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:
Classic
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.
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.
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.
Day 1 AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (EMBARKATION)
Welcome to Amsterdam. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.
Flights into Amsterdam must arrive by 3:30 pm.
Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.
Your day in Amsterdam is free explore at your leisure.
During tulip season, you may take a Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens—with more than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, as well as other bulbs, planted each year.
Outside of tulip season, join a Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM
Day 2 AMSTERDAM
Canals of Colorful Amsterdam
Classic
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.
Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age.”
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COLOGNE
Day 3 COLOGNE, GERMANY
Prost! Celebrate in the Rhineland’s Capital City
Classic
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.
Take a Guided City Walk of Cologne—with its soaring twin-steepled gothic cathedral, OR:
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.
Choose a Guided Walking Tour of Cologne’s important Jewish heritage sites.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KOBLENZ
Day 4 KOBLENZ—RHINE GORGE
Travel Through 2000 Years of Monumental History
Classic
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.
Enjoy free time in Koblenz this morning before sailing through the Rhine Gorge to Rüdesheim. Sail past the legendary rock of the Lorelei—where the siren of mythology sang songs to lure ill-fated sailors.
RÜDESHEIM
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.
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.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN RÜDESHEIM
Day 5 MAINZ. HEIDELBERG EXCURSION
Printing Halls, Castle Walls, and the World’s Biggest Barrel of Wine
Classic
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.
Enjoy a Guided City Walk including a visit to the Gutenberg Museum to see the captivating history of printing, OR:
Classic
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.
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:
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.
Join your Avalon Adventure Host for a Hike up Philosophers’ Way for an inspiring view of the city below.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO STRASBOURG
Day 6 STRASBOURG, FRANCE
Gothics Ciants, Military Marvels & Varietal Vintages
Classic
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.
Join a City Sightseeing Tour, including Strasbourg’s gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH
Day 7 BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST
History, Artistry, and the Beautiful Black Forest
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.
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.
EVENING CRUISE TO STRASBOURG
Day 8 BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION) BEAUNE—ST. JEAN DE LOSNE (EMBARKATION)
Disembark your ship and drive on to Beaune.
Classic
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.
Visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune, built in 1443, today home of the Van der Weyden’s painting of the Last Judgement.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MÂCON
Day 9 MÂCON
Wine and Cheese on the Stunning Saône
Enjoy leisurely cruising en route to Mâcon along the majestic Saône River. Consider a Guided Optional Excursion to a Chardonnay wine cellar, or to the Castle of Cormatin.
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.
Join a lecture about wine hosted by your Master of Wine while sailing to Mâcon.
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.
Join an excursion that will take you to a Chardonnay cellar for a wine tasting.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN TRÉVOUX
Day 10 LYON
Adventures in Food and Wine in the Gastronomy Capital of France
Sail for lovely Lyon this morning.
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.
Enjoy an onboard cheese and wine tasting hosted by your Master of Wine while sailing to Lyon.
Classic
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.
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.
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.
Be our guest for a WWII & French Resistance Lecture on board your ship.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LYON
Day 11 LYON
French Food and Wine—La Vie En Rose in Lyon
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.
Join a Culinary Walk through the city to discover why Lyon is known as the gastronomic capital of France.
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.
Take a guided tour to the lovely Beaujolais area and learn more about its light and pleasant wine.
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.
This evening, join an onboard food and wine pairing dinner hosted by your Master of Wine.
EVENING CRUISE TO TOURNON
Day 12 TOURNON
A Rendezvous with Castle Views and Vineyards
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.
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.The tour also includes a wine and chocolate tasting at the Cité du Chocolat at Valrhona, OR:
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.
Hike in the vineyards and take in the breathtaking views from the hills (weather permitting).
VIVIERS
Classic
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.
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 AVIGNON
Day 13 AVIGNON
The City of Popes in Picturesque Provence
Classic
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.
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.
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.
Enjoy a trip to the famed wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape for a true taste of the Rhône wine region.
EVENING CRUISE TO ARLES
Day 14 ARLES
Inspiring Sights and Avant-Garde Lights
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.
Join your Avalon Adventure Host for a Morning Walk.
Classic
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.
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:
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.
Attend a Painting Workshop to learn the style and techniques of Vincent van Gogh. You'll create your own painting in the style of the classic master who took inspiration from the Provence light and landscape in Arles.
EVENING CRUISE TO PORT ST. LOUIS
Day 15 PORT-SAINT-LOUIS (DISEMBARKATION)—NICE
Spectacular Seascapes of the French Riviera
After disembarkation, an included transfer takes you to Nice, where you will join your Monograms vacation. Guided sightseeing features the Promende des Anglais, originally built in the second half of the 18th century and the most famous boulevard in Nice, and a walk through the charming Old Town.
Day 16 NICE
Your Local Host has recommendations for your full day at leisure on the beautiful Côte d’Azur.
Day 17 NICE- BARCELONA, SPAIN
Transfer to Nice airport for your flight to Barcelona.
Day 18 BARCELONA
Your morning guided sightseeing includes a drive along elegant Passeig de Gràcia to see the captivating façades of Gaudí’s La Pedrera and Casa Batllò, and an inside visit of the extraordinary Sagrada Familia Basilica.
Day 19 BARCELONA
Your Local Host has many recommendations for your day at leisure.
Day 20 BARCELONA
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.