Immerse yourself in French and German culture on this fabulous Europe river cruise vacation along the Rhine, Saône, and Rhône Rivers. The views will be spectacular so be sure to pack your camera so you can capture the romance and splendor of this magical journey.

It all begins in Holland’s popular, modern capital of Amsterdam. The best way to see the treasures of this 700-year-old city is on a canal cruise along the elegant grachten. Cologne, Germany, a 2,000-year-old city best known for its gothic architecture and famous twin-spired cathedral, comes alive on a guided walk. Sail through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine River dotted every mile with ancient castles standing majestically on cliffs 400 feet above the water. Strasbourg, France, located on the French-German border, perfectly blends the cultures of both countries. Stroll through the picturesque La Petite France district with its quaint shops, delightful bistros, and peaceful waterfront promenade. Breisach, Germany, is the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest—an area of unrivaled natural beauty—best known for Black Forest ham, cherry cake, and the cuckoo clock.

Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital, is a showcase of medieval and Renaissance architecture. Explore the Old Town with its maze of medieval alleyways. Continue to the twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage beautifully nestled among vineyards. Here, you’ll go on a guided walk of Tournon—a medieval treasure with Roman ruins and a fascinating 16th-century castle. In Avignon, visit the Palace of the Popes and take pictures of the bridge in the famous song “Sur le pont d’Avignon.”

Enjoy your last night in France on the captivating French Riviera, also known as the Côte d’Azur. Relax along the remarkably blue water of the Mediterranean Sea—a perfect ending to this once-in-a-lifetime European river cruise!

For specific details on this special interest river cruise, please view the day-by-day itinerary.

City Highlights

Day 1-2 Amsterdam (Embarkation): welcome reception; canal cruise on Day 2Day 3 Cologne: choice of guided city walk or Jewish Heritage walkDay 4 Koblenz–Rhine Gorge–Rüdesheim: guided sightseeing in Koblenz; cruise through the Rhine Gorge; visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in Rüdesheim; special treatDay 5 Mainz. Excursion to Heidelberg: guided walk, visit the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz; excursion to Heidelberg, guided visit of the castle, see the Great VatDay 6 Strasbourg: guided sightseeing, visit the La Petite France district and the gothic cathedral; onboard woodcarving demonstrationDay 7 Breisach. Excursion to the Black Forest: visit a local woodcarver’s workshop or visit a Black Forest open-air museumDay 8 Basel (Disembarkation)–Beaune–St. Jean de Losne (Embarkation)–Seurre: transfer to Beaune, visit Hôtel-Dieu or wine tasting; onboard welcome receptionDay 9 Seurre–Mâcon: leisurely cruising; free time in MâconDay 10 Lyon: on board cheese and wine tasting; guided sightseeing in Lyon, picture stop on Fourvière HillDay 11 Lyon: a morning to explore this fascinating city at leisure: excursion to Beaujolais; on board food and wine pairing dinnerDay 12 Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage–Viviers: guided walk in Tournon; on board chocolate and wine tasting; guided walk in Viviers, visit the Old Town and the cathedralDay 13 Avignon: guided sightseeing, visit the Palace of the Popes and a winery in Châteauneuf du PapeDay 14 Arles: cruise into the Camargue region (daylight permitting); guided sightseeing in Arles, visit the Roman AmphitheaterDay 15 Arles (Disembarkation)–Côte d’Azur: evening in Côte d’AzurDay 16 Côte d’Azur: your vacation ends this morning.

Notes

In the event of water level problems or any problems of a technical nature, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or to alter the program.Special Features and day of operation are subject to change.

PRODUCT_LINE: AVALON-WAL-T1-2018