UNIWORLD
8 Days | Castles Along The Rhine
Southbound

AMSTERDAM TO BASEL

Day 1 | Amsterdam, Holland. Arrive at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport where you will be transferred to the ship. (D)

Day 2 | Cologne, Germany. Stroll through the narrow streets of Old Town with your guide, passing by tiny squares and small churches as you make your way to Cologne Cathedral, the city’s most famous landmark and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. It took 632 years for Germany’s largest cathedral to be completed, and it is one of the most important Gothic churches in Europe. A visit inside features the Shrine of the Three Magi and the beautiful stained glass windows that survived WWII. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Gala)

Note: No inside tours of the cathedral are given on Sundays or Catholic holidays.

Day 3 | Koblenz. Boppard. The German Corner, with its famous William II monument, announces our arrival in Koblenz at the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine rivers. Choose a walking tour highlighting the appeal of Koblenz — its romantic narrow streets and historical squares, the picturesque alleyways and fountains in the old quarter, and the 12th-century churches of St. Florin and Our Lady. Or ride the aerial tram across the Rhine to Fortress Ehrenbreitstein — inspiration to authors Melville and Byron — which has stood high on the hill overlooking the rivers’ confluence since its beginnings as a fortification in 1,000 BC. End your day with a guided village stroll around Boppard, a typical small town on the shores of the Rhine. (BB,L,D)

Day 4 | Cruising the Rhine. Rüdesheim. Spend the morning basking in the breathtaking scenery of the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Upper Middle Rhine Valley. You'll arrive in Rüdesheim in the early afternoon. Rüdesheim has a long history dating back to Roman times and is considered one of the most charming of the Rhine Valley towns. It has been a magnet for romantics ever since the 19th century. Among other things, the town is famous for its Drosselgasse—a narrow alleyway lined with wine taverns and shops. Explore Rüdesheim at your leisure. Then be our guest at a princely wine tasting at prestigious Castle Vollrads; perfectly situated in the vineyard-covered hills, it is also one of the world’s top wine estates for Rheingau Rieslings. (BB,L,D)

Day 5 | Germersheim (Speyer or Germersheim). Your guided walking tour through Speyer reveals a Medieval town with a grand heritage and a compact historic center dominated by the largest Romanesque cathedral in Europe—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its basilica laid out in the form of a Latin cross, including four towers and two domes, this is a marvel to behold. Or explore daily life in the typical German town of Germersheim, with its lively historic downtown and unique old ring fortification around the city core. (BB,L,D)

Day 6 | Kehl, France (Strasbourg). Situated halfway between Paris and Prague, the Alsatian town of Strasbourg is known as the “Crossroads of Europe.” It is home to a magnificent Gothic cathedral and beautiful half-timbered houses. ViewStrasbourg in the way it has been seen through the centuries—on a canal cruise. In addition to viewing the town’s covered bridges, Medieval watchtowers, old tanners’ district, and the modern building that houses the European Parliament, you will see Petite France, the picturesque district that seems as if it has been lifted from the pages of a fairytale. Then spend your afternoon at leisure in this beautiful city. (BB,L,D)

Day 7 | Breisach, Germany (Colmar or Riquewhir). Starting from Medieval Breisach, the gateway to the Black Forest, you will cross the Rhine and head for the Alsatian Wine Road, which hugs the foothills of the Vosges Mountains. Charming villages, pastoral landscapes, and lush vineyards line this beautiful winding road. You will visit enchanting Colmar with its historic city center and St. Martin’s Church, which is made of pink stone. You will also see the picturesque timber-framed houses in the romantic Medieval town of Riquewhir. (BB,Captain’s FarewellDinner)

Day 8 | Basel, Switzerland. Disembark the ship and transfer to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg for your flight home, or extend your stay in lovely Lucerne. (CB,BB)

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 8 DAYS | AMSTERDAM TO BASEL Click HERE to view 8-day NORTHBOUND itinerary.