The treasures of a mythical river: the Rhine, from Basel to Amsterdam

Colmar will charm you with its authenticity and typically Alsatian architecture composed of brightly painted half-timbered facades dating from the Middle Ages. You'll discover the quintessential neighborhood of "Little Venice” and visit the... more+ Unterlinden Museum, featuring a large collection of local and international artworks and manufactured artifacts from prehistorical to contemporary times. The museum is housed in a 13th-century Dominican convent and a 1906 former public baths building, and was renovated by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron in 2015 to incorporate more of the vast collection. Inarguably, the most important work in the collection is the Isenheim Altarpiece. Duration: approx. 4:00 The museum is closed on Tuesdays. It will be replaced by a visit to the Hansi Museum instead. Good walking shoes are recommended. The order of the visits can change. Times are approximate. These excursions are not proposed for all the cruises and depend on the itinerary. If the minimum of 25 participants is not reached, the excursion may be either cancelled or proposed at another rate, depending on the number of participants (to be paid for on board). The excursions on the first evening and the morning following boarding are only guaranteed for the passengers who have booked the excursion before the cruise.   less-

Discover Strasbourg from the water! We’ll see all the great sites on the riverbanks, from Petite France—listed as UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988—to the European quarter where institutions such as the Council of Europe and the European... more+ Parliament are located. After, we’ll continue on foot to the magnificent Gothic cathedral, built over three centuries. The famous west front is decorated with thousands of figures and its spire measures over 466 feet. The cathedral is built out of red sandstone from the nearby Vosges Mountains, which gives it its characteristic pink hue that changes according to the sunlight and the color of the sky. Standing before the symbol of the city, you’ll understand why Victor Hugo called it a “gigantic and delicate” marvel. It is one of the very few Gothic churches with only one tower. Among its wonders are the stained glass windows, including the 46-foot high Rose Window. The great organ is a masterpiece to see as well as to hear, and the astronomical clock is a Renaissance treasure not to be missed. We'll return by tour boat to the ship. PLEASE NOTE The order of the visits can change. Times are approximate.  less-

You will set off on foot from accompanied by your guides and visit the town of Mainz. Capital of the Rhine Palatinate, Mainz was founded more than 2000 years ago by the Romans. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the top architects and sculptors created the basic... more+ shape of the town, with fine palaces and churches. Here you can admire the magnificent historic houses which have been outstandingly well-restored. Located on the banks of the Rhine opposite the confluence of the Rhine with the Main, Mainz will captivate you with its quite incomparable lifestyle, its unique charm and its openness to the world. In the company of your guide, you will be able to enter the magnificent Cathedral, whose construction began in 975 and which has left a deep mark on the history of the town. The interior of the cathedral houses some wonderful historic treasures, including tombs and funerary monuments from the 13th to the 18th centuries. You will also have the opportunity to wander up and down the colorful streets in the old town. Finally you will visit the Gutenberg Museum, the world's finest museum for printing equipment, materials and books. Born in Mainz around 1400, Johannes Gensfleisch Gutenberg himself prepared the copy of the Bible referred to as "the 42-line Bible” which was published in 1455 - the oldest printed book in the world. Out of the 46 copies still in existence, the museum has just one, along with a "Mainz Psalter”, the first ever document printed using three different colors of ink. The museum extends over five floors and provides a quite remarkable exhibition on the history of the book and written word in both Europe and the world as a whole. Return on board on foot. PLEASE NOTE The Gutenberg Museum is closed on Sunday mornings and on Mondays. Good walking shoes are recommended: visit entirely on foot; streets are cobblestoned in the old town. The order of the visits can change. Times are approximate.  less-

Departure on foot for downtown Köln. You will discover the city in the company of your guide. Crossroads of Europe since the Middle Ages, Köln has kept its importance as a vibrant commercial and industrial city as well as a cultural and religious... more+ center. which has kept its importance both on a commercial and industrial level as well as on a cultural and religious level. You will be able to admire the exterior façades of the huge Gothic Köln Cathedral which took five centuries to complete. Indeed, although construction started in 1247, it was interrupted due to a lack of financing in 1560 and only started again in 1842 upon request of Emperor Frederick Wilhelm IV, who had fallen in love with the building. Construction was finally completed in 1863 and the Gothic Cathedral was the highest building in the world from 1880 to 1884. Around the Cathedral, 12 other Romanesque style churches are set in a circle, representing the 12 holy apostles. We'll then move on to the Old Town and stop to admire the outside of the neo-Gothic building, home of the famous "Eau de Cologne". Before returning on board, we will have some free time to stroll through the streets of Köln or try the famous local beer, the Kölsch(1). Return on board by coach in Königswinter. PLEASE NOTE The ship sails during the excursion. The order of the visits can change. Times are approximate. (1) Not included - to be paid for on location.  less-

