MEALS

Superb dining with all meals on board daily featuring full breakfast (B), lunch (L), and dinner (D), including a welcome reception, welcome dinner, and Captain's dinner; quality wines from Europe's most famous wine regions with every dinner; one sitting with open seating arrangements

INSIDE VISITS

Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable.

Itinerary

Day 1

(Sat.) Board your overnight flight to Amsterdam.

Day 2 Amsterdam, Holland (Embarkation)

(Sun.) Welcome to Amsterdam! Holland's capital is sophisticated and modern, with a rich and fascinating history. The works of famous Dutch masters can be seen in world-renowned museums such as the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh. This afternoon, the crew of your vessel awaits to welcome you on board. (D)

Day 3 Amsterdam

(Mon.) There is no better way to see the city than by CANAL BOAT, cruising through the elegant grachten lined with stately homes dating back to Amsterdam's "Golden Age." There is plenty of free time to explore on your own. Your Cruise Director will have suggestions of how to make the most of your stay. (B,L,D)

Day 4 Dordrecht-Rotterdam. Excursion to Delft

(Tue.) Sitting between two branches of the Rhine, charming Dordrecht inspired many painters in the 17th and 18th centuries. Nearby is KINDERDIJK with its picturesque row of windmills. Rotterdam is a bustling city that was leveled by German bombs in WWII, and now boasts the world's busiest PORT. Traditionally a city of weavers and brewers, Delft is now best known for its distinctive blue and white porcelain. (B,L,D)

Day 5 Arnhem

(Wed.) One of the major tragedies of World War II was the Battle of Arnhem, featured vividly in the AIRBORNE MUSEUM HARTENSTEIN and the inspiration for the movie A Bridge Too Far. (B,L,D)

Day 6 Cologne, Germany

(Thu.) Cologne is the capital of the Rhineland and one of Germany's largest cities. The soaring twin steeples of the magnificent gothic cathedral dominate the river skyline. The Germano-Roman Museum next to the cathedral is a must for history buffs! The Old Town abounds with taverns, cafes, and shops. Try a Kolsch, the favorite local beer, and shop for a bottle of 4711, the original "eau de cologne." (B,L,D)

Day 7 Koblenz

(Fri.) Situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, 2,000-year-old Koblenz is the cultural and business center of the Middle Rhine region. The DEUTSCHES ECK, located on a tongue of land where the two rivers converge, holds an impressive equestrian statue of Wilhelm I. The Moselle River is some 312-miles long, rising in the Vosges Mountains of northeastern France and entering Germany at Trier. The entire Moselle Valley is famous for its beautiful and tranquil scenery. (B,L,D)

Day 8 Bernkastel

(Sat.) In the middle of the Moselle region is the charming wine village of Bernkastel with its well-preserved half-timbered houses surrounding the beautiful MARKET PLACE. Wine growers in this area look after Germany's largest expanse of vineyards, the most celebrated of the vintages being the Bernkastel Doktor. Before dinner, visit a local WINE CELLAR and taste several of this region's varietals. (B,L,D)

Day 9 Remich. Excursion to Luxembourg

(Sun.) The capital of the Grand Duchy of the same name, Luxembourg is proud of its rich and turbulent past. The city boasts a large array of historical and cultural sights which will come to life as you visit the city with your Local Guide. (B,L,D)

Day 10 Trier

(Mon.) The venerable Episcopal city of Trier is the oldest in Germany and, some claim, even older than Rome! A house on the marketplace bears the inscription, "Trier was standing 1,300 years before Rome." The famous PORTA NIGRA is the only surviving fortified gate from the original Roman settlement and still gives access to the town center. Trier's most famous son was socialist revolutionary Karl Marx. (B,L,D)

Day 11 Cochem

(Tue.) Visit REICHSBURG CASTLE, which sits atop a conical hill covered in vines. From here the views of the little town of Cochem nestled down below and of the river valley are splendid. Cruising the wide, peaceful curves of the river, it quickly becomes obvious that the Moselle is an important wine-growing region. Most notably, the Riesling grape is cultivated, producing a dry to sweet, floral white wine. (B,L,D)

Day 12 Rhine Gorge-Rudesheim-Mainz

(Wed.) The dramatic RHINE GORGE is the most beautiful stretch of river. Pass the legendary rock of the Lorelei, where sweet songs of local beauties lured enchanted sailors to their doom. Rudesheim is the perfect example of a Rhine Valley wine town and SIEGFRIED'S MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM is a real surprise! A SPECIAL TREAT is planned before you have free time to explore the Drosselgasse and pick up some souvenirs. Situated on the left bank of the Rhine, opposite the mouth of the Main River, Mainz is Germany's largest and most important wine market. Gutenberg, the father of modern printing, was born here and you'll visit the GUTENBERG MUSEUM. (B,L,D)

Day 13 Excursion to Heidelberg

(Thu.) Heidelberg is Germany's oldest university town. The ruins of the imposing red sandstone CASTLE tower above the city. Of particular interest is the GIANT VAT, an 18th-century wine cask holding 49,000 gallons! (B,L,D)

Day 14 Strasbourg, France

(Fri.) Situated on the border of France and Germany, Strasbourg is influenced by the culture of both countries and is the capital of the Alsace region. It is the seat of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. Noteworthy sights are the GOTHIC CATHEDRAL, the lovely LA PETITE FRANCE district, Place Kleber, and Place Gutenberg with the statue of the inventor of the printing press. An optional excursion to the Alsace wine region is available today. (B,L,D)

Day 15 Breisach, Germany. Excursion to the Black Forest

(Sat.) Located at the foot of Kaiserstuhl Mountain on the French-German border is the gateway to Germany's BLACK FOREST region, an area of unrivaled natural beauty with its forests of thick pine trees. Surely the most well-known products from this region are Black Forest ham and Black Forest cherry cake. (B,L,D)

Day 16 Basel, Switzerland (Disembarkation)

(Sun.) Homebound flights should not leave Zurich Airport before 10 am. (B)

AIRPORT TRANSFERS

Airport transfers may be included when you make your flight arrangements.