Your Itinerary
AMSTERDAM*, HOLLAND (EMBARKATION)
Welcome to Holland. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding. Flights into Amsterdam must arrive by 3:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm. Your day in Amsterdam is free to explore at your leisure. During tulip season, don’t miss a Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens—with more than seven million flowering bulbs. Outside of tulip season, join a Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM(D)*Due to increased harbor traffic expected for the 2025 “SAIL Amsterdam” event, departure August 24 will embark in Rotterdam with slight modifications to the itinerary.
Colorful Canals of AmsterdamVisit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.DISCOVERY 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.” This afternoon choose among the Guided Optional Excursions available. Alternatively spend some free time this afternoon visiting one of Amsterdam’s many fascinating museums or galleries. AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COLOGNE(B,L,D)* Due to the “SAIL Amsterdam” event coinciding with August 24 departure, Amsterdam excursions commence from ship docking location in Rotterdam.
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.Spend free time over a glass of Kölsch pale lager—locally brewed for over 100 years! Local musicians will join us on board for live entertainment.OVERNIGHT SAILING TO COCHEM(B,L,D)
The Charm of the Moselle ValleyThis morning, select a Guided Optional Excursion to Eltz Castle. ACTIVE Bike along the Mosel river with your Adventure Host, OR: DISCOVERY Visit the former bunker of Germany's Central Bank (Deutsche Bundesbank) and immerse yourself in the underground vault where millions of German Mark were kept during the Cold War, OR:CLASSIC Join a Guided Walk of Cochem to see the charming town’s half-timbered houses and winding streets. Visit Cochem’s hilltop Reichsburg Castle with a bird’s-eye-view of the Moselle Valley and river bend.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO TRIER(B,L,D)
TRIER. EXCURSION TO LUXEMBOURG
Ancient Worlds and Old World CharmJoin your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing tour of Trier—Germany’s oldest city with ancient remnants dating from 144-152 AD. Starting from Porta Nigra, walk through the city center.CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Luxembourg City—with its dramatic views, ancient ruins, and modern architecture along the deep gorge terrain.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BERNKASTEL (B,L,D)
Hillside Vines and German WinesACTIVE Join your Adventure Host for a hike in this beautiful area, OR:CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of the charming wine village of Bernkastel—with its medieval marketplace and 17th-century gabled timber-framed houses.This afternoon, select a Guided Optional Excursion to a local winery for a wine tasting. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KOBLENZ(B,L,D)
Fortress Walls and Manor Halls ACTIVE Explore Koblenz's Mosel side by bike with your Adventure Host, OR: CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk amid ancient fortresses walls, towers, squares and monuments, OR: CLASSIC Visit the Sayn Manor House on a Guided Tour. Enjoy the breathtaking views as you cruise through the spectacular Rhine Gorge on your way to Rüdesheim. Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine CountryEnjoy free time this evening to explore this picturesque village. This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship.OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO LUDWIGSHAFEN(B,L,D)
LUDWIGSHAFEN. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG–SPEYER
Philosophers’ Views and the World’s Biggest Wine BarrelAsk about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities.ACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for an inspiring walk in Heidelberg, the Philosophers' way, OR:CLASSIC Discover Schwetzingen Palace—the heart of a stunning site consisting of the palace, palace gardens, and historic palace square, 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."This afternoon a short sailing will bring you to Speyer, where you will have free time to explore at your own pace.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO STRASBOURG(B,L,D)
A Grand Cathedral and La Petite FranceACTIVE Discover Strasbourg by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC Take a City Sightseeing Tour, including the city’s Gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District.This afternoon choose among the Guided Optional Excursions available.Alternatively, take some free time in Strasbourg to visit a museum or stroll across the city center. Later, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH(B,L,D)
BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST
German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black Forest DISCOVERY 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.You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar in the morning, with its half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL (B,L,D)
BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION)*–SWISS ALPS
Spectacular views in SwitzerlandThis morning disembark your Avalon ship and take a motorcoach transfer which will bring you in the heart of Swiss Alps.CLASSIC 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). Historic Houses and a Wooden BridgeCLASSIC Join a guided walking tour to explore beautiful Lucerne, which includes Thorwaldsen’s poignant Lion Monument and the famous Chapel Bridge. (B)* Some departures may disembark in Hüningen (France), just across the river or in Breisach (Germany).
At Leisure in Lovely LucerneToday, enjoy a day at leisure in Lucerne. Discover the many squares and churches and how tradition and modernity stand side-by-side or spend your free time to enjoy some shopping in the city center. (B)
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)