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10 Day Avalon Waterways River Cruise from Amsterdam to Lucerne 2025(WAZ2)
Romantic Rhine with 2 Nights in Lucerne
Starting from $4,462
Ship(s): Avalon Illumination, Avalon View, Avalon Vista
Specialty Cruises: Wine Lovers; Festive Time
River Cruise Description
Your 10-day river cruise vacation includes stays in Holland, Germany, France, and Switzerland-all beginning with your Avalon Rhine River cruise embarking from Amsterdam. Before sailing down the Rhine River, you'll enjoy a guided canal cruise through the colorful capital of Holland.Next, you'll cruise to Cologne, Germany-a 2,000 year-old city known for its Gothic architecture-an exciting stop with its famous twin-spired cathedral and Old Town with many shops, cafés, and taverns. On your way to Rüdesheim, relax on the Sky Deck of your ship as you pass through the spectacular Rhine Gorge -the most beautiful view of the Rhine River where ancient castles stand on cliffs 400 feet above the water. You'll take a guided tour of Rüdesheim's outstanding Mechanical Music Museum.Sail into Mainz for city sightseeing, including a visit to the impressive Gutenberg Museum, or choose an excursion to nearby Heidelberg-and cruise to Strasbourg, France. Then, stop in Breisach, Germany, 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.Cruise to Basel, Switzerland, to disembark from your Avalon Suite Ship® and continue your vacation with a visit to Mt. Pilatus and a walking tour in Lucerne. Your Rhine River cruise and vacation in Switzerland are the perfect combination to unlock a guided European vacation of a lifetime.Thanks for your interest!
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I'm sorry, but an error has occurred. Try Again| Departure Date | Ship | Priced From (per person) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 30, 2025 | Avalon View | $5,465 | Call Us! |
| Apr 5, 2025 | Avalon Vista | $5,915 | Call Us! |
| Apr 19, 2025 | Avalon Vista | Waitlist | Call Us! |
| Apr 29, 2025 | Avalon View | Waitlist | Call Us! |
| May 3, 2025 | Avalon Vista | Waitlist | Call Us! |
| May 27, 2025 | Avalon View | $4,787 | Call Us! |
| May 31, 2025 | Avalon Vista | $4,787 | Call Us! |
| Jun 10, 2025 | Avalon View | $4,787 | Call Us! |
| Jun 24, 2025 | Avalon View | $4,582 | Call Us! |
| Jun 28, 2025 | Avalon Vista | $5,332 | Call Us! |
| Jul 12, 2025 | Avalon Vista | $5,221 | Call Us! |
| Jul 22, 2025 | Avalon View | $5,332 | Call Us! |
| Aug 5, 2025 | Avalon View | $5,332 | Call Us! |
| Aug 9, 2025 | Avalon Vista | $5,221 | Call Us! |
| Aug 19, 2025 | Avalon View | $5,532 | Call Us! |
| Sep 2, 2025 | Avalon View | $7,006 | Call Us! |
| Sep 16, 2025 | Avalon View | $5,232 | Call Us! |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Avalon View | $5,166 | Call Us! |
| Oct 14, 2025 Wine Lovers(WAZ2-T7) A Master of Wine will accompany you on this portion of your cruise with presentations, tastings, and wine pairings along the way. | Avalon View | $4,816 | Call Us! |
| Oct 18, 2025 | Avalon Vista | $5,466 | Call Us! |
| Oct 28, 2025 Wine Lovers(WAZ2-T7) A Master of Wine will accompany you on this portion of your cruise with presentations, tastings, and wine pairings along the way. | Avalon View | $5,162 | Call Us! |
| Nov 1, 2025 | Avalon Vista | $5,162 | Call Us! |
| Nov 11, 2025 Wine Lovers(WAZ2-T7) A Master of Wine will accompany you on this portion of your cruise with presentations, tastings, and wine pairings along the way. | Avalon View | $4,962 | Call Us! |
| Nov 22, 2025 Festive Time(WAZ2-T3) At every stop, you’ll experience the magical charm of this time of year, with the towns decked out in festive lights and décor, and the Christmas markets waiting to be explored. | Avalon Illumination | $4,462 | Call Us! |
| Nov 25, 2025 Festive Time(WAZ2-T3) At every stop, you’ll experience the magical charm of this time of year, with the towns decked out in festive lights and décor, and the Christmas markets waiting to be explored. | Avalon View | $4,962 | Call Us! |
| Dec 6, 2025 Festive Time(WAZ2-T3) At every stop, you’ll experience the magical charm of this time of year, with the towns decked out in festive lights and décor, and the Christmas markets waiting to be explored. | Avalon Illumination | $5,062 | Call Us! |
| Dec 9, 2025 Festive Time(WAZ2-T3) At every stop, you’ll experience the magical charm of this time of year, with the towns decked out in festive lights and décor, and the Christmas markets waiting to be explored. | Avalon View | $6,711 | Call Us! |
Avalon has designed included activities with a choice of experiences. We invite you to select the tours, activities, and events that interest you most, so you can experience your cruise your way. There are 3 types of included shore excursion on every Europe cruise:
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You'll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Discovery
We've found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests — from cooking classes, to painting workshops — to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
Active
Embark on energetic excursions to keep you in motion and on the go — from a guided jogging tour of Amsterdam, to biking, paddling, and hiking your way through scenic locales.
