AVALON WATERWAYS
10 Days | Canals, Vineyards & Paris
Northbound (WRA)

FOR FASTEST SERVICE CALL FOR A QUOTE, INFO AND TO BOOK 1-855-255-1200

PARIS TO AMSTERDAM

Day 1 | Paris, France. Welcome to Paris, France’s capital on the River Seine and the “City of Light,” where romance fills the air!

Day 2 | Paris. Known as one of the world’s most passionate and lively cities, Paris is a delight for your senses. Your included CITY SIGHTSEEING shows you magnificent must-see sights, including Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique Louvre Museum with its glass pyramid as a contrast to its ancient architecture, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower. In your free time, stroll down the Champs-Elysées with its lavish cafés, or perhaps visit the world-famous Louvre or Montmartre with its gleaming white Sacré Coeur Basilica and bevy of artists on Place du Tertre. Paris is also well known for its colorful nightlife that includes some of the world’s most famous cabaret shows. All of this awaits your discovery! (B)

Day 3 | Paris. Remich, Luxembourg. Embark. This morning, board a HIGH-SPEED TRAIN for a swift and comfortable journey to Metz or Luxembourg. Continue by motorcoach to Remich on the Moselle, where your river cruise vessel is docked. Before dinner, meet your crew at a welcome reception. (B,D)

Day 4 | Trier, Germany. The entire Moselle Valley is famous for its beautiful and tranquil scenery, and at its head is Trier, Germany’s oldest city. Some say Trier is even older than Rome and that it was populated over a thousand years before the Romans arrived. Many Roman remains have survived, including a 20,000-seat amphitheater; the Porta Nigra, the only surviving fortified gate from the original Roman settlement, which still gives access to the town’s center; imperial baths; and the Roman Bridge, Germany’s oldest bridge, with stone pilings dating from 144-152 AD—all evidence of this once-grand Roman city. Trier also offers pleasant market squares, Germany’s oldest Christian church, and a cornucopia of architectural styles—Roman, baroque, neo-classicism, renaissance, and gothic. Choose from an included GUIDED CITY SIGHTSEEING or the more history-focused “ROMAN TRIER” guided tour, followed by some free time, giving you the opportunity to really explore this magnificent town. (B,L,D)

Day 5 | Bernkastel. In the middle of the Moselle region is the charming wine village of Bernkastel with its fascinating narrow streets and half-timbered houses that have stood since the Middle Ages. Enjoy an included GUIDED WALK that features the beautiful marketplace with its renaissance-style Town Hall and the “pointed house,” built in 1416. Wine growers in this area look after Germany’s largest expanse of vineyards, the most celebrated of the vintages being the Bernkasteler Doktor. Perhaps visit the Wine Museum to learn more about the history of the region’s wine, then, before dinner, enjoy a pleasant TASTING of several of the region’s varietals at the Moselle Vinoteque. (B,L,D)

Day 6 | Cochem. Cochem is a charming and picturesque town with half-timbered houses and winding streets full of history and legends that will be brought to life during your included GUIDED WALK. Visit REICHSBURG CASTLE, built in 1000 AD and furnished with renaissance and baroque furniture. Sitting dramatically atop a conical hill covered in vines, this castle offers splendid views of the little town nestled down below and of the river valley. Cochem is at the heart of the Moselle wine trade and, most notably, the Riesling grape is cultivated, producing a dry to sweet, floral white wine. (B,L,D)

Day 7 | Cruising the Rhine Gorge. Rüdesheim. This morning cruise through the dramatic RHINE GORGE, the most beautiful stretch of river. Here, ancient castles stand sentry on lofty cliffs rising 400 feet above the waters. Cruise past the legendary rock of the Lorelei, where echoes of enchanted siren song lured unwitting sailors to their doom. After lunch, arrive in pretty Rüdesheim, the perfect example of a Rhine Valley wine town, and visit SIEGFRIED’S MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM - a real surprise! Here you’ll see and hear a large collection of self-playing calliopes and music boxes from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. Enjoy a SPECIAL TREAT, then there’s free time to pick up some souvenirs on the narrow, cobblestoned Drosselgasse, where colorful flowers, open-air wine gardens, and live music add to the festive atmosphere. Later head for Cologne. (B,L,D)

Day 8 | Cologne. One of Germany’s largest cities and capital of the Rhineland, Cologne straddles both sides of the Rhine and is known for its soaring, twin-steepled gothic cathedral. Choose between an included GUIDED CITY WALK or JEWISH HERITAGE WALK. Later, during free time, perhaps look in on the Romano-Germanic Museum, home to a large collection of artifacts from the Roman settlement on which modern Cologne is built—a must for history buffs! The Old Town abounds with cafés, shops, and taverns. Be sure to try a Kölsch pale lager, locally brewed in Cologne for over a hundred years, and shop for a bottle of “4711,” the original eau de cologne. (B,L,D)

Day 9 | Amsterdam, Holland. After breakfast this morning, arrive in Amsterdam. Holland’s sophisticated, modern capital has a rich and fascinating history. This delightful 700-year-old city with its elegant and classic architecture, cafés and restaurants, and lively marketplace has a distinct ambiance. There is no better way to see Amsterdam than by CANAL BOAT, cruising through the elegant grachten lined with stately homes dating back to Amsterdam’s “Golden Age.” There is plenty of free time to explore on your own. Maybe do some shopping, relax at a cozy café or take one of several optional excursions on offer. Your Cruise Director will have suggestions of how to make the most of your stay. (B,L,D)

Day 10 | Amsterdam. Disembark. our vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

NOTE: Itinerary is subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the itinerary schedule you receive with your final documents.

NORTHBOUND ITINERARY (WRA) 10 DAYS | PARIS TO AMSTERDAM Click HERE to view 10-day SOUTHBOUND itinerary (WAR).