Compare Rhine Enchantment, Amsterdam to Milan - Southbound 2021 by Tauck vs Highlights of Europe - Start Amsterdam, End Paris, Classic Group, Summer by Insight Vacations
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| Trip |
4 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 11 days | 15 days |
| Price From | $ 5,990 | $ 4,990 |
| Price Per Day | $ 545 | $ 333 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | River cruise | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Premium |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | No | Airfare included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
Our popular journey along the River Rhine explores five countries and features a seven-night cruise from the Netherlands to Switzerland, plus three nights in the historic Italian fashion capital of Milan and a visit to glamorous Lake Como. Tauck Exclusive experiences include a special evening at Schloss Biebrich, a Baroque palace on the Rhine. |
Experience the best Europe has to offer. Travel from London to Europe on the high-speed Eurostar train. Cruise along the quaint canals in Amsterdam, and travel from Austria, across the Dolomites into Italy. Join a local home dinner in Rome where your host serves up delicious regional dishes. Enjoy VIP Vatican access which allows you to cut the lines to the museums and view the famous Bramante Staircase. Then voyage through the Chianti Hills of Florence and the cobbled streets of lakeside Lucerne with a final stop in the city of lights, Paris. |
Day 1 Embark on your cruise in Amsterdam
Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Welcome to Amsterdam! Transfers are included from Schiphol Airport or Amsterdam Centraal Station to your riverboat, where embarkation will begin any time after 4:00 PM. Enjoy a welcome cocktail reception followed by a leisurely dinner as you settle into your floating hotel for a memorable weeklong cruise on the Rhine and a visit to Italy’s sparkling Lake Como region and remarkable Milan.
MEALS : D
LODGING : ms Grace
PORTOFCALL : Amsterdam, Netherlands
Day 2 Amsterdam & its canals
Awaken aboard your riverboat in Amsterdam and disembark to be introduced to this unique city in two distinct ways – on an orientation tour of the city center, and aboard a canal boat cruise. As you float through the city’s 17th-century network of canals and enjoy a bite of brunch, you’ll pass under bridges, check out the distinctive houseboats, see the historic buildings lining the canals, and watch the locals go everywhere on their bicycles... with their groceries, briefcases, and children onboard! In Amsterdam, bicyclists have their own lanes in the streets, ride fast, and don’t always stop for pedestrians who get in their way... so keep your eyes open! After your canal cruise, you'll catch up with the riverboat in Utrecht, then depart for an overnight sail to Dusseldorf, Germany, during which you'll enjoy dinner onboard.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : ms Grace
PORTOFCALL : Amsterdam, Netherlands
Day 3 A choice of discoveries in Dusseldorf
Arrive this morning in Dusseldorf – one of Germany’s wealthiest cities, known for its charming Altstadt (Old Town) on the riverfront; its modern avant-garde architecture; Königsallee (“the Kö”), a super high-end shopping street near Altstadt; and a lively promenade by the river. Walk off the riverboat into town for your choice of a "Taste of Dusseldorf" walking tour focused on the city’s history, architecture and culinary traditions, along with some tasty local treats; a craft beer tour that visits a number of breweries to offer a sampling of the varieties of dark Altbier the region is known for; or a bicycling excursion along the city's Rhine River waterfront. Back aboard ship this afternoon, your riverboat continues on towards the Middle Rhine. As you cruise, enjoy an onboard lecture by your Tauck Director, and the chef's Signature Dinner this evening.