- Plus independent exploration options and use of Avalon's exclusive AvalonGO APP.
River Cruise Itinerary
Day 1 AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (EMBARKATION)
Welcome to Holland. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.Flights into Amsterdam must arrive by 3:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm. Your day in Amsterdam is free to explore at your leisure.During tulip season, you may take a Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens—with more than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, as well as other bulbs, planted each year.Outside of tulip season, join a Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM
(D)
Day 2 AMSTERDAM
Canals of Colorful Amsterdam
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.Classic
Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age."
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COLOGNE
(B,L,D)
Day 3 COLOGNE, GERMANY
Prost! Celebrate in the Rhineland
Active
Enjoy a bike ride like the locals in Cologne with your Adventure Host, OR:
Discovery
Choose a Guided Walking Tour of Cologne’s important Jewish heritage sites, OR:
Classic
Take a Guided City Walk of Cologne—with its soaring twin-steepled gothic cathedral.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO RÜDESHEIM
(B,L,D)
Day 4 RHINE GORGE–RÜDESHEIM
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country
En route to Rüdesheim, sail through the Rhine Gorge (a UNESCO World Heritage site). Take in the breathtaking views of ancient castles perched on cliffs 400 feet above the water, and pass the legendary Rock of the Lorelei—where the mythological siren’s songs lured ill-fated sailors.Active
Enjoy a hike with your Avalon Adventure Host through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim, OR:
Discovery
Take a Guided Tour of the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience; enjoy a tasting of the authentic Rüdesheimer coffee.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN RÜDESHEIM
(B,L,D)
Day 5 MAINZ. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG
Printing Halls, Castle Walls, and the World’s Biggest Wine Barrel
Active
Join your Avalon Adventure Host for an inspiring walk in Heidelberg, the Philosophers' way, OR:
Classic
Enjoy a Guided City Walk, including a visit to the Gutenberg Museum to see the captivating history of printing, OR:
Classic
Enjoy a Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle to see the ruins of the magnificent renaissance treasure towering above the city, and its famed Great Vat, the “World’s Largest Wine Barrel.”
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO STRASBOURG
(B,L,D)
Day 6 STRASBOURG, FRANCE
A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France
Ask about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities.Active
Discover Strasbourg by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
Classic
Join a City Sightseeing Tour, including Strasbourg’s Gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH
(B,L,D)
Day 7 BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST
German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black Forest
Discovery
Join a full-day Guided Tour to the magical Black Forest to experience the Vogtsbauernohf open-air-museum, visit an authentic water mill, and see a traditional butter-making demonstration, OR:
Classic
Join A Guided Tour to explore Freiburg’s medieval city center, sheltered by the Black Forest amid vineyards and gardens of the Upper Rhine Valley.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL
(B,L,D)
Day 8 BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION)–SWISS ALPS
Spectacular Views in Switzerland
This morning disembark your Avalon ship and take a motorcoach transfer which will bring you in the heart of Swiss AlpsClassic
Enjoy a special highlight excursion to Mount Pilatus (or Mount Stanserhorn per seasonal accessibility) for spectacular views over central Switzerland (in case of bad weather, visit the Swiss Transport Museum instead).
LUCERNE
A Historic Bridge and Heart of a Lion
Classic
Join a Guided Walking tour to explore beautiful Lucerne, which includes Thorvaldsen’s poignant Lion Monument and the famous Chapel Bridge.
(B)
Day 9 LUCERNE
Lakeshores and Soaring Peaks
Today, enjoy a day at leisure in Lucerne. Discover the many squares and churches and how tradition and modernity stand side-by-side or spend your free time to enjoy some shopping in the city center.(B)
Day 10 LUCERNE
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.(B)
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