Castles on the Rhine: Family Riverboat Adventure - Southbound 2019

8 days
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4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews  
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USTOA

Small Group Tour
"Top River Cruise Line" for families - two-time winner - voted by the readers of Travel + Leisure! Create cherished memories on our unforgettable 7-night Tauck Bridges family riverboat cruise along the Rhine River between Amsterdam and Basel aboard ms Grace or ms Inspire, visiting The Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland.

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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Cogwheel Train Ride in the Swiss Alps; visit to the ruins of Heidelberg Castle; bicycling along the banks of the Rhine/Moselle; exclusive
    • private evening at Burg Satzvey (a moated castle); tour of Cologne Cathedral; Amsterdam Canal tour and van Gogh Museum

What's this trip about?

    "Top River Cruise Line" for families - two-time winner - voted by the readers of Travel + Leisure! Create cherished memories on our unforgettable 7-night Tauck Bridges family riverboat cruise along the Rhine River between Amsterdam and Basel aboard ms Grace or ms Inspire, visiting The Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityAmsterdam, Netherlands
End CityBasel, Switzerland

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Family Friendly
  • Small Ship Cruise
  • Digital Detox

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Switzerland
  • Germany
  • France
  • Netherlands

Attractions

  • Amsterdam
  • Heidelberg
  • Koblenz
  • Lucerne
  • Strasbourg

Activities

  • Kid-friendly activities

Trip includes

    • Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $2,123! All gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides and drivers Riding the world's highest cogwheel train with sweeping views of the Swiss Alps Private dinner and evening at Burg Satzvey, a medieval moated castle Fondue, chocolate, and French lessons, becoming "French for a Day" Bicycling through forests and vineyards beside the Rhine - Moselle Rivers Visit to the legendary ruins of Heidelberg Castle or the medieval town of Speyer All shore excursions and onboard briefings Airport transfers on arrival and departure as noted 20 meals, service charges, admission fees, taxes and porterage

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Itinerary

Day 1 Welcome to Amsterdam & embark your riverboat
Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Amsterdam. A transfer is included from Amsterdam's Schipol Airport or Central Station to ms Grace or ms Inspire for the start of your riverboat cruise along the Rhine. Meet your riverboat crew for a welcome briefing, then kick off your fun family ri...
Day 2 Canals, van Gogh & more in Amsterdam
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 ...
Day 3 Historic Köln & dinner at a castle
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...
Day 4 Koblenz, cycling & Carnival night
Awaken this morning in Koblenz, a beautiful city set at Deutsches Eck - the "German Corner" - where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet. The city's roots go way back to the Middle Ages, when its prime location made it a powerful controller of trade along these important wa...
Day 5 Heidelberg & castles on the Rhine
During a morning spent cruising the Rhine, 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 ...
Day 6 French for a day in Strasbourg
Today your riverboat calls on 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...
Day 7 Alpine fun by rail to Mt. Pilatus & in Lucerne
Depart your riverboat this morning for an excursion to Switzerland's Lake Lucerne area and Mt. Pilatus - where mountain peaks, forests and meadows straight out of a picture book await your family. Travel to Alpnachstad at the edge of shimmering Lake Lucerne, where you'll...
Day 8 Journey home
Tour ends: Basel. Disembark your riverboat this morning by 9:00 AM. A transfer is included from the riverboat to Euroairport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg or Basel SBB Bahnhof, or to Zürich Airport or Zürich Hauptbahnof (Zürich Central Train Station). Fly home anytime. Allow 3...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,990
Price per day$624
Last Updated: 0/8/2019

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Tauck Reviews & Ratings

4.2/5  Great
Excellent
16
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Terrible
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Other Tauck Reviews

S

Susan

Jun 2023

Written on

Nine Tours and Done

Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done o...

C

Cougess

Jan 2023

Written on

Skip this cruise - not worth it

My husband and I went on the Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles Trip jn October 2022. This was our third Tauck cruise with Ponnant but our first post covid and the...

H

Harry

Sep 2022

Written on

Tauck/Aon terrible travel insurance

Tauck partners with Aon for travel insurance. We bought this insurance through Tauck specifically to cover us in case of a positive for test for Covid and could not ...

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Tour Operator

Tauck

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It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energize and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters.

In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from Germany in search of the American dream. His determination and values were passed on to his son, Arthur Tauck, who would realize that dream. With ingenuity and an innovative spirit, Arthur started Tauck Motor Tours, a travel company that would give birth to a new industry. The first tour, through the back roads of New England, was created by this 27-year-old in 1925. It embodied the same successful formula used by Tauck today: do the right thing. Craft a life-enriching travel experience; provide it at a single all-inclusive price; ensure there is great value for money; and rely on recommendations of satisfied customers to build a following and grow the business.

Two elements that did change over the next 90+ years – and three generations of Taucks – were the scope of destinations served and the variety of modes of travel used. Today Tauck delivers life-enriching travel experiences to every corner of the globe, incorporating small cruise ships, premium riverboats, trains, helicopters and more. What started as a New England motor coach tour company has truly evolved into an extraordinary global travel company. The fourth generation of Taucks is now involved in the company. While remarkable in any business, this seamless continuity across generations speaks to shared vision and values.

Throughout its history, the concept of “family” at Tauck has gone far beyond those sharing the surname to include hundreds of valued employees, and hundreds of thousands of loyal guests. The story of Tauck is the story of a unique American family company celebrating a passion for travel – a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.

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What they’re known for
Fun group tours and cruises that are culturally-focused and great for families and seniors on vacation.

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Logistics

Ship & cabin information
MS GRACE, MS INSPIRE
MS GRACE Maintaining Tauck’s high standards for quality and comfort, ms Grace cruises exclusively for Tauck on the Rhine River as part of our Destination Fleet. With a maximum of 130 guests, the 443-foot riverboat and her sister ships continue our tradition of providing more space per guest on Europe’s inland waterways, transporting fewer passengers than most longships (135 meters). Her deck plan is innovative; with a total of 67 cabins, our most popular cabins tend to be our largest... so we have used the added ship length to offer twenty-two 300-square-foot Tauck Suites – the most of any river cruise ship on any European river. To increase the amount of natural sunlight on the lower deck, we’ve created 8 loft cabins that extend from the first to the second decks, providing guests with an additional view; all windows in these loft cabins open. MS INSPIRE Maintaining Tauck’s high standards for quality and comfort, ms Inspire cruises exclusively for Tauck on the Rhine and Moselle rivers as part of our Destination Fleet. With a maximum of 130 guests, the 443-foot riverboat and her sister ships continue our tradition of providing more space per guest on Europe’s inland waterways, transporting fewer passengers than most longships (135 meters). Her deck plan is innovative; with a total of 67 cabins, our most popular cabins tend to be our largest... so we have used the added ship length to offer twenty-two 300-square-foot Tauck Suites – the most of any river cruise ship on any European river. To increase the amount of natural sunlight on the lower deck, we’ve created 8 loft cabins that extend from the first to the second decks, providing guests with an additional view; all windows in these loft cabins open
MS GRACE MS INSPIRE
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
tauck-ZIY2019

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