ROMANTIC RHINE

Day 1 Arrive in Zürich, Switzerland. Transfer to Basel (Embarkation)
Flights into Zürich 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. (Dinner)

Day 2 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. A Local Guide shows you the noteworthy sights: the GOTHIC CATHEDRAL, the lovely LA PETITE FRANCE district, Place Kléber, and Place Gutenberg with the statue of the inventor of the printing press. Strasbourg is also home to the Kronenbourg Brewery. An optional excursion into the Alsace wine region is available. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3 Excursion to Heidelberg, Germany
Heidelberg is Germany’s oldest university town of Student Prince fame, a world-famous love musical. Take pictures of the ruins of the imposing Heidelberg Castle, built of red sandstone and towering above the city, and enjoy free time to explore. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4 Mainz–Rüdesheim
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. The Old Town has many interesting shops, tea rooms, and restaurants, and a fountain on the Schillerplatz is decorated with scenes of the famous carnival held here every year. Gutenberg, the father of modern printing, was born here and you’ll visit the GUTENBERG MUSEUM. The pretty little town of Rüdesheim is the perfect example of a Rhine Valley wine town. SIEGFRIED’S MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM is a real surprise! Enjoy a SPECIAL TREAT, then there’s free time to explore the Drosselgasse and pick up some souvenirs. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5 Rhine Gorge–Koblenz
Downstream from Rüdesheim is the dramatic RHINE GORGE, the most beautiful stretch of river and dotted every mile with castles. Pass the legendary rock of the Lorelei, where sweet songs of local beauties lured enchanted sailors to their doom. 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. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6 Cologne
Cologne is the capital of the Rhineland and one of Germany’s largest cities. The soaring twin steeples of Cologne’s magnificent gothic cathedral—which took more than 600 years to build—dominate the river skyline. The Germano-Roman Museum next to the cathedral is a must for history buffs! The Old Town abounds with taverns, cafés, and shops. The favorite local beer here is Kölsch. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 7 Amsterdam, Holland
Holland’s capital is sophisticated and modern, with a rich and fascinating history. This delightful 700-year-old city with its elegant and classic architecture, cafés and restaurants, and lively marketplace has a distinct ambience. The works of famous Dutch masters can be seen in world-renowned museums such as the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh. There is no better way to see Amsterdam than by CANAL BOAT, cruising through the elegant grachten lined with stately homes dating back to Amsterdam’s “Golden Age.” (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 8 Amsterdam (Disembarkation)
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)

Highlights & Sightseeing

CRUISE:
Deluxe 7-night cruise from Basel to Amsterdam in an outside stateroom with hotel-style beds

BASEL:
Welcome reception

STRASBOURG:
Guided sightseeing, visit La Petite France district and the gothic cathedral

HEIDELBERG:
Take pictures of the castle

MAINZ:
Visit the Gutenberg Museum

RÜDESHEIM:
Visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum; special treat

RHINE GORGE:
Cruise through the gorge

KOBLENZ:
Guided sightseeing

COLOGNE:
Guided sightseeing

AMSTERDAM:
Canal cruise

Meals
Superb dining with all meals on board daily featuring full breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including a welcome reception, Captain’s reception and farewell dinner; quality wines from Europe’s most famous wine regions with every dinner; one sitting with open seating arrangements

Notes:
In the event of water level problems or any problems of a technical nature, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or to alter the program.
Included visits and special features are subject to change. If a change becomes necessary, a substitute will be offered.

Avalon Felicity
Enjoy the Romantic Rhine cruising one of Europe's longest rivers between fascinating Amsterdam and culturally diverse Basel. Accommodating only 138 passengers, the Avalon Felicity offers the intimate feeling of a small ship while providing the spaciousness passengers have come to expect from the Avalon fleet. The roomy and well-appointed staterooms feature a minimum of 172 square feet of space and are the largest of the European rivers today. All staterooms and suites include a well-stocked minibar, spacious closet, flatscreen satellite TV and radio, Comfort Collection by Avalon SM premium bedding, and a large private bathroom complete with a full shower, hairdryer, and premium bath amenities. For the more active guests, desirable onboard amenities include a fitness center and deck complete with whirlpool. An Internet corner and Wi-Fi access allow passengers to share their experience with friends and family at home.

Always Included
It's about you. You are the reason we've used our 80-plus years of travel expertise to design the very best river cruise experience. Inspired by you, we've taken everything special about river cruising and made it even better. Here are some of the features and amenities you'll experience on board our ships.

Panoramic windows throughout every ship.
Spacious designs provide personal space.
Included shore excursions with Local Guide.
Headsets for shore excursions.
Complimentary Wi-Fi access.
Personalized room options & excursions.
Highest-quality craftsmanship.
Premium coffees, cappuccinos and lattes.
Coffee self-serve beverage station.
A lounge serving premium spirit cocktails.
Maintain your routine in the fitness center.
The Comfort Collection by AvalonSM.
Premium L'Occitane bath amenities.
Daily early- and late-riser breakfast.
Full buffet breakfast with sparkling wine.
Complimentary juices with breakfast.
Made-to-order egg station at breakfast.
Complimentary soft drinks with lunch.
Chef-inspired regional recipes.
Four-course dinners with open seating.
Choice of appetizers, soups & salads.
Nightly option of entree, dessert or cheese.
Complimentary regional wines at dinner.
Free soft drinks or beer with dinner.
Night Fare served at 10:30 p.m.
Remarkable service through the cruise.
English-speaking crew.
Non-smoking interior.
Large bathrooms - showers w/ glass doors.
Flatscreen satellite TV with movie channels.
Spacious 3-door closets for ample storage. And, much more.

