Travel through five amazing countries along the legendary Rhine and vineyard-rich Moselle
Starting off in vibrant, canal-lined Amsterdam, you’ll traipse south on the path of historic legends and sail the fabled Rhine River Valley. Cruise past some of Europe’s most spectacular scenery, where fairytale castles and historic sites greet you at every turn.
Sail the meandering and romantic Moselle River, the Rhine’s breathtaking tributary. Be enchanted by scenery of sylvan woods, ancient Roman ruins, medieval villages, and vineyards where vines cling bravely to spectacularly steep slopes. Indulge in the Moselle’s distinguished vintages of full-bodied Rieslings as you pay homage to one of Europe’s most charming river valleys, the Moselle.
Travel through five amazing countries—France, Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands—all rich in UNESCO World Heritage Sites. And all along the way, savor the excellent wines and distinctive local cuisine, sampling the best these regions have to offer!
Who will enjoy this cruise: Connoisseurs of food and wine will savor hearty meals, delicate pastries, fine chocolates, and full-bodied Rieslings. Art aficionados and nature lovers will treasure an abundance of museums, castles, architecture, and spectacular natural scenery.
Amsterdam to Basel - 14 days Uniworld
DAY 1:
Depart Home Gateway City to Amsterdam
DAY 2:
Amsterdam (embark)
Arrive in Amsterdam where you’ll be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship. (D)
DAY 3:
Amsterdam
Featured Excursion: Amsterdam city tour and Rijksmuseum
Your panoramic Amsterdam tour takes you through the canal-lined streets to view Mint Tower, Dam Square, the Royal Palace and Museum Square. Visit the renowned Rijksmuseum, which holds the most important collection of Dutch paintings in the world, including Rembrandt’s Night Watch. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Dinner)
DAY 4:
Cologne
Featured Excursion: Cologne walking tour and cathedral visit
Start right at the pier for a guided walking tour of Cologne, the art capital of the Rhine. Old Town’s narrow streets lead to the cathedral, the city’s most famous landmark and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit inside features the Shrine of the Three Magi and the beautiful glass windows that survived WWII. (BB, L, D) Note: On Sundays and Catholic holidays, guided tours inside the cathedral will not be possible.
DAY 5:
Koblenz
Featured Excursion: Koblenz walking tour
Irresistible Optional Tour: Enjoy a visit to Marksburg Castle with wine tasting
Arrive in Koblenz, situated on the beautiful corner at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle. Your guided walking tour will highlight the appeal of Koblenz – its romantic narrow streets and historical squares, the picturesque alleyways and fountains in the old quarter and the 12th-century churches of St. Florin and Our Lady. (BB, L, D)
DAY 6:
Cochem
Featured Excursion: Visit to Reichsburg Castle and wine tasting hosted by the village vintners at their private estates
Cochem is an architectural gem typical of the Moselle region. Your guide takes you through Cochem’s narrow alleys with its lovingly restored half-timbered houses, and also up to gothic Reichsburg Castle. To top it off, we take you to local vintners who proudly present their treasures at a their private wine estates. (BB, L, D)
DAY 7:
Trier
Featured Excursion: Trier panoramic city tour
Trier is the site of one of the oldest Roman outposts along the Moselle and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A panoramic view from Petrisberg Mountain is the perfect introduction to your guided tour. You’ll drive by the ruins of the Roman Imperial Baths, and visit Constantine’s throne room. See the well-preserved fortified Roman gate called Porta Nigra. (BB, L, D)
DAY 8:
Wasserbillig (Luxembourg), Trier
Featured Excursion: Luxembourg and World War II Cemetery. Free time in Trier.
