Timeless Rivers of Europe: The Rhine & Seine for Wine Lovers
Description
Summary
Description
Embark on a captivating 15-day journey that takes you through the heart of Europe, from the snow-capped peaks of Switzerland to the romantic city of Paris. This multi-day tour is a feast for the senses, offering a blend of history, culture, gastronomy, and natural beauty. Explore medieval cities, taste world-renowned wines, cycle through picturesque landscapes, and immerse yourself in the rich traditions of the regions. Whether you're a history buff, a food lover, or an outdoor enthusiast, this tour has something for everyone. Enjoy comfortable accommodation, delicious meals, and a range of activities that cater to different interests and fitness levels. Experience the magic of Europe like never before on this unforgettable tour.
Included
14 nights onboard
Comfort Collection BedsSM with choice of mattress firmness
Egyptian super-combed cotton linens
Bathrobes & slippers
Premium L'Occitane bath products
Large bathroom featuring shower with glass door
Flatscreen satellite TV with free movie channels
Individual climate control and in-room safe
USB Ports
And, much more
Avalon View or Avalon Tapestry II or similar
Chef-prepared onboard meals with regional cuisine and familiar favorites
Seasonal cuisine featuring the freshest local ingredients
Avalon Fresh® healthy cuisine options at every meal
Spacious, open-seating Panorama Dining Room
Daily breakfast buffet with full range of classic breakfast items, healthy Avalon Fresh® options and daily a la carte specials
Complimentary room service for Continental breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Daily lunch buffet featuring regional specialties, classic dishes, healthy Avalon Fresh® options and rotating chef’s features including carving & pasta stations. Alternatively, you may dine al fresco at our Sky Grill on the Sky Deck (weather and itinerary permitting) or enjoy a light lunch in the Panorama Lounge.
Afternoon Tea featuring tea, coffee, and sweet treats
Four-course dinners with choice of appetizers, soups, salads, entrées and desserts or cheese
Linger over several selections from the Panorama Bistro's tasting menu for a less formal "sit-down" atmosphere
Complimentary wine, beer, or soft drinks with lunch and dinner
Avalon FlexDining® flexible dining times with menu & venue options
Vegetarian options at every meal, as well as vegan, low calorie, low fat, high fiber, low cholesterol, high energy and allergy-free selections
Panorama Lounge & Bar with premium spirits, cozy seating, panoramic windows & dance floor
Welcome & farewell cocktails with sparkling wine & canapés
New in 2023 - included Happy Hour every evening featuring house beer, wine, cocktails and a drink of the day
Cocktails with a view on the Sky Deck
Specialty coffees, espresso drinks and beWell Essence flavored and infused water available throughout each day
Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship
Panoramic windows throughout the ship
Elegant, contemporary design & decor
Sky Deck with whirlpool, shade awnings, game area and premium lounges
Covered Observation Lounge
Club Lounge with 24-hour self-serve beverage station with complimentary cappuccinos, lattes, tea, hot chocolate & premium coffees, as well as treats throughout the day
Elevator
Non-smoking interior and staterooms
Avalon Waterways offers a selection of included excursions in every port of call, with something for everyone within their "Classic", "Discovery" and "Active" collections
Friendly, English-speaking crew & Cruise Director
Destinations
Amsterdam
Paris
Strasbourg
Zurich
Vernon
Speyer
RouenMap
Attractions
Vincennes Woods
Augustiner Museum
CALVADOS PÈRE MAGLOIRE L'EXPERIENCE
Freiburg Minster
Château Canon
Cleres Zoological Park
place de la Concorde
Champ de Mars
Kirschgarten
Château Gaillard
Louvre Museum
Palace of Versailles
Fondation Monet in Giverny
Longues-sur-Mer Battery
Bayeux Cathedral
Le Clos des Ratites
Pharmacy Museum
Amsterdamse Poort, Haarlem
Arc de Triomphe
Heidelberg Palace
Eiffel Tower
Cologne Cathedral
Palais Garnier
Gutenberg Museum
Botanical Garden
Louvre Pyramid
Castle de Haar
Évreux Cathedral
Get Out ! Rouen - Escape Game
Arbre de la Liberté
Biotropica, animal gardens
Welterbe Kulturlandschaft Oberes Mittelrheintal
Cologne Chocolate Museum
Strasbourg Museum of Modern and Contemporary ArtDaily Itinerary
Day 1 – Day 1: Welcome to Switzerland - Cruise to Breisach
- Zurich - Arrival day
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- Spalentorweg
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Begin your journey in the beautiful cities of Zürich or Basel, where you must arrive by 3 pm. Board your Suite Ship and settle in before enjoying a delightful dinner. Spend the evening exploring the ship and getting to know your fellow travelers. Cruise overnight to the charming town of Breisach.
