Compare Romantic Rhine with Mount Pilatus, 1 Night in Lucerne & 3 Nights in Lake Como (Southbound) by Avalon Waterways vs France, Switzerland and Italy Adventure Tour by Discovery Nomads
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| Trip |
Romantic Rhine with Mount Pilatus, 1 Night in Lucerne & 3 Nights in Lake Como (Southbound)
by
Avalon Waterways
5 | Excellent
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4.5 | Great
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| Duration | 12 days | 10 days |
| Price From | $ 4,898 | $ 1,890 |
| Price Per Day | $ 408 | $ 189 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | River cruise | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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| Countries Visited | ||
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| Flights & Transport | No | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
6 Breakfasts |
| Description | One of Europe’s most legendary rivers awaits you on this exciting journey on a Rhine River cruise, which takes you across Germany—and touches in Holland, France, and Switzerland! This magnificent European river cruise begins in the ever popular, modern city of Amsterdam, Holland. Experience the best way to see the treasures of this 700-year-old city with a canal cruise along the elegant grachten lined with homes dating back to the city’s “Golden Age.” Visit Cologne, Germany—a 2,000 year-old city known for its Gothic-style architecture—with its famous twin-spired cathedral and Old Town with many shops, cafés, and taverns. Sail through the dramatic Rhine Gorge—the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine River where ancient castles stand on cliffs 400 feet above the water. In the charming wine town of Rüdesheim, visit the unique Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Continue your Rhine River cruise to Mainz for a guided walk and visit to the captivating Gutenberg Museum, or take an excursion to Heidelberg to visit the ruins of its red-walled castle. In Strasbourg, France, marvel at the red-sandstone Gothic-style cathedral with ancient murals and fascinating astronomical clock. Also, stroll through the lovely La Petite France district with its quaint shops, delightful bistros, and peaceful waterfront promenade. Visit Breisach, Germany, the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest—an area of unrivaled natural beauty—best known for Black Forest ham, cherry cake, and the cuckoo clock.Disembark your river cruise ship in Basel and continue your vacation in Lucerne and Lake Como, starting with a special excursion up Mount Pilatus for spectacular Swiss Alpine panoramas and a guided walking tour to explore lovely Lucerne. Transfer by motorcoach to Como and enjoy a stop and sightseeing on the way in Lugano. In Como an included guided walking tour features the charming historic district, the Gothic-style Town Hall, and the impressive Duomo. Enjoy a relaxing boat ride on Lake Como to renowned Bellagio with its centuries-old buildings, cobblestone lanes, and charming shops. In your free time, you might like to travel to fashionable Milan, or ride the funicular to the village of Brunate. The perfect end to your magnificent vacation! |
Take an amazing journey through the most romantic cities of Europe, see Paris from the top of Tour Eiffel, go hiking in Lucerne, walk around the canals of Venice, visit Uffizi Gallery in Florence, explore ancient Rome, see the stunning architecture of the cities and admire the breathtaking scenery of the Swiss Alps. |
Day 1: 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, you may take a Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens—with more than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, as well as other bulbs, planted each year.
Outside of tulip season, join a Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM
(Dinner)
AMSTERDAM-CANAL.jpg
Day 2: AMSTERDAM
Canals of Colorful Amsterdam
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
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 or take some free time to explore Amsterdam’s colorful streets and canal houses, galleries, and shops.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COLOGNE(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
AMSTERDAM-CANAL-CRUISE.jpg
Day 3: COLOGNE, GERMANY
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!
Later, local musicians will join us on board for live entertainment.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO RÜDESHEIM
* Not available on departure November 9 due to celebrations for local festivity.
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 4: RÜDESHEIM
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country
En route to Rüdesheim, sail through the Rhine Gorge (a UNESCO World Heritage site). Take in the breathtaking views of ancient castles perched on cliffs 400 feet above the water, and pass the legendary Rock of the Lorelei—where the mythological siren’s songs lured ill-fated sailors.