MEALS : L, D
LODGING : ms Grace
PORTOFCALL : Düsseldorf, Germany
Day 4 Middle Rhine cruising & an exclusive palace dinner in Wiesbaden
Today, enjoy a full day of cruising through the Middle Rhine Valley. It’s a great day to enjoy your riverboat’s amenities, and your Tauck Director provides commentary as you glide past sloping vineyards and rocky bluffs, sharing the stories of the Lorelei Rock and the castles standing watch onshore. Arrive this evening in the city of Wiesbaden. With a name that translates to “meadow baths”, Wiesbaden is one of Europe’s oldest spa towns, famous around the world for its hot springs, which have been in use since Roman times, and blossomed during the Middle Ages. Join for tonight’s Tauck Exclusive evening featuring dinner and entertainment at Schloss Biebrich, an 18th-century Baroque palace on the bank of the Rhine in Wiesbaden.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : ms Grace
Day 5 The many charms of Old Heidelberg
Drive to Heidelberg today for a guided visit to the splendid ruins of Heidelberg Castle, a sprawling red sandstone compound high above the city, and a reminder of 600 years of history, followed by a walking tour of town. Check out the Heidelberg Tun, the biggest wine barrel in the world (and walk on top of it). Learn about centuries of movers and shakers, and the romantic story of the Elisabeth Gate, built in 1615 as a present from Elector Frederic V to his wife Elisabeth Stuart, the daughter of King James I of England. He had the triumphal arch secretly crafted in sections and put up as a whole the night before her birthday to surprise her the next morning. The views of the Neckar River Valley from the castle are unforgettable. While strolling in Old Town Heidelberg below, be sure to try a Heidelberg Student Kiss – a special treat invented in the 19th century by a sympathetic chocolatier to give young men a way to express their affections for young women they were not allowed to talk to! Meet your riverboat in Germersheim and spend the afternoon cruising south. You’ll have time to enjoy the gym, get a massage… or curl up in a chair on the Sun Deck with a snack and your favorite drink. Have dinner onboard tonight followed by some evening entertainment.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : ms Grace
PORTOFCALL : Heidelberg, Germany
Day 6 Explore the Alsatian wine route
This morning, your riverboat arrives in historic Strasbourg, France – capital of the Alsace and known as the "Crossroads of Europe," home to the European Union's headquarters. Drive along the bucolic Alsatian wine route, through countryside where some of the world’s best Rieslings are made, to charming Riquewihr for a walking tour of this medieval wine town. On the list of “The Most Beautiful Villages in France,” Riquewihr is situated between the Vosges Mountains and the Plain of Alsace, right in the heart of vineyard country. After lunch, enjoy a tasting at one of the local wine cellars before returning to the ship in Strasbourg, and continuing your cruise to Basel, Switzerland.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : ms Grace
Day 7 Choose to discover either Zurich or Basel
Today you have two great Swiss cities to decide between. One possibility is to drive to Zurich, a world capital of banking (not to mention chocolate), for a walking tour with a local guide. Visit Bahnhoffstrasse, the city’s exclusive shopping boulevard, connecting lovely Lake Zurich with the main railway station. Head into Zurich's Old Town to wander through Niederdorf, a pedestrian area of winding streets, lined with shops, artisan studios, and restaurants. You’ll pass by two important places of worship, the Romanesque Protestant church Grossmünster and Fraumünster, once an abbey home for aristocratic ladies, graced with stained glass windows by Marc Chagall. Enjoy a traditional Swiss lunch in a historic Guild House. Your other possibility for the day is to stay in Basel and embark on a walking tour of its Old Town with a local guide before setting off to explore on your own. There’s much to discover; the city is known for its many contemporary buildings by noted international architects, and it has the highest density of museums in the country, including the world-class Basel Art Museum. Have dinner back aboard your riverboat, docked in Basel for the night.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : ms Grace
PORTOFCALL : Basel, Switzerland
Day 8 By rail through Switzerland & the Alps to Milan
After breakfast onboard, bid your crew farewell and disembark your riverboat in Basel, where you'll catch a high-speed train for a railway journey traversing the center of Switzerland, through the Alps and across the border into Italy. Late afternoon, you'll arrive in Milan, a bustling city that reigns as a world capital of fashion and design, and check into the Hotel Principe di Savoia, a splendid 1920s landmark decorated in classic Italian and Art Deco style, centrally located on the Piazza della Repubblica. Home to the national stock exchange, Milan has been Italy’s financial engine since the Industrial Revolution, and is known for its upscale culinary scene and shops, which you'll discover as you explore the city on your own this evening.
MEALS : B
LODGING : Hotel Principe di Savoia
PORTOFCALL : Milan, Italy
Day 9 Discovering Milan… and “The Last Supper”
Immerse yourself in magnificent Milan on an orientation and walking tour that includes an outside visit to the incredible Gothic Cathedral of Milan, il Duomo, the third largest Catholic church in the world. It took 500 years to finish this forest of spires and pinnacles topped by the iconic statue of the golden madonnina. Steps from il Duomo, stroll through the city’s premier gathering place, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a.k.a. “the living room of Milan.” This massive yet elegant shopping arcade, topped by an airy glass octagonal dome, was built as a symbol of Italian unity in the late 19th century and named after the first king of Italy. The afternoon is free. You might want to take in La Scala, one of the most famous opera houses in the world, where Maria Callas sang her heart out… Pinacoteca di Brera, a great art collection including works by Raphael, Bellini, Piero della Francesca, and Caravaggio… the fashion district between pedestrianized Via della Spiga, via Montenapoleone, via Manzoni, and Corso Venezia… or the mildly bohemian Navigli neighborhood of canal-side bars, restaurants, and shops. As you go, be sure to taste the traditional flavors of Milan – sipping a Campari bitter aperitif and sampling dishes like yellow risotto, cassoeula, and ossobuco. But tonight, you have reservations for a Tauck Exclusive – a private viewing of Milan’s pièce de resistance, Leonardo da Vinci’s mural, The Last Supper, which adorns the dining room at the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent and has a way of drawing the viewer in. You might just feel as if you could walk into the picture, sit down at the table, and strike up a conversation with the apostles (subject to availability; the day of visit may vary).