Our Excursion starts with a panoramic drive to the independent sovereign state of Luxembourg. Your guided tour includes Our Lady Cathedral, the Archduke’s Place and a visit to a World War II cemetery, the resting place of General Patton. (BB, L, D)
DAY 9:
Bernkastel
Featured Excursion: Walking tour and wine experience
Your day in Bernkastel—with more than 500 years of wine-making history—includes a tour of Old Town, where you’ll see many of the famous half-timbered houses, the Slate Tower and the Market Square—one of the most picturesque in Germany. Cap the morning off with a wine tasting of the area’s fine Rieslings. Sit back and enjoy the vistas of the meandering Moselle while cruising in the afternoon. (BB, L, D)
DAY 10:
Scenic Cruising Moselle and Romantic Rhine, Rüdesheim
Featured Excursion: Gondola ride to Niederwald Monument
Irresistible Optional Tour: Rüdesheim evening with dinner and entertainment
In the morning as you sail to Rüdesheim, you’ll enter the most beautiful section of the Rhine River Valley, the scenic 40 miles of the Middle Rhine Valley, a classified UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its vine-filled slopes, its 40 or so castles strung like pearls along the river banks, and the famous Lorelei Rock, this is the perfect example of the romantic Rhine. While in Rüdesheim, a celebrated wine town, you’ll enjoy a gondola ride to the Niederwald Monument, commemorating the unification of Germany (BB, L, D)
DAY 11:
Speyer
Featured Excursion: Speyer walking tour
Irresistible Optional Tour: Half-day tour of Heidelberg with lunch
Enjoy a walking tour to the Old Town and the grand Speyer Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the final resting place of German emperors. (BB, L, D)
DAY 12:
Strasbourg
Featured Excursion: Strasbourg canal cruise
Irresistible Optional Tour: Hot air balloon ride, or Haute Königsburg Castle
See Strasbourg in the way it has been seen through the centuries—on a canal cruise. In addition to viewing the town’s covered bridges and medieval watchtowers, you’ll see Petite France, a picturesque district that seems as if it has been lifted from the pages of a fairy tale. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)
DAY 13:
Breisach (Colmar), Basel
Featured Excursion: Half-day tour of Colmar
Colmar is so quaint you may feel you’re on a film set. Follow your guide through its cobblestone streets, which are lined with brightly colored half-timbered houses, and see the well-preserved canal quarter, known as Petite Venice. (BB, L, D)
DAY 14:
Basel (disembark), transfer to airport
Disembark the ship and transfer to the airport in Basel for your flight home, or extend your stay to Lucerne!
The River Queen is the most unique river cruise ship in Europe. All riverview staterooms are lavishly appointed with a vanity and make-up mirror, generous built-in closets, a hair dryer, safe, individual air conditioning, direct-dial telephone, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with thick cotton towels, aromatherapy bath amenities and plush terry cloth robe.
Beautiful lounge with a full-service bar and the only working fire place on any river cruise ship in the world!
Library/game room
Deck Dining (offered twice a week, for dinner only, with reservations made when onboard the ship)
Panoramic restaurants with open seating
Boutique with sundries and gifts
24-hour coffee bar and front desk service
Sun deck, sky lounge, fitness center, sauna and beauty salon
*On these dates cruise operates from Basel to Amsterdam. †Prices exclude additional port charges of $168 and a cruise fuel surcharge of $00 and are per person, cruise-only, based on double occupancy. Other restrictions may apply. Click here for more information.
To upgrade to a higher category, add per person the following prices below:
Category 4
$225
Category 3
$725
Category 2
$925
Category 1
$1,125
Suite
$1,850
A limited number of singles may be available in certain categories on certain vessels for an additional supplement. Please inquire.
Lucerne (pre- or post-optional extension)
Located on the lush shores of Lake Lucerne and framed by the awesome peaks of the Swiss Alps, Lucerne is one of Switzerland's most picturesque cities. Join us on an exploration of this charming Swiss region with an extended stay.
Included in your 4-day grand city stay:
3 nights at the First Class Monopol Hotel (or similar) with breakfast daily Basel ship-to-hotel and hotel-to-airport, or airport-to-hotel and hotel-to-ship transfers Fully hosted by expert Uniworld representatives Walking tour and boat ride
Only $749 per person (single supplement $199)
Note: This extension is for cruises that begin or end in Basel.
SAVE $600 per couple on select 2009 all-inclusive river cruises
BOOK and DEPOSIT on or before November 30, 2008 to SAVE $600 per couple ($300 per person) off selected 2009 cruise itineraries.
For air pricing, please contact your Preferred Travel Professional Riverdiscounts800-640-4899
With the decrease in the value of the dollar and the high price of fuel the cost of hotels and meals have doubled in European during the last three years. Savy travelers have come to understand that a river cruise offers the best value for a European Vacation. Accommodations, all meals on board and shore excursions are included in the price and some companies even include wine with dinner. Because of this, you do not have to live in fear of the $300 per night hotel bill, the $100 not so wonderful restaurant meal and the $10 cup of coffee with no free refills.
Many people believe that by dealing directly with the cruise line, they cut out the expense of a middleman. But when it comes to cruising, this is never the case. The cruise lines depend on travel agents to sell their product, and so it is the cruise lines who pay the agent's commission, not the customer. The lines also offer agents various extra incentives, bonus commissions and value-added perks, giving the travel agents more pricing leverage and the ability for us to offer you lower rates: There are many superb and well-trained travel agents, but there are not many who know as much as we do about river cruising.
