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OPTIONAL: 3 NIGHT PRE-CRUISE TOUR IN LAKE COMO
OFFERED BY AMAWATERWAYS
Wednesday, August 18 – Saturday, August 21, 2021
Day 1: Wednesday, August 18
ARRIVE IN LAKE COMO, ITALY
Arrive in Milan (Linate) Airport and make your way to the hotel in Lake Como for check-in. Airport transfers via AmaWaterways are available upon request.
Day 2: Thursday, August 19
LAKE COMO
Be treated to a walking tour of Lake Como, a former glacial lake and popular resort area since Roman times. Azure waters and impressive villas line the lakeside from the hills above.Lake Como has been a setting for Hollywood blockbusters as Ocean’s Twelve and Casino Royale. (B)
Day 3: Friday, August 20
LAKE COMO – BELLAGIO
Enjoy a scenic boat ride along Lake Como to its stunning pearl, Bellagio. This intimate village offers postcard-perfect views whether you choose to stroll along the lakeside or venture up hill to its cobbled streets. Browse the shops or sample the local fare at Bellagio’s restaurants before returning to the boat. (B)
Day 4: Saturday, August 21
LAKE COMO – BELLINZONA – BASEL, SWITZERLAND – EMBARKATION
Check out of your Lake Como hotel and, en route to Basel, be treated to a Bellinzona orientation tour. Once you arrive in Basel, board the AmaSerena for your ship for your Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps cruise. (B,D)
Captivating Rhine Cruise
Saturday, August 21 – Saturday, August 28, 2021
Day 1: Saturday, August 21
BASEL SWITZERLAND EMBARKATION
Arrive in Basel by 3pm to board the luxury river ship AmaSerena.Tonight there is a cruise briefing and champagne reception, followed by dinner.(D)
Day 2: Sunday, August 22
BASEL – LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND
Basel is Switzerland’s third largest city. Long an important university, banking and trade center, Basel’s glorious past is still evident in its medieval town hall, richly decorated market square and exquisite 18th-century patrician homes. Enjoy the city by foot.A guided bike tour takes you through three countries: Switzerland, France and Germany. Alternatively, join an excursion to Lucerne. See the iconic Chapel Bridge and the Lion Monument, the latter carved into a hillside in memory of the Swiss Guards massacred during the French Revolution in 1792. Mark Twain described this sculpture as “the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world.” Lucerne is a delightful city, with spectacular medieval walls and towers that date back to the 13th century. (B,L,D)
Day 3: Monday, August 23
STRASBOURG, FRANCE
Strasbourg offers flavors of both France and Germany because of its borderline location. Enjoy a panoramic tour past the stunning Parc de l’Orangerie, the European Parliament and the Place de la Republique before walking through its iconic “La Petite France” district, lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. Wander through charming streets past the Cathédrale de Nôtre Dame with its famous astronomical clock. Alternatively, take a guided bike ride through the city and Parc de l’Orangerie.
TIP: Enjoy a Tarte Flambee, Strasbourg’s delicious flatbread (B,L,D)
Day 4: Tuesday, August 24
LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY – RÜDESHEIM
Ludwigshafen is your gateway to four different excursions. Visit Heidelberg, the perfectly preserved medieval city nestled in the Neckar River Valley along Germany’s Castle Road. Discover the iconic red sandstone Heidelberg Castle and Great Vat, an 18th-century, 49,000-gallon wine cask. For a more active adventure, join a guided hike up the Heidelberg’s Philosopher’s Pathand enjoy panoramic views of the city. Alternatively, you can visit one of Germany’s oldest cities, Speyer, known for the largest Romanesque cathedral in Europe—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and the medieval Old Gate, Altpörtel. Or pedal along the river Neckar to the medieval Ladenburg with free time to explore the shops. Later in the day, cruise to the charming village of Rüdesheim and let Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum charm you with its remarkable collection of self-playing musical instruments; or taste one of the town’s special delights, Rüdesheimer coffee, ceremoniously made with brandy, coffee and whipped cream. (B,L,D)
Day 5: Wednesday, August 25
RÜDESHEIM
Join a wine tasting to discover the flavors of the town’s iconic vineyards and drink up the stunning views by soaring high above the vineyards with a gondola ride to the Niederwalddenkmal. For a more active adventure, hike through the town’s beautiful vineyards or join a guided bike tour along the Rhine River. Later in the day, cruise through the captivating UNESCO-designated Rhine Gorge, beneath 41 stunning castles and vineyards before reaching Lahnstein. Tonight enjoy a unique evening visit at Lahneck Castle. (B,L,D)
Day 6: Thursday, August 26
COLOGNE, GERMANY
Overnight we cruise to Cologne.This morning join a guided tour through the Old Town and explore the UNESCO-designated Cologne Cathedral (the Kolner Dom), Germany’s revered Gothic architectural masterpiece. Continue to the Cologne Rathaus, Germany’s oldest town hall, the Overstolzenhaus, and the Festival Hall. For a different view, visit a local tavern to taste its famous Kölsch beer, only made in Cologne, and reibekuchen mit apfelmus, potato pancakes typically served with applesauce. Cyclists join a guided ride along the banks of the Rhine and through the historic Stadtgarten. (B,L,D)
Day 7: Friday, August 27
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
There are 165 canals in Amsterdam, and you’ll get to enjoy some of them on your canal cruise. Motor along iconic canals, past gabled houses, narrow bridges and house boats. Taste Dutch specialties and Heineken beer at one of Amsterdam’s historic “Brown” cafes.
Please note: tour depends upon docking location and may be replaced with Jordaan District Walking Tour. (B,L,D)
Day 8: Saturday, August 28
AMSTERDAM – DISEMBARKATION
Bid farewell to Amsterdam and prepare for your homeward flight. (B)
PLEASE NOTE:
A reasonable degree of mobility is required for all passengers on this program. Most of the guided tours provided on your cruise are walking tours. Many historic villages in Europe are located on hilltops, where it is necessary to walk up and down hilly, cobblestone streets that may have narrow passageways. Ships docked in port are often rafted side-by-side to another river ship. Passengers are then required to ascend and descend flights of 12 or more stairs to walk up to observation deck, down to gang planks to enter or exit the rafted ships. To participate in tours and get on and off the ship, travelers must be able to walk unaccompanied.
Disabilities and Wheelchairs
Persons with a walking disability or an injury, or who require a wheelchair/scooter or other mobility device, must have another dedicated person traveling with them to assist/push etc. The ship’s crew and other cruise guests are not available to assist persons with limited mobility. On customized pre or post cruise land programs, the Expanding Horizons tour manager is authorized to remove, or ask to leave from the tour, any traveler incapable of, unwilling to, or impeding the overall movement and progress of the tour group.