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OPTIONAL: 4-NIGHT MILAN & LAKE COMO PRE-CRUISE TOUR IN ITALY – Operated by Amawaterways
Friday, December 3 – Tuesday, December 7, 2027
Day 1: Friday, December 3
ARRIVE IN MILAN, ITALY
Arrive in Milan and check into your hotel. Transfers are available today from Milan Malpensa International Airport (code: MXP).
OVERNIGHT: Tivoli President Hotel (2 Nights) or similar
*Hotel is subject to change
Day 2: Saturday, December 4
MILAN CITY SIGHTS
Discover Milan’s elegance on a guided stroll through its historic heart. Enjoy a visit to the Duomo, Milan’s stunning cathedral with majestic Gothic interiors and ascending to the breathtaking rooftop terraces. Afterward explore the majestic Sforza Castle, a Renaissance fortress with Leonardo da Vinci frescoes and extensive art collections. (B)
Day 3: Sunday, December 5
MILAN / LAKE COMO
This morning, depart Milan for Lake Como. Upon arrival enjoy a walking tour of Lake Como, a glacial lake and popular resort area, popular with the rich and famous since Roman times. Azure waters and impressive villas line the lakeside from the hills above. Much of the scenery here appears in the recent Hollywood films, Ocean’s Twelve and Casino Royale. (B)
OVERNIGHT: Hilton Lake Como (2 nights) or similar
*Hotel subject to change
Day 4: Monday, December 6
LAKE COMO / BELLAGIO
Board our boat for a scenic ride along Lake Como to its stunning pearl, the village of Bellagio, with postcard views. Stroll the lakeside paths or venture uphill to colorful cobbled streets. There is ample shopping available here and time to enjoy lunch at Bellagio’s restaurants before returning to the boat. (B)
TIP: Enjoy a glass of vintage Italian wine at the renowned Enoteca Cava Turacciolo or La Terazza in the Hotel Belvedere.
Day 5: Tuesday, December 7
LAKE COMO / LUCERNE / BASEL, SWITZERLAND
Check out of your Lake Como hotel and to our embarkation port of Basel, Switzerland. En route, we stop in the stunning Lucerne for a short orientation tour and free time for lunch. Upon arrival in Basel, board our ship for your Swiss Alps & Rhine Castles Christmas cruise. (B,D)
7-NIGHT SWISS ALPS & RHINE CASTLES CHRISTMAS CRUISE
Tuesday, December 7 – Tuesday, December 14, 2027
Day 1: Tuesday, December 7
ARRIVE BASEL / EMBARK AMASERENA
Upon arrival in Basel, make your way to ship AmaSerena between 3:00pm and 5:00pm for embarkation. Tonight, gather on board for a “Welcome Aboard” Wine Toast as you commence your wine-themed itinerary through some of Europe’s most enchanting and historic wine regions. (D)
For those arriving into Basel on Embarkation Day, AmaWaterways offers transfers from the airport to the ship for $60 per person. Transfers must be booked with Expanding Horizons no later than 40 days prior to embarkation.
*AmaWaterways transfer availability and prices are subject to change.
If you arrive in Basel prior to December 7th and you are not participating in the land program, please make your way to the AmaSerena.
