TAUCK RIVER CRUISES
13 Days | The Rhine and Moselle
Southbound

AMSTERDAM TO BASEL

Day 1 | Amsterdam, Holland. Embark. Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Amsterdam. A transfer is included from Amsterdam’s Schiphol International Airport to ms Swiss Jewel. Your cruise on the Moselle and Rhine rivers begins when all guests check in at 4:00 PM. Welkom aan boord! (D)

Day 2 | Amsterdam. Nijmegen. As this most exciting of Moselle and Rhine river cruises begins, indulge yourself in all the many charms of this city of canals today. Discover Amsterdam's historic architecture on a sightseeing cruise of its 17th-century canals – past centuries-old merchants' houses from its "Golden Age" – check out the gardens, walkways and museums of the Museumplein, and visit the famed Rijksmuseum, home to one of the world’s most important collections of artwork by the Dutch Masters. Enjoy some leisure time to explore the Netherlands' capital on your own, and join us this evening for the Captain’s welcome reception and dinner as you cruise to Nijmegen. (B,L,D)

Day 3 | Arnhem. Set off for Arnhem and the 5,500-hectare De Hoge Veluwe National Park, the Netherlands' largest nature reserve, and home to many endangered plant and animal species in a unique and varied landscape. In the midst of this natural glory, you’ll find the inspiring Kröller-Müller Museum, featuring works of such luminaries as Pablo Picasso, Georges Seurat and Vincent van Gogh – plus Europe’s largest sculpture garden, showcasing the creations of such noted sculptors as Auguste Rodin and Henry Moore. Enjoy lunch aboard the riverboat, followed by a delightful afternoon and evening of river cruising. (B,L,D)

Day 4 | Bonn, Germany. Koblenz. Beethoven’s birthplace, the home of musicians Robert and Clara Schumann, and the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1949 to 1991, Bonn is still a center of German administration, politics and culture. Tracing its roots back to the Romans, the city engages with history spanning ancient times to the present day. Discover it all during a sightseeing tour and a walk through Old Town; enjoy a memorable lunch in a grand hotel used to host visiting dignitaries, set in an ideal location overlooking Bonn and the Rhine. Gain insights about life along the Rhine from your Tauck Directors aboard the riverboat this evening as you continue your cruise to Koblenz. (B,L,D)

Day 5 | Cochem. This most engaging of Moselle and Rhine River cruises takes you to Cochem today, where stepping ashore is like stepping into the pages of a medieval fairy tale. Visit picture-perfect, 1,000-year-old Gothic Reichsburg Castle, which looks down on Cochem's quaint market square from above. Explore this jewel of a town – complete with Baroque town hall and ancient town gates – breathing in its historic charm and ambiance on a walking tour as well as free time on your own. Honor the area’s centuries-old winemaking traditions with a tasting of the excellent locally produced vintages at a family-owned winery / wine museum before returning to the riverboat. (B,L,D)

Day 6 | Luxembourg. Bernkastel. Dock in Bernkastel for an excursion to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Your guided walking tour explores its well-preserved old town, starting at Constitution Square. Go inside the Cathedral before seeing the Palace of the Grand Duke, and the Parliament and its centuries-old fortifications, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch on your own, visit the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial in Hamm, final resting place for over 5,000 U.S. troops from World War II, en route to Bernkastel. An orientation tour shows you the town’s quintessential sights... its famous half-timbered houses, its Renaissance-era city hall, its fortress-like 14th-century church, and the castle ruins that stand guard over the town. Local performers entertain aboard ship tonight sharing time-honored traditions. (B,L,D)

Day 7 | Trier. Boppard. Today you'll travel from Bernkastel to Trier, Germany’s oldest town, nestled in a basin in the Moselle Valley. Its importance in ancient times is showcased by its impressive Roman ruins, found nowhere else north of the Alps. You'll discover ancient history in this ancient city on a walking tour and city tour that provide a marvelous introduction. Return to Bernkastel for some free time in the afternoon, then your river cruise continues late afternoon as we chart a leisurely course for historic Boppard. (B,L,D)