Departure from Nijmegen by coach in the company of your hostess for the Dutch Open Air Museum in Arnhem, which is located in a beautiful wooded park (44 ha). Some 80 authentic farms, windmills, workshops, houses, barns, a church and a school provide an... more+ insight on the everyday life and architecture of yesteryear. Upon arrival, our hostess will hand you a ticket so you can visit the museum on your own. Inside every building, you'll be intrigued by the typical furniture and the displays of various trades and crafts. Some of the buildings are grouped together, such as the beautiful Limburg timber-framed buildings or the Gelderland farms, but the most charming spot is without a doubt the area dedicated to the Zaan region, with its green painted wooden houses and tastefully decorated gables. Our visit will start with the renovated entrance pavilion and its good vantage point over the park and its many windmills. There are farming implements on display in many areas, like the collections center. The lower level gives access to the spectacular panoramic theater HollandRama. In this mobile capsule, films, sounds, lights, smells and temperatures evoke different scenes, from cityscapes to the confines of houses. Return on board by coach. PLEASE NOTE This is an unguided tour. Bags can be let to the left luggage office. Information in the museum (notice board) is given in Dutch, in English and in German. The order of the visits can change. Times are approximate.  less-

Departure by coach for a guided tour of the city. Amsterdam is one of the world's most extraordinary small cities. From its canals and world-famous museums to its many sights and historical treasures, Amsterdam is one of Europe's most romantic and surprising... more+ capitals. Stop at the Riecker Mill, a windmill located on the banks of the Amstel River to the south of the city. The mill was built in 1636 in the village of Sloten. Pumping of the polder water was taken over by an electric pumping station in 1932, and the mill was subsequently dismantled when the polder was dug up to create, among other things, Lake Het Nieuw Meer. In 1961, the mill was re-erected some 8 kilometers away on the banks of the Amstel, between the Kalfjeslaan and Borcht roads. The banks of the Amstel at this point are much frequented by tourists and walkers, and it's a prime location for an old Dutch windmill. A statue of Rembrandt has been erected next to the windmill as a reminder that the painter drew many pictures on the banks of this river. Then visit the famous flower market. You'll find thousands of fresh flowers, as well as bulbs of the famous tulip (with the gouda ball, probably the best idea for a souvenir gift), shrubs, plants... The countless varieties will make you dizzy. Return by coach. less-

Leave the boat on foot to join our bike rental company! You'll be accompanied by a guide for a tour lasting around 2h30. You'll discover the canals and the unusual, secret places known only to Amstellodammers. Free time at the Flower Market or Albert Cuyp... more+ Market. less-

Departure by coach for Keukenhof Floral Park, accompanied by the boat's guide. On arrival, the hostess will give you an entrance ticket, and you can stroll at your own pace through the 32-hectare park's flower beds. Let yourself be charmed by the colors and... more+ fragrances of tulips, narcissi, daffodils and other bulbous flowers. Pass through the pavilion dedicated to orchids or the Japanese-inspired garden... Don't forget to discover a mill dating from 1892, at the far end of the park, from which you'll have a breathtaking view of the tulip fields...
In the 15th century, the current Keukenhof estate was a hunting ground. Aromatic herbs were also grown here for the kitchens of Jacqueline of Bavaria's castle, hence the name Keukenhof (kitchen garden).
Return to Amsterdam by coach. less-

Departure by coach in the company of your guides towards Haarlem. Known as the "City of Tulips”, Haarlem has for centuries been the main production and export center for tulip bulbs. This charming town has been an inspiration for generations of... more+ painters throughout the centuries. We'll discover the Amsterdamse Poort (Amsterdam Gate) built in 1400 and the only vestige from the city's fortifications, the Grote Markt (Main Square), the Corrie Ten Boom House, used as a hiding place during World War II and the impressive Gothic Cathedral of St Bavo dating from the 14th and 15th centuries. In Haarlem, you'll get the chance to see a great number of "beguinages”, with the oldest dating back to 1395. Before heading back to Amsterdam, you will have some free time. PLEASE NOTE The order of the visits can change. Times are approximate.  less-