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15 Day Avalon Waterways River Cruise from Basel to Paris 2026(WZP)
Timeless Rivers of Europe: the Rhine and Seine
Starting from $5,260Ship(s): Avalon Envision, Avalon Tapestry II, Avalon View
Specialty Cruises: World War II Remembrance & History; Wine Lovers
River Cruise Description
Immerse yourself in German and French culture on this fabulous Europe river cruise vacation along the Seine and Rhine Rivers. Revel in the romance and splendor of this magical journey on two of Europe's most legendary waterways. Your adventure begins in Breisach, Germany, the gateway to Germany's Black Forest-an area of unrivaled natural beauty. Strasbourg, France, located on the French-German border, perfectly blends the cultures of both countries. Sail through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, the most beautiful view of the Rhine River where ancient castles stand on cliffs 400 feet above the water. 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. Continue to Amsterdam, the modern capital of Holland. Transfer to Paris by high-speed train to start your Seine River cruise. Enjoy wine, cheese, beautiful scenery along the Seine River, and stops in charming and historical parts of France, but your adventure would not be complete without some time in Paris-one of the world's most romantic and vibrant cities! Discover the true heart of Paris on a guided walk through the sites of Paris' rich history or take a tour showing you the iconic sites of the Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and more.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) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 7, 2026 | Avalon View, Avalon Tapestry II | $6,560 | Call Us! |
| May 5, 2026 | Avalon View, Avalon Tapestry II | $7,660 | Call Us! |
| May 12, 2026 | Avalon Tapestry II, Avalon Envision | $7,760 | Call Us! |
| May 19, 2026 | Avalon View, Avalon Tapestry II | $7,760 | Call Us! |
| May 26, 2026 World War II Remembrance & History(WZP-T8) Sail through the picturesque and historic landscapes of Normandy, with the choice to visit the historic sites of the famed WWII landing beaches, and moving monuments to Allied forces, or you may explore the farming region for a "Taste of Normandy." | Avalon Tapestry II, Avalon Envision | $8,010 | Call Us! |
| Jun 16, 2026 | Avalon View, Avalon Tapestry II | $7,260 | Call Us! |
| Jun 23, 2026 | Avalon Tapestry II, Avalon Envision | $6,760 | Call Us! |
| Jun 30, 2026 | Avalon View, Avalon Tapestry II | $6,660 | Call Us! |
| Jul 7, 2026 | Avalon Tapestry II, Avalon Envision | $6,660 | Call Us! |
| Jul 21, 2026 | Avalon Tapestry II, Avalon Envision | $6,660 | Call Us! |
| Aug 4, 2026 | Avalon Tapestry II, Avalon Envision | $6,660 | Call Us! |
| Aug 11, 2026 | Avalon View, Avalon Tapestry II | $6,760 | Call Us! |
| Aug 18, 2026 | Avalon Tapestry II, Avalon Envision | $6,960 | Call Us! |
| Aug 25, 2026 | Avalon View, Avalon Tapestry II | $7,560 | Call Us! |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Avalon Tapestry II, Avalon Envision | $8,260 | Call Us! |
| Sep 22, 2026 | Avalon View, Avalon Tapestry II | $8,160 | Call Us! |
| Sep 29, 2026 | Avalon Tapestry II, Avalon Envision | $8,060 | Call Us! |
| Oct 6, 2026 | Avalon View, Avalon Tapestry II | $7,460 | Call Us! |
| Oct 13, 2026 | Avalon Tapestry II, Avalon Envision | $7,160 | Call Us! |
| Oct 20, 2026 Wine Lovers(WZP-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, Avalon Tapestry II | $6,360 | Call Us! |
| Oct 27, 2026 | Avalon Tapestry II, Avalon Envision | $6,360 | Call Us! |
| Nov 3, 2026 Wine Lovers(WZP-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, Avalon Tapestry II | $5,560 | Call Us! |
| Nov 10, 2026 | Avalon Tapestry II, Avalon Envision | $5,260 | 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 BASEL, SWITZERLAND (EMBARKATION)
Welcome to Switzerland. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding. Flights into Zürich or Basel must arrive by 3 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.Enjoy dinner and explore the ship on your first night on board.EVENING CRUISE TO BREISACH
(D)
Day 2 BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST
German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black Forest
Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.Active
Enjoy the view on a relaxing bike ride along the Rhine with your Adventure Host, OR:
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 CRUISE TO KEHL
(B,L,D)
Day 3 KEHL. EXCURSION TO STRASBOURG, FRANCE
A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France
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 MAINZ
(B,L,D)
Day 4 MAINZ, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG
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 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,” OR: CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Walk in Mainz, including a visit to the Gutenberg Museum to see the captivating history of printing.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN RÜDESHEIM
(B,L,D)
Day 5 RÜDESHEIM–RHINE GORGE
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country
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.