Day 2 – Day 2: Exploring the Black Forest and Beyond
- Strasbourg
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- Augustiner Museum
- Freiburg Minster
- Wutach Gorge
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Start your day with a full-day guided tour to the magical Black Forest, where you'll visit the Vogtsbauernohf open-air-museum, an authentic water mill, and witness a traditional butter-making demonstration. Alternatively, you can choose to explore the charming village of Colmar and a countryside chateau wine cellar, or tour Freiburg's medieval city center. Cruise overnight to the city of Strasbourg.
Day 3 – Day 3: Discovering Strasbourg and the Alsace Wine Route
- Strasbourg
- Speyer
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- Strasbourg Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
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Discover Strasbourg by bike or join a city sightseeing tour that includes the Gothic cathedral and the magical La Petite France District. Embark on a guided tour along the famed Alsace Wine Route and sample local wines. Enjoy an onboard food and wine pairing dinner hosted by a Master of Wine. Cruise overnight to the town of Speyer.
Day 4 – Day 4: Exploring Speyer and Heidelberg
- Speyer
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- Pharmacy Museum
- Heidelberg Palace
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Enjoy a guided city tour that includes a visit to the Wine Museum. Alternatively, take a guided tour to Heidelberg Castle, a magnificent renaissance treasure towering above the city, and see its famed Great Vat, known as the 'World's Largest Wine Barrel'. Spend the night docked in Speyer.
Day 5 – Day 5: Wine Country and the Rhine Gorge
- Speyer
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- Kirschgarten
- Gutenberg Museum
- Welterbe Kulturlandschaft Oberes Mittelrheintal
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Hike through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim or join a guided tour to the 13th-century Eberbach Monastery. Alternatively, visit the incredible Mechanical Music Museum and enjoy a wine tasting. Sail through the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and pass the legendary Rock of the Lorelei. Enjoy an onboard wine and cheese tasting before arriving in Koblenz.
Day 6 – Day 6: Celebrating in the Rhineland and Cruising to Amsterdam
- Amsterdam
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- Cologne Cathedral
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Enjoy a bike ride in Cologne or choose a guided walking tour of the city's important Jewish heritage sites. Alternatively, take a guided city walk of Cologne, featuring its soaring twin-steepled gothic cathedral. Spend some free time over a glass of Kölsch pale lager before enjoying a wine and chocolate tasting. Cruise overnight to Amsterdam.
Day 7 – Day 7: Exploring the Canals of Amsterdam
- Amsterdam
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- Amsterdamse Poort, Haarlem
- Castle de Haar
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Start your day with an early morning walk in Amsterdam or explore the city's iconic waterways on a guided canal cruise. Enjoy some free time to explore Amsterdam's colorful streets, canal houses, galleries, and shops. You may also choose to join a guided optional excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses. Spend the night docked in Amsterdam.
Day 8 – Day 8: From Amsterdam to Vernon
- Amsterdam
- Vernon
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In the morning, board a high-speed train for Paris. Embark on your Avalon Suite Ship and enjoy dinner onboard. Cruise overnight to the picturesque town of Vernon.
