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Romantic Rhine (Southbound) 2026

From Amsterdam, Netherlands to Basel, Switzerland
Length: 8 Days - Departs: Tue, Nov 10, 2026
Operator
Ship
Departure
Nov 10, 2026
Arrival
Nov 17, 2026

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All the River Operators Offers & More:

LOW UNPUBLISHED PRICES ON AVALON WATERWAYS (GLOBUS) CRUISES
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Save $2500 per couple on select 2026 Europe river cruises

Mention Promo Code: PT3419
Promotion Image

Save $2500 per couple on select 2026 Europe river cruises

Save $2500 per couple on select 2026 Europe river cruises

Promotion Details
Book a select 2026 Europe river cruise to receive $2500 off per couple ($1250 off per person) on the cruise/land or cruise only price. Plus, receive our AffordableTours everyday savings.
Must Book By Fri, Feb 28, 2025
View Promotion Terms & Conditions ›

*Book a select 2026 Avalon Waterways Europe river cruise to receive $1250 off per person on the cruise/land or cruise only price. Booking must be made, under deposit, and discount applied between August 5, 2024 and February 28, 2025 for travel for select cruises in 2026. Not applicable to custom tours and charters. Not applicable on TBA space. Promotional discount will apply to Groups of 8 or more who provide their Group Block Deposit within the promotion's booking dates and will apply to all individual members of the Group until the due date of the passenger names/non-refundable individual deposits. Offer reliant on space availability at time of booking and may be withdrawn at any time. Combinable with Welcome Back Credit and select account specific offers only. Applies to new 2026 bookings only and offer will not be applied to pre-existing bookings. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply; see Travel Terms & Conditions for details. May be withdrawn at any time. Offer applies to participating GFOB offices only. PRMW1138 PRMW1138

Single supplement waived on select 2026 Europe river cruises

Mention Promo Code: PT3430
Promotion Image

Single supplement waived on select 2026 Europe river cruises

Single supplement waived on select 2026 Europe river cruises

Promotion Details
Book a select 2026 Europe river cruise in order to waive the cabin single supplement fee on the cruise portion of your booking. There is a limited number of staterooms available for this promotion per departure. Applies to E, D, B, A & P cabin categories. Plus, receive our AffordableTours everyday savings.
Must Book By Thu, Dec 31, 2026
View Promotion Terms & Conditions ›

*Book a select 2026 Avalon Waterways Europe river cruise in order to waive the cabin single supplement fee on the cruise portion of your booking. There is a limited number of staterooms available for this promotion per departure. Applies to E, D, B, A & P cabin categories. Applies to new bookings only and will not be applied to pre-existing bookings. Offer reliant on space availability and may be withdrawn at any time. For Groups, selling more than one passenger in a group, if available, with this promotion requires confirmation. Not combinable with other offers except the Welcome Back Credit. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply; see Travel Terms & Conditions for details. May be withdrawn at any time. Offer available from participating GFOB offices only. SWPBS SWPBX


River Cruise Itinerary

One of Europe’s most legendary rivers takes you across Germany and touches in Holland, France, and Switzerland! This magnificent Rhine River cruise begins in the ever popular, modern city of Amsterdam, Holland. Cruise on its famous canals along the elegant grachten--the best way to see the treasures of this 700-year-old city dating back to the “Golden Age.” Visit Cologne, Germany—a 2,000-year-old city known for its Gothic-style architecture—and see its famous twin-spired cathedral and Old Town with many shops, cafés, and taverns. Sail through the dramatic Rhine Gorge—offering the most beautiful view of the Rhine River where ancient castles stand on cliffs 400 feet above the water. Cruise to the charming wine town of Rüdesheim and visit the unique Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Continue your Rhine River cruise to Mainz for a guided walk and visit to the captivating Gutenberg Museum or take an excursion to Heidelberg to visit the ruins of its red-walled castle. In Strasbourg, France, marvel at the red-sandstone Gothic-style cathedral with ancient murals and fascinating astronomical clock. Also, stroll through the lovely La Petite France district with its quaint shops, delightful bistros, and peaceful waterfront promenade. Stop in Breisach, Germany, the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest. Here, find unrivaled natural beauty in the area best known for Black Forest ham, cherry cake, and the cuckoo clock.

