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13 Day Avalon Waterways River Cruise from Amsterdam to Lucerne 2025(WHZ1)
The Rhine & Moselle with 2 Nights in Lucerne
Starting from $6,106
Ship(s): Avalon Imagery II, Avalon Tranquility II
River Cruise Description
Your European river cruise vacation starts in marvelous Amsterdam where there is much to see! Discover the treasures of this colorful, historic city on a canal cruise through the elegant Grachten lined with stately homes dating back to the city's "Golden Age." Explore the magnificent city of Cologne, Germany, which spans both sides of the Rhine River, then visit Koblenz, strategically located at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers. Explore the charming wine village of Bernkastel with its half-timbered houses from the Middle Ages still standing! Take a guided walk through the delightful marketplace, see the Renaissance-era Town Hall, and taste famed Moselle wines! Sail through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, considered the most beautiful view of the Rhine River, and see ancient castles standing majestically on cliffs 400 feet above the water. Visit the charming Rhine Valley wine town of Rüdesheim, and visit the ruins of Heidelberg's Castle, towering magnificently over the city. Continue your stunning European river cruise to Strasbourg, France, where a local expert will show you the red-sandstone Gothic-style cathedral with ancient murals and fascinating astronomical clock. Also, stroll through the lovely La Petite France district with its quaint shops, delightful bistros, and peaceful waterfront promenade. At the foot of Kaiserstuhl Mountain on the French-German border sits Breisach-the gateway to Germany's legendary Black Forest, an area of unrivaled natural beauty.Disembark your river cruise in Basel, Switzerland, and continue your vacation with a visit to Mt. Pilatus (or Mount Stanserhorn per seasonal accessibility) and a walking tour in Lucerne. Your Rhine and Moselle Rivers 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) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2025 | Avalon Tranquility II | $8,505 | Call Us! |
| Jul 16, 2025 | Avalon Imagery II | $6,611 | Call Us! |
| Aug 24, 2025 | Avalon Imagery II | $6,722 | Call Us! |
| Sep 27, 2025 | Avalon Imagery II | $6,106 | 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, don’t miss a Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens—with more than seven million flowering bulbs. 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
Colorful Canals of Amsterdam
Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.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 SAILING TO COCHEM
(B,L,D)
Day 4 COCHEM
The Charm of the Moselle Valley
This morning, select a Guided Optional Excursion to Eltz Castle.Active
Bike along the Mosel river with your Adventure Host, OR:
Discovery
Visit the former bunker of Germany's Central Bank (Deutsche Bundesbank) and immerse yourself in the underground vault where millions of German Mark were kept during the Cold War, OR:
Classic
Join a Guided Walk of Cochem to see the charming town’s half-timbered houses and winding streets. Visit Cochem’s hilltop Reichsburg Castle with a bird’s-eye-view of the Moselle Valley and river bend.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO TRIER
(B,L,D)
Day 5 TRIER. EXCURSION TO LUXEMBOURG
Ancient Worlds and Old World Charm
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.Classic
Take a Guided Sightseeing tour of Trier—Germany’s oldest city with ancient remnants dating from 144-152 AD. Starting from Porta Nigra, walk through the city center.
Classic
Join a Guided Tour of Luxembourg City—with its dramatic views, ancient ruins, and modern architecture along the deep gorge terrain.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BERNKASTEL
(B,L,D)
Day 6 BERNKASTEL
Hillside Vines and German Wines
Active
Join your Adventure Host for a hike in this beautiful area, OR:
Classic
Take a Guided Walking Tour of the charming wine village of Bernkastel—with its medieval marketplace and 17th-century gabled timber-framed houses.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KOBLENZ
(B,L,D)
Day 7 KOBLENZ–RHINE GORGE
Fortress Walls and Manor Halls
Active
Explore Koblenz's Mosel side by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
Classic
Take a Guided City Walk amid ancient fortresses walls, towers, squares and monuments, OR:
Classic
Visit the Sayn Manor House on a Guided Tour.
RÜDESHEIM
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country
Enjoy free time this evening to explore this picturesque village. This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship.OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO LUDWIGSHAFEN
(B,L,D)
Day 8 LUDWIGSHAFEN. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG–SPEYER
Philosophers’ Views and the World’s Biggest Wine Barrel
Ask about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities.Active
Join your Avalon Adventure Host for an inspiring walk in Heidelberg, the Philosophers' way, OR:
Classic
Discover Schwetzingen Palace—the heart of a stunning site consisting of the palace, palace gardens, and historic palace square, 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 9 STRASBOURG, FRANCE
A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France
Active
Discover Strasbourg by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
Classic
Take a City Sightseeing Tour, including the city’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 10 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.
You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar in the morning, with its half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL
(B,L,D)
Day 11 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 Alps.Classic
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
Historic Houses and a Wooden Bridge
Classic
Join a guided walking tour to explore beautiful Lucerne, which includes Thorwaldsen’s poignant Lion Monument and the famous Chapel Bridge.
(B)
Day 12 LUCERNE
At Leisure in Lovely Lucerne
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 13 LUCERNE
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.(B)
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