Rhine River Castles & the Swiss Alps
Cruise the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel aboard the Amadeus Queen or Amadeus Aurea, with seven nights onboard and an optional three-night Swiss Alps rail extension to Lucerne and Zurich. This is one of the great river journeys in Europe — castle-dotted gorges, medieval old towns, and Black Forest villages, all included with round-trip airfare, 21 meals, and seven guided excursions.
Round trip home pick-up | Round trip airfare | 21 meals (8 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners) | 7 included tours and excursions: Amsterdam Canal Cruise, Cologne Walking Tour & Beer Tasting, Heidelberg Tour & Heidelberg Castle, Koblenz Walking Tour, Strasbourg City Tour & Canal Cruise, Black Forest & Hofgut Sternen, Lucerne Walking Tour | Rhine River Gorge cruising | Wine and beer at lunch and dinner onboard | Included Wi-Fi and English-speaking staff | Professional tour manager | Ship transfers and baggage handling
Optional 3-night Swiss Rail Extension (+$1,499 per person double / +$2,049 single) | Optional excursions (Rudesheim Music Cabinet Museum, Speyer Walking Tour, Gornergrat Matterhorn train) | Travel insurance | Gratuities | Items of a personal nature
Seven nights aboard the Amadeus Queen or Amadeus Aurea cruising through some of Europe's most storied river landscapes. Cruise the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site lined with fairy-tale castles, vineyards, and centuries-old riverside towns. Walk the medieval streets of Heidelberg, Cologne, Koblenz, Strasbourg, and Lucerne. Sample Black Forest traditions at the Hofgut Sternen resort, including cuckoo clocks, glassblowing, and Black Forest cake. Extend the journey with an optional three-night rail extension into the Swiss Alps, with stops in Lausanne, Zermatt, and Gstaad along Lake Geneva.
This is a moderate-activity trip — most days include guided walking tours of historic town centers, with some stair climbing. Each day brings a new port and a new included excursion, so the pace is steady but unhurried, with free time built in to explore on your own. Onboard, expect included wine and beer with meals, a welcome dinner, and a gala farewell dinner. A professional tour manager travels with the group throughout. Those adding the Swiss Rail Extension should expect train travel between Lausanne, Zermatt, and Gstaad, with leisure time in each location.
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