Begin this 7-night cruise in colorful Amsterdam with a canal boat tour past the city’s stately homes and 16th-century merchant houses, then cruise to Cologne for a guided tour. Stop for a visit of Coblenz, situated on the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, before sailing through the dramatic Rhine Gorge to Rüdesheim. There you will visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum and have a chance to try the region’s famous Riesling wines. Enjoy guided sightseeing in Strasbourg, as well as excursions to Heidelberg to visit the red-walled castle of Student Prince fame and Germany’s Black Forest, before ending your cruise in Basel, Switzerland.
MEALS
Superb dining with all meals on board including Cocktail Reception, Welcome Dinner, Captain’s Dinner, one sitting with open seating arrangements, quality wines from Europe’s most famous wine regions with every dinner on board
Day 1 (Sat.) Depart US.
Day 2 Amsterdam, Holland (Embarkation)
(Sun.) Welcome to Amsterdam! Holland’s capital is sophisticated and modern, with a rich and fascinating history. The works of famous Dutch masters can be seen in world-renowned museums such as the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh. This afternoon, the crew of your vessel waits to welcome you on aboard. (D)
Day 3 Amsterdam
(Mon.) There is no better way to see the city than by CANAL BOAT, cruising through the elegant grachten lined with stately homes dating back to Amsterdam’s “Golden Age.” Afterward, your river cruise vessel sets sail for Cologne. (FB,L,D)
Day 4 Cologne, Germany
(Tue.) Cologne is one of Germany’s largest cities, with a river skyline dominated by the soaring twin spires of its magnificent Gothic cathedral The Germano-Roman Museum located next to the cathedral is a must for history buffs! Try a Kölsch in one of the many taverns, and shop for a bottle of 4711, the original “eau de cologne.” (FB,L,D)
Day 5 Coblenz–Rhine Gorge–Rüdesheim
(Wed.) Situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, 2,000-year-old Coblenz is the cultural and business center of the Middle Rhine region. The Deutsches Eck, located on a tongue of land where the two rivers converge, holds an impressive equestrian statue of Wilhelm I. The dramatic Rhine Gorge is the most beautiful stretch of river. Pass the legendary Rock of the Lorelei, where sweet songs lured enchanted sailors to their doom. Pretty Rüdesheim is the perfect example of a Rhine Valley wine town. Explore the Drosselgasse, pick up some souvenirs, and be sure to try one of the vintages in any of the little wine taverns. (FB,L,D)
Day 6 Excursion to Heidelberg
(Thu.) Heidelberg is Germany’s oldest university town. The ruins of the imposing red sandstone CASTLE tower above the city. Of particular interest is the GIANT VAT, an 18th-century wine cask holding 49,000 gallons! (FB,L,D)
Day 7 Strasbourg, France
(Fri.) Situated on the border of France and Germany, Strasbourg is influenced by the culture of both countries and is the capital of the Alsace region. It is the seat of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. Noteworthy sights are the GOTHIC CATHEDRAL, the lovely LA PETITE FRANCE district, Place Kleber, and Place Gutenberg with its statue of the inventor of the printing press. An optional excursion to the Alsace wine region is available today. (FB,L,D)
Day 8 Breisach, Germany. Excursion to the Black Forest
(Sat.) Located at the foot of Kaiserstuhl Mountain on the French-German border, Breisach is a charming little medieval town. Once surrounded by city walls, the gates to the city still stand today. Breisach is the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest region, an area of unrivalled natural beauty with its forests of thick pine trees. The most well-known products from this region are Black Forest ham and Black Forest cherry cake. (FB,L,D)
Day 9 Basel, Switzerland (Disembarkation) (Sun.) Depart
Here's a list of optional excursions you can enjoy during your vacation. Whether it's a special dinner, a local show or a special behind-the-scenes glimpse into an historical site, optional excursions are wonderful way to enrich your vacation even further. Plus, they give you flexibility. We include the must-see sites and experiences, and we also understand that people take interest in different activities and may want to craft a more personal vacation by hand-picking optional excursions that appeal to them.
Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal suitability, group interests, and general feasibility for your vacation. The approximate value listed gives you a good, general idea of what you can expect to pay but may vary once you are on your vacation. Optional excursions can only be purchased when you're on vacation and are not sold in advance. Some information provided might be in a foreign currency, you can use our online currency converter for exchange rate information.
CITY: Amsterdam
Rembrandt & Co. A visit to Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum The Masterpieces of Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum offer an unique way to view all the highlights of the Golden Age in one place. Discover with our local experts their interrelationships, thematically or chronologically, discover the stories and view the artworks close-up. The most famous painting at the Rijksmuseum is Rembrandt's Night Watch. A national icon that fires the imagination and is always at the centre of discussion; The painting has been successively analyzed, interpreted, praised, abused, damaged and restored. It is, in short, the focus of attention. But what makes this portrait of a group of civic guardsmen so special, apart from being the largest painting that Rembrandt ever made? What is it about, what is its background? Find your answers in this visit to the Rijksmuseum. Approximate value: USD $29 per person
Sunflowers and other Masterpieces in the Van Gogh Museum A visit to the Van Gogh Museum is a unique experience. The museum contains the largest collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh in the world. It provides the opportunity to keep track of the artist's developments, or compare his paintings to works by other artists from the 19th century in the collection. The museum also holds an extensive offer of exhibitions on various subjects from 19th century art history. Join your local expert for an introduction to Van Gogh, before you start exploring the collection at your own pace. Approximate value: USD $32 per person
Klompen, cheese, and peanut oil - Zaanse Schans The Zaanse Schans is a delightful old hamlet on the banks of the river Zaan with characteristic green wooden houses, charming stylized gardens, small hump-backed bridges, tradesmen's workshops, historic windmills and engaging little shops. This enchanting hamlet gives an excellent impression of how a typical Zaanse village must have looked like in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Join our local expert for a journey through times when Dutch Sailing Ships crossed the seven seas and goods from all corners of the world traded in Holland. Don't miss your chance to see a working windmill inside and admire the craftsmanship of its mechanics. Approximate value: USD $39 per person
CITY: Strasbourg
Excursion to the Alsace Countryside Although modest in size, Alsace's geography is such that it offers an incredible variety of landscapes and climates. With the Vosges mountains and the rest of France to the west, and the Rhine and then Germany to the east, Alsace really is a mini-kingdom to itself, which has absorbed aspects from both French and German cultures. This is not surprising, as the region has changed hands four times in the past few hundred years. Since the Great War, however, Alsace has remained French. The famous Riesling, the Pinot Noir, the Tokay-Pinot Gris, the Gewurztraminer, a Muscat or a Pinot Blanc are the varieties of wine that you find here. But you can discover more. Follow our local expert on a tour of the Alsace with its charming half-timbered houses, the quite villages and the vineyards. Taste some of the wines of the region, as we will visit one of its wine farms. Approximate value: USD $44 per person
Relax and enjoy yourself
The Avalon Tapestry provides a complete break from the pressures of every day. The public rooms are elegant, and the dining room is extra spacious. The cuisine and wines on board will surpass your expectations. Pampered by our crew, our guests will make new friends and enjoy the casual camaraderie that leisurely cruising creates. You unpack only once, then enjoy life by lazing on the Sky Deck as timeless landscapes pass before you.
Included values aboard the Avalon Tapestry are:
All staterooms feature large closets, individual climate control, telephone, color satellite TV, radio, minibar, safe, hair dryer, and modern bathrooms with shower
Beds may be configured as two twins or one queen
The interior of the ships is non-smoking
Enjoy the onboard exercise room
Enjoy personal service from our English-speaking staff
Open seating with one sitting at mealtimes
Wine included with all onboard dinners
Coffee and tea are available free of charge throughout the day
The Sky Deck is fitted with newly developed shade systems, which are lowered and guaranteed to be back in position immediately after passing under a bridge
Internet access available
2008 Rates from $1,898- $1,999 base rate for minimum category cabin 2009 rates from $1,999-$2,399 base rate for minimum category cabin
French Balcony cabin upgrades from $499
We have sailed the ships, slept in the beds, taken the shore excursions and eaten the food. Our prices are lower than the cruise lines.
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