KOBLENZ
Travel Through 2000 Years Of Monumental History
Enjoy free time in Koblenz before a relaxing evening on board with dinner and live entertainment. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN KOBLENZ
(B,L,D)
Day 6 COLOGNE
Prost! Celebrate in the Rhineland
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.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.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO AMSTERDAM
(B,L,D)
Day 7 AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND
Canals of Colorful Amsterdam
Active
Start your day joining your Adventure Host on an early morning walk in Amsterdam, OR:
Discovery
Discover the true beauty of Amsterdam with an off-the-beaten-path Guided Walking Tour through its cobblestone streets for a captivating look at this legendary city, OR:
Classic
Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age.”
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM
(B,L,D)
Day 8 AMSTERDAM (DISEMBARKATION)–PARIS, FRANCE (EMBARKATION)
On to Paris
This morning, board a high-speed train for Paris to embark on your Avalon Suite Ship® and enjoy dinner onboard this evening. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VERNON
(B,D)
Day 9 VERNON
Monet’s Muses, Castle Courtyards, and Crêpes du Jour
Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.Active
Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles by foot with your Adventure Host, OR:
Classic
Take a Guided Tour of Giverny, home and inspiration of the master impressionist painter Claude Monet. Walk the grounds and see Monet’s charming residence, and the flower and water gardens captured in his masterpieces*, OR:
Classic
Join a Guided Visit to Bizy Castle—called “Normandy’s Versailles” for its magnificent courtyard, water garden, and stables.
Discovery
While sailing, enjoy a traditional French luncheon of authentic French crêpes, followed by a Pastry Demonstration.
LES ANDELYS
Serenity on the Seine
Active
Join a Guided Hike up to the castle ruins of Château Gaillard—historic home of King Richard the Lionheart, OR:
Classic
Take a Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys—one of France’s most picturesque spots on the Seine.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO CAUDEBEC
(B,L,D)
*Monet’s House is closed in March and November. During this period, this excursion will be replaced with a Guided Tour of La Roche-Guyon and its castle
Day 10 CAUDEBEC
Ancient Abbeys Along the Seine
Active
Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the river with your Adventure Host, OR:
Classic
Take a Guided Trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route—where more than 100 medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches were built along the Seine.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN CAUDEBEC
(B,L,D)
Day 11 CAUDEBEC. EXCURSION TO NORMANDY
Heroic Bravery on Normandy Beaches and French Farming Traditions
Classic
Join a Guided Tour of Normandy’s WWII landing beaches, visit significant U.S. sites, including Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery, OR: CLASSIC Take a full-day Guided Tour of the British and Canadian commemorative sites, including the British cemetery, Pegasus Memorial, the seaside town of Arromanches, the Juno Beach Center, and the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, OR: CLASSIC Join “A Taste of Normandy” Guided Tour for an in-depth look at this rich agricultural region. See the famous Bayeux Tapestry, visit the beautiful village of Beuvron en Auge and taste Calvados at a local distillery.
EVENING CRUISE TO ROUEN
(B,L,D)
Day 12 ROUEN
The Cathedral of Our Lady and a Heroine for France
Active
Take a Guided Bike Tour to discover and explore the most famous monuments and the lesser known hidden gems of Rouen on two wheels, OR:
Classic
Take a Guided Walking Tour of Rouen—site of Saint Joan of Arc’s martyrdom—and see the medieval quarter with its 16th-century Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO CONFLANS
(B,L,D)
Day 13 CONFLANS
The Footsteps of Van Gogh, Bonaparte, and Louis XIV
Active
Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the Seine with your Adventure Host, OR:
Classic
Join a Guided Visit to Auvers-sur-Oise, home and resting place of Vincent van Gogh, OR:CLASSIC Take a Guided tour of the opulent Château de Malmaison*—home of Napoléon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine.
EVENING CRUISE TO PARIS
(B,L,D)
*Château de Malmaison is closed the 1st Monday of each month. On these dates, this excursion will be replaced by a visit to Château de Chantilly
Day 14 PARIS
Cafés, Cathedrals, and Canvases in the City of Light
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.Active
Experience the Seine river by foot with your Adventure Host, OR:
Classic
Discover the ancient heart of Paris on a captivating Guided Walk featuring the Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, ancient sites on Île de la Cité, the Left Bank, bustling Latin Quarter, and more, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided City Tour, that shows you the iconic sites of Paris, such as the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and the famous Champs-Élysées.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PARIS
(B,L,D)
Day 15 PARIS (DISEMBARKATION)
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.(B)
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