Your 10-day river cruise vacation includes stays in Holland, Germany, France, and Switzerland—all beginning with your Avalon Rhine River cruise embarking from Amsterdam. Before sailing down the Rhine River, you’ll enjoy a guided canal cruise through the colorful capital of Holland.Next, you’ll cruise to Cologne, Germany—a 2,000 year-old city known for its Gothic architecture—an exciting stop with its famous twin-spired cathedral and Old Town with many shops, cafés, and taverns. On your way to Rüdesheim, relax on the Sky Deck of your ship as you pass through the spectacular Rhine Gorge —the most beautiful view of the Rhine River where ancient castles stand on cliffs 400 feet above the water. You’ll take a guided tour of Rüdesheim’s outstanding Mechanical Music Museum.Sail into Mainz for city sightseeing, including a visit to the impressive Gutenberg Museum, or choose an excursion to nearby Heidelberg—and cruise to Strasbourg, France. Then, stop in Breisach, Germany, 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.Cruise to Basel, Switzerland, to disembark from your Avalon Suite Ship® and continue your vacation with a visit to Mt. Pilatus and a walking tour in Lucerne. Your Rhine River cruise and vacation in Switzerland are the perfect combination to unlock a guided European vacation of a lifetime.

1. Day 1
   AMSTERDAM*, HOLLAND (EMBARKATION)

   Sat, Dec 06, 2025

   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.
   
   Outside of tulip season, join a Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses.
   
   OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM
   
   (D)
   
   *Due to increased harbor traffic expected for the 2025 “SAIL Amsterdam” event, departure August 19th will embark in Rotterdam, while departure August 26 will embark in Dordrecht.
   
   
2. Day 2
   AMSTERDAM*

   Sun, Dec 07, 2025

   Canals of Colorful Amsterdam
   
   Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
   
   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."
   
   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
   
   (B,L,D)
   
   * Due to “SAIL Amsterdam” event coinciding with August 19th and 26th departures, Amsterdam excursions commence from ship docking locations in Rotterdam and Dordrecht respectively.
   
   
3. Day 3
   COLOGNE, GERMANY

   Mon, Dec 08, 2025

   Prost! Celebrate in the Rhineland
   
   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!
   
   Later, local musicians will join us on board for live entertainment.
   
   OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO RÜDESHEIM
   
   (B,L,D)
   
   
4. Day 4
   RHINE GORGE–RÜDESHEIM

   Tue, Dec 09, 2025

   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 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.
   
   Enjoy live entertainment on board your ship this evening.
   
   OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN RÜDESHEIM
   
   (B,L,D)
   
   
5. Day 5
   MAINZ. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG

   Wed, Dec 10, 2025

   Printing Halls, 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 City Walk, including a visit to the Gutenberg Museum to see the captivating history of printing, 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.”
   
   EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KEHL
   
   (B,L,D)
   
   
6. Day 6
   KEHL. EXCURSION TO STRASBOURG, FRANCE

   Thu, Dec 11, 2025

   A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France
   
   Ask about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities.
   
   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.
   
   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
   
   (B,L,D)
   
   
7. Day 7
   BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST

   Fri, Dec 12, 2025

   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:
   
   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, with half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings.
   
   EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL
   
   (B,L,D)
   
   
8. Day 8
   BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION)*–SWISS ALPS

   Sat, Dec 13, 2025

   Spectacular Views in Switzerland
   
   This morning disembark your Avalon ship and take a motorcoach transfer which will bring you in the heart of Swiss Alps
   
   CLASSIC Enjoy a special highlight excursion to Mount Pilatus (or Mount Stanserhorn per seasonal accessibility) for spectacular views over central Switzerland (in case of bad weather, visit the Swiss Transport Museum instead).
   
   LUCERNE
   
   A Historic Bridge and Heart of a Lion
   
   CLASSIC Join a Guided Walking tour to explore beautiful Lucerne, which includes famous Chapel Bridge.
   
   (B)
   
   * Some departures may disembark in Hüningen (France), just across the river or in Breisach (Germany).
   
   
9. Day 9
   LUCERNE

   Sun, Dec 14, 2025

   Lakeshores and Soaring Peaks
   
   Today, enjoy a day at leisure in Lucerne. Discover the many squares and churches and how tradition and modernity stand side-by-side or spend your free time to enjoy some shopping in the city center.
   
   (B)
   
   
10. Day 10
    LUCERNE

    Mon, Dec 15, 2025

    Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
    
    (B)