Castles on the Rhine: Family Riverboat Adventure - Southbound

Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Basel. Transfers are included from EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg or Basel's SBB train station to the riverboat where embarkation begins at 4:00 PM; guests can also transfer from Zürich Airport or Zurich Hauptbahnhof (train station) to the riverboat in Basel. Meet your riverboat crew for a welcome briefing, then kick off your fun family river cruise by joining your shipmates for a welcome reception and dinner aboard the riverboat this evening.

Depart your riverboat this morning for Switzerland's Lake Lucerne region, where alpine meadows, forested slopes, and jagged peaks create a storybook backdrop. Local lore adds another layer to the day: some say Mt. Pilatus was named because the Roman governor Pontius Pilate was buried there, others because its silhouette resembles a reclining giant. Either way, the mountain has inspired legends for centuries. Ascend by gondola to its summit, where, weather permitting, sweeping views extend across lakes and snow-dusted ranges. Your descent follows a different path – aboard the world's steepest cogwheel railway, winding past wildflower meadows and tumbling streams. Returning to Lucerne, experience a Swiss folklore performance paired with a taste of cheese fondue before rejoining your ship in Kembs. This evening, your journey continues toward Strasbourg, France.

Wake up this morning aboard your riverboat, docked on the Rhine outside the historic city of Strasbourg, France, surrounded by the hills of southern Alsace. Renowned for its fairy-tale charm – and as the "Crossroads of Europe" for its role as home to the European Union – Strasbourg is the cultural capital of the French region of Alsace. Have some Franco-styled fun as your family becomes "French for a Day" in Strasbourg during a morning filled with learning French phrases, a sing-along featuring French songs, and a chocolate tasting! You can return to the riverboat for lunch, or stay in Strasbourg and spend the afternoon exploring as you please. Among the treasures you'll see here are the medieval canals, watchtowers and half-timbered houses of La Petite France, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; stately city residences; the modern buildings of the European Parliament' and the 11th-century Gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg. Back aboard the riverboat tonight, you'll continue your Basel – Amsterdam riverboat cruise along the Rhine to Speyer and Heidelberg, Germany.

As a major transport link across the heart of central Europe for centuries, the mighty Rhine River was a source of great riches for those who controlled the trade that plied its waters... and today, the cities, towns and castles along its banks remind us of that wealth and the power it created. You'll have a choice of excursion today. Visit the romantic ruins of Heidelberg Castle, perched high above the city of Heidelberg; you'll be awed by the castle's imposing ensemble of buildings from different centuries and architectural periods, radiating out from a central courtyard. Within its walls, you can feel the sweep of hundreds of years of history that was made here – and enjoy the sweeping views of the riverscapes from its terrace and gardens. Alternatively, visit Speyer, home to the largest Romanesque cathedral in the world, for a visit to the Technik Museum, introducing technological innovation from the underwater world to space. Return to the riverboat in Mannheim for lunch onboard and more Rhine cruising this afternoon; dock in Rüdesheim tonight.

This morning you have two choices for exploring – explore Rüdesheim, including a visit to magical Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett, home to 400 self-playing instruments. Alternatively, join us for a bicycling tour*. Board the riverboat mid-morning and cruise to Köningswinter. During your cruise, keep your eyes peeled for riverside castles as you play our "I Spy a Castle" game, and hear legends and lore of the Lorelei – the mythical siren that was said to rise from the rocky bank of the river and bewitch passing sailors – from your Tauck Directors. Following your arrival this evening, disembark and head to Burg Satzvey, a moated castle in Germany's Rhineland region dating back to the 12th century, for a rustic dinner and evening in the castle's banquet hall that transports your family back to the Middle Ages for some medieval fun! Rejoin the riverboat in Köln (Cologne) tonight.

Germany's fourth-largest city, historic Köln (also known as Cologne) was founded by the Romans in the 1st century AD; nearly destroyed by Allied bombing during World War II, modern Köln's unique mix of rebuilt, restored and new structures sprawls across both sides of the Rhine. Start your exploration with a walking tour of the city, dominated by the immense, twin-spired Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), whose construction only took six hundred years! Completed in 1880, this Gothic "Dom" was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Throughout your tour, your family will have the opportunity to partake in a virtual reality historical experience, transporting you back in time to see what life was like here during in the 1920s! The riverboat departs Köln midday for an afternoon and evening spent cruising the Rhine en route to your final destination - Amsterdam. This afternoon, join us for a Dutch clog-painting workshop before meeting back up later this evening for our farewell reception followed by dinner.

Amsterdam, the remarkable capital of The Netherlands, is all about water; like Venice in Italy, it's dominated by a series of canals that link its many tiny islands. Known to the Dutch as grachten, the city's 17th-century canals fan out in crescent-shaped rings from the northern waterfront. Upon arrival, get a unique view of the city on a canal boat cruise through the historic waterways with a local guide; the city's heart feels more like a village than the compact center of a cosmopolitan city. Aboard the canal boat, you'll glide beneath curved bridges carrying walkers and cyclists – as well as trams and cars – and past the narrow former homes of merchants who stored their goods on the upper floors. Along the way, see a host of 17th- and 18th-century structures, the 19th-century Centraal Station, the city flower market and more. You'll also make a visit to STRAAT – an inspiring museum showcasing vibrant street art and graffiti from talented artists around the world, offering a unique glimpse into urban creativity and contemporary expression. This afternoon, travel to Zaanse Schans, a traditional Dutch windmill village, for a visit to a working windmill and a tasting of local cheeses or enjoy a free afternoon to explore Amsterdam as you'd like.

Tour ends: Amsterdam. Disembark your riverboat this morning by 9:00 AM. A transfer is included from the riverboat to Amsterdam's Schipol Airport or Central Station. Fly home anytime. Allow 3 hours for flight check-in. For guests wishing to spend more time in Amsterdam, ask at booking about extending your stay with an additional hotel night at Tauck's hotel.