8 Days Romantic Rhine River Cruise
Duration:
7 Nights
From €2,349pp
9 June 2026
One of Europe’s most legendary rivers takes you across Germany and touches in Holland, France, and Switzerland! This magnificent Rhine River cruise begins in the ever popular, modern city of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Cruise on its famous canals along the elegant grachten--the best way to see the treasures of this 700-year-old city dating back to the “Golden Age.” Visit Cologne, Germany—a 2,000-year-old city known for its Gothic-style architecture—and see its famous twin-spired cathedral and Old Town with many shops, cafés, and taverns.
Sail through the dramatic Rhine Gorge—offering the most beautiful view of the Rhine River where ancient castles stand on cliffs 400 feet above the water. Cruise to the charming wine town of Rüdesheim and visit the unique Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Continue your Rhine River cruise to Ludwigshafen for a guided visit to Schwetzingen castle, or take an excursion to Heidelberg to visit the ruins of its red-walled castle. In Strasbourg, France, marvel at 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. Stop in Breisach, Germany, the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest. Here, find unrivaled natural beauty in the area best known for Black Forest ham, cherry cake, and the cuckoo clock.
Romantic – Any Time of Year
From the lively energy of summer to the golden calm of fall and the fresh renewal of spring, the Rhine reveals a different kind of romance in every season. Depending on when you sail, you can enjoy spring strawberry picking and jam making, summer brewery tours and tastings or fall visits to historic vineyards. Sail when vineyard-covered hills glow with color, medieval towns feel extra special, and the river’s legendary scenery unfolds at an unhurried pace. It’s the same iconic Rhine – beautifully shaped by the season in which you experience it.
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.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM
Dinner
While we include your choice of many excursions on your trip, you may wish to explore other options to enhance your free time. Below is a selection of excursions that may be available for purchase on your cruise.
Day 2 - AMSTERDAM
Canals of Colorful Amsterdam
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
- Classic Excursion- 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:
Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age."
This afternoon, choose among the Guided Optional Excursions available or take some free time to explore Amsterdam’s colorful streets and canal houses, galleries, and shops.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COLOGNE
While we include your choice of many excursions on your trip, you may wish to explore other options to enhance your free time. Below is a selection of excursions that may be available for purchase on your cruise.
Day 3 - COLOGNE, GERMANY
Prost! Celebrate in the Rhineland
- Active Excursion- Enjoy a bike ride like the locals in Cologne with your Adventure Host, OR:
- Classic Excursion- Choose a Guided Walking Tour of Cologne’s important Jewish heritage sites, OR:
- Classic Excursion- Take a Guided City Walk of Cologne—with its soaring twin-steepled gothic cathedral.
Spend free time over a glass of Kölsch pale lager—locally brewed for over 100 years!
Later, local musicians will join us on board for live entertainment.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO RÜDESHEIM
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 Excursion- Enjoy a hike with your Avalon Adventure Host through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim, followed by a tasting of the authentic Rüdesheimer coffee OR
- Classic Excursion- 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, OR:
- Discovery Excursion- Take a Guided Visit to the historic 18th-century wooden-barrel cellar of Johannisberg Castle and enjoy a delicious wine tasting.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO LUDWIGSHAFEN
Day 5 - LUDWIGSHAFEN. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG
Castle Walls, and the World’s Biggest Wine Barrel
- Active Excursion- Join your Avalon Adventure Host for an inspiring walk in Heidelberg, the Philosophers' way, OR:
- Classic Excursion- Join a Guided Visit to Schwetzingen Palace—the heart of a stunning site consisting of the palace, palace gardens, and historic palace square, OR:
- Classic Excursion- 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.”
Day 6 - KEHL. EXCURSION TO STRASBOURG, FRANCE
A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France
Ask about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities.
- Active Excursion- Discover Strasbourg by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
- Classic Excursion- 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.
Choose a Guided Optional Excursion to the historic Maginot Line—the pre-WWII fortifications designed to protect the eastern border of France, or visit Alsace’s wine country today.
Alternatively, take some free time in Strasbourg to visit a museum, or stroll across the city center.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH
While we include your choice of many excursions on your trip, you may wish to explore other options to enhance your free time. Below is a selection of excursions that may be available for purchase on your cruise.
Day 7- BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST
German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black Forest
- Active Excursion- Take a Guided E-bike Tour to experience the magical Black Forest from a unique point of view, OR:
- Classic Excursion- 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 Excursion- 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, with half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL
While we include your choice of many excursions on your trip, you may wish to explore other options to enhance your free time. Below is a selection of excursions that may be available for purchase on your cruise.
Day 8- BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION)
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.
Flights should not leave Zürich airport before 10 am or Basel airport before 8 am.
- A choice of spacious staterooms, including Panorama Suites with beds that face the view
- Your preference of Classic, Active, or Discovery included excursions and sightseeing every day.
- Complimentary sparkling wine with breakfast & wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner.
- Club Lounge with 24 hour self-serve premium beverage station.
- Complimentary Room Service in all staterooms, with Continental Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Gourmet cuisine including a la carte dinners
- Daily ‘Happy Hour’ serving complimentary wine, beer, spirits and cocktails.
- Avalon Adventure Host available as your guide for fitness activities and active excursions.
- Professional Cruise Director and guest-to-crew ratio of 3:1
- All Onboard gratuities
- Complimentary Wi-Fi.
- Flights and overseas transfers.
*Prices are per person and based on 2 people sharing
- Flying from Dublin (€100 supplement ex Cork)
- Deluxe Stateroom from €2,349pp NO SOLO SUPPLEMENT
- Panorama Suite from €3,049pp NO SOLO SUPPLEMENT
