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The Romantic Rhine: Amsterdam to Basel - Southbound 2025

From Amsterdam, Netherlands to Basel, Switzerland
Length: 8 Days - Departs: Wed, Aug 13, 2025
Operator
Ship
Departure
Aug 13, 2025
Arrival
Aug 20, 2025

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Tauck's Solo Traveler: No Single Supplement on all European River Cruise

Mention Promo Code: PT1572
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Tauck's Solo Traveler: No Single Supplement on all European River Cruise

Tauck's Solo Traveler: No Single Supplement on all European River Cruise

Promotion Details
Tauck is now offering solo travelers in Category 1 cabins - no single supplement on all European river cruises. Solo travelers also enjoy savings of $1000 per cabin in select categories on select river cruises. (Certain restrictions apply; ask at time of booking).
Must Book By Tue, Dec 31, 2024
View Promotion Terms & Conditions ›

Contact one of our Tour Specialists for more information. Offer valid on new bookings only. Savings vary per cabin category on select river cruises. Cannot be combined with any other offer, promotion or discount. Capacity controlled and may be removed at any time without notice. Certain restrictions may apply; ask at time of booking.


River Cruise Itinerary

Along the river Rhine… where mountains rise abruptly from the water's edge, ancient castles perch aloft, keeping watch over comings and goings, gentle valleys and ancient winelands lure, spas give respite, cathedrals speak to powerful times, plains and woods catch the eye, and a river travels, connecting centuries of history, cities of the arts and crossroads of thought.Discover the heritage and beauty of the River Rhine on our 7-night Basel – Amsterdam river cruise aboard ms Grace or ms Inspire . Visit the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland, exploring regional delights in the historic cities, towns and countryside linked by the Rhine. Set your own pace with choices along the way: palace visits, bicycling, mountain heights, a spa resort and more.

  1. Day 1
    Amsterdam, Netherlands
    Wed, Aug 13, 2025

    Tour begins: 5:30 PM, Amsterdam. A transfer is included from Schiphol International Airport or Amsterdam Centraal Station to your riverboat; check-in time aboard ship is 4:00 PM for all guests. After a discovery briefing where you'll hear about your river travels ahead, please join us for a welcome reception followed by dinner aboard your riverboat to celebrate the start of a fantastic journey.


    Meals: Dinner
  2. Day 2
    Amsterdam, Netherlands
    Thu, Aug 14, 2025

    Your journey begins with an orientation tour of the city, which at its heart feels more like a village than the compact center of a cosmopolitan city. Landmarks you may see include Centraal Station, built at the end of the 19th century and still a place in constant motion – with people, bicycles, trams and buses; De Waag (Weigh House), once a fortified gate that today houses a popular outdoor café; and the Mint Tower, a gate in the city wall (circa 1400) that marks the intersection of two canals, tram paths, a pedestrian-only shopping street, and the city flower market – an ever busy, ever interesting crossroads. You'll then have a choice of excursions. One takes you on a guided canal boat cruise, where you'll glide beneath curved bridges carrying walkers and cyclists – sometimes trams and cars – and by narrow merchant homes, whose goods were once pragmatically stored on the upper floors followed by a guided visit to the famed Rijksmuseum – home to many works by Rembrandt and other old Dutch Masters. Your other option is a three-hour bike ride outside of Amsterdam to the town of Zunderdorp and the village of Ransdorf. Drive to the old university town of Utrecht reuniting with your riverboat for lunch followed by an afternoon lecture. 


    Meals: Breakfast
  3. Day 3
    Cologne Germany
    Fri, Aug 15, 2025

    Overnight your riverboat crosses into Germany; after a full morning of cruising and brunch onboard, you'll arrive in Köln (Cologne), a city made a capital of a Roman province in 50 AD. Sightseeing begins with a guided tour of the immense twin-towered Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), whose construction took a mere six centuries. Completed in 1880, UNESCO declared this Gothic "Dom" a World Heritage Site in 1995, recognizing its cultural value as "a testament to the longevity of faith." You'll explore this intimately scaled city on a choice of walking tours (one at a lesiurely pace and the other at a faster pace). Following a bit of free time, travel to a Tauck Exclusive private evening featuring a cocktail reception, dinner and entertainment at Schloss Ehreshoven, a German palace dating back to the 15th century. Built in the 14th century and later expanded in the style of a grand Baroque manor house, the estate is surrounded by a moat, landscaped gardens, and a castle park. Schloss Ehreshoven is frequently used as a film location, but this evening it's the elegant setting for a Tauck guests. Rejoin the riverboat tonight in Köln to continue your cruise.


    Meals: Breakfast
  4. Day 4
    Koblenz, Germany
    Sat, Aug 16, 2025

    Your riverboat arrives this morning in Koblenz. The city's roots go back to the Middle Ages, when its location made it a powerful one as the controller of trade along these major waterways. You may choose a morning of a scavenger hunt in Koblenz, or a bicycling excursion* along the Rhine-Lahn cycle path. If you choose to the scavenger hunt, explore a mix of delightful town squares, tucked-away corners, medieval churches, baroque residences and cozy wine taverns complemented with tastings at local shops throughout. Should you choose to go bicycling (a countrywide passion in Germany), you'll follow easy riverside trails through forest, meadows and Riesling winelands, taking in views of the passing pleasure boats and freighters. After lunch aboard the riverboat, the entire afternoon is spent cruising through the quiet Rhine River Valley, past small cities, churches, ancient walls and castles; enjoy dinner and other activities aboard the ship tonight.


    Meals: Breakfast
  5. Day 5
    Germersheim Germany
    Sun, Aug 17, 2025

    Following a morning's cruise, arrive in Mannheim. Nicknamed the "city of inventions", Mannheim is known for its inventions, many of which are used in our day to day lives including the automobile, the tractor and the bicycle. Your adventures today offer you a choice of exploring either Speyer or Germany's oldest university town, Heidelberg. If you choose Speyer, begin at the impressive Technik Museum – dedicated to every form of technology that moves, from vintage cars to the Russian BURAN space shuttle. Then walk to Speyer Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its natural glass windows and roof made entirely of stone. Or choose an excursion to Heidelberg, where narrow lanes, shops and pubs housed in 17th-century structures in the Altstadt are kept lively by the cadence of student life. Visit the romantic ruins of Heidelberg Castle, of which Mark Twain wrote in A Tramp Abroad; the schloss is an imposing ensemble of buildings from different architectural periods; from its terrace and gardens, the sweeping views impress along with the feel of 600 years of history. Tonight, your ship charts a course for Strasbourg. 


    Meals: Breakfast
  6. Day 6
    Strasbourg, France
    Mon, Aug 18, 2025

    You'll wake this morning cruising along on the Rhine, watching as the hills of southern Alsace, many checkered with vineyards, pass you by. Once docked, the day begins in the Alsatian cultural capital of Strasbourg, France with a choice of excursions. Home to the charming canals and half-timbered houses of La Petite France, stately city residences, a Gothic cathedral, and plenty of winstubs, traditional Alsatian beer pubs, you'll have the option to either explore Strasbourg on foot or by bicycle. After a morning of sightseeing in Strasbourg, you may choose to stay in town to explore on your own or travel to the German spa resort town of Baden-Baden, on the edge of the Black Forest for a walking tour and free time in the town center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return to the ship for a Chef's Signature dinner and an evening of cruising.


    Meals: Breakfast
  7. Day 7
    Basel, Switzerland
    Tue, Aug 19, 2025

    A choice of excursions await you today upon your arrival in Switzerland, commonly referred to as "the Playground of Europe." On one, you'll head out for the heights of Mt. Pilatus aboard a gondola, climbing from Kriens to the very top (Oberhaupt) – nearly 7,000 ft. high; return via Alpnachstad, at the edge of Lake Lucerne, aboard the world's steepest cogwheel train and enjoy an orientation tour of Lucerne, Switzerland's "City of Lights." Alternatively, you may prefer the pleasures of lunch and a wine tasting along the Alsatian wine route. If so, you'll head to Château Haut-Koenigsbourg, originally built in the 1200s. Burned, abandoned and restored to its former glory in 1899, the castle presents a picture of a mountain fortress of the Middle Ages; after your visit, head to the French Alsatian town of Riquewihr for lunch and a wine tasting. Regardless of your choice, your day ends in Basel – a major crossroads of travel and thought since the 15th century. An orientation tour reveals parks, museums, galleries, and restaurants; the Rhine Promenade; 14th-century Münster Cathedral; and modern buildings by architects like Frank Gehry and Yoshio Taniguchi. Join us this evening for the captain's farewell reception followed by dinner aboard ship.


    Meals: Breakfast
  8. Day 8
    Basel, Switzerland
    Wed, Aug 20, 2025

    Tour ends: Basel. Fly home anytime. Upon disembarking the riverboat (no later than 9:00 AM), transfers are included to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg or Basel's SBB train station; guests can also transfer to Zürich Airport or Zurich Hauptbahnhof (train station). Please allow 3 hours for flight check-in.


    Meals: Breakfast

Countries Visited

France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland

Rivers Visited

Rhine

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Inclusions

Along the river Rhine… where mountains rise abruptly from the water's edge, ancient castles perch aloft, keeping watch over comings and goings, gentle valleys and ancient winelands lure, spas give respite, cathedrals speak to powerful times, plains and woods catch the eye, and a river travels, connecting centuries of history, cities of the arts and crossroads of thought.Discover the heritage and beauty of the River Rhine on our 7-night Basel – Amsterdam river cruise aboard ms Grace or ms Inspire. Visit the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland, exploring regional delights in the historic cities, towns and countryside linked by the Rhine. Set your own pace with choices along the way: palace visits, bicycling, mountain heights, a spa resort and more.

  • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE - Dinner and entertainment at Schloss Ehreshoven, a German castle dating back to the 15th century
  • All gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director
  • All private Tauck shore excursions and distinctive inclusions - $2,073 Value
  • ValueChoices of bicycle excursions in Strasbourg & Koblenz
  • Scenic sailing through the historic castles & winelands of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Ship Information

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Cabins

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Life on Board

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Questions & Answers

Question: Will the day-by-day itinerary change?

Yes, the river cruise itineraries may change due to reasons such as inclement weather or unforeseen events. Your safety is the number one concern aboard and all precautions necessary will be taken in order to ensure passenger safety, including changing itineraries. Please note that when itineraries do change, the ship staff will do their best to substitute any missed port with an alternative destination.

Question: In what language is the river cruise conducted?

The river cruise will be conducted in English only.


AffordableTours.com is a travel agent for Tauck. Brochure Price is based on the itinerary's highest brochure price. Our price reflects our base price for the same departure as Brochure Price. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time. All prices are USD per person and based on double occupancy. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. All prices change frequently and our website prices are not guaranteed until a deposit has been received by us. The prices on our website are intended to serve as a guide only and may not accurately reflect current prices. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in these prices until a booking has been confirmed by one of our agents. Please call us toll free at 1-800-342-0019 to confirm current prices and availability. Prices listed are per person, cruise only, and based on double occupancy.

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