  1. Day 1
    AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (EMBARKATION)
    Tue, Nov 10, 2026
    Welcome to Holland. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.Flights into Amsterdam must arrive by 3:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm. Your day in Amsterdam is free to explore at your leisure.During tulip season, you may take a Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens—with more than seven million tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths, as well as other bulbs, planted each year.Outside of tulip season, join a Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM (D)AMSTERDAM-CANAL.jpg
  2. Day 2
    AMSTERDAM
    Wed, Nov 11, 2026
    Canals of Colorful AmsterdamJoin your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.DISCOVERY Discover the true beauty of Amsterdam with an off-the-beaten-path Guided Walking Tour through its cobblestone streets for a captivating look at this legendary city, OR: CLASSIC Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age." This afternoon, choose among the Guided Optional Excursions available or take some free time to explore Amsterdam’s colorful streets and canal houses, galleries, and shops. AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COLOGNE(B,L,D)AMSTERDAM-CANAL-CRUISE.jpg
  3. Day 3
    COLOGNE, GERMANY
    Thu, Nov 12, 2026
    Prost! Celebrate in the Rhineland ACTIVE Enjoy a bike ride like the locals in Cologne with your Adventure Host, OR:DISCOVERY Choose a Guided Walking Tour of Cologne’s important Jewish heritage sites, OR:CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk of Cologne—with its soaring twin-steepled gothic cathedral.Spend free time over a glass of Kölsch pale lager—locally brewed for over 100 years! Later, local musicians will join us on board for live entertainment. OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO RÜDESHEIM(B,L,D)COLOGNE-BEER.jpg
  4. Day 4
    RHINE GORGE–RÜDESHEIM
    Fri, Nov 13, 2026
    Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine CountryEn route to Rüdesheim, sail through the Rhine Gorge (a UNESCO World Heritage site). Take in the breathtaking views of ancient castles perched on cliffs 400 feet above the water and pass the legendary Rock of the Lorelei—where the mythological siren’s songs lured ill-fated sailors.ACTIVE Enjoy a hike with your Avalon Adventure Host through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim, OR:DISCOVERY Take a Guided Tour of the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience; enjoy a tasting of the authentic Rüdesheimer coffee.Enjoy live entertainment on board your ship this evening. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN RÜDESHEIM(B,L,D)RUDESHEIM-COFFEE.jpg
  5. Day 5
    MAINZ. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG
    Sat, Nov 14, 2026
    Printing Halls, Castle Walls, and the World’s Biggest Wine BarrelACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for an inspiring walk in Heidelberg, the Philosophers' way, OR:CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Walk, including a visit to the Gutenberg Museum to see the captivating history of printing, OR:CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle to see the ruins of the magnificent renaissance treasure towering above the city, and its famed Great Vat, the “World’s Largest Wine Barrel.”EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KEHL (B,L,D)HEIDELBERG.jpg
  6. Day 6
    KEHL. EXCURSION TO STRASBOURG, FRANCE
    Sun, Nov 15, 2026
    A Grand Cathedral and La Petite FranceAsk about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities.ACTIVE Discover Strasbourg by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC Join a City Sightseeing Tour, including Strasbourg’s Gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District.Choose a Guided Optional Excursion to the historic Maginot Line—the pre-WWII fortifications designed to protect the eastern border of France, or visit Alsace’s wine country today.Alternatively, take some free time in Strasbourg to visit a museum, or stroll across the city center. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH(B,L,D)STRASBOURG-PETIT-FRANCE.jpg
  7. Day 7
    BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST
    Mon, Nov 16, 2026
    German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black ForestDISCOVERY Join a full-day Guided Tour to the magical Black Forest to experience the Vogtsbauernohf open-air-museum, visit an authentic water mill, and see a traditional butter-making demonstration, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour to explore Freiburg’s medieval city center, sheltered by the Black Forest amid vineyards and gardens of the Upper Rhine Valley.You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar, with half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL(B,L,D)BLACK-FOREST-SCENIC.jpg
  8. Day 8
    BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION)
    Tue, Nov 17, 2026
    Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.Flights should not leave Zürich airport before 10 am or Basel airport before 8 am.(B)BASEL-SUNRISE.jpg

Countries Visited

France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland

Rivers Visited

Rhine

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Inclusions

  • In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
  • Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
  • Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.


Accommodation Information

Gateway city for departures is Zürich.

Port charges:
$231 are included.

Avalon offers the opportunity for solo travelers to sail with no single supplement (subject to availability).

Please call for single accommodation details and prices. Triples not available.

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Ship Information

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Cabins

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Life on Board

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Questions & Answers
  Ask A Question

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.

Customer Reviews

Overall Rating
4.3
Accommodations
4.4
Itinerary
4.3
Professional Staff
4.4
Repeat with Operator
4.5
Value for Money
3.9

Ratings based off 17 reviews - currently showing 4 reviews with comments only

Did not know what to expect with a river cruise as we've always gone on large cruise ships but ended up loving it.

Enjoyed our first river cruise and will definitely book again.

Internet was only available inside boat in many cases, on upper deck and anywhere outside it was spotty. The crew members were awesome. This was our first cruise with Avalon, we had previously cruised with another company on the Rhine, but were joining our friends who had already selected Avalon, and we were pleased with it.

Loved the River cruise venue. Intimate, quiet, and friendly.

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AffordableTours.com is a travel agent for Avalon Waterways. 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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