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Overview

One of Europe’s most legendary rivers awaits you on this exciting Rhine River cruise, which takes you across Germany—and touches in Holland, France, and Switzerland! This European 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. In the charming wine town of Rüdesheim, 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. Visit Breisach, Germany, the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest—an area of unrivaled natural beauty—best known for Black Forest ham, cherry cake, and the cuckoo clock.

Disembark your river cruise ship in Basel, Switzerland, and begin your Monograms vacation with a special excursion up Mount Pilatus for spectacular Alpine panoramas and a guided walking tour to explore lovely Lucerne. Transfer by high-speed train to Como, where an included guided walking tour features the charming historic district, the Gothic Town Hall, and the imposing Duomo. Enjoy a relaxing boat ride on Lake Como to renowned Bellagio with its centuries-old buildings, cobblestone lanes, and charming shops. Travel to fashionable Milan for the last two nights of your vacation. Your Monograms Local Host® can help you to make this fabulous vacation just perfect for you!

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 Holland. 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 choose among the many Guided Optional Excursions available.
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.

Don’t miss the chance to enjoy 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 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

Gothic Giants, Petite France, and Varietal Vintages
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.

You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to the splendid Alsace wine country, or a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar, with its half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings.
Alternatively, enjoy a free afternoon sampling the local cuisine in Place Kléber.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH

Day 7 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 Badischer 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/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL

Day 8 BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION)–MOUNT PILATUS–LUCERNE

Meals included:
Breakfast

Disembark your Avalon ship and join the Monograms portion of your vacation. Enjoy a special highlight excursion to Mount Pilatus. Journey almost 7,000 ft. (2,132 m) up for spectacular views over central Switzerland (in case of bad weather, visit the Swiss Transport Museum instead). Later join a guided walking tour to explore beautiful Lucerne which includes Thorwaldsen’s poignant Lion Monument and the famous Chapel Bridge.

Day 9 LUCERNE–LAKE COMO, ITALY

Meals included:
Breakfast

Travel by high-speed train (First class) to Como, the city on the lake that bears its name. Your Local Host will be waiting to greet you and offer recommendations so you can make the most of your time in this well-known city. Your guided walking tour includes the charming historic center; the Broletto (Town Hall) with its fascinating gothic façade; and the imposing, marble-clad Duomo.

Day 10 LAKE COMO

Meals included:
Breakfast

Experience a boat ride on Lake Como for panoramas of stunning mountain scenery and luxury lakeside villas. Disembark at picturesque Bellagio for exploration on your own returning by boat to Como.

Day 11 LAKE COMO

Meals included:
Breakfast

Your Local Host will have many suggestions for your day at leisure.

Day 12 LAKE COMO–MILAN

Meals included:
Breakfast

Transfer to Milan and enjoy guided sightseeing which includes a visit to the Sforzesco Castle grounds and time to admire the glass-domed Galleria and magnificent gothic Duomo.

Day 13 MILAN

Meals included:
Breakfast

Your Local Host will have many ideas for your full day at leisure.

Day 14 MILAN

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.
Due to “Sail Amsterdam” departures August 8 & August 11 will start in Rotterdam instead of Amsterdam with modifications to the itinerary.