MEALS : B
LODGING : Hotel Principe di Savoia
PORTOFCALL : Milan, Italy
Day 10 Villas and villages of Lake Como
You’re off for a day’s tooling around Lake Como, one of Italy’s most beautiful lakes, in the shadow of the snowcapped Alps – a mecca for the well-heeled on holiday since ancient Roman times. Drive to tiny Tremezzina, where you’ll board a boat for bellissima Bellagio. Your Tauck Director leads an orientation walk in this resort village, known as “the Pearl of the Lake,” and you’ll have a bit of free time. Take in the lake views and explore the centuries-old buildings, stone lanes, and cobbled stairways lined with shops. Cruise over to the island of Isola Comacina for a quick tour and a six-course lunch at a family-owned trattoria, where you’ll learn the story of Lake Como’s only island, once the refuge of Lombardy’s kings. After lunch, a boat cruise shows you more of Lake Como, which the poet William Wordsworth described as “a treasure whom the earth keeps to herself.” The forested shoreline is punctuated by small towns with ancient stone bell towers and opulent villas. Perhaps you’ll see villas belonging to George Clooney or Richard Branson! Disembark the boat in the town of Cernobbio and head back to Milan, where you'll join us this evening to cap a memorable journey with a farewell reception and dinner at the hotel.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Hotel Principe di Savoia
PORTOFCALL : Milan, Italy
Day 11 Journey home
Tour ends: Milan. Fly home anytime; a transfer from Hotel Principe di Savoia to Milan Malpensa or Linate Airports OR Milan's Central Train Station is included. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport. For additional hotel nights in Milan, ask at booking.
MEALS : B
PORTOFCALL : Milan, Italy
Day 1: Welcome to Amsterdam
Welcome to Amsterdam, enjoy a day of leisure. Join your Travel Director at 17:00 for a Welcome Reception. Mingle and get to know your fellow travellers as you cruise along some of the many quaint, tree-lined canals, to explore the heart of the Old City, before enjoying a pleasant evening of dinner and wine at a local restaurant.
Hilton Amsterdam.
Dinner with Wine
Day 2: The Rhine Valley and Heidelberg
Take a scenic drive through the Rhine Valley to see quaint villages, hilltop castles and hear the legend of the Loreley Rock.Follow the Neckar River to Heidelberg and visit Heidelberg Castle with a Local Expert.
Marriott Hotel Heidelberg.
Breakfast
Day 3: Mountain-ringed Innsbruck
Skirt the northern Black Forest and head towards the rolling Bavarian Alps. Stop beneath the royal castles of Hohenschwangau and King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein, rumoured to have inspired Walt Disney's iconic castle. Once over the Austrian border, continue to the Tyrolean capital of Innsbruck. Tour the architectural jewels of the city, seeing the Imperial Palace, Golden Roof and the 14th century houses of the Old Town.
AC Hotel Innsbruck.
Breakfast
Day 4: Across the Dolomites to Venice Relaxed Start
Continue your journey, crossing the Italian border and on through the Dolomites. Amongst the hills of Conegliano Veneto, stop at a local family winery in Veneto to discover the art of prosecco production. Savour a tasting of these luxurious sparkling wines and discover how to make the perfect Bellini. Continue to the romantic city of Venice, Queen of the Adriatic. In the evening, enjoy a dinner with wine.
Hotel Indigo Venice - Sant'Elena.
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 5: The Magic of La Serenissima Relaxed Start
Wake up ready to embrace this romantic city. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you witness the skill of glassblowers on a visit to a traditional arts centre. Take a private cruise to St. Mark's Square where the city's former wealth and power is evidenced by the riches of St. Mark's Basilica. Admire the Doge's Palace and its adjoining Bridge of Sighs. With the rest of the day free, why not cruise the Venetian lagoon to the island of Burano for a meal of local specialties and wine?
Hotel Indigo Venice - Sant'Elena.
Breakfast
Day 6: The Eternal City of Rome
Head into the Apennine Mountains and venture through the peaceful landscapes of Tuscany and Umbria. Follow the course of the Tiber to your hotel in the Eternal City of Rome. Italian culture is deeply rooted in hospitality with food, friends and family being central to everyday life. You’re invited into the home of a Roman local to experience Italian hospitality at its best, as you enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal with your host.
