Rhine River Cruise 9 Days/7 Nights

Depart the US for Amsterdam, Holland. Meals and refreshments are served on board.

Today you arrive in Amsterdam, the capital of The Netherlands and after clearing customs and immigration, you will be met by your Aventura World tour representative. Enjoy the scenery as Amsterdam’s vivid history and modern allure come to life. Known for its winding canals, Amsterdam’s center is made up of approximately 90 islands connected by some 400 bridges. Upon arrival you will travel to your riverboat – this will be your floating vacation home for the next seven nights. Enjoy some leisure time to explore and get to know the deluxe vessel…stroll along the sun deck, relax with a treatment in the spa, visit the onboard hair salon or make new friends over a cocktail at the bar. This evening you will be treated to a Welcome Cocktail Reception before your Welcome Dinner with beautiful views of the Rhine River. (D)

Join in a city tour and canal cruise showing you some of Amsterdam’s highlights from a local's perspective. With a knowledgeable private guide by your side, visit the “Dam”, Amsterdam’s central market square, dominated by the Royal Palace, as well as the famous Museum District. You will also see the Albert Cuyp Market, the beautiful buildings along the canal and the windmill on the Amstel. This is followed by a one-hour boat trip on Amsterdam’s famous canals, during which you will see many famous sights of Amsterdam from the water. Later, a scenic bus ride takes you to the pretty little Dutch village of Volendam in the northern part of Holland. It was a major fishing port before the construction of the Ijsselmeer dike in 1932. Today the main street is lined with cafés and shops where many of the staff still wear traditional costumes, making for an authentic and exciting experience. Next, we head out to visit a local cheese farm and learn firsthand how acclaimed Dutch cheese is made. Rejoin your vessel at Hoorn for a sail along the Ijsselmeer, one of the largest freshwater lakes in Holland. (B,L,D)

Enjoy the breathtaking views as we cruise along towards the great city of Cologne where we will arrive this afternoon – our ship will dock in a location that is within easy reach of the city center. Here, your city tour will take you to explore Cologne’s most important sights, strolling along its quaint cobblestone corridors, and getting a true feel for daily life as you delve into the central old quarter. See the famous Cologne cathedral with its impressive spires that dominate the skyline situated in the splendid Roncalliplatz Square, and discover the hay market and the old market. Board the ship again as we continue towards Cochem. (B,L,D)

This blissful morning takes you on a scenic cruise along the Moselle River to Cochem, a quaint small-town beckoning for you to explore on today’s featured walking tour where you will take-in, among other sights, Reichsburg Castle, perched on a rock high above the town and Moselle Valley, dotted with vineyards and lush landscapes. Legend and folklore come to life as you make your way through its interwoven streets lined with charming cottages to reach the town square where half-timbered houses set the stage for discovering Cochem's beauty at its best. Today’s romantic adventure continues with a tasting of Moselle wines to close out this glorious day in Cochem. (B,L,D)

Today begins in the charming town of Koblenz, which stands at the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle. Spend a morning at leisure or take an optional tour of Koblenz, one of the most beautiful and oldest towns in Germany, with over 2,000 years of history. Your insightful guide reveals the treasures of this town to you at every turn. From its old quarter that was rebuilt after suffering severe damage in WWII to the romantic streets between the Liebfrauenkirche (Church of Our Beloved Lady) and the St. Castor Basilica. From there, discover Emperor Wilhelm Memorial at the famous German Corner and the town’s landmark the Schängel Fountain at the town hall. In the afternoon, enjoy the scenic cruising through the Upper Middle Rhine Valley as the ship skirts around the 132-meter Lorelei Rock, and then we visit the famed wine town of Rüdesheim. Board the fun winemakers express passing the picturesque streets, alleys, and vineyards of Ruedesheim to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum, featuring beautiful automated instruments and pianos including one of the largest collections of mechanical music boxes, made from the 18th to the 20th centuries. Take some time to explore the town’s long narrow street, the Drosselgasse, lined on both sides with wine taverns selling the local vintages. (B,L,D)

A morning of adventuring awaits today. From Mannheim this morning, we travel on a deluxe motorcoach to one of Germany’s most beautiful cities, Heidelberg. Towering over the town is Heidelberger Schloss, a magnificent red sandstone ruin that once protected the city. A walking tour of the Old Town conveys the spirit that once lured writers and artists: Mark Twain, Victor Hugo and Robert Schumann, among others. The town is home to the country’s oldest university, founded in 1386. Our guided tour includes a special visit to the city’s imposing castle, a red sandstone ruin overlooking the Neckar River. On from there, we head to through the enchanting old town to KarlTheodor Bridge with its imposing two-tower bridge gate. Next, we visit the Holy Ghost Church of the Late-Gothic period as well as the town hall and the “Zum Ritter” Renaissance building. This afternoon we cruise along to Speyer, an old imperial city on the Rhine with a rich and turbulent past. Religious architecture steeped in history, impressive facades of various styles, winding alleys and romantic squares characterize it. Today’s optional guided walk includes a visit to the city’s impressive and spiritual cathedral. Tonight, we will join together and celebrate at the included Captain’s Gala dinner. (B,L,D)

Today you arrive in Strasbourg, France, the ancient capital of Alsace and one of Europe’s most well-known and beautiful cities. Enjoy breakfast and then take a guided tour of the city. You will see the European Parliament building and tour the inside of the vast and famous cathedral, which features carvings as delicate as lacework. The richness and sheer density of Strasbourg’s historic buildings have led to the entire city center being adopted as a UNESCO World Heritage site. A riverboat takes you to discover the medieval charm of the Petite France quarter, a former mill and tanner district. View the area’s iconic half-timbered houses, the Ponts Couverts, and the Palais de Rohan, before we cast off towards Basel in Switzerland. (B,L,D)

After breakfast onboard, you’ll disembark in Basel, Switzerland. Transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)