Amadeus River Cruises, Classical Rhine Cruise Basel to Amsterdam, October 18, 2023

Cruising from: Amsterdam, Netherlands;

Departure Date: 18 October, 2023;

Cruise Line: Amadeus River Cruises;

Cruise Ship: MS Amadeus Cara;

Duration: 8 days;

Ports of Call: Amsterdam, Utrecht, Cologne, Cochem, Koblenz, Speyer, Strasbourg, Basel;

Day 0 Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam is the capital and most populous city of the Netherlands. Amsterdam has a rich history and famous Amsterdam residents include the diarist Anne Frank, artists Rembrandt and Van Gogh, and philosopher Baruch Spinoza. Beside many parks, open spaces, and squares throughout the city, Amsterdam is famous for De Wallen, the red-light district. It is an unusual city to explore.

Day 1 Utrecht, Netherlands

Utrecht is the fourth-largest city and a municipality of the Netherlands. It was built around the Dom tower, which can be seen from any point in the city. Utrecht boasts beautiful canals with extraordinary wharf cellars housing cafes and terraces by the water. There is an extensive pedestrian-only zone which makes it even easier to stroll around. As well as the Dom tower, Utrecht boasts hundreds of other monuments that each contribute to the special atmosphere in this centuries-old university city.

Day 2 Cologne, Germany

Cologne is fourth largest city in Germany and largest city of the Land of North Rhine-Westphalia. One of the key inland ports of Europe, it is the historic, cultural, and economic capital of the Rhineland. Cologne is famous for its 12 great Romanesque churches - especially the magnificent Cologne Cathedral - all an easy walk from the historic Old Town. Its university is one of the oldest and largest in Europe. Among its attractions are Roman remains, medieval churches, Baroque palaces, and museums that reflect such diverse subjects and the various products for which it is known: fragrances, mustard, and chocolate.

Day 3 Cochem, Germany

Cochem is a beautiful riverside town along the river Mosel in western Germany. It's a popular stop on the short haul river cruise route, and for good reason. Surrounded by vineyards climbing up the steep sides of the river valley, and topped off with the magnificent Castle Cochem, this town is a perfect weekend trip. In summer, grapevines in leaf are all over the buildings and stretching across arbours. Many restaurants have terraces overlooking the river.

Day 4 Koblenz, Germany

Koblenz is a German city situated on both banks of the Rhine where it is joined by the Moselle. The main sights are the old castle of Ehrenbreitstein, which dominates the right bank of the wide Rhine, and Fort Konstantin, strategically located in the heart of the old city, with views over both rivers. One of the newer tourist attractions in the city, the Koblenz Cable Car takes visitors on a thrilling aerial journey to Ehrenbreitstein castle

Day 5 Speyer, Germany

Speyer is a port on the left bank of the Rhine River at the mouth of the Speyer River, south of Ludwigshafen. Its centre is home to some outstanding museums and the remains of a medieval synagogue, and is easily explored on foot. Speyer has a lot to offer: Imperial Cathedral and Memorial Church, a technology museum and a sea-life centre.

Day 6 Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg is the capital and largest city of the Grand Est region of France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Strasbourg is the second most popular tourist city in France, after Paris. There are three main attractions: the cathedral, historic quarter of Petite France, with its half-timbered medieval houses and its quays overlooking branches of the river Ill and the Strasbourg Christmas market, the oldest and biggest historic Christmas market in Europe. The old town is a maze of narrow streets and alleys and the reflections of half-timbered houses with sloping roofs, reminiscent of those seen in fairytales

Day 7 Basel, Switzerland

Basel, nestled on the Rhine river, is Switzerland's third-largest town and, partly because of its proximity to France and Germany, has a strong sense of its own identity. Historic landmarks of the city include the large market square with its richly decorated red sandstone town hall and the late Romanesque-Gothic cathedral. The city of culture, for connoisseurs, has the highest concentration of museums in the country. Basel also has a beautiful Old Town, modern architecture, and famous traditional Basel honey cake.