TouringForLess

Avalon Cruise Map

click map to enlarge

Avalon Waterways Active & Discovery on the Rhine (Northbound) (WWA)

8 Day River Cruise Basel to Amsterdam 
Explore the Rhine River your way on Avalon Active & Discovery river cruise. Choose included classic sightseeing, Active excursions, or Discovery activities in culture and cuisine. Whether you’re a history buff, a foodie, or an art lover, you’ll find the Avalon Choice® inclusions that speak to you! Visit the Chocolate Museum in Cologne, take a guided culinary walk in Düsseldorf, and taste regional wines in Eltville. In Koblenz, take a cable-car ride up to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress for magnificent views of the surrounding area. Aboard your Avalon Suite Ship®, you’ll pass through the magnificent Rhine Gorge and enjoy specialty dishes while cruising. Your Rhine River cruise ends in Amsterdam for a day full of activities. See the colorful streets and row house doors of Amsterdam your way—from a relaxing canal cruise to a leisurely biking tour—all at your pace! Choose a painting class to recreate the masterpieces of Dutch artists. Join us for a Rhine River cruise like no other, with more freedom to cruise your way.

Ships: Panorama - Passion - Vista

Avalon Highlights & Sightseeing

Day 1 Basel (Embarkation): Onboard welcome reception

Day 2 Breisach. Excursion to Black Forest: Choice of excursion to Black Forest, or e-bike tour in the Black Forest or visit to a local winery

Day 3 Strasbourg: Choice of guided sightseeing, visit La Petite France district and the Gothic cathedral or culinary walk, or hike along the river

Day 4 Mainz. Excursion to Heidelberg: Choice of guided tour of Heidelberg Castle with tasting of local specialties, see the Great Vat, or a hike up Philosophers’ Way, or beer tour; private reception at Rheinstein Castle

Day 5 Rhine Gorge–Koblenz: Cruise through the scenic Rhine Gorge with breathtaking views of ancient castles, towering cliffs, and the legendary Rock of the Lorelei; choice of Koblenz walking tour and Ehrenbreitstein Fortress with cable car ride, or Volcano Tour experience, or e-biking tour in the vineyards; classic concert

Day 6 Düsseldorf: Choice of guided city sightseeing, or biking tour, or culinary tour

Day 7 Amsterdam: Choice of painting class, or kayak tour, or canal cruise

Day 8 Amsterdam (Disembarkation): Your cruise ends this morning

Special Interest Departures

10/12/2024 - Kiltn' It: Facts, Fiction & Fairytale Settings on the Rhine with Graham McTavish

Related Avalon Tours

WWA - Active & Discovery on the Rhine (Northbound)
WWAQ - With 2 Nights in Lucerne
WAW - Active & Discovery on the Rhine (Southbound)

Itinerary (2024)

Day 1BASEL, SWITZERLAND (EMBARKATION)
 Welcome to Switzerland. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.

Flights into Zürich must arrive before 3 pm.

Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.

EVENING CRUISE TO BREISACH

(D)
Day 2BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST
 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:

DISCOVERY Visit a local winery and its vineyards to learn about German winemaking; a wine tasting will be the perfect end of this tour.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO STRASBOURG

(B,L,D)
Day 3STRASBOURG, FRANCE
 A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France

Ask about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities.

ACTIVE Take a Guided Hike along the river and the Marne-Rhine 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,

Enjoy live entertainment on board your ship this evening.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MAINZ

(B,L,D)
Day 4MAINZ, GERMANY. EXCURSIONS TO HEIDELBERG
 The World’s Biggest Wine Barrel and Famous Vineyards

ACTIVE Follow the road less traveled on this exciting Guided Hike along the Philosophers’ Way for an inspiring view of the city below, OR:

DISCOVERY Join an exclusive Beer Tour. An expert Beer Sommelier will introduce you to the art of brewing, while strolling through the Heidelberg Castle garden 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.

DISCOVERY Enjoy an experience fit for royalty during an exclusive private reception at Rheinstein Castle.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BINGEN

(B,L,D)
Day 5RHINE GORGE–KOBLENZ
 Fortress Walls and Manor Halls Where the Rhine and Moselle Meet

En route to Koblenz, 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.

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.

DISCOVERY Enjoy a remarkable classical music concert in a lovely baroque venue at Engers Castle, home to the Villa Musica Rhineland-Palatinate National Foundation, one of Germany’s largest music institutions.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO DÜSSELDORF

(B,L,D)
Day 6DÜSSELDORF
 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 Düsseldorf’s Old Town and get an insight into its culinary diversity, OR:

CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Düsseldorf. 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 Düsseldorf’s microbreweries to try a variety of Altbiers.

Later enjoy live entertainment on board.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KOBLENZ

(B,L,D)
Day 7AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND
 Colorful Canals of Amsterdam

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. An orientation walk will complete your experience, OR:

CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Canal Cruise to explore the iconic waterways and sites of Amsterdam.

This afternoon consider an Optional Culinary Walk in one of Amsterdam’s famous districts.

Spend free time strolling at leisure through the galleries and cafés of Amsterdam.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM

(B,L,D)
Day 8AMSTERDAM (DISEMBARKATION)
 Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.

(B)

Avalon Pricing Details

Port charges:
$210

Gratuities to Local Guides & Excursion Drivers are included on Avalon portion only.

Avalon offers the opportunity for solo travelers to sail with no single supplement (subject to availability).

Please call for single accommodation price. Triples not available.

Avalon 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.

Avalon Waterways Fleet

Click Quote for an Avalon Waterways Tour Date for our low price tour quote


Avalon Tour Dates

Tour Land StartAvalon RetailRequest Quote
*06/01/2024 $3,999.00
*07/13/2024 $3,899.00
*07/27/2024 $3,899.00
*08/31/2024 $4,099.00
*10/12/2024 $4,099.00
We Sell the Same Escorted Tours. What makes us different is we sell to you for LESS!