ACTIVE Enjoy a hike with your Avalon Adventure Host through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim, OR:
DISCOVERY 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.
Enjoy live entertainment on board your ship this evening. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN RÜDESHEIM
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 5: MAINZ. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG
Printing Halls, 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 City Walk, including a visit to the Gutenberg Museum to see the captivating history of printing, 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”.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO STRASBOURG
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
HEIDELBERG.jpg
Day 6: STRASBOURG, FRANCE
A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France
Ask about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities.
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.Choose a Guided Optional Excursion to the historic Maginot Line—the pre-WWII fortifications designed to protect the eastern border of France, or visit Alsace’s wine country today.
Alternatively, take some free time in Strasbourg to visit a museum, or stroll across the city center. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 7: 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:
DISCOVERY Visit to a local winery in Breisach, where you will learn about German winemaking and enjoy a wine tasting, 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 half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 8: BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION)–MOUNT PILATUS
Spectacular Views in Switzerland
This morning disembark your Avalon ship and take a motorcoach transfer to Mount Pilatus
CLASSIC Enjoy a special highlight excursion to Mount Pilatus. Journey almost 7,000 ft. (2,132 m) up for spectacular views over central Switzerland (in case of bad weather, visit the Swiss Transport Museum instead).
LUCERNE
A Historic Bridge and Heart of a Lion
CLASSIC Join a Guided Walking tour to explore beautiful Lucerne, which includes Thorvaldsen’s poignant Lion Monument and the famous Chapel Bridge. (Breakfast)
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Day 9: LUCERNE–LAKE COMO, ITALY
History in Grand View
CLASSIC En route to Como, enjoy a stop in Lugano and a guided sightseeing of this charming Swiss city.
Continue to Como, the city on the lake that bears its name. (Breakfast)
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Day 10: LAKE COMO
Legendary Lake Houses
CLASSIC Take 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. CLASSIC Experience a Boat Ride on Lake Como for panoramas of stunning mountain scenery and luxury lakeside villas. Disembark at picturesque Bellagio for exploration on your own, returning by boat to Como. (Breakfast)
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Day 11: LAKE COMO
Italian Beauty on the Banks
Enjoy a free day to explore Como and its surroundings at your own pace. Como offers you every kind of solutions for your spare time. Choose a boat trip on the lake, a relaxing walk on the riverbanks or make shopping in the city centre. And be sure to taste authentic Italian specialties in a local restaurant!
(Breakfast)
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Day 12: LAKE COMO
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
(Breakfast)
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Day 1-2: Paris
Accommodation: Novotel Paris or similar
Arrival before 12.00pm. Check this beautiful city from the Eiffel Tower and in the evening you will have free time to explore the nightlife of the city. On the next day you have sightseeing tour around Paris and visit Louvre museum.
Day 3: Lucerne
In the morning you will travel by train to Switzerland. Discover this small city of Lucerne in the Swiss Alps and walk around its tiny streets.
Day 4-6: Venice
Accommodation: Best Western or similar
Explore Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica, see the impressive halls of Sala del Maggior Consiglio and pass through the Bridge of Sights. Optional activities include a vaporetto ride to Murano and Burano, Peggy Guggenheim Museum and the Accademia Gallery.
Day 6-8: Florence
Accommodation: NH Florence or similar.
Today you will go on a walking tour around Florence, see the Duomo, the medieval Ponte Vecchio and the Medici Chapels and then visit Uffizi Gallery. Your guide will explain works by some of the greatest artists from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, such as Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, and more.
Day 8-10: Rome
Accommodation: Eurostars Rome or similar
Today you will have a walking tour around Rome's beautiful piazzas, learn the dark history of Santa Maria del Popolo and admire its paintings by Caravaggio. And do not miss the amazing Italian food, wine and nightlife. On the next day learn about the history of St.Peters Basilica in Vatican.
