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ITINERARY (Amsterdam to Basel)
Day 1 AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND. (EMBARKATION) Welcome to Amsterdam! Holland's capital is sophisticated and modern, with a rich and fascinating history. The works of famous Dutch masters can be seen in world-renowned museums such as the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh. This afternoon the crew of your vessel awaits to welcome you on board. (D)
Day 2 AMSTERDAM There is no better way to see the city than by CANAL BOAT, cruising through the elegant grachten lined with stately homes dating back to Amsterdam's "Golden Age." There is plenty of free time to explore on your own. Your Cruise Director will have suggestions of how to make the most of your stay. (FB,L,D)
Day 3 DORDRECHT-ROTTERDAM. EXCURSION TO THE HAGUE Sitting between two branches of the Rhine, charming Dordrecht inspired many painters in the 17th and 18th centuries. Nearby is Kinderdijk with its picturesque row of windmills, Rotterdam is a bustling city that was leveled by German bombs in WWII, and now boasts the world's busiest port. The Hague is the political capital of The Netherlands, and the Parliament building is located prominently in the centre of the city. In recent years the city has attained importance as the seat of The International Court of Law. (FB,L,D)
Day 4 ARNHEM. One of the major tragedies of World War II was the Battle of Arnhem, featured vividly in the AIRBORNE MUSEUM HARTENSTEIN and the inspiration for the movie "A Bridge Too Far". (FB,L,D)
Day 5 COLOGNE, GERMANY Cologne is the capital of the Rhineland and one of Germany's largest cities. The soaring twin steeples of the magnificent Gothic cathedral dominate the river skyline. The Germano-Roman Museum, located next to the cathedral, is a must for history buffs! The Old Town abounds with taverns, cafés and shops. Try a Koelsch, the favourite local beer, and shop for a bottle of 4711, the original "eau de cologne". (FB,L,D)
Day 6 COBLENZ-COCHEM Situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, 2,000 year old Coblenz is the cultural and business centre of the Middle Rhine region. The Deutsches Eck, located on a tongue of land where the two rivers converge, once held a gigantic equestrian statue of Wilhelm I. The Moselle River is some 502 kilometres (312 miles) long, rising in the Vosges mountains of northeastern France and entering Germany at Trier. The entire Moselle Valley is famous for its beautiful and tranquil scenery. (FB,L,D)
Day 7 COCHEM REICHSBURG CASTLE, towering above the river at Cochem, can be seen from afar and sits on the top of a conical hill covered in vines. The views of the little town of Cochem, nestled down below, and of the river valley are splendid. Cruising the wide peaceful curves of the river, it quickly becomes obvious that the Moselle is an important wine growing region. Most notably the Riesling grape is cultivated, producing a dry to sweet, floral white wine. (FB,L,D)
Day 8 TRIER-BERNKASTEL The venerable Episcopal city of Trier is the oldest in Germany and, some claim, even older than Rome! A house on the marketplace bears the inscription "Trier was standing 1,300 years before Rome." The famous PORTA NIGRA is the only surviving fortified gate from the original Roman settlement and still gives access to the town centre. Trier's most famous son was the socialist revolutionary, Karl Marx. (FB,L,D)
Day 9 BERNKASTEL. In the middle of the Moselle region, is the charming wine village of Bernkastel with its well preserved half-timbered houses surrounding the beautiful MARKET PLACE. Wine growers in this area look after Germany's largest expanse of vineyards, the most celebrated of the vintages being the Bernkasteler Doktor. (FB,L,D)
Day 10 RHINE GORGE-RÜDESHEIM-MAINZ The dramatic Rhine Gorge is the most beautiful stretch of river. Pass the legendary Rock of the Lorelei where sweet songs of local beauties lured enchanted sailors to their doom. Rüdesheim is the perfect example of a Rhine Valley wine town and SIEGFRIED'S MECHANICAL MUSIC MUSEUM is a real surprise! Explore the Drosselgasse, and be sure to try one of the vintages in any of the wine taverns. Situated on the left bank of the Rhine, opposite the mouth of the Main River, Mainz is Germany's largest and most important wine market. (FB,L,D)
Day 11 MAINZ-WORMS Mainz' charming Old Town is waiting to be explored. A curiosity is the fountain on Schillerplatz decorated with scenes of the famous annual carnival. Gutenberg, the father of modern printing, was born here and the GUTENBERG MUSEUM is well worth a visit. Worms like Mainz and Speyer, was an imperial residence with a legendary past. (FB,L,D)
Day 12 WORMS-SPEYER. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG It was in Worms that the reformer Dr. Martin Luther attended the Imperial Diet of Worms, with far-reaching consequences. Heidelberg is Germany's oldest university town. The ruins of the imposing red sandstone CASTLE, tower above the city. Of particular interest is the GIANT VAT, an 18th-century wine cask holding 49,000 gallons! On the left bank of the Rhine, the old imperial city of Speyer boasts a Romanesque cathedral with six imposing towers and the finest and largest crypt in Germany. Four Holy Roman Emperors and four German Kings are buried in the impressive Royal Vault. (FB,L,D)
Day 13 STRASBOURG, FRANCE Situated on the border of France and Germany, Strasbourg is influenced by the culture of both countries and is the capital of the Alsace region. It is the seat of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. Noteworthy sights are the GOTHIC CATHEDRAL, the lovely LA PETITE FRANCE district, Place Kleber and Place Gutenberg with the statue of the inventor of the printing press. An optional excursion to the Alsace wine region is available today. (FB,L,D)
Day 14 BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO THE BLACK FOREST Located at the foot of Kaiserstuhl Mountain on the French-German border, Breisach is a charming, little medieval town. Once surrounded by city walls, the gates to the city still stand today. Breisach is the gateway to Germany's Black Forest region, an area of unrivalled natural beauty with its forests of thick pine trees. Surely the most well-known products from this region are Black Forest ham and Black Forest cherry cake. (FB,L,D)
Day 15 BASEL, SWITZERLAND. (DISEMBARKATION) Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Homebound flights should leave Zurich Airport no earlier than 10 a.m. (FB)
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canal cruise