Duration: 11 Days
Your cruise on the Rhine and Moselle Rivers begins in Basel, Switzerland, to explore extraordinary cities in Germany and France, as well as Holland’s capital of Amsterdam. A Master of Wine will accompany you on your river cruise with presentations, tastings, and wine pairings along the way.
At the foot of Kaiserstuhl Mountain on the French-German border sits Breisach, enjoy an excursion to Germany’s Black Forest or take an excursion to the charming village of Colmar, followed by a visit to a chateau wine cellar. Continue your river cruise to Strasbourg, France, where a local expert will show you the red-sandstone Gothic-style cathedral with ancient murals and its fascinating astronomical clock. Visit the ruins of Heidelberg Castle, towering magnificently over the city, or go to Speyer for a guided walk and a visit to the Wine Museum. Then sail for the charming Rhine Valley wine town of Rüdesheim.
Cruise through the dramatic Rhine Gorge for the most beautiful view of the Rhine River, and see ancient castles standing majestically on cliffs 400 feet above the water. Visit Koblenz, strategically located at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, before coming to the charming wine village of Bernkastel! Here, you’ll go on a guided walk and taste some of the famed Moselle wines. Visit a medieval castle, then sail back into the Rhine and explore the magnificent city of Cologne, Germany, which spans both sides of the Rhine River. Your river cruise ends in marvellous Amsterdam. Take in the sights on a canal cruise through the elegant Grachten lined with stately homes dating back to the city’s “Golden Age.”
About Masters of Wine
Seldom do travellers get the chance to learn about wines from a master! Avalon invites you to sail in the company of a Master of Wine (MW) who shares elite experience, unsurpassed knowledge, and personal passion for wines on board your ship. With only 450 Masters of Wine in the world, Avalon Waterways is honoured to welcome a Master of Wine on board our Wine-Lovers cruises to share their rigorous training and prestigious expertise recognized globally across the wine industry. A truly exclusive experience for wine lovers!
Welcome to Basel. Your Suite Ship is Ready for Boarding.
Flights into Zurich or Basel must arrive by 3 pm.
Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.
Enjoy dinner and explore the ship on your first night on board.
EVENING CRUISE TO BREISACH (D)
Winemaking and the Beautiful Black Forest
Visit the Adventure Centre for today's activities with your Adventure Host.
ACTIVE Enjoy the view on a relaxing bike ride along the Rhine with your Adventure Host, OR:
DISCOVERY Take a full-day Guided Tour to the charming village of Colmar in the morning, with its half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings, followed by a visit to a countryside chateau wine cellar, 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 STRASBOURG (B,L,D)
A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France
ACTIVE Discover Strasbourg by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC Take a City Sightseeing Tour, including the city's Gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District.
DISCOVERY Join an enchanting Guided Tour along the famed Alsace Wine Route to discover the heart of France's wine country and sample several local wines.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO SPEYER (B,L,D)
Philosophers' Views and the World's Biggest Wine Barrel
ACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for an inspiring walk in Heidelberg, the Philosophers' way, OR:
DISCOVERY Enjoy a Guided City Tour, including a visit to the Wine Museum to learn about the history of viticulture and wine production, 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."
DISCOVERY Onboard food and wine pairing dinner hosted by your Master of Wine.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN RUDESHEIM (B,L,D)
Breathtaking Views
This morning leave Rudesheim after breakfast and enjoy the breathtaking views as you cruise through the spectacular Rhine Gorge on your way to Koblenz.
DISCOVERY Enjoy an on board wine and cheese tasting hosted by your Master of Wine.
KOBLENZ
Fortress Walls and Manor Halls
ACTIVE Explore Koblenz's Mosel side by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk amid ancient fortresses walls, towers, squares and monuments, OR:
CLASSIC Visit the Sayn Manor House on a Guided Tour.
Later, enjoy live entertainment onboard.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BERNKASTEL (B,L,D)
Hillside Vines and German Wines
Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities.
This morning enjoy a leisurely sailing.
ACTIVE Join your Adventure Host for a hike in this beautiful area, OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of the charming wine village of Bernkastel-with its medieval marketplace and 17th-century gabled timber-framed houses.
DISCOVERY Join a Wine Tasting to experience the tradition of legendary German wine making.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO GREVENMACHER (B,L,D)
Ancient Worlds and Old World Charm
CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Luxembourg City-with its dramatic views, ancient ruins, and modern architecture along the deep gorge terrain.
During lunch time enjoy a short sailing to Trier.
TRIER, GERMANY
Ancient Worlds, and Old World Charm
ACTIVE Wander and Discover Trier. Follow your Adventure Host for a Walk in and around this city, OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing tour of Trier-Germany's oldest city with ancient remnants dating from 144-152 AD. Starting from Porta Nigra, walk through the city centre.
DISCOVERY On board wine tasting hosted by your Master of Wine.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COCHEM (B,L,D)
The Charm of the Moselle Valley
Ask about today's energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities.
ACTIVE Bike along the Mosel river with your Adventure Host, OR:
DISCOVERY Visit the former bunker of Germany's Central Bank (Deutsche Bundesbank) and immerse yourself in the underground vault where millions of German Mark were kept during the Cold War, OR:
CLASSIC Join a Guided Walk of Cochem to see the charming town's half-timbered houses and winding streets. Visit the hilltop Reichsburg Castle with a bird's-eye-view of the Moselle Valley and river bend.
Enjoy a short cruise to Alken, where you have free time to explore at your own pace. Alternatively, select a Guided Optional Excursion to Eltz Castle.
EVENING CRUISE TO COLOGNE (B,L,D)
Prost! Celebrate in the Rhineland's Capital City
ACTIVE Enjoy a bike ride like the locals in Cologne with your Adventure Host, OR:
DISCOVERY Choose a Guided Walking Tour of Cologne's important Jewish heritage sites, OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk of Cologne-with its soaring twin-steepled gothic cathedral.
Spend free time over a glass of Kolsch pale lager-locally brewed for over 100 years!
DISCOVERY Onboard wine and chocolate tasting hosted by your Master of Wine.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT SAILING TO AMSTERDAM (B,L,D)
Canals of Colourful Amsterdam
ACTIVE Start your day joining your Adventure Host on an early morning walk in Amsterdam, OR:
CLASSIC Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam's "Golden Age."
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.
Alternatively, choose an Optional Biking Tour to discover the countryside.
You may choose to spend some free time this afternoon visiting one of Amsterdam's many fascinating museums or galleries.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM (B,L,D)
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