Welcome Piram Hotel, Rome.
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 7: Papal and Imperial Rome
During your two-night stay, join a Local Expert for a private tour of the priceless art housed in the Vatican Museums and the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel. Your priority visit includes fast-track entry and behind-the-scenes access to the Bramante Staircase, a part of the Vatican usually closed to the public. Then explore St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the largest churches in the world. Cross the River Tiber to see the largest amphitheatre of the Roman Empire, the Colosseum and enjoy the afternoon at your leisure.
Welcome Piram Hotel, Rome.
Breakfast
Day 8: The Chianti Hills to Florence
Drive to the Chianti Hills and the city of Florence. A Local Expert will accompany you to the Duomo where the Gates of Paradise adorn the baptistery. Continue to Piazza della Signoria, the political heart of the city, lined with fountains and statues it acts as a virtual open-air gallery of Renaissance masterpieces. A leisurely afternoon give you time to shop for quality goods, like gold and leather, which Florence is famous for. Alternatively, there is the option to visit the Accademia Gallery with an art historian to see Michelangelo's famed masterpiece, 'David.' In the evening, savour an authentic meal at a local trattoria in the heart of Florence.
NH Firenze, Florence.
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 9: Lake Maggiore Relaxed Start
Travel past Milan, the capital of Lombardy, as you journey north to the beautiful Italian Lake District, a favourite retreat of the rich and famous where Alpine scenery combines with luxuriant subtropical vegetation. Relax and enjoy an afternoon at leisure at this popular resort and beautiful lake. Perhaps choose to take a cruise to the lovely Isola Bella for a guided tour of the incredible palace and stunning Botanical Gardens? Later, the choice is yours for your Dine-Around Evening. Enjoy your preferred dining experience from a selection of hand-picked local restaurants, each offering their own unique cuisine and ambience.
Hotel Simplon, Baveno
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 10: The Alps and onto Lucerne Relaxed Start
In the morning, enjoy your last moments among the charming Italian Lake District before your travels continue across the Swiss border. Appreciate the Alpine terrain as you embark on a scenic journey by funicular railway and open-top cable car to the summit of the stunning Mount Stanserhorn. Take in the pristine mountain air and, on a clear day, witness views as far as Alsace and the Black Forest in Germany. Explore Mount Stanserhorn with Insight Choice. Choose to take a walk along beautiful scenic pathways for a chance to see marmots and other native animals. Alternatively, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and hear a conservation talk by a Swiss ranger, to learn about local wildlife and flora. Continue to lakeside Lucerne where the afternoon is at your leisure. You may choose to enjoy a cruise on Lake Lucerne with its dramatic vistas.
Hotel Astoria, Lucerne.
Breakfast
Day 11: Lakeside Lucerne Relaxed Start
The emotive Lion Monument, carved into a limestone cliff, is a memorial dedicated to the heroic Swiss Guards who died defending King Louis XVI during the French Revolution, which is a source of great pride to the people of Lucerne. See this beautiful work before strolling across the Chapel Bridge to see the ornate Jesuit Church. With the day free, there is plenty of time for shopping for delectable chocolate and glamorous Swiss watches in the traffic-free Old Town. Perhaps venture into the countryside for a delightful horse-drawn carriage ride and meet the local farmers?
Hotel Astoria, Lucerne.
Breakfast
Day 12: Sights and delights of Paris
Journey through the rural French country side of Alsace and Burgundy regions, famous for its vineyards and wines, to arrive in the vibrant City of Light. During your time in Paris, see the impressive Eiffel Tower, the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral and the imposing facades of the Louvre. Discover the banks of the Seine with its many romantic bridges, see the obelisk in the centre of the Place de la Concorde and drive along the Champs Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. With the evening free, there are countless opportunities to enjoy the lively atmosphere of this glittering city. Why not visit one of the world-famous cabaret shows?
Crowne Plaza Paris - Republique.
Breakfast
Day 13: The Food and Flavours of Paris
Start your day with an Insight Choice. Choose to shop in quaint boutiques like a true Parisian for fashion, perfume or cosmetics with your Local Expert. Alternatively, join an avid foodie as you head into areas where Parisians go about their daily lives to explore small shops and sample local treats and delicacies. In the evening, enjoy a Celebration Dinner at the historic restaurant La Coupole. Delight in French cuisine and delicious wine.
Crowne Plaza Paris - Republique.
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 14: Au Revoir Paris
Bid farewell to your travelling companions as your journey comes to an end. Transfers arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport at 08:00 and 11:00.
Breakfast