Day 2: Wednesday, December 8
BASEL
Enjoy getting to know Basel, 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. Tour the city by foot or on a guided bike tour that takes you through three countries: Switzerland, France and Germany. Alternatively, go on a full-day excursion* to Lucerne to walk beneath the city’s towers – nine of which date back to 1386 – and the medieval Chapel Bridge, one of the oldest wooden bridges in Europe. For those guests who have not chosen our full-day Lucerne excursion, your afternoon is full of possibilities. Sample Swiss wines at a local winery, tour Wildegg Castle – a fortress built by the Habsburgs in the early 13th century that features a 3,300 square meter garden, embark on an exhilarating hike to the castle or spend your afternoon strolling through Basel’s Christmas Markets. (B,L,D)
*Not combinable with other tours on this day
Day 3: Thursday, December 9
STRASBOURG, FRANCE
Strasbourg offers flavors of both France and Germany because of its borderline location. Enjoy walking through the 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. During the tour you will receive free time to visit the Christmas Markets. In the afternoon, venture to alluring Baden-Baden, located at the border of Germany’s Black Forest. Learn about the area’s natural hot springs and Germany’s oldest casino, which some argue is the most beautiful casino in the world. Following your walking tour, indulge your holiday wanderlust with a stroll through Baden-Baden’s romantic Christmas Market. (B,L,D)
Day 4: Friday, December 10
LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY / RÜDESHEIM
Ludwigshafen is your gateway to a choice of four 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. Here you can also enjoy visiting some of the festive Christmas Markets. For a more active adventure while in Heidelberg, join a guided hike up the Philosopher’s Path, aptly named during the Romantic Period, and 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. In your free time, you might choose to visit the Christmas Markets or Technik Museum featuring exhibits of vintage cars, military aircraft and even a submarine! Or pedal along the river Neckar to the picturesque medieval city center of Ladenburg and enjoy some free time exploring the shops. Later in the day, cruise to the charming village of Rüdesheim and join a wine tasting to discover the flavors of the town’s iconic vineyards. Or taste one of the town’s special delights, Rüdesheimer Coffee, ceremoniously made with brandy, coffee and whipped cream. (B,L,D)
Day 5: Saturday, December 11
RÜDESHEIM / RHINE GORGE
Siegfried’s Mechanical Instrument Cabinet offers a remarkable collection of self-playing and coin-operated musical instruments. Or soar high above the vineyards aboard a sky rail gondola to the Niederwalddenkmal Monument. Afterwards, enjoy free time in the town. TIP: Explore the Drosselgasse, Rudesheim’s famous medieval street. For a more active adventure, hike through the town’s beautiful vineyards or join a guided bike tour along the scenic Rhine River. Later in the day, we cruise the UNESCO-designated Rhine Gorge, the most stunningly beautiful stretch of the river with 41 hilltop castles before reaching Lahnstein. Tonight enjoy an evening visit to Lahneck Castle. (B,L,D)
Day 6: Sunday, December 12
COLOGNE, GERMANY
Enjoy cruising to Cologne. Join a guided tour through the Old Town. During your free time, browse through the city’s most impressive Christmas Markets, offering 160 attractively designed wooden pavilions. Active guests will want to join a guided bike ride along the Rhine and through the historic Stadtgarten. (B,L,D)
Day 7: Monday, December 13
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
There are 165 canals in Amsterdam, and you’ll get to enjoy some of them on your canal cruise. Alternatively, get a taste of local flavor, passing iconic canals, gabled houses, narrow bridges and house boats while tasting Dutch specialties at one of Amsterdam’s grand cafes. **Please note: tour depends upon docking location and may be replaced with Jordaan District Walking Tour. (B,L,D)
**Depending on docking location, A Taste of Amsterdam may not operate; therefore, an alternative tour will operate instead.
Day 8: Tuesday, December 14
AMSTERDAM / DISEMBARKATION
Bid farewell to Amsterdam as you prepare for your return flight home. OR, keep the party rolling! Stay 2 additional nights on the Ramona Ranch Post-Cruise Amsterdam Tour!
OPTIONAL: 2-NIGHT POST-CRUISE TOUR IN AMSTERDAM
Tuesday, December 14 – Thursday, December 16, 2027
Day 1: Tuesday, December 14
WINDMILLS OF ZAANSE SCHANS
Disembark AmaSerena and board our coach to Zaanse Schans, a recreated Dutch village where life in the 17th century is carefully preserved. Enjoy authentic windmills, houses, barns, a cheese factory, pewter foundry and craft shops. Tonight enjoy a classic Dutch meal at the elegant restaurant De Vigg Vlieghen. (B, D)
OVERNIGHT: Park Plaza Victoria Hotel (2 nights) or similar
*Hotel is subject to change
Day 2: Wednesday, December 15
AMSTERDAM TOUR & VAN GOGH MUSEUM or RIJKSMUSEUM
Experience Amsterdam aboard a vintage tramcar. Take in the canals, 16th century canal houses, iconic bridges and cobblestone streets for which Holland’s principal commercial city is renowned. This afternoon visit either the Van Gogh Museum or the Rijksmuseum. The Van Gogh Museum is home to many Dutch Impressionist’s masterpieces including Sunflowers and multiple self-portraits of and by “Vincent”. The Rijksmuseum has the world’s largest collection of Rembrandt masterpieces. Dinner is at leisure tonight. (B)
Day 3: Thursday, December 16
DEPART AMSTERDAM
You will be transferred to Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport (code: AMS) 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.