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Overview

Immerse yourself in French and German culture on this European river cruise along the Rhône and Rhine Rivers. Begin with an overnight on the captivating Marseille, and relax along the remarkably blue water of the Mediterranean Sea. Then transfer to Port St. Louis, to start your river cruise and set sail to Arles—famous for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh and its 1st-century Roman Amphitheater. The city of Tournon is beautifully nestled among vineyards and you’ll go on a guided walk of this medieval treasure with plenty of Roman ruins and a fascinating 16th-century castle. Lyon is a showcase of medieval and Renaissance architecture.

Transfer to Basel, Switzerland, to explore the legendary Rhine River and its Jewish culture and heritage. Renowned author and speaker Salo Muller will be joining us as a special guest on the Rhine portion of our cruise. Orphaned at five years old and forced into hiding after the Nazis seized his parents, Mr. Muller shares his moving story of loss and triumph. He recounts his mother’s last words to him, which became the title of his moving Holocaust memoir, “See You Tonight and Promise to be a Good Boy!” Just hours later, his parents would be arrested and put on a train from Westerbork to Auschwitz. Learn of his experiences during the war, his life after as a young orphan, and of how he overcame immeasurable tragedy to achieve much in life, including an esteemed career as physiotherapist for Amsterdam’s Ajax soccer team. Mr. Muller will accompany you on the Rhine River from Basel to Amsterdam to explore Jewish culture and heritage.

You’ll stop in Breisach, the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest, well known for Black Forest ham, cherry cake, and cuckoo clocks. In Strasbourg, France, stroll through the picturesque La Petite France district and the old streets of the Jewish quarter. Visit the ruins of Heidelberg’s castle, or stop in Mainz, one of the ShUM cities, for a guided walk and a visit to the Synagogue and the Gutenberg Museum. Enjoy the opportunity to take a Jewish history tour in this fascinating city. Sail through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine River. Your last stop in Germany is Cologne, where a guided walk shows you the highlights of this 2,000-year-old city. A stay in Holland’s popular, modern capital of Amsterdam is the perfect way to conclude this sensational European river cruise. And to make your cruise even more exclusive, join a private visit to the Anne Frank house, followed by a canal cruise along the elegant Grachten lined with homes dating back to the city’s “Golden Age" and the Jewish Quarter. While sailing, Join onboard lectures to learn more about the European Jewish culture, history and traditions.

Book your cruise with or without flights

Cruise prices are shown without flights included in case you wish to book them separately, or aren't ready to return home when you disembark! Or we can book your flights for you from most UK airports, with overseas transfers and ATOL protection included. The choice is yours!

Book your cruise with or without flights

Itinerary

Avalon has designed included activities with a choice of experiences. We invite you to select the tours, activities, and events that interest you most, so you can experience your cruise your way. There are three types of included shore excursion on every Europe cruise:

Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.

Embark on energetic excursions to keep you in motion and on the go - from a guided jogging tour of Amsterdam, to biking, paddling, and hiking your way through scenic locales.

We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.

Classic

<p>Embark on energetic excursions to keep you in motion and on the go - from a guided jogging tour of Amsterdam, to biking, paddling, and hiking your way through scenic locales.</p>

Active

Embark on energetic excursions to keep you in motion and on the go - from a guided jogging tour of Amsterdam, to biking, paddling, and hiking your way through scenic locales.

Discovery

We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.

Day 1 MARSEILLE, FRANCE

Welcome to Marseille. Enjoy free time to explore this vibrant city.

Day 2 MARSEILLE—PORT ST. LOUIS (EMBARKATION)

Meals included:
Breakfast
Dinner

Spectacular Seascapes of the Mediterranean Coast
Join your expert Local Guide for an included sightseeing before joining a motorcoach transfer to board your Avalon Suite Ship.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ARLES

Day 3 ARLES

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Inspiring Sights and Avant-Garde Lights

Enjoy a Guided Walking Tour of Arles—the captivating city of the Provence region. You’ll visit the Roman Amphitheater in this visually stunning city, OR:

Consider a Guided Optional Excursion to the Carrières de Lumières (Cathedral of Images) to immerse yourself in a truly unique experience of art, sound, and light in the old quarries of Val d’Enfer.
Take advantage of any free time remaining with a stop in Le Café Van Gogh for a glass of wine, to relax and watch the world go by, before sailing to Avignon.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AVIGNON

Day 4 AVIGNON

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

The City of Popes in Picturesque Provence

Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of the fortress city of Avignon—with its ramparts encircling the city—and a visit to the amazing Palace of the Popes.

Guided Optional Excursions include a visit to the ancient Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard, or a trip to the famed wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape for a true taste of the Rhône wine region.
Explore Avignon on your own for the city’s art and culture, theatre, and museums. Be sure to snap photos of the captivating countryside, historic monuments, and the medieval Pont Saint-Bénézet.
Later, enjoy onboard live entertainment.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AVIGNON

Day 5 VIVIERS

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

World History in a Charming French Country Village
Enjoy a leisurely morning sail to Viviers.

Explore the pale-stone buildings of Viviers on a late afternoon Guided Walking Tour of this charming village. You’ll see its Romanesque cathedral and Old Town with a mix of historical Christian, Roman, and medieval influences.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO TOURNON

Day 6 TOURNON

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

A Rendezvous with Castle Views and Vineyards

Take a morning Guided Walking Tour to explore Tournon—one of France’s oldest medieval cities. See its 16th-century castle, and Roman ruins between the Rhône River and the granite slopes of the Hermitage.