Day 8 | Middle Rhine Valley. Boppard. As this most delightful of Rhine River cruises continues, explore the Middle Rhine Valley and the land of the Lorelei. During its 2,000-year history, Celts, Romans and Franconians have all called Boppard home; explore this marvelous medieval town on a walking tour, then rejoin your riverboat. As you travel along the Rhine this afternoon, you’ll hear about the legend of the Lorelei, and see for yourself why this beautiful part of the river has inspired composers, writers and artists for centuries. (B,L,D)

Day 9 | Heidelberg.After your riverboat docks in Worms, a full day in the historic college town of Heidelberg – home to one of the oldest universities in Europe and the setting for the famous operetta, The Student Prince – awaits you today. Take a walking tour of Heidelberg for a close-up look at the Old Town, and ride a funicular up to imposing Heidelberger Schloss, perched 300 feet above the city; view its examples of medieval, Renaissance and Baroque architecture, and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Perhaps you’ll be as captivated by this lovely old city as America’s first travel writer, Mark Twain, was when he spent three months here with his family in the 19th century. Catch up with the riverboat in Speyer, where you'll have some time to explore before continuing this most memorable of Rhine River cruises.(B,L,D)

Day 10 | Black Forest. Baden-Baden. Arrive in Plittersdorf for an excursion to the beautiful Black Forest spa town of Baden-Baden – and proof that the elegant Belle Èpoque period is still alive and well. For many generations, wealthy folks have flocked here to see and be seen, and to take the healing thermal waters for which the town is famous ("baden," in fact, translates to "bath" or "bathe"). Join your local guide for a walking tour among some of the town's treasures, ranging from the ruins of Roman baths to the ornate, 250-year-old Belle Èpoque casino, the Kurhaus, which movie star Marlene Dietrich once described as “the most beautiful casino in the world.” Spend the afternoon as you please in Baden-Baden or back aboard the riverboat in Plittersdorf; shuttles are available to take you back and forth between the ship and town. (B,L,D)

Day 11 | Strasbourg, France. Your exploration of the Rhine River cruises to stunning Strasbourg, France – seat of the European Council, the European Parliament and the European Court of Human Rights, as well as the capital of the historic Alsace region. You’ll see the Parliament buildings before stepping back in time to discover La Petite France, noted for its medieval half-timbered houses set beside lovely canals, on a walking tour. While visiting the famous Gothic Cathédrale de Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, you’ll be inspired by the graceful, expressive statuary of the Pilier des Anges (Pillar of Angels), and the magnificent stained glass windows. Spend free time this afternoon exploring the "crossroads of Europe" as you wish. (B,L,D)

Day 12 | Basel, Switzerland. The Tauck Difference in European river cruising is all about where you go, what you do, and who you meet on your shore excursions – and today, you have a choice! First choice is spending the day in Basel, a beautiful city on the banks of the Rhine River. You'll get a good overview on a brief sightseeing tour that is followed by a walking tour in the Old Town – guided sightseeing features an orientation tour of the city, followed by a walking tour of Basel’s Old Town that includes the red-painted 16th-century Rathaus (city hall). After lunch, explore more of one of Europe’s most attractive and best-preserved Old Towns on your own, perhaps taking in one of the city’s 40 museums. Alternatively, spend the day in Lucerne, one of Switzerland's prettiest towns. Situated on Lake Lucerne, with a panoramic view of the Swiss Alps, the town is extremely pedestrian-friendly. Spend several hours exploring, which is best done on foot – stroll through the Old Town squares, walk across one of the oldest covered wooden bridges in Europe, see the beautiful façades of medieval buildings... Return to Basel late afternoon; this evening, join the Captain and crew for a farewell reception and dinner aboard your riverboat as this most impressive of Moselle and Rhine River cruises concludes. (B,L,D)

Day 13 | Basel. Disembark. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from ms Swiss Jewel to Basel-Mulhouse International Airport; please allow 3 hours for flight check-in. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home. (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.

SOUTHBOUND ITINERARY 13 DAYS | AMSTERDAM TO BASEL Click here to view 13-day NORTHBOUND itinerary. Click ship name to view deck plan.