Rhine & Rhône Revealed for Wine Lovers (Southbound) 2025
Description
Summary
Description
Embark on a 15-day journey through the heart of Europe, exploring the rich history, diverse cultures, and stunning landscapes of Holland, Germany, and France. This multi-day tour offers an immersive experience, from the vibrant tulip fields of Amsterdam to the medieval castles of the Rhine Gorge, the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim, and the charming French villages of Strasbourg and Lyon. Along the way, indulge in local cuisines, sample regional wines, and participate in a variety of activities tailored to your interests. Whether you're a history buff, a food and wine connoisseur, or an adventure seeker, this tour promises a unique and unforgettable experience.
Included
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
Avalon View or Avalon Poetry II or similar
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
Friendly, English-speaking crew & Cruise Director
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
Destinations
Amsterdam
Basel
Beaune
Strasbourg
Lyon
Arles
Cologne
AvignonMap
Attractions
Augustiner Museum
Freiburg Minster
Palais des Papes
Kirschgarten
Old Bridge Heidelberg
Keukenhof Forest
Amsterdamse Poort, Haarlem
Heidelberg Palace
Wutach Gorge
Cologne Cathedral
Arles Amphitheatre
Château de Grignan
Gutenberg Museum
Castle de Haar
Place Bellecour
Château de Cormatin Stephen Abragan
Welterbe Kulturlandschaft Oberes Mittelrheintal
Cologne Chocolate Museum
Strasbourg Museum of Modern and Contemporary ArtDaily Itinerary
Day 1 – Day 1: Welcome to Holland
- Amsterdam - Arrival day
- More
- Keukenhof Forest
- Castle de Haar
- More
Arrive in Amsterdam by 3:30 pm and board your Suite Ship®. Spend the rest of the day exploring the city at your leisure. Depending on the season, you may opt for a guided tour to the Keukenhof gardens or Zaanse Schans. Enjoy your first dinner on board as we dock overnight in Amsterdam.
Day 2 – Day 2: Canals of Colorful Amsterdam
- Amsterdam
- Cologne
- More
- Amsterdamse Poort, Haarlem
- More
Join your Adventure Host for a guided canal cruise past the stately homes of Amsterdam's Golden Age. In the afternoon, choose from various optional excursions or explore Amsterdam's colorful streets, galleries, and shops at your own pace. We cruise to Cologne in the afternoon and overnight.
Day 3 – Day 3: Celebrate in the Rhineland
- Cologne
- More
- Cologne Cathedral
- Cologne Chocolate Museum
- More
Enjoy a bike ride in Cologne or choose a guided walking tour of the city's important Jewish heritage sites or its soaring twin-steepled gothic cathedral. Spend free time over a glass of Kölsch pale lager. Join an onboard lecture hosted by your Master of Wine and enjoy live entertainment as we cruise to Rüdesheim.
Day 4 – Day 4: Wine Country Delights
Day 4: Wine Country Delights
- Kirschgarten
- Gutenberg Museum
- Welterbe Kulturlandschaft Oberes Mittelrheintal
- More
Sail through the breathtaking Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site, on our way to Rüdesheim. Participate in an onboard wine tasting, hike through picturesque vineyards, or join a guided tour to the 13th-century Eberbach Monastery or the Mechanical Music Museum. Enjoy live entertainment on board as we dock overnight in Rüdesheim.
Day 5 – Day 5: Heidelberg's Historical Treasures
- Strasbourg
- More
- Pharmacy Museum
- Heidelberg Palace
- More
Enjoy a guided city tour, including a visit to the Wine Museum, or take a guided tour to Heidelberg Castle, home to the 'World's Largest Wine Barrel'. We cruise to Strasbourg in the evening and overnight.
Day 6 – Day 6: Strasbourg's Gothic Grandeur
- Strasbourg
- More
- Strasbourg Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
- More
Discover Strasbourg by bike or join a city sightseeing tour, including the Gothic cathedral and the magical La Petite France District. Join a guided tour along the famed Alsace Wine Route and sample local wines. Enjoy an onboard food and wine pairing dinner as we cruise to Breisach.
Day 7 – Day 7: Black Forest Beauty
- Basel
- More
- Freiburg Minster
- Wutach Gorge
- More
Join a full-day guided tour to the magical Black Forest, visit the charming village of Colmar, or explore Freiburg's medieval city center. Each option offers unique insights into the region's culture and history. We cruise to Basel in the evening and overnight.
Day 8 – Day 8: Beaune's Historical Charms
- Basel
- Beaune
- More
Disembark your ship in Basel and drive to Beaune. Visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital, a 15th-century architectural gem. In the afternoon, travel to Chalon-sur-Saône to board your Suite Ship®. We dock overnight in Tournus.
Day 9 – Day 9: Tournus, the Pearl of Southern Burgundy
Day 9: Tournus, the Pearl of Southern Burgundy
- Château de Cormatin Stephen Abragan
- More
Explore Tournus, one of Burgundy's oldest and most important monastic centers, with a local guide. Join a lecture about wine while sailing to Mâcon. In the afternoon, visit a Chardonnay cellar for a wine tasting. We dock overnight in Trévoux.
Day 10 – Day 10: La Vie En Rose in Lyon
- Lyon
- More
- La Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière
- Place Bellecour
- More
Sail to Lyon and enjoy an onboard cheese and wine tasting. Discover Lyon's architectural district by bike or join a guided sightseeing tour to Fourvière Hill and the Old Town. Attend a WWII & French Resistance Lecture on board your ship. Enjoy live entertainment after dinner as we dock overnight in Lyon.
Day 11 – Day 11: Lyon's Culinary Delights
- Lyon
- More
Join a culinary walk through Lyon, known as the gastronomic capital of France. Take a guided tour to the lovely Beaujolais area and learn more about its light and pleasant wine. In the evening, join an onboard food and wine pairing dinner hosted by your Master of Wine. We cruise to Tournon overnight.
Day 12 – Day 12: Tournon's Medieval Marvels
- Avignon
- More
Hike in the vineyards of Tournon or take a morning guided walking tour of the town, including a wine and chocolate tasting. Enjoy a leisurely sail to Viviers after lunch. Explore the charming village of Viviers on a late afternoon guided walking tour. Enjoy live entertainment onboard as we cruise to Avignon.
Day 13 – Day 13: Avignon's Papal Heritage
- Avignon
- Arles
- More
- Palais des Papes
- Château de Grignan
- More
Take a guided sightseeing tour of the fortress city of Avignon, including a visit to the amazing Palace of the Popes. Enjoy a trip to the famed wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape for a true taste of the Rhône wine region. Enjoy live onboard entertainment as we cruise to Arles.
Day 14 – Day 14: Arles, a Brush with Genius
- Arles
- More
- Arles Amphitheatre
- More
Get your daily dose of exercise through a power walk in Arles, attend a painting workshop, or enjoy a guided walking tour of the city, including a visit to the Roman Amphitheater. Take free time to stop in Café Van Gogh for a glass of wine. We dock overnight in Arles.
Day 15 – Day 15: Farewell to France
- Arles - Departure day
- More
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. Flights should not leave Marseille airport before 10 am.
Similar tours
Download Europe’s biggest travel marketplace to your phone to manage your entire trip in one place
Scan this QR code with your phone camera and press the link that appears to add Europe’s biggest travel marketplace into your pocket. Enter your phone number or email address to receive an SMS or email with the download link.