In the late morning cruise to Vienne

VIENNE

Roman and Middle Age History

Join a Guided Walking Tour of Vienne and discover this charming little town surrounded by steep hills.

Enjoy live entertainment while sailing to Lyon.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LYON

Day 7 LYON

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Adventures in Food and Wine in the Gastronomy Capital of France

Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour to survey Lyon from Fourvière Hill with its numerous churches. You’ll also explore the Old Town with its maze of medieval alleyways, and the lively cafés, monuments, and famed fountain of Place des Terreaux.

Spend free time riding a bike through Lyon’s town squares, over bridges, and along the banks where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO TOURNUS

Day 8 TOURNUS—ST. JEAN DE LOSNE

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Wine and Cheese on the Stunning Saône
Consider a Guided Optional Excursion to a Chardonnay wine cellar, or to the Castle of Cormatin. Alternatively enjoy a leisurely cruising morning along the majestic Saône River on your way to St. Jean de Losne.

Later, enjoy a delicious Cheese Tasting on board your ship.

Enjoy live entertainment on board this evening.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ST. JEAN DE LOSNE

Day 9 ST. JEAN DE LOSNE (DISEMBARKATION) BEAUNE— BASEL, SWITZERLAND (EMBARKATION)

Meals included:
Breakfast
Dinner

Drive to Beaune and transfer to Basel

Visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune, built in 1443, today home of the Van der Weyden’s painting of the Last Judgment and is one of France’s architectural highlights.

This afternoon, travel by motorcoach to Basel to board your Rhine river cruise.

EVENING CRUISE TO BREISACH

Day 10 BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

History, Artistry, and the Beautiful Black Forest

Join a full-day Guided Tour to the magical Black Forest to experience the Vogtsbauernohf open-air-museum, visit an authentic water mill, and see a traditional butter-making demonstration, OR: Visit to Badische Winzerkeller, the largest German wine producer in Europe. Discover Germany’s southernmost wine country in Baden—ideally situated between the hills of the Black Forest and the Rhine River. Learn about the vintners’ process in the vineyards here, and enjoy a wine tasting.

You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar in the morning, with its half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings.

EVENING CRUISE TO STRASBOURG

Day 11 STRASBOURG, FRANCE

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Gothic Giants, Petite France, and Varietal Vintages

Join a City Sightseeing Tour, including Strasbourg’s s gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock or the Synagogue, as well as the magical La Petite France District and the Jewish quarter with its streets which are among the oldest in France.

You may also choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to the historic Maginot Line—an impressive installation of pre-WWII defensive fortifications designed to protect the eastern border of France, or visit Alsace’s wine country today.
Alternatively, take some free time in Strasbourg to visit a museum, or stroll across the city center.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO LUDWIGSHAFEN

Day 12 LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Castle Walls and the World’s Biggest Barrel of Wine

Enjoy a Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle to see the ruins of the magnificent renaissance treasure towering above the city, and its famed Great Vat, the “World’s Largest Wine Barrel,” OR:

Join your Avalon Adventure Host for a Hike up Philosophers’ Way for an inspiring view of the city below.

Alternatively, enjoy a brief cruise to Mainz this afternoon and join our included tour.

MAINZ

Turning the Pages of History

Enjoy a Guided City Walk including a visit to the Gutenberg Museum to see the captivating history of printing.

Enjoy live entertainment on board your ship this evening.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN MAINZ

Day 13 RÜDESHEIM—RHINE GORGE

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country

Take a Guided Tour of the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience; based on your departure enjoy a local special treat, OR:

Enjoy a hike with your Avalon Adventure Host through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim.

Relax on the Sky Deck for an afternoon cruise through the spectacular Rhine Gorge to Koblenz. Sail past the legendary rock of The Lorelei—where the siren of mythology sang songs to lure ill-fated sailors.

KOBLENZ

Travel Through 2000 Years Of Monumental History
Enjoy free time in Koblenz before a relaxing evening on board with dinner and live entertainment.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN KOBLENZ

Day 14 COLOGNE

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Prost! Celebrate in the Rhineland

Take a Guided City Walk of Cologne—with its soaring twin-steepled gothic cathedral, OR:

Choose a Guided Walking Tour of Cologne’s important Jewish heritage sites.

Don’t miss the chance to enjoy free time over a glass of Kölsch pale lager—locally brewed for over 100 years!

AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO AMSTERDAM

Day 15 AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Canals of Colorful Amsterdam

Join an exclusive private visit to the house where Anne Frank and her family lived for more than 2 years before being betrayed and turned in to the Nazis.

Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age". Learn more about the Jewish culture while exploring the Jewish quarter.

You may join a Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses or take an Optional Biking Tour to discover the countryside.
Take some free time to explore Amsterdam’s colorful streets and canal houses, galleries, and shops.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM

Day 16 AMSTERDAM (DISEMBARKATION)

Meals included:
Breakfast

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Questions? Our travel specialists can help with any queries, quotes or special requirements. Request a callback or email us.

Notes

In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
Included visits and special features are subject to change. If a change is necessary, a substitute will be offered.
Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.