German Grandeur & the Romantic Rhine

See the grandeur of Germany on a European river cruise through its most picturesque destinations along the Main and Rhine Rivers. Embark on your Avalon Suite Ship in Nuremberg, and sail to Bamberg for a guided walking tour of the historic home to imperial dynasties.

Your enchanting river cruise continues to Würzburg—the “Pearl of the Romantic Road.” From here sail to Frankfurt, where you may join a guided sightseeing tour of the city, or visit the nearby town of Seligenstadt. On your way to Rüdesheim, you’ll sail through the picturesque views of the Rhine Gorge.

Your scenic cruise through Europe includes a stop in Breisach to visit Germany’s beautiful Black Forest region. Choose a visit to a local winery in Breisach, or a day trip to the Black Forest’s Vogtsbauernhof open-air museum. You’ll find much more to explore your way on this grand river cruise on the Rhine and Main Rivers. Conclude your cruise in Basel, Switzerland, with memories of this adventure through many of Europe’s most beautiful destinations to last a lifetime.

One of Europe’s most legendary rivers awaits you on this exciting journey along the Rhine River, which begins in Switzerland and visits France, Germany, and Holland! Board your Avalon Suite Ship in Basel, Switzerland, then head for Breisach, Germany, at the foot of the Kaiserstuhl Mountain on the French-German border. Here you’ll find 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.

Continue your river cruise to Strasbourg, France, and marvel at the red-sandstone Gothic cathedral with ancient murals and the fascinating astronomical clock. Stroll through the lovely La Petite France district with its quaint shops, delightful bistros, and peaceful waterfront promenade. Sail to the charming wine town of Rüdesheim, and a visit to the unique Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, then pass through the dramatic Rhine Gorge—the most beautiful view of the Rhine River where ancient castles stand on cliffs 400 feet above the water.

At the conclusion of your Rhine River cruise, you’ll spend time in colourful Amsterdam. The best way to see the treasures of this 700-year-old city is on an included canal cruise along the elegant grachten lined with homes dating back to the city’s “Golden Age.” Spend free time discovering world-famous museums, and an abundance of restaurants in the vibrant, modern capital of Holland.

Your Fly, Cruise & Stay Package Includes:

• $1000 flight credit
• 8 night river cruise onboard Avalon Tranquility II, Nuremberg to Basel
• Includes 23 meals, select sightseeing, Wi-Fi onboard ship plus more
• 4 nights 4-star accommodation in Basel
• Basel Private Walking Tour
• 7 night river cruise onboard Avalon Panorama, Basel to Amsterdam
• Includes 20 meals, select sightseeing, Wi-Fi onboard ship plus more
• Port charges & prepaid gratuities onboard your cruise

Pricing is based on per person twin share for travel 19 September – 08 October 2022

Single traveller pricing available, speak woth your travel consultant

GERMAN GRANDEUR

Itinerary:

DAY 1: NUREMBERG, GERMANY (EMBARKATION)

Welcome to Germany. Your Suite Ship is Ready for Boarding. Flights into Nuremberg must arrive by 15:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm. Enjoy dinner and explore the ship on your first night on board as you sail.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BAMBERG (D)

DAY 2: BAMBERG

The City of Seven Hills Visit the Adventure centre for today's activities with your Adventure Host. ACTIVE - Your bike is ready! Hop on and bike along the canals in Bamberg with your Adventure Host, OR: CLASSIC - Take a Guided Walking Tour of the historic home to imperial dynasties, and see its Romanesque cathedral, Old Town Hall, and seven hills crowned with churches.

AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO WURZBURG (B,L,D)

DAY 3: WURZBURG

A Perfect Day in the Pearl of the Romantic Road You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to the beautiful Bavarian town of Rothenburg. See the local sights and enjoy the fairytale atmosphere that has inspired artists. ACTIVE - Explore Wurzburg's charm by bike with your Adventure Host, OR: CLASSIC - Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Wurzburg with its Old Main Bridge, towering fortress, and baroque Bishop's Residenz-with the largest known ceiling fresco. Enjoy live entertainment on board while sailing tonight.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MAIN RIVER VILLAGE (B,L,D)

