- Overview
- Trip Itinerary
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8-DAY ROMANTIC RHINE (SOUTHBOUND) – AMSTERDAM TO BASEL
River cruise holiday from:
- Price on application*
Travel dates: Selected departures throughout 2026-2027
Your Avalon Waterways cruise includes:
- 8-day river cruise from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Basel, Switzerland
- 7 nights aboard an award-winning Avalon Suite Ship®
- Spacious Panorama Suites with Open-Air Balcony® design
- Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner onboard
- Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship
- Services of an expert Cruise Director and local guides
- Choice of Active, Classic and Discovery excursions in selected destinations
- Scenic cruising along the legendary Rhine River
Itinerary highlights:
- Embark in Amsterdam and explore the city's famous canals
- Cruise through the Dutch countryside and historic waterways
- Visit Cologne and its magnificent Gothic Cathedral
- Sail through the breathtaking Rhine Gorge lined with medieval castles
- Discover the famous wine town of Rüdesheim
- Visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
- Explore Heidelberg and its iconic red sandstone castle ruins
- Tour Strasbourg's historic old town and Gothic Cathedral
- Discover the picturesque La Petite France district
- Visit Breisach, gateway to Germany's Black Forest region
- Arrive in Basel, Switzerland
Countries visited:
- Netherlands
- Germany
- France
- Switzerland
Why you'll love this cruise:
- Experience one of Europe's most scenic river cruise routes
- Cruise through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge
- Explore medieval towns, castles and vineyards
- Visit the charming Black Forest region
- Discover Amsterdam's canals and Strasbourg's French charm
- Enjoy Avalon Waterways' spacious Panorama Suites and personalised service
- Choose from Active, Classic and Discovery excursions throughout the journey
Seasonal experiences:
- Spring departures may include strawberry picking and seasonal countryside experiences
- Summer departures feature brewery visits and local tastings
- Autumn departures showcase colourful vineyards and harvest scenery
- Rhine Valley landscapes change beautifully throughout the seasons
On SALE until: Subject to availability
*Cruise operates on selected departures throughout the 2027 season. Pricing varies by departure date, suite category and availability. Itinerary, inclusions and schedules are subject to change without notice. Seasonal surcharges may apply.
No details found.
Itineraries
Day 1
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS (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.
Windmills, Canals & Cheese of The Netherlands
Discover the Netherlands legendary story of land reclaimed from the sea in the stunning
Beemster Polder, where windmills stand as they have for centuries amid cheese farms a…
4h 0m
Price Range: $$
Day 2
AMSTERDAM
Canals of Colorful Amsterdam
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Discover the true beauty of Amsterdam with an off-the-beaten-path Guided
Walking Tour through its cobblestone streets for a captivating look at this
legendary city, OR:
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately
homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age."
This afternoon, choose among the Guided Optional Excursions available or take some free
time to explore Amsterdam’s colorful streets and canal houses, galleries, and shops.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COLOGNE
Breakfast Lunch Dinner
While we include your choice of many excursions on your trip, you may wish to explore
other options to enhance your free time. Below is a selection of excursions that may be
available for purchase on your cruise.
Medieval Muiderslot Castle
From Golden Age paintings to 13th-century arms and armor, discover the wonders of
Muiderslot Castle, one of Holland's most beautiful medieval castle fortresses, on this…
4h 0m
Price Range: $$
Bites & Highlights of Amsterdam
Discover Amsterdam's charming Jordaan district, and taste the authentic foods the locals
know and love on this enjoyable guided foodie walking tour.
4h 0m
Price Range: $$
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
Breakfast Lunch Dinner
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-akind 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
Breakfast Lunch Dinner
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.”
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KEHL
Breakfast Lunch Dinner
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
Breakfast Lunch 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.
Into the Alsace Countryside with Wine Tasting
Travel along the famed Alsace Wine Route on this enchanting half-day excursion that
visits a traditional medieval Alsace village and includes a cellar tasting of the local wines.
4h 0m
Price Range: $$
Defending France: The Maginot Line of WWII
Explore France's awe-inspiring WWII Maginot Line, one of the greatest networks of
defensive fortifications ever built, on this guided visit through the underground barrack…
4h 0m
Price Range: $$
Day 7
BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST
German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black Forest
ACTIVE EXCURSION
Take a Guided E-bike Tour to experience the magical Black Forest from a unique
point of view, OR:
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Join a full-day Guided Tour to the magical Black Forest to experience the
Vogtsbauernohf open-air-museum, visit an authentic water mill, and see a
traditional butter-making demonstration, OR:
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Join a Guided Tour to explore Freiburg’s medieval city center, sheltered by the
Black Forest amid vineyards and gardens of the Upper Rhine Valley.
You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar,
with half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL
Breakfast Lunch Dinner
While we include your choice of many excursions on your trip, you may wish to explore
other options to enhance your free time. Below is a selection of excursions that may be
available for purchase on your cruise.
Storybook Colmar, France's Little Venice
Discover the fusion of German and French culture on this wonderful guided tour through
storybook Colmar, the "Little Venice" of France and capital of the Alsace wine region.
3h 30m
Price Range: $$
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.
Breakfast
- 8-day river cruise from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Basel, Switzerland
- 7 nights aboard an award-winning Avalon Suite Ship®
- Spacious Panorama Suites with Open-Air Balcony® design
- Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner onboard
- Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship
- Services of an expert Cruise Director and local guides
- Choice of Active, Classic and Discovery excursions in selected destinations
- Scenic cruising along the legendary Rhine River
Itinerary highlights:
- Embark in Amsterdam and explore the city's famous canals
- Cruise through the Dutch countryside and historic waterways
- Visit Cologne and its magnificent Gothic Cathedral
- Sail through the breathtaking Rhine Gorge lined with medieval castles
- Discover the famous wine town of Rüdesheim
- Visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
- Explore Heidelberg and its iconic red sandstone castle ruins
- Tour Strasbourg's historic old town and Gothic Cathedral
- Discover the picturesque La Petite France district
- Visit Breisach, gateway to Germany's Black Forest region
- Arrive in Basel, Switzerland
Countries visited:
- Netherlands
- Germany
- France
- Switzerland
Why you'll love this cruise:
- Experience one of Europe's most scenic river cruise routes
- Cruise through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge
- Explore medieval towns, castles and vineyards
- Visit the charming Black Forest region
- Discover Amsterdam's canals and Strasbourg's French charm
- Enjoy Avalon Waterways' spacious Panorama Suites and personalised service
- Choose from Active, Classic and Discovery excursions throughout the journey
Seasonal experiences:
- Spring departures may include strawberry picking and seasonal countryside experiences
- Summer departures feature brewery visits and local tastings
- Autumn departures showcase colourful vineyards and harvest scenery
- Rhine Valley landscapes change beautifully throughout the seasons
- Travel Insurance – your North Travel consultant can provide you with a quote. Get a quote now.
- Tourism visa or transit visa if required
- Upgrades to Premium Economy, Business Class and First Class available and to be quote at the time of booking.
- Itinerary deviations (e.g. extensions or specific airline requests). This will be quoted by a North Travel consultant at the time of booking.
- Professional service fee's (if any)
Advertised prices are not guaranteed until confirmed at booking. Prices are dynamic and may be affected by foreign exchange, airline, cruise, tour and supplier changes beyond North Travel’s control.
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