Avalon Waterways The Rhine & Moselle (Northbound) (WZH)

11 days from Basel to Amsterdam

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. At the foot of Kaiserstuhl Mountain on the French-German border sits Breisach—the gateway to Germany’s beautiful Black Forest. 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, 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 vacation ends in marvelous 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.”

Ships: Artistry II - Imagery II
Special Offer/Promotion

Avalon Waterways Promotions & Special Offers

Single supplement waived on the cruise portion of select 2021 Avalon Waterways Europe river cruises.*
Promotion Depatures (Land): 06/14/21, 07/22/21, 08/15/21, 10/30/21

Restrictions May Apply

Avalon Highlights & Sightseeing

Day 1 Basel (Embarkation): Onboard welcome reception

Day 2 Breisach. Excursion to Black Forest: Choice of excursion to Black Forest, or visit to Badischer Winzerkeller

Day 3 Strasbourg: Choice of guided sightseeing, visit La Petite France district and the Gothic cathedral or bike tour with your Adventure Host

Day 4 Ludwigshafen. Excursion to Heidelberg-Rüdesheim: Choice of guided visit of the castle, see the Great Vat, or visit Frankenstein Castle or hike up Philosophers' Way with your Adventure Host; free time in Rüdesheim in the evening

Day 5 Rüdesheim-Rhine Gorge-Koblenz: Cruise through the Rhine Gorge; in Koblenz choice of guided tour or visit to Sayn Manor House or bike tour with your Adventure Host

Day 6 Bernkastel: Guided walk or hike with your Adventure Host

Day 7 Remich-Trier: Free time in Remich; in Trier choice of guided tour or 'Roman Trier' tour, see the Porta Nigra or hike with your Adventure Host

Day 8 Cochem-Alken: Choice of guided tour, visit Reichsburg Castle or visit to Bundesbank bunker or bike tour with Adventure Host; free time in Alken

Day 9 Cologne: Choice of Cologne highlights walking tour, or Jewish Heritage walking tour

Day 10 Amsterdam: Canal cruise

Day 11 Amsterdam (Disembarkation): Your cruise ends this morning

Related Avalon Tours

WZH - The Rhine & Moselle (Northbound)
WZH1 - With 2 Nights in Lucerne

Itinerary (2022)

Day 1	BASEL, SWITZERLAND (EMBARKATION)
	Welcome to Basel. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding. Flights into Zürich 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)
Day 2	BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST
	German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black Forest Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host. 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 Visit to Badischer Winzerkeller, the largest German wine producer in Europe. Learn about German 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 STRASBOURG (B,L,D)
Day 3	STRASBOURG, FRANCE
	A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France ACTIVE Enjoy a bike tour 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. You may also choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to the historic Maginot Line— 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 LUDWIGSHAFEN (B,L,D)
Day 4	LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG
	Philosophers’ Views and the World’s Biggest Wine Barrel 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,” OR: DISCOVERY Take a Guided Tour of Frankenstein castle, inspiration for Mary Shelley when she wrote her famous Gothic novel Frankenstein, OR: ACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for a hike up Philosophers’ Way for an inspiring view of the city below. Enjoy sailing a leisurely afternoon sailing to Rüdesheim. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN RÜDESHEIM (B,L,D)
Day 5	RÜDESHEIM–RHINE GORGE
	Breathtaking Views This morning leave Rüdesheim after breakfast and enjoy the breathtaking views as you cruise through the spectacular Rhine Gorge on your way to Koblenz. KOBLENZ Fortress Walls and Manor Halls ACTIVE Join your Adventure Host for a bike tour to explore the beautiful surrounding of Koblenz, 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)
Day 6	BERNKASTEL
	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 bike tour from the ship to explore the surroundings nature trails, 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. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO REMICH (B,L,D)
Day 7	REMICH
	Enjoy a free morning to discover Remich on your own. Alternatively take a Guided Optional Excursion to Luxembourg City—with its dramatic views, ancient ruins, and modern architecture in its deep gorge terrain. During lunch time enjoy a short sailing to Trier. TRIER, GERMANY Ancient Worlds, and Old World Charm ACTIVE Enjoy a hike to Petersberg Hill with your Adventure Host and enjoy the view into Rhine Valley, 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 center, OR: CLASSIC Join a history-focused Roman Trier Guided Tour to learn more about the history of Roman civilization in this Moselle River city, and visit the ruins of a 20,000-seat amphitheater, and imperial baths. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COCHEM (B,L,D)
Day 8	COCHEM
	The Charm of the Moselle Valley Ask about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities. 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, 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. Enjoy a short cruise to Alken, where you have free time to explore at your own pace. EVENING CRUISE TO COLOGNE (B,L,D)
Day 9	COLOGNE
	Prost! Celebrate in the Rhineland’s Capital City CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk of Cologne—with its soaring twin-steepled gothic cathedral, OR; DISCOVERY 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! AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT SAILING TO AMSTERDAM (B,L,D)
Day 10	AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND
	Canals of Colorful Amsterdam 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)
Day 11	AMSTERDAM (DISEMBARKATION)
	Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Avalon Pricing Details

Gateway city for arrivals is Zurich.

Port charges:
$280

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.