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Overview

One of Europe’s most legendary rivers awaits you on this exciting journey along the Rhine River, which takes you across Germany—and touches in Holland, France, and Switzerland! You’ll also be our guest in the Bavarian village of Oberammergau for the once-a-decade performance season of the world-renowned “Passion Play”.

This magnificent river cruise begins in the ever popular, modern city of Amsterdam, Holland. The best way to see the treasures of this 700-year-old city is on a canal cruise along the elegant grachten lined with homes dating back to the city’s “Golden Age.” Cologne, Germany—a 2,000 year-old city known for its Gothic architecture—will be an exciting stop with its famous twin-spired cathedral and Old Town with many shops, cafés, and taverns. Pass through the dramatic Rhine Gorge—the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine River where ancient castles stand on cliffs 400 feet above the water. Cruise to the charming wine town of Rüdesheim and visit the unique Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Continue your Rhine River cruise to Mainz for a guided walk and visit to the captivating Gutenberg Museum, or take an excursion to Heidelberg to visit the ruins of its red-walled castle. In Strasbourg, France, you’ll be amazed by the red-sandstone Gothic cathedral with ancient murals and fascinating astronomical clock. Also, stroll through the lovely La Petite France district with its quaint shops, delightful bistros, and peaceful waterfront promenade. Before the end of your European river cruise vacation, stop in Breisach, Germany, the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest. Here, find unrivaled natural beauty in the area best known for Black Forest ham, cherry cake, and the cuckoo clock.

Continue your European vacation on shore for a guided tour of Austria and Germany and Italy, starting with sightseeing in Innsbruck. Continue with a visit to Merano, Bolzano, and Neuschwanstein Castle. The highlight of your trip is a visit to the idyllic Bavarian village of Oberammergau, Germany, to attend the “Passion Play”. Performed once every ten years by the residents of Oberammergau, the “Passion Play” is a stunning theatrical event dating back to 1634. Enjoy select seating and accommodations in the heart of Oberammergau. Next, enjoy guided sightseeing in Munich, including Nymphenburg Palace, the Marienplatz, and gothic Frauenkirche. Sample Munich’s Biergärtens and cafés, and see the famous Glockenspiel. The perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and inspiration—your Avalon Rhine River cruise with the once-a-decade performance of Oberammergau’s “Passion Play”—is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

By June 2021, your vacation, which includes the Oberammergau Passion Play, requires a per-person, non-refundable deposit of $600. Prior to June 2021, a minimum of $250 non-refundable per person deposit is required to secure your reservation and tickets for the play.

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 AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (EMBARKATION)

Meals included:
Dinner

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 to 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

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Canals of Colorful Amsterdam
Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities.

Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age”

This afternoon chosse among the Guided Optional Excursions available or take some free time to explore Amsterdam’s colorful streets and canal houses, galleries, and shops.

AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COLOGNE

Day 3 COLOGNE, GERMANY

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.

Spend free time over a glass of Kölsch pale lager—locally brewed for over 100 years!
Later local musicians will join us on board for live entertainment.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO RÜDESHEIM

Day 4 RHINE GORGE–RÜDESHEIM

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country
Sail through the Rhine Gorge to Rüdesheim and past the legendary rock of the Lorelei—where the siren of mythology sang songs to lure ill-fated sailors.

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.

Enjoy live entertainment on board your ship this evening.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN RÜDESHEIM

Day 5 MAINZ. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Printing Halls, Castle Walls, and the World’s Biggest Barrel of Wine

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

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.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO STRASBOURG

Day 6 STRASBOURG, FRANCE

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France
Ask about today's energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities.

Join a City Sightseeing Tour, including Strasbourg’s s gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District.

Choose a Guided Optional Excursion to the historic Maginot Line—of the pre-WWII 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 BREISACH

Day 7 BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

German Winemaking 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 Bavarian butter-making demonstration, OR: Visit to Badischer Winzerkeller, the largest German wine producer in Europe. Learn about Germany winemaking in the vineyards of Baden 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/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL

Day 8 BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION)–INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA

Meals included:
Breakfast

This morning bid farewell to your crew after breakfast and drive to Innsbruck, capital of the Austrian region of Tyrol.
This afternoon, join your local guide for a guided sightseeing of Innsbruck, visit St. James Cathedral and the Hofkirche.
This evening a Folklore Show will be on offer.

Day 9 INNSBRUCK. EXCURSION TO MERANO AND BOLZANO, ITALY

Meals included:
Breakfast

Today enjoy a full day excursion which will bring you in Italy to discover South Tyrol.
Join your local guide for a guided sightseeing of the Alpine towns of Merano and Bolzano.

Day 10 INNSBRUCK. VISIT TO NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE, GERMANY–OBERAMMERGAU

Meals included:
Breakfast
Dinner

This morning take a scenic drive through the Bavarian Alps to King Ludwig’s fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle, high above the village of Hohenschwangau. Continue to picturesque Oberammergau.

Day 11 OBERAMMERGAU. PASSION PLAY

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

The afternoon and evening are dedicated to the world-famous PASSION PLAY, held every 10 years and performed by the people of Oberammergau. Dinner will be served during intermission.

Day 12 OBERAMMERGAU–MUNICH

Meals included:
Breakfast

This morning, depart for Germany’s lively city–Munich. With its historical museums, splendid English Garden, traditional cafés, and delightful shops, Munich oﬀers plenty to see and do. A local guide will show you the highlights of this fascinating city. An evening optional dinner is on offer.

Day 13 MUNICH

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.
Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.