DEPART USA for many guests - July 23, 2011
Board your overnight flight to Holland.
DAY 1, ARRIVE IN AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND EMBARKATION
- July 24 2011
Arrive in charming Amsterdam and embark your luxurious river
cruise ship. Meet your fellow travelers tonight at the Welcome Cocktail Reception.
(D)
DAY 2, AMSTERDAM - July 25 2011
After breakfast, admire beautiful 17th-century homes, charming churches and
16th-century merchant houses on a guided canal boat tour. Enjoy an afternoon
information briefing as you cruise towards Germany. Tonight you'll be a guest
at the Captain's Gala Welcome Dinner. (B,L,D)
DAY 3, COLOGNE, GERMANY - KOBLENZ -
July 26 2011
Early riser cruise past fashionable Dusseldorf, before arriving
in Cologne for a guided morning walking tour through the old part of the city
and a visit to the fabled 13th-century Gothic cathedral. Continue to 2,000 year
old Koblenz, located at the confluence of the Rhine and Mosel rivers. Take an
after dinner walk through this charming town. (B,L,D)
DAY 4, KOBLENZ - RUDESHEIM -
July 27 2011
Today, sail through the fascinating Rhine Gorge, passing castle after castle
and the infamous Lorelei Rock. After lunch, arrive in Rudesheim and visit Siegfried's
Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Explore the Drosselgasse, a narrow alley
lined with wine taverns and restaurants during your free time. The ship moors
here tonight. (B,L,D)
DAY 5, WORMS HEIDELBERG - July
28 2011
This morning, arrive in one of Germanys oldest cities, Worms, renowned for its
great historical and cultural significance. Surrounded by lush vineyards, Worms
is noteworthy for its famous white wine, Liebfraumilch, and as a location described
in the ancient Nibelungenlied (The song of the Nibelungs), an epic poem from
the Middle Ages. The city is also known for its many excellent examples of Romanesque
architecture, including the majestic 12th-century St. Peter's Cathedral. During
your tour, visit the impressive monument to Martin Luther and other leaders
of the Reformation along the "Luther Trail." You will see the 11th-century
"Heiliger Sand," one of the largest and oldest Jewish cemeteries in
Europe with some tombstones dating back nearly a millennium. After lunch, disembark
for your excursion to the Heidelberg, where you will visit the red-walled Castle,
as well as the Great Vat, a 49,000-gallon 18th-century wine cask and beautiful
views of the Neckar Valley and Heidelberg below. (B,L,D)
DAY 6, STRASBOURG, FRANCE - July
29 2011
Principal city of the Alsace region in northeastern France, Strasbourg, is situated
on the Ill River, where it flows into the Rhine on the border with Germany.
This morning, take a tour through this medieval charming town lined with narrow
cobbled streets. See the European Parliament and visit "La Petite France"
district, where you will see the sandstone Gothic Cathedral with its famous
astronomical clock. Then enjoy a canal cruise, revealing the picturesque town,
known for it's black and white timber-framed buildings, covered bridges and
medieval watchtowers. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. Perhaps take
a stroll through Strasbourg's historic city center, the "Grande Ile"
("Grand Island"), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or sample local cuisine
and wine that merges the best of French and German influences. The ship moors
overnight. (B,L,D)
DAY 7, BREISACH
COLMAR, FRANCE OR FREIBURG, GERMANY - July 30, 2011
Today, choose between a city tour of Colmar or Freiburg. If you decide to travel
to Freiburg, you will visit its historical city center and visit the Augustinerplatz,
site of Freiburgs Munster, a gothic minster cathedral constructed of red sandstone,
noted for its towering spires. The town is bordered by the Black Forest mountains,
Rosskopf and Bromberg, and is known for meticulous wood carvings and cuckoo
clocks. Or, choose to travel to medieval Colmar, situated along the Alsatian
Wine Route and is self-proclaimed as the "Capital of Alsatian Wine."
During your city tour, you will see remarkable half-timbered framed houses,
the German influenced old quarter filled with streets of unexpected twists and
turns, canals and the Launch River. Late tonight, the ship set sails for Basel,
Switzerland. (B,L,D)
DAY 8, BASEL, SWITZERLAND LUCERNE
- July 31, 2011
Disembark after breakfast for a city tour of tour of cosmopolitan Basel. Switzerlands
second largest city is ideally located at the crossroads of Switzerland, France
and Germany. Long an important university, banking and trade center, Basel’s
glorious past is still evident in its medieval Town Hall and exquisite 18th-century
patrician homes. After free time for lunch on your own, depart for Lucerne.
Arriving mid afternoon, you will check into the hotel. (B)
DAY 9, LUCERNE - August 1, 2011
Situated on the exit of the Reusse River, on Lake Lucerne, the city is a medieval
charm. After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of Lucerne. Small cobbled stone
streets, squares with fountains, frescoed buildings typify Lucerne. You will
see the Lion monument, the figure of a dying lion carved into a hillside- representing
the Swiss Guard of the French King who died defending the Royal Palace during
the revolution. Easily the symbol of the city, the Chapel Bridge, is a medieval
covered bridge, which for centuries was part of the of the city defenses. The
eves of the roof have paintings depicting the city's rich history. The afternoon
is free: you can choose to shop (watches, knives, and Swiss chocolate) or join
an optional tour to Mount Pilatus, the mountain which dominates the city. (B)
DAY 10, LUCERNE ZURICH - August 2,
2011
This morning, check out of the hotel. Prior to leaving Lucerne, enjoy a cruise
across the tranquil waters of Lake Lucerne. Amazing scenery is the backdrop
of the cruise, with mountains looming over the city, coming right to the edge
of the lake. There is time for lunch in Lucerne before departing for a scenic
drive around the Lakes before reaching Zurich this afternoon. Upon arrival,
check into the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. (B)
DAY 11, ZURICH - August 3, 2011
Your morning walking tour of picturesque Zurich will include Grossmunster, St.Peter
(with the largest church clock face in the world), Old Town, Town Hall and Fraumunster,
which was fully renovated in 2004 and now offers an exceptional 360 panoramic
view of Zurich. The afternoon and evening are free for you to explore the town
on your own. Perhaps: return to the Old Town, which offers engaging cafes, restaurants
and a wealth of nightlife, or shop along Bahnhofstrasse and Niederdorf.(B)
DAY 12, ZURICH - August 4, 2011
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight home. (B)