DAY 4: MAIN RIVER VILLAGE

Beauty on the Main River CLASSIC - Join a Guided Walking Tour of a picturesque Main River Bavarian village.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO FRANKFURT (B,L,D)

DAY 5: FRANKFURT. EXCURSION TO SELIGENSTADT

Charm in Frankfurt ACTIVE - Enjoy an easy biking experience in Frankfurt with your Adventure Host, OR: DISCOVERY - Take a Guided Tour to Seligenstadt-one of Germany's oldest towns and home to the Einhard Basilika-dubbed "minor basilica" in 1925 by Pope Pius XI, OR: CLASSIC - Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Frankfurt to see the city's cultural landmarks and gleaming financial headquarters combined with the cozy ambience of quaint neighborhoods. Spend free time this afternoon exploring Frankfurt on your own. Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BOPPARD (B,L,D)

DAY 6: BOPPARD

A Peaceful Jewel in the Rhine Gorge Take some free time to relax, or explore the Rheinallee Promenade for delicatessen fare with a cup of German coffee or glass of Riesling wine. This afternoon, stretch out on the Sky Deck as you pass through the spectacular Rhine Gorge on your way to Rudesheim. RUDESHEIM-RHINE GORGE: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country ACTIVE - Enjoy a hike with your Adventure Host through the picturesque vineyards of Rudesheim, OR: DISCOVERY - Tour the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience; based on your departure enjoy a local special treat.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO STRASBOURG (B,L,D)

DAY 7: STRASBOURG, FRANCE

A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities. CLASSIC - Join a City Tour of Strasbourg's sights, including its 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 8: BREISACH, GERMANY (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: ACTIVE - Enjoy the view on a relaxing bike ride along the Rhine with your Adventure Host, OR: DISCOVERY - Visit a local winery in Breisach, where you will learn about German winemaking and enjoy a wine tasting. You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar in the morning.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL (B,L,D)

DAY 9: BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION)

Your cruise ends this morning with breakfast. Departure flights should not leave Zurich airport before 10 am or Basel airport before 8 am. (B)

ROMANTIC RHINE

Itinerary:

DAY 1: BASEL, SWITZERLAND (EMBARKATION)

Welcome to Switzerland. Your Suite Ship is Ready for Boarding. Flights into Zurich 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 centre 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-Dir-museum, visit an authentic water mill, and see a traditional butter-making demonstration, OR: DISCOVERY - Visit to a local winery in Breisach, where you will learn about German winemaking and enjoy a wine tasting. 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 CRUISE TO STRASBOURG (B,L,D)

DAY 3: 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. You may also choose to join 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 centre.

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 a Hike up Philosophers' Way for an inspiring view of the city below, 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. Enjoy live entertainment on board your ship this evening.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN MAINZ (B,L,D)

DAY 5: RUDESHEIM-RHINE GORGE

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country ACTIVE - Enjoy a hike with your Avalon Adventure Host through the picturesque vineyards of Rudesheim, OR: DISCOVERY - Take a Guided Tour of the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-D-kind instrumental experience; based on your departure enjoy a local special treat. Relax on the Sky Deck for an afternoon cruise through the spectacular Rhine Gorge to Koblenz. Sail past the legendary rock of The Lorelei-where the siren of mythology sang songs to lure ill-fated sailors. 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. Spend free time over a glass of Kolsch pale lager-locally brewed for over 100 years!

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: CLASIC - Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam's "Golden Age.". 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. You may also choose an Optional Biking Tour to discover the countryside. Take some free time to explore Amsterdam's colourful streets and canal houses, galleries, and shops.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM (B,L,D)

DAY 8: AMSTERDAM (DISEMBARKATION)

Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Prices listed are per person in Australian/New Zealand Dollars, based on twin occupancy, including all discounts unless otherwise stated. The offer is subject to availability at time of booking and shown on a Category E outside cabin category.  Fares are capacity controlled and are subject to change at any time without notice. Prices/Offers are correct as at 10 January 2022 and can be withdrawn without notice.  Cabin categories include prepaid government fees and port taxes unless otherwise stated. Hotels may charge resort fees not included in this package, payable direct upon check in. Air credit is applicable on airline of choice, subject to availability and subject to the carriers’ flight schedules and conditions. Visas are not included.  Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge.