Depart the USA on your flight to Basel, Switzerland.

Arrive in Basel and make your way to the boat. Join fellow travelers at a Welcome Cocktail followed by a Welcome Dinner. Your floating hotel departs late this afternoon. 

Enjoy a discovery tour through the beautiful city of Strasbourg. After a short coach trip through the city, the tour continues with a walk through the lovely, historic old part of the town and includes a visit to the famous cathedral Straßburger Münster (not possible on Sundays and public holidays, sometimes with security check). During a boat cruise on the river, discover the famous quarter, “Petite France”. This former mill and tanner district still maintains its medieval charm. Some of the beautiful, half-timbered houses on the banks of the river Ill are up to 500 years old. You will enjoy Strasbourg’s half-timbered houses, the Ponts Couverts, the Palais de Rohan, the Council of Europe and all the other wonders that Strasbourg holds in store for you. 

Before breakfast, arrive in Speyer, which played a central role in the Holy Roman Empire during the Middle Ages. Speyer, the time-honored imperial city on the Rhine, looks back on a rich and eventful past. Historic testimonies of ecclesiastical architecture, façades of different building epochs, winding alleys, and romantic squares characterize the face of the city today. On today’s walking tour, pass by the Romanesque Imperial Cathedral with its striking twin-towered portal, the Old Gate of Speyer, and pass by the revered baroque Church of the Holy Spirit. Continue with a visit to the medieval Judenhof, one of the most important Jewish medieval sites in Germany. The Jewish community had a storied history in Speyer reaching back over 1,000 years. View the remains of the Jewish courtyard, which was the central area of the Jewish quarter and consisted of the synagogues and a ritual bath (Mikveh). Speyer calls itself the “Brezelstadt” or “Pretzel Town”, at the end of your walk make a stop at a local shop for a pretzel to snack on as you explore the town on your own before returning to the vessel. 

During lunch, your cruise will continue towards Mannheim, our next stop along the picturesque Rhine, where it will dock for the remainder of the day. A comfortable coach will take you to Heidelberg, the world-famous University City on the Neckar River. The town is one of the few German cities with a widely preserved baroque Old Town. Heidelberg was discovered quite early by romantics to use for diverse literature, songs and paintings. The tour through Heidelberg begins with a visit to the castle. The formerly splendid residence made of red sandstone has been a ruin, maybe the most beautiful ruin in all of Germany. The castle tour leads also into the castle garden. From the Grand Terrace, you will have a wonderful view of the city and the Neckar River. The tour continues with a stroll through the enchanting old town to the Karl-Theodor Bridge, the late-gothic Church of the Holy Spirit, and the town hall. 

Two charming stops await you today. In the morning, arrive in Rüdesheim, a town well known for its wine-making. The unique Winzerexpress train takes you from the dock of the ship to the "Siegfried Mechanical Music Cabinet" for a musical adventure with historical self-playing instruments. Continue your guided tour with a walk through the picturesque town. Explore the heart of the old town of Rüdesheim - the Drosselgasse - where wine houses and garden taverns invite you to linger. Immerse yourself in the history of the city and visit the Eagle Tower, a part of the city wall, and the fortifications from the 15th century. 

The ship will depart punctually at lunchtime to cruise the most picturesque section of the river — the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. The view from the Sun Deck of the myth-enshrouded Lorelei Rock is sure to be a highlight. After lunch, arrive in Koblenz, one of Germany’s oldest towns, with more than 2,000 years of history. During a walking tour in the romantic side streets between the Basilica of St. Kastor and the Church of Our Lady, view the most important sights of Koblenz.  Continue your excursion by cable car, built for the International Garden Show, high above the Rhine to the impressively situated Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Ehrenbreitstein Fortress is the second largest preserved fortress in Europe. The fortress dates back to 1000 AD and evolved to its present form between 1817 and 1828. Today, the fortress houses the Koblenz State Museum with its diverse exhibitions including the history of the fortress, the Army Memorial and a youth hostel.  

The vessel departs from Koblenz in the early hours and makes a detour along the Moselle River to the most romantic part of the valley and the little town of Cochem. The magnificent Reichsburg castle which overlooks the town, dominates the landscape. Down below, the town, with its narrow streets, half-timbered houses, and numerous restaurants, is an ideal setting to taste the wines of the region. Located along the beautiful Moselle wine valley, the harmonious triad of unique Moselle landscape, millennia-old wine culture, and history makes Cochem a popular destination. Discover the town with its narrow, winding streets during a city tour. Next, visit the Reichsburg castle with its imposing complex, which dominates the area landscape due to its size and its location on a rugged rock high above the town.

Enjoy the impressive view from the castle of the Moselle valley with its dreamy mixed forests and vineyards, as well as the old town. Inside the castle, you will find a collection of Renaissance and Baroque furniture, as well as other treasures, carefully collected by the Ravené family, who owned the castle until 1978, when it was turned over to the town of Cochem, for all to enjoy. 

The morning is dedicated to the fascinating cathedral city of Cologne, which has over a million inhabitants. The cathedral city dates back over 2,000 years and is full of history, the traces of which can be seen everywhere in the Rhine region. During the walking tour, explore the area around the cathedral all the way to the old town. As you travel through the narrow, cobbled streets, and the lively squares such as the Alter Markt or the Heumarkt, you will get a feel for life in Cologne from yesterday and today. Since its completion in 1880, the Cologne Cathedral with its two 515ft high towers has been the city's landmark, as well as the most famous architectural monument and most frequently visited sight in Germany. As your excursion concludes, we invite you to enjoy a glass of typical Kölsch (beer), which is the number one beer in Cologne and large parts of the Rhineland. 

By breakfast you will have crossed yet another country border to arrive in the Dutch city of Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. There are many things to do in this vibrant canal city.  Founded as a small fishing village in the late 12th century, Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world during the Dutch Golden Age as a result of its innovative developments in trade. Today, the city has one of the largest historic centers in Europe, with about 7,500 registered historic buildings. The street pattern is largely unchanged since the 19th century. The center consists of 90 islands, linked by 1.300 bridges. On the city tour through the Dutch metropolis, you will see the Maritime Museum, the Jewish Quarter, and the Museum Quarter. As there is no better way to see the city than cruising on the water, the tour will end by a canal cruise boat trip.

Take a drive through the Dutch Polder landscape to the old fishing village of Volendam, built on the shore of the former Zuiderzee. The Volendam houses are built very close together, forming the typical neighborhoods of Volendam. Take a stroll through the old village. Board your coach and drive out of Volendam and into the countryside to visit a local cheese farm. Here, you will learn how Dutch cheese is made and sample the local product. On your way back to your ship, you will enjoy a short walk through the quaint village of Edam, famous for its cheese. Given its narrow streets, continue through the village on foot and see the Carillon Tower, once part of a church that was destroyed in the 19th century. Walk to the cheese weighing house and the Dam with its 18th-century town hall.

This evening, the Captain invites you to a festive Gala Dinner. After dinner, enjoy a rousing Shanty Choir performance to end the evening. The vessel remains in Amsterdam overnight. 

After breakfast, the entire crew bids you farewell and wishes you a safe journey home. We hope to welcome you again soon!