Optional Excursions

Important Note: the following list of optional excursions are examples only for this vacation as they are the excursions that are being offered for this vacation in the current travel year. These optional excursions might or might not be offered next year, as well as new optional excursions might be offered. Information about what optional excursions will be offered for your vacation will be available later this year into next year. If no example excursions are listed, please check back later.

Here's a list of optional excursions you can enjoy during your vacation. Whether it's a special dinner, a local show or a special behind-the-scenes glimpse into an historical site, optional excursions are a wonderful way to enrich your vacation even further. Plus, they give you flexibility. We include the must-see sites and experiences, and we also understand that people take interest in different activities and may want to craft a more personal vacation by hand-picking optional excursions that appeal to them.

Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal suitability, days of operation, group interests, and general feasibility for your vacation. The approximate value listed gives you a good, general idea of what you can expect to pay but may vary once you are on your vacation. Some information provided might be in a foreign currency.

CITY: Amsterdam

"Klompen", Cheese and Peanut Oil - Zaanse Schans
The Zaanse Schans is a delightful old hamlet on the banks of the river Zaan with characteristic green wooden houses, charming stylized gardens, small hump-backed bridges, tradesmen's workshops, historic windmills and engaging little shops. This enchanting hamlet gives an excellent impression of how a typical Zaanse village must have looked like in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Join our local expert for a journey through times when Dutch Sailing Ships crossed the seven seas and goods from all corners of the world traded in Holland. Don't miss your chance to see a working windmill inside and admire the craftsmanship of its mechanics.
Approximate value: EUR €29 per person

Volendam - Fisherman's Village on the Former Zuiderzee
Legend has it that the Volendam coat of arms is a compliment to the beauty of the Volendam girls! No wonder that a famous singer sang the praise of this characteristic Dutch fishing village in the words: "Anyone who wants to see the real beauty of Holland, goes to Volendam". As a result of its completely insulated location, this village preserved its character for six centuries, also because of the tough vitality of the fishermen. The characteristic small houses, which together with the canals and the drawbridges form the most picturesque spots, present the visitor an atmosphere of geniality and romance.
Approximate value: EUR €29 per person

Sunflowers & other Masterpieces
A visit to the Van Gogh Museum is a unique experience. The museum contains the largest collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh in the world. It provides the opportunity to keep track of the artist's developments, or compare his paintings to works by other artists from the 19th century in the collection. The museum also holds an extensive offer of exhibitions on various subjects from 19th century art history. Join your local expert for an introduction to Van Gogh, before you start exploring the collection at your own pace.
Approximate value: EUR €29 per person

Rembrandt & Co - A Visit to Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum
The Masterpieces of Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum offer a unique way to view all the highlights of the Golden Age in one place. Discover with our local experts their interrelationships, thematically or chronologically, discover the stories and view the artworks close-up. The most famous painting at the Rijksmuseum is Rembrandt's Night Watch. A national icon that fires the imagination and is always at the centre of discussion; the painting has been successively analyzed, interpreted, praised, abused, damaged and restored; It is, in short, the focus of attention. But what makes this portrait of a group of civic guardsmen so special, apart from being the largest painting that Rembrandt ever made? What is it about, what is its background? Find your answers in this visit to the Rijksmuseum...
Approximate value: EUR €27 per person

CITY: Strasbourg

Excursion to the Alsace Countryside
Although modest in size, Alsace's geography is such that it offers an incredible variety of landscapes and climates. With the Vosges mountains and the rest of France to the west, and the Rhine and then Germany to the east, Alsace really is a mini-kingdom in itself, which has absorbed aspects from both French and German cultures. This is not surprising, as the region has changed hands four times in the past few hundred years. Since the Great War, however, Alsace has remained French. The famous Riesling, the Pinot Noir, the Tokay-Pinot Gris, the Gewürztraminer, a Muscat or a Pinot Blanc are the varietals of wine that you find here. But you can discover more. Follow our local expert on a tour of the Alsace with its charming half-timbered houses, the quiet villages and the vineyards. Taste some of the wines of the region, as we will visit one of its wine farms...
Approximate value: EUR €36 per person

CITY: Zurich

Afternoon Excursion to Mount Pilatus
The giant mountain looming above Lucerne to the southwest is Mount Pilatus (2132m / 7000 ft). There are two means of transport to the top, making it easy to do a half- or full-day round trip from Lucerne - simpler than in 1868, when Queen Victoria made the excursion riding on the back of a mule. We start at Kriens; from here a cable-car rises to Fräkmüntegg, itself connected to the summit by gondola. The walk to the highest point of the mountain, the Tomlishorn, takes less than thirty minutes from the top station, with breathtakingly expansive views out over the lake the whole way along the clifftop path. We will make our way down with the steepest rack railway in the world running at a gradient touching 48 percent directly to the bottom of the valley. The descent takes a careful forty minutes, but time flies when watching the breathtaking scenery.
Approximate value: EUR €49 per person

A - Z Travel Mall - Home \| A - Z Tours - Home \| Egypt Tours - Home \| A - Z Tours International - Company Profile
Copyright © A-Z Tours International - Company Phone: 1-888-682-6449 1-303-670-5640 Fax: (425) 984-7676 Email address : tours@a-ztravel.com