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Day #1 Arrive in Zürich, Switzerland. Transfer to Basel (Embarkation). Flights into Zurich must arrive before 3 pm. Your river cruise vessel is docked on the Rhine River in Basel, where France, Germany, and Switzerland meet. Before dinner, meet your crew at a welcome reception at 6 pm. (D)

Day #2 Breisach, Germany. Excursion to the Black Forest. Located at the foot of the Kaiserstuhl mountains on the French-German border is the gateway to Germany’s BLACK FOREST region, an area of unrivaled natural beauty with its forests of thick pine trees. Surely the most well-known products from this region are cuckoo clocks, Black Forest ham, and Black Forest cherry cake. Choose to visit the workshop of a local woodcarver and clock maker, and purchase some locally made souvenirs, or visit an open-air museum to see how life was lived in this area centuries ago. (B,L,D)

Day #3 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. (B,L,D)

Day #4 Excursion to Heidelberg, Germany–Mainz. Heidelberg is Germany’s oldest university town, of Student Prince fame, a world-famous love musical. Take pictures of the ruins of imposing Heidelberg Castle, built of red sandstone and towering above the city, and enjoy free time to explore. Rejoin your ship in Mainz, and visit the GUTENBERG MUSEUM. (B,L,D)

Day #5 Rüdesheim–Rhine Gorge. Rudesheim is the perfect example of a Rhine Valley town, and SIEGFRIED’S MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM is a real surprise! A SPECIAL TREAT is planned, then enjoy free time to explore the Drosselgasse and pick up some souvenirs. After lunch, cruise along the most romantic and dramatic stretch of the river, the RHINE GORGE. Pass the legendary rock of the Lorelei, where sweet songs of local beauties lured enchanted sailors to their doom. (B,L,D)

Day #6 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 MARKETPLACE. Wine growers in this area look after Germany’s largest expanse of vineyards, the most celebrated of the vintages being the Bernkasteler Doktor. Visit a local WINE CELLAR and taste several of this region’s varietals. (B,L,D)

Day #7 Remich, Luxembourg–Konz, Germany. Excursion to Trier. After breakfast, your ship docks briefly in Remich for those who plan to join an optional excursion to Luxembourg. Alternatively, relax on the Sky Deck for a picturesque cruise to Konz, a wine-growing town at the confluence of the Saar and Moselle Rivers, where you arrive during lunch. From here, a short ride takes you to the venerable Episcopal city of Trier, which you visit with a Local Guide. Trier is Germany’s oldest city and, some claim, even older than Rome! The famous Porta Nigra is the only surviving fortified gate from the original Roman settlement and still gives access to the town center. Trier’s most famous son was socialist revolutionary Karl Marx. (B,L,D)

Day #8 Cochem. Visit REICHSBURG CASTLE, which sits atop a conical hill covered in vines. From here, 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. (B,L,D)

Day #9 Koblenz. Situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, 2,000-year-old Koblenz is the cultural and business center of the Middle Rhine region. The Deutsches Eck, located on a tongue of land where the two rivers converge, holds an impressive equestrian statue of Wilhelm I. The Moselle River is some 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. (B,L,D)

Day #10 Cologne. 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 next to the cathedral is a must for history buffs! The Old Town abounds with taverns, cafes, and shops. Try a Kölsch, the favorite local beer, and shop for a bottle of “4711,” the original eau de cologne. (B,L,D)

Day #11 Kinderdijk, Holland. A leisurely morning on board today. This afternoon, stop in Kinderdijk, a quintessential Dutch setting with 19 splendid windmills standing on reclaimed polder land between the Lek and Noord Rivers. A visit to one of these windmills provides great photo opportunities and also explains their function as pumps when the water was drained from the polders around 1740. After some free time, rejoin your ship in time to cruise to Volendam, where you arrive tonight. (B,L,D)

Day #12 Volendam. Excursion to Edam–Amsterdam. North of Amsterdam and situated on the Ijsselmeer is the town of Volendam, a unique open harbor with a maze of fishermen’s houses built on poles. The small, timbered church dates back to 1658. Next, drive to Edam, whose cheese of the same name has become famous worldwide and where cheese markets are still held in the summer months. The Old Town center, especially the Kwakelsteeg, still has lovely characteristic Waterland houses. Rejoin your ship for a short jaunt to Amsterdam, your final stop. 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.” (B,L,D)

Day #13 Amsterdam (Disembarkation). Your vacation ends after breakfast this morning. (B)