Jewels of the Rhine – Switzerland, France, Germany and The Netherlands (2023) | Christian Tours – Motorcoach/Bus charters, rentals & vacations. Cruises, International tours, Christian travel

Day 1

DEPART THE USA:

Today we depart the USA on our overnight flight to Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Day 2

AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS:

Upon arrival in Amsterdam, we are transferred to our luxurious Emerald Waterways Star-Ship for our 7-night Jewels of the Rhine, River Cruise. You have the afternoon to become acquainted with the amenities of your ship or explore the city. Amsterdam is a fascinating 700-year-old city of picturesque views, canals, world class museums, theaters, and cafés. This evening, join your fellow travelers for dinner onboard. (D)

Day 3

AMSTERDAM:

Today, we experience the city on a canal cruise aboard a glass-top boat. Traverse the UNESCO World Heritage network of canals, passing Roman patrician and ornate merchant houses from the Dutch Golden Age. Alternatively, join a guided bike tour to Waterland, passing through quintessential Dutch landscapes of quaint villages and windmills. Tonight, we enjoy a welcome reception and gala dinner. (B, L, D)

EmeraldACTIVE: Guided bike tour to Waterland.

Day 4

COLOGNE, GERMANY:

Cologne, Germany: We cruise along the Rhine River to Cologne. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cologne is one of Germany's oldest and famous for its magnificent gothic cathedral. We join our local guide for an included walking tour of the city, through quaint alleyways, seeing historic monuments, and touching on the historical charms of the Old Town. After the tour, we journey to a one-of-a-kind farm estate that provides locals with sustainable products. We experience a cooking demonstration and get a glimpse of behind-the-scenes sustainable farming. (B, L, D)

EmeraldPLUS: Local farm estate visit with cooking demonstration.

Day 5

KOBLENZ:

Today, we cruise to the 2000-year-old town of Koblenz, situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers. We enjoy a walking tour of Koblenz seeing the German Corner where the 2 rivers meet, the Church of Our Lady, and visit the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress by cable car on the opposite side of the river. This fortress was part of the Prussian defense against the French in the 19th century and later used as a headquarters for the American military during WWII. This afternoon, we sail through the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Rhine Gorge, viewing countless medieval castles and vineyards lining the shores of this section of the river, with photo opportunities around every bend. We see the infamous Lorelei statue and Pfalzgrafenstein Castle, built on an island in the middle of the river as a medieval toll station. (B, L, D)

DiscoverMORE: Moselle & Cochem (Reichsburg) Castle Visit (option: additional expense).
NOTE: Choose either the included tour of Koblenz OR the DiscoverMORE option, as both tours operate at the same time

Day 6

LUDWIGSHAFEN / HEIDELBERG:

We continue sailing to the town of Ludwigshafen, docking site for Heidelberg. We travel by coach to Heidelberg for a guided visit of the castle ruins and a walk along the cobblestone lanes of the old town. (B, L, D)

EmeraldACTIVE: Hike from Mount Königstuhl to Heidelberg.
DiscoverMORE: Evening concert at Bruchsal Palace (option: additional expense).

Day 7

KEHL / STRASBOURG, FRANCE:

Once docked in Kehl, we travel by coach across the river to Strasbourg, the capital of the Alsace region in France. Our guided walking tour includes the Grande Île - the historical city center and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known for its medieval black and white timber framed buildings, old tanning houses, baroque sandstone buildings, canals and river locks, the city's star attraction is the cathedral, dominating the main square. (B, L, D)

DiscoverMORE: Alsace Wine Route with tasting (option: additional expense).
DiscoverMORE: Excursion to Riquewihr (option: additional expense).

Day 8

BREISACH / FREIBURG, GERMANY:

On today's adventure, we visit the city of Freiburg, considered the 'capital of the Black Forest'. Aside from seeing the lovely sights, we sample true Black Forest delicacies from the lively market in the city center near the main cathedral. Alternatively, join a guided bike tour in Breisach. (B, L, D)

EmeraldPLUS: Guided tour of Freiburg with market tasting.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided bike tour in Breisach.

Day 9

BASEL, SWITZERLAND – LUCERNE:

After breakfast, we disembark the ship in Basel and begin our Swiss adventure. We depart by coach to Lucerne, a picturesque town surrounded by mountains and meadows. We join a walking tour highlighting the city's landmark - the famous 14th-century Chapel Bridge. We see the 17th-century Renaissance Town Hall and town squares, all set amongst the beautiful backdrop of the Swiss Alps. The remainder of the day is at our leisure. (B)

Day 10

LUCERNE:

We have the day free to explore on our own or join the optional excursion to Mt. Pilatus – a mountain overlooking Lucerne that offers a unique alpine experience! This evening, we get together for a farewell dinner at the hotel. (B, D)

DiscoverMORE: Mt. Pilatus (option: additional expense)

Day 11

LUCERNE / USA:

We bid 'auf wiedersehen' to Europe and return home with memories of life enriching experiences from our European adventure and cruise along the Rhine River. (B)