Tulips & the Rhine

Welcome to Amsterdam, a fascinating 700-year-old city of picturesque canals, world class museums, theatres and cafs. You will be met and transferred from the airport to your Emerald Waterways luxury river cruise ship. This evening, join your fellow travellers for dinner on board. Your Cruise Director will also conduct a port talk to review the activities and itinerary for the days ahead.

Meals Included: Dinner

This morning you can decide to either enjoy a glass top canal boat tour through Amsterdams canal or a guided bike tour. Return to the ship for your first day sailing through the Dutch countryside passing windmills and sailing through locks towards the Rhine River. Tonight, the Captain will be delighted to host a gala dinner.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided Bike Tour

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cruise along the Rhine River to Cologne, founded by the Romans, the city is one of Germany’s oldest and is famous for its magnificent WorldHeritage listed Gothic Cathedral. After lunch on board, join your local guide for an included tour of the Old Town, with free time for exploring. Cologne is one of Germany’s largest and most modern cities largely due to a rebuilding plan post WWII, and it has many different museums and galleries.

DiscoverMORE: Football Stadium Tour (extra expense)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cruise to the 2000-year-old town of Koblenz, which is situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. You will have a tour of Koblenz and visit the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress on the opposite side of the river. This fortress was part of the Prussian defences against the French in the 19th century and later used as a headquarters for the American military during WWII. In the afternoon, sail through the spectacular Rhine Gorge, passing countless castles and vineyards as well as the infamous Lorelei statue and Pfalzgrafenstein Castle, which was built on an island in the middle of the river as a medieval toll station. Countless vineyards and medieval castles line the shores of this section of the river, with photo opportunities at every bend.

DiscoverMORE: Moselle & Cochem Castle Visit (extra expense)

*** Please note, you can only choose either included tour of Koblenz or the DiscoverMORE option, as both tours run at the same time.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Continue upstream to the town of Mannheim, located at the confluence of the Rhine and Neckar rivers. There you will have a chance to either visit the medieval town of Heidelberg including the impressive castle which overlooks the town or take part on an active hike to Heidelberg Hill.
EmeraldACTIVE: Active Hike to Heidelberg Hill
EmeraldPLUS: Wine Tasting in Heidelberg

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Once docked in Kehl you will be transferred by coach across the river to Strasbourg, the capital city of the Alsace Region in France. Your guided walking tour will include the Grande le, the historical city centre and UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its medieval black and white timber framed buildings, old tanning houses, baroque sandstones buildings, canals and river locks.
EmeraldPLUS: Guided Tour of Strasbourg

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today you will visit a typical black forest village, full of charm and many Cuckoo clocks and other German specialties. Alternatively, take part on a guided hike through some of the black forest trails.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided hike through some of the Black Forest trails
EmeraldPLUS: Black Forest Cake Assembling presentation and tasting

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Welcome to Switzerland and the Rhineside town of Basel, the centre for Switzerland’s pharmaceutical industry. After, your breakfast you will disembark your ship and transfer Basel Airport for your homebound flight.

Please note: Pre release itinerary subject to change

Meals Included: Breakfast