Best of the Rhine: Basel to Amsterdam

Arrive in Basel and step aboard the Trafalgar Verity, your floating home for the voyage ahead. Settle in, explore the ship, admire its interiors and discover its stories before joining your Experience Director and fellow travellers for a delicious dinner. Raise a glass to the adventures that await along the Rhine.

Cruise north to Strasbourg, where the Rhine River forms the border between Germany and France, winding through the Upper Rhine Plain between the Black Forest and the Vosges Mountains. Step ashore and begin your day with a tour of Breisach, a historic town overlooking the Rhine, known for its colourful houses and centuries-old cathedral. Then, join the Bohrer family at Bohrerhof for a Be My Guest experience with lunch on their family farm, where they grow seasonal produce using traditional methods. Enjoy a meal made with fresh ingredients straight from their fields, a true taste of their land and heritage. In the afternoon, you can take an optional visit to the Alsatian villages, filled with half-timbered houses and scenic vineyards.

Step ashore in Alsace, where French and German influences mix in this region rich with history. With a Local Specialist by your side, explore Strasbourg’s old town, where you’ll see its impressive cathedral and the charming Petite France district. In the afternoon, choose an Optional Experience into the Black Forest, known for its scenic landscapes, fairytale villages and traditional crafts.

This morning, step ashore in Speyer, a town with deep medieval roots. With two included experiences to choose from, you can join a Local Specialist for a walking tour along Maximilian Street, passing baroque townhouses and visiting a medieval church. Discover the 11th-century Jewish community, including its ritual baths and enjoy some local treats. Alternatively, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at a private vinegar estate, where you’ll enjoy a tasting and learn all about its sustainable production. Why not join an Optional Experience to Heidelberg? You’ll walk through its charming old town, cross the Old Bridge and visit the striking Heidelberg Castle.

Your Rhine River cruise begins as you cruise through the Middle Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, into Rüdesheim, a wine town filled with half-timbered houses and rich winemaking traditions. Meeting you from your ship, a mini-train tour will introduce you to the town’s highlights before you explore on your own. Stretch your legs by joining an Optional Experience vineyard hike with stunning views. If that wasn’t enough, you can step back in time with a visit to Marksburg Castle, the only hilltop fortress on the Rhine never destroyed.

Your Rhine River cruise continues through the Middle Rhine, a region straight out of a fairytale, famous for its hillside vineyards and storybook castles. With its magical scenery and rich legends, it’s perfect for couples looking for a romantic moment and families with kids ready for a castle-filled adventure. You’ll also cruise past Deutsches Eck (German Corner), marked by the grand monument to Kaiser Wilhelm I. Once you step ashore in Koblenz, set off on a walking tour with your Local Specialist, stopping at German Corner, where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet. Explore the Old Town’s lively squares, historic churches and quirky landmarks. For a more active choice, today’s Optional Experience is a scenic bike ride along the Rhine, complete with a well-earned beer garden stop.

Guten Morgen Cologne, a city where history and modern culture collide. With two included experiences to choose from, you can join a Local Specialist for a city tour, passing the UNESCO-listed Cologne Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece over 600 years in the making. Prefer something different? Explore the city’s vibrant creative side on a Street Art Tour, where murals and graffiti bring the streets to life. In the afternoon, choose an Optional Experience—discover Düsseldorf’s mix of old and new or visit the Michael Schumacher Private Collection, a must for Formula One fans. Your final night on the Lower Rhine takes you through the Rhine Plain and past North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s historic industrial heart, before sailing into the Netherlands.

Cruise across the German border and into your final country, the Netherlands. Uncover the story of Operation Market Garden, the largest airborne operation of WWII, aimed at securing key bridges in the Netherlands. Visit the Airborne Museum in Hartenstein and see the ‘‘Bridge Too Far,’’ where British paratroopers fought a heroic but ill-fated battle. Later, transfer to Amsterdam, bidding farewell to the captain and crew of the Trafalgar Verity, before settling in for two nights in the Dutch capital. Transfer to your hotel..

Today is yours to experience Amsterdam as you like. Wander along scenic canals, explore world-class museums or soak up the local atmosphere in a cosy cafe. For something extra, join an Optional Experience and taste your way through the Jordaan district on a foodie tour or visit a traditional windmill in Volendam. On select seasonal departures you can opt to explore the colourful blooms of Keukenhof Gardens.

Bid farewell with “fair winds and fond memories” to your Experience Director and Experience Manager, crew and fellow cruise companions as your Rhine journey comes to an end.