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.

1. Day 1
   BASEL, SWITZERLAND (EMBARKATION)

   Tue, Aug 04, 2026

   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)
   
   
2. Day 2
   BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST

   Wed, Aug 05, 2026

   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:
   
   CLASSIC 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 CRUISE TO KEHL
   
   (B,L,D)
   
   
3. Day 3
   KEHL. EXCURSION TO STRASBOURG, FRANCE

   Thu, Aug 06, 2026

   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 center.
   
   EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MAINZ
   
   (B,L,D)
   
   
4. Day 4
   MAINZ, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG

   Fri, Aug 07, 2026

   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.
   
   This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship after a short sailing to Rüdesheim.
   
   OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN RÜDESHEIM
   
   (B,L,D)
   
   
5. Day 5
   RÜDESHEIM–RHINE GORGE

   Sat, Aug 08, 2026

   Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country
   
   ACTIVE Enjoy a hike with your Avalon Adventure Host through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim, OR:
   
   CLASSIC 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 Take a Guided Visit to the historic 18th-century wooden-barrel cellar of Johannisberg Castle and enjoy a delicious wine tasting.
   
   En route to Koblenz, 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.
   
   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)
   
   
6. Day 6
   COLOGNE

   Sun, Aug 09, 2026

   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 Kölsch pale lager—locally brewed for over 100 years!
   
   AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO AMSTERDAM
   
   (B,L,D)
   
   
7. Day 7
   AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND

   Mon, Aug 10, 2026

   Canals of Colorful Amsterdam
   
   ACTIVE Start your day joining your Adventure Host on an early morning walk in Amsterdam, OR:
   
   CLASSIC 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.”
   
   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 colorful streets and canal houses, galleries, and shops.
   
   OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM
   
   (B,L,D)
   
   
8. Day 8
   AMSTERDAM (DISEMBARKATION)–PARIS, FRANCE (EMBARKATION)

   Tue, Aug 11, 2026

   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)
   
   
9. Day 9
   VERNON

   Wed, Aug 12, 2026

   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.
   
   This afternoon, enjoy a beautiful cruise to the picturesque town of Les Andelys.
   
   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
   
   
10. Day 10
    CAUDEBEC

    Thu, Aug 13, 2026

    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.
    
    This afternoon, you may choose a Guided Optional Excursion to the old seaside town of Honfleur.
    
    DISCOVERY Enjoy an Onboard Lecture about the days before and after the Normandy landing of D-Day.
    
    OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN CAUDEBEC
    
    (B,L,D)
    
    
11. Day 11
    CAUDEBEC. EXCURSION TO NORMANDY

    Fri, Aug 14, 2026

    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 Guided Tour to get a taste of authentic tradition in the beautiful region of Normandy. Toast the day with a brandy tasting in Calvados.
    
    Later, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship.
    
    EVENING CRUISE TO ROUEN
    
    (B,L,D)
    
    
12. Day 12
    ROUEN

    Sat, Aug 15, 2026

    The Cathedral of Notre-Dame 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)
    
    
13. Day 13
    CONFLANS

    Sun, Aug 16, 2026

    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.
    
    Perhaps, join a Guided Optional Excursion to the Palace of Versailles—home to a succession of French kings.
    
    This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship.
    
    AFTERNOON/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
    
    
14. Day 14
    PARIS

    Mon, Aug 17, 2026

    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.
    
    Stroll through Paris on your own or linger over wine in a literary café on the Left Bank.
    
    OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PARIS
    
    (B,L,D)
    
    
15. Day 15
    PARIS (DISEMBARKATION)

    Tue, Aug 18, 2026

    Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.
    
    (B)