Duration: 8 Days
Fairytale settings await on every Rhine River cruise, but an Active & Discovery cruise with Avalon immerses you in new, interactive ways. As you glide from untouched villages to touching cities throughout Holland, Germany and France, our range of excursions, from Classic to Discovery to Active options, presents the opportunity to move at your desired pace and be moved at every turn.
Clifftop castles, rolling vineyards, and cobblestone lanes become even more enchanting when you experience them from the seat of a bicycle or an artist’s stool. From culinary walks and beer tours to cave, castle and kayaking explorations, you choose exactly how to toast the joys of the Rhine and your moving journey on it.
Move.
Enjoy a little get-up-and-go on your cruising holiday when you:
- Paddle through the canals of Amsterdam on a kayak.
- Take an E-Bike tour surrounded by beautiful vineyards at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers.
- Follow the road less travelled on an exciting hike along Heidelberg’s Philosophers’ Way.
And Be Moved.
Get off the beaten path and relish the world when you:
- Discover your inner artist at an Amsterdam painting class inspired by the Dutch masters.
- Explore the lava caverns on a one-of-a-kind volcano encounter below the town of Mendig.
- Join a foodie tour through Strasbourg to discover the cuisine of France’s Alsace region.
Plus, Classic sightseeing is always available in every port along the way.
Activate your senses and discover a world of wonder in all-new, entirely “you” ways on your personal, passion-packed cruise along the Rhine.
How Suite It Is! Welcome Aboard Your Avalon Suite Ship.
Flights into Amsterdam must arrive by 3:30 pm.
Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.
You may take a Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses.
Your day in Amsterdam is free to explore at your leisure the colourful cafes, galleries, bridges, and canals.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM (D)
Colourful Canals of Amsterdam
Visit the Adventure Centre for today's activities with your Adventure Host.
ACTIVE Enjoy a Guided Kayak Tour for an adventure which will provide you a unique perspective of the "Venice of the North" from the waters of its magnificent canals, OR:
DISCOVERY Attend a Painting Class and be inspired by the masters' techniques. Paint your own canvas and discover your inner artist, OR:
CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Canal Cruise to explore the iconic waterways and sites of Amsterdam.
This afternoon enjoy a relaxing sailing on the Sky Deck.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO DUSSELDORF (B,L,D)
Avant-Garde Architecture and Amazing Altbiers
ACTIVE Join a City Biking Tour to discover interesting stories about the sights and the city itself along the way, OR:
DISCOVERY Experience Dusseldorf's Old Town and get an insight into its culinary diversity, OR:
CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Dusseldorf. Visit the Old Town, but also discover its spectacular subway line, where each station has an individual magic character.
This afternoon you might take a Guided Optional Excursion to Dusseldorf's microbreweries to try a variety of Altbiers.
Later enjoy live entertainment on board.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KOBLENZ (B,L,D)
Fortress Walls and Manor Halls Where the Rhine and Moselle Meet
Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities.
ACTIVE Take a Guided E-Bike Tour in the vineyards surrounding this beautiful city at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, OR:
DISCOVERY For a unique experience, join us on an excursion to the "Lava City" of Mendig for a Volcano Encounter, including exploring the caverns and corridors where basalt (cold lava) was mined, OR:
CLASSIC Enjoy a leisurely Guided Walk of ancient Koblenz, including a cable car ride to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress for a spectacular panoramic view.
En route to Bingen, sail through the Rhine Gorge (a UNESCO World Heritage site). Take in the breathtaking views of ancient castles perched on cliffs 400 feet above the water, and pass the legendary Rock of the Lorelei-where the mythological siren's songs lured ill-fated sailors.
DISCOVERY Enjoy an experience fit for royalty during an exclusive private reception at Rheinstein Castle.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BINGEN (B,L,D)
The World's Biggest Wine Barrel and Famous Vineyards
ACTIVE Follow the road less travelled on this exciting Guided Hike along the Philosophers' Way for an inspiring view of the city below, OR:
DISCOVERY Learn about the art of beer making with an entertaining and exclusive Guided Tour of four breweries in and out of Old Heidelberg, OR:
CLASSIC 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. While visiting the city, also enjoy a tasting of local specialties.
Enjoy live entertainment on board your ship this evening.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO STRASBOURG (B,L,D)
A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France
Ask about today's energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities.
ACTIVE Enjoy a walking tour along the river and explore Strasbourg's lovely European District around the Marne-Rhein Canal, OR:
DISCOVERY Join a Culinary Walk to discover the Alsatian cuisine and traditions, so influenced by the unique history of a region, whose control alternated between Germany and France for centuries, OR:
CLASSIC 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.
This afternoon choose one of the Optional Excursions available.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH (B,L,D)
German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black Forest
ACTIVE Take a Guided E-bike Tour to experience the magical Black Forest from a unique point of view, OR:
DISCOVERY 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:
CLASSIC Join A Guided Tour to explore Freiburg's medieval city centre, sheltered by the Black Forest amid vineyards and gardens of the Upper Rhine Valley.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL (B,L,D)
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.
Flights should not leave Zurich airport before 10 am or Basel airport before 8 am. (B)