Day 9 – Day 9: From Vernon to Les Andelys and Caudebec
- Vernon
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- Château Gaillard
- Fondation Monet in Giverny
- Biotropica, animal gardens
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Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles on foot or take a guided tour of Giverny, the home and inspiration of the master impressionist painter Claude Monet. Alternatively, join a guided visit to Bizy Castle, known as 'Normandy's Versailles'. Enjoy a traditional French luncheon of authentic crêpes, followed by a pastry demonstration. In the afternoon, cruise to the picturesque town of Les Andelys. Join a guided hike up to the castle ruins of Château Gaillard or take a guided walking tour of Les Andelys. Cruise overnight to Caudebec.
Day 10 – Day 10: Ancient Abbeys and Seaside Towns
Day 10: Ancient Abbeys and Seaside Towns
Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the river or take a guided trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route, where more than 100 medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches were built along the Seine. In the afternoon, you may choose a guided optional excursion to the old seaside town of Honfleur. Spend the night docked in Caudebec.
Day 11 – Day 11: From Caudebec to Rouen - The Heroic Bravery of Normandy
- Rouen
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- Château Canon
- Longues-sur-Mer Battery
- Bayeux Cathedral
- Le Clos des Ratites
- Botanical Garden
- Arbre de la Liberté
- Les Planches
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Join a guided tour of Normandy's WWII landing beaches, visit significant U.S. sites, including Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery. Alternatively, take a full-day guided tour of the British and Canadian commemorative sites, including the British cemetery, Pegasus Memorial, the seaside town of Arromanches, the Juno Beach Center, and the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery. Or, join 'A Taste of Normandy' guided tour for an in-depth look at this rich agricultural region. See the famous Bayeux Tapestry, visit the beautiful village of Beuvron en Auge and taste Calvados at a local distillery. Cruise overnight to Rouen.
Day 12 – Day 12: From Rouen to Conflans - The Cathedral of Our Lady and a Heroine for France
- Rouen
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- Cleres Zoological Park
- Saint Georges de Boscherville Abbey
- Évreux Cathedral
- Get Out ! Rouen - Escape Game
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Take a guided bike tour to discover and explore the most famous monuments and the lesser known hidden gems of Rouen on two wheels. Alternatively, take a guided walking tour of Rouen, the site of Saint Joan of Arc's martyrdom, and see the medieval quarter with its 16th-century Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral. Cruise overnight to Conflans.
Day 13 – Day 13: From Conflans to Paris - The Footsteps of Van Gogh, Bonaparte, and Louis XIV
- Paris
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- Palace of Versailles
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Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the Seine or join a guided visit to Auvers-sur-Oise, home and resting place of Vincent van Gogh. Alternatively, take a guided tour of the opulent Château de Malmaison, home of Napoléon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine. You may also choose to join a guided optional excursion to the Palace of Versailles, home to a succession of French kings. Cruise overnight to Paris.
Day 14 – Day 14: Exploring the City of Light
- Paris
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- place de la Concorde
- Champ de Mars
- Louvre Museum
- Arc de Triomphe
- Eiffel Tower
- Palais Garnier
- Louvre Pyramid
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Experience the Seine river by foot or discover the ancient heart of Paris on a captivating guided walk featuring the Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, ancient sites on Île de la Cité, the Left Bank, bustling Latin Quarter, and more. Alternatively, join a guided city tour that shows you the iconic sites of Paris, such as the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and the famous Champs-Élysées. Spend the rest of the day exploring Paris on your own or linger over wine in a literary café on the Left Bank. Spend the night docked in Paris.
Day 15 – Day 15: Farewell to Paris
- Paris - Departure day
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Your unforgettable 15-day journey through the heart of Europe comes to an end. After breakfast, bid farewell to your fellow travelers and prepare for your onward journey. We hope you enjoyed your tour and look forward to welcoming you again on your next adventure.
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