkation)

Welcome to Amsterdam! Guests may begin boarding any time after 8 am. Guests are welcome to relax with afternoon snacks and beverages in the lounge, but staterooms will not be ready until 4 pm. The day is free to enjoy the capitol of the Netherlands with its rich history of Dutch Masters in museums, or simply exploring the colorful streets and canals. After check-in at 4 pm, enjoy a reception, introductions, and your first dinner on board.

There is no better way to see the city than by canal boat, cruising through the grachten (canals) with their elegant, stately homes dating back to Amsterdam’s “Golden Age.” There will be free time in the afternoon to explore on your own or enjoy an optional tour. Afterward, your river cruise vessel sets sail for Cologne. Included canal boat tour.

Today enjoy a peaceful morning of cruising before reaching gay-friendly Cologne in the afternoon. Visit the Germano-Roman Museum and Cologne’s cathedral—a must for history buffs, try a kölsch in one of the many beer taverns, or shop for a bottle of 4711, the original eau de cologne.

The dramatic Rhine Gorge is the most beautiful stretch of this river. Pass the legendary rock of the Lorelei, where sweet songs of local beauties lured enchanted sailors to their doom. Here, join a local guide for a walking tour of the city that reveals an eventful past through its castles, fortress walks, towers, squares, and monuments. In Rüdesheim, a quintessential Rhine Valley wine town, Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Museum is a real surprise! Enjoy a special Rüdesheim coffee or wine tasting, then explore the Drosselgasse and pick up some souvenirs. Included museum and walking tour.

Mainz dates to circa 38 BC; we’ll enjoy its old town, with intriguing shops and a whimsical fountain tribute to jesters. We’ll also visit a museum dedicated to Gutenberg, the father of modern printing, and travel to Heidelberg, home to Germany’s oldest university, and see the imposing ruins of Heidelberg Castle.

Today we’ll visit Strasbourg, which sits on the border of France and Germany and blends their cultures delightfully. We’ll explore Strasbourg Cathedral de Notre-Dame, magical La Petite France district, historic Place Kléber square in the heart of the city, and Place Gutenberg in the medieval portion of the city.

Breisach is the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest region, an area of unrivaled natural beauty with thick forests of pine trees. Today you can visit the workshop of a local woodcarver of clocks and other artworks or the open-air Museum of Vogtsbauernhof to see how life was lived in this area centuries ago.

We will enjoy a final breakfast together this morning, prior to the included transfer to Zürich Airport. Or continue with us on a 2- or 3-night post-trip Vacation Stretcher to Zürich!