The Rhine and Moselle - Southbound

Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Amsterdam. A transfer is included from Amsterdam's Schiphol International Airport or Centraal Station directly to your riverboat. Your cruise on the Moselle and Rhine rivers begins when all guests check in at 4:00 PM. After a Discovery briefing, cocktail hour and a welcome dinner aboard ship, enjoy a musical performance in the lounge. Welkom aan boord!

Enjoy a choice of excursions in Amsterdam today – your first choice is a visit to the famed Rijksmuseum, home to one of the world's most important collections of artwork by the Dutch Masters. Another option is a guided tour through the Dutch countryside with a visit to a tulip and vegetable nursery. You may return to the ship for lunch or remain in town. Mid-afternoon take a scenic canal cruise along the 17th-century canals, where you'll be introduced to the city's remarkable architecture from a different vantage point. Tonight, join us tonight for a Welcome Briefing followed by dinner in the Compass Rose followed by a special performance in the Panorama Lounge. 

Spend the morning exploring the historic German city of Köln (Cologne), where you'll enjoy a choice of city tours with a local guide through the Old Town, with one option offering you the chance to explore a preserved World War II bunker! Return to your ship for lunch and a relaxing afternoon cruising along the Rhine.

Enjoy a morning of cruising, complete with onboard commentary about the Moselle River, as you make your way to Cochem, a jewel of a town complete with a Baroque town hall and ancient town gates – breathing in its historic charm and ambiance. Stepping ashore in this Moselle Valley town is like stepping into the pages of a medieval fairy tale. Explore Cochem either on a guided walking tour accompanied with a visit to picture-perfect 1,000-year-old Reichsburg Castle, which looks down on Cochem's quaint market square or on a bicycle ride to the town of Senheim, where you'll learn about the area's centuries-old winemaking traditions with a tasting of the excellent locally produced vintages. Return to your riverboat this evening, your ship sets sail for the town of Traben-Trarbach, arriving overnight.

Dock this morning in Bernkastel and set off for a choice of excursions in the tiny Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. On one, visit the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial; where over 5,000 American casualties of World War II's Battle of the Bulge lie buried here, as does General George S. Patton, followed by a walking tour of Luxembourg's well-preserved old town including the Cathedral, Parliament, the Palace of the Grand Duke, and centuries-old battlements that are today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Alternatively, following your visit to the cemetery and memorial, embark on an expedition into the underground tunnels known as kasematten, built in the 17th-century as a means to defend against artillery fire and heavily utilized during World War II. Meet back up with your riverboat in the city of Trier. Dinner tonight is back aboard your ship.

Your ship docks in Trier today. Disembark this morning for a guided walking tour where you'll discover an ancient city that lays claim as being one of the oldest in Germany – during a walking tour that includes both medieval treasures and sites dating back to Roman times, from a 2nd-century city gate and the 4th-century basilica to a 16th-century fountain featuring images of St. Peter. Reboard your riverboat for an afternoon of classic river cruising, watching the scenery slip by from the Sun Deck as your riverboat glides along the Moselle; enjoy dinner aboard ship tonight.

Tauck's Rhine-Moselle river cruise departs the Moselle today and returns to the Rhine, arriving in Boppard for your choice of a two-hour bicycling excursion along the Rhine or, stay on the riverboat as it glides through the Middle Rhine Valley, listening to the legend of the Lorelei and discover for yourself why this beautiful part of the river – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – has inspired composers, writers and artists for centuries. Have lunch onboard, and gain insights on the Lorelei Valley and legends associated with the many castles you'll pass on your way through the region from your Tauck Director. Enjoy dinner aboard ship tonight.

Arrive in the port city of Mannheim. Today you'll have a choice of sightseeing. Travel to the historic college town of Heidelberg, home to one of the oldest universities in Europe as well as being the setting for the famous operetta, The Student Prince. Embark on a walking tour for a close-up look at the Old Town, and visit the imposing Heidelberger Schloss, perched 300 feet above the city; view its examples of medieval, Renaissance and Baroque architecture and have lunch at a local restaurant. Alternatively, enjoy an elegant tour of Schloss Mannheim, one of Europe's largest Baroque palaces, steeped in history and grandeur. Walk through lavishly adorned rooms showcasing ornate stucco work and period furnishings that evoke the splendor of 18th-century court life. Discover stories of the Palatinate Electors before enjoying a classical concert in the opulent Rittersaal. With its rich musical heritage, the palace provides a captivating backdrop for an evening filled with timeless melodies in a setting befitting royalty. Both excursions return to the ship midday to enjoy an afternoon of cruising.

Arrive in the town of Plittersdorf and travel by coach to the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden where you'll discover that the elegant Belle Èpoque period is still alive and well. For many generations, wealthy folks have flocked here to see and be seen, and to take the healing thermal waters for which the town is famous. Join us on a walking tour and time spent on your own discovering some of the town's treasures ranging from the ruins of Roman baths to the ornate, 250-year-old Belle Èpoque casino, the Kurhaus, which movie star Marlene Dietrich once described as "the most beautiful casino in the world." You'll also have an optional opportunity to visit the Caracalla Spa in town before returning to the riverboat for the evening.

Your Rhine cruise continues today to stunning Strasbourg, France – the seat of the European Council, the European Parliament and the European Court of Human Rights, as well as the capital of the historic Alsace region. You'll see the Parliament buildings and step back in time to discover La Petite France, noted for its medieval half-timbered houses set beside lovely canals, on your choice of a walking tour or a 12 -14 kilometer bikr ride. While visiting the famous Gothic Cathédrale de Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, you'll be inspired by the graceful, expressive statuary of the Pilier des Anges (Pillar of Angels), and the magnificent stained glass windows. Spend free time this afternoon exploring the "crossroads of Europe" or on a visit to a World War II bunker before returning to the riverboat.

The Tauck Difference in European river cruising is all about where you go, what you do, and who you meet on your shore excursions – and today, you have a choice! First choice is spending the day in Basel, a beautiful city on the banks of the Rhine River. You'll get a good overview on a sightseeing tour of the city center complemented with tastings of local delights throughout! Your second choice is a trip to the town of Zürich for a guided tour and lunch. Return to the ship in Basel; this evening, bid the captain and crew a fond adieu at the ship's farewell reception followed by dinner aboard the riverboat as your Rhine cruise concludes.

Tour ends: Basel. Fly home anytime. Upon disembarking the riverboat (no later than 9:00 AM), transfers are included to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg or Basel's SBB train station; guests can also transfer to Zürich Airport or Zurich Hauptbahnhof (train station). Please allow 3 hours for flight check-in.