Timeless Rivers of Europe: the Rhine and Seine with Swiss Alps, Lake Como & Lucerne

Welcome to Italy!

Historic Center and Gothic Style.

• Classic: Join a Guided Walking Tour which includes the charming historic center, the Broletto (Town Hall) with its fascinating gothic façade, and the imposing, marble - clad Duomo. Embark on a Boat Ride on Lake Como which includes a stop in beautiful Bellagio. (B)

Breathtaking Views.

A Historic Bridge and Heart of a Lion.

• Classic: Enjoy a Guided Walking Tour to explore beautiful Lucerne which includes Thorvaldsen's poignant Lion Monument and the famous Chapel Bridge. (B)

Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.

• Classic: This morning, 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)

EVENING CRUISE TO BREISACH (B/D)

German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black Forest

• Active: Enjoy the view on a relaxing bike ride along the Rhine with your Adventure Host, OR:
• Classic: 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.

EVENING CRUISE TO KEHL (B/L/D)

A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France.

• 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.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MAINZ (B/L/D)

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 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,” OR:
• Classic: Enjoy a Guided City Walk in Mainz, including a visit to the Gutenberg Museum to see the captivating history of printing.
  

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN RÜDESHEIM (B/L/D)

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country.

• Active: Enjoy a hike with your Avalon Adventure Host through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim, OR:
• Classic: 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, OR:
• Discovery: Take a Guided Visit to the historic 18th-century wooden - barrel cellar of Johannisberg Castle and enjoy a delicious wine tasting.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN KOBLENZ (B/L/D)

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.

AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO AMSTERDAM (B/L/D)

Canals of Colorful Amsterdam.

• Active: Start your day joining your Adventure Host on an early morning walk in Amsterdam, OR:
• Classic: 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.”

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM (B/L/D)

On to Paris.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VERNON (B/D)

Monet's Muses, Castle Courtyards, and Crêpes du Jour.

• Active: Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles by foot with your Adventure Host, OR:
• Classic: Take a Guided Tour of Giverny, home and inspiration of the master impressionist painter Claude Monet. Walk the grounds and see Monet's charming residence, and the flower and water gardens captured in his masterpieces*, OR:
• Classic: Join a Guided Visit to Bizy Castle—called “Normandy's Versailles” for its magnificent courtyard, water garden, and stables.
• Discovery: While sailing, enjoy a traditional French luncheon of authentic French crêpes, followed by a Pastry Demonstration.

• Active: Join a Guided Hike up to the castle ruins of Château Gaillard—historic home of King Richard the Lionheart, OR:
• Classic: Take a Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys—one of France's most picturesque spots on the Seine.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO CAUDEBEC (B/L/D)

Ancient Abbeys Along the Seine.

• Active: Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the river with your Adventure Host, OR:
• Classic: Take a Guided Trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route—where more than 100 medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches were built along the Seine.

• Discovery: Enjoy an Onboard Lecture about the days before and after the Normandy landing of D - Day.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN CAUDEBEC (B/L/D)

Heroic Bravery on Normandy Beaches and French Farming Traditions

• Classic: Join a Guided Tour of Normandy's WWII landing beaches, visit significant U.S. sites, including Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery, OR:
• Classic: Take a full-day Guided Tour of the British and Canadian commemorative sites, including the British cemetery, Pegasus Memorial, the seaside town of Arromanches, the Juno Beach Center, and the Bény - sur - Mer Canadian War Cemetery, OR:
• Classic: Join a Guided Tour to get a taste of authentic tradition in the beautiful region of Normandy. Toast the day with a brandy tasting in Calvados
  

EVENING CRUISE TO ROUEN (B/L/D)

The Cathedral of Notre-Dame and a Heroine for France

• Active: Take a Guided Bike Tour to discover and explore the most famous monuments and the lesser known hidden gems of Rouen on two wheels, OR:
• Classic: Take a Guided Walking Tour of Rouen—site of Saint Joan of Arc's martyrdom—and see the medieval quarter with its 16th-century Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO CONFLANS (B/L/D)

The Footsteps of Van Gogh, Bonaparte, and Louis XIV

• Active: Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the Seine with your Adventure Host, OR:
• Classic: Join a Guided Visit to Auvers-sur-Oise, home and resting place of Vincent van Gogh, OR:
• Classic: Take a Guided tour of the opulent Château de Malmaison*—home of Napoléon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine.
  

AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO PARIS (B/L/D)

Cafés, Cathedrals, and Canvases in the City of Light

• Active: Experience the Seine river by foot with your Adventure Host, OR:
• Classic: Discover the ancient heart of Paris on a captivating Guided Walk featuring the Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, ancient sites on Île de la Cité, the Left Bank, bustling Latin Quarter, and more, OR:
• Classic: Join a Guided City Tour, that shows you the iconic sites of Paris, such as the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and the famous Champs - Élysées.
  

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PARIS (B/L/D)

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)