Avalon Waterways, The Rhine & Moselle with 2 Nights in Lucerne (Northbound), August 13, 2023

Cruising from: Lucerne, Switzerland;

Departure Date: 13 August, 2023;

Cruise Line: Avalon Waterways;

Cruise Ship: Artistry II;

Duration: 13 days;

Ports of Call: Lucerne, Lucerne, Basel, Breisach, Strasbourg, Rudesheim, Rhine Gorge, Bernkastel-Kues, Remich, Cochem, Cologne, Amsterdam, Amsterdam;

Day 0 Lucerne, Switzerland

Lucerne, nestled between a backdrop of towering mountains and a sparkling lake, is one of Switzerland's most visited cities. Thanks to its attractions, its souvenir and watch shops, the beautiful lakeside setting and the nearby excursion mountains of the Rigi, Pilatus and Stanserhorn, the town is a destination for many travel groups and individuals on their journey through central Switzerland. Tradition and modernity stand side-by-side with ease in Lucerne, as the town has also earned a reputation for itself with innovative design. The futuristic Culture and Convention Centre, designed by leading French architect Jean Nouvel, is one the architectural highlights of the town.

Day 1 Lucerne, Switzerland

Lucerne, nestled between a backdrop of towering mountains and a sparkling lake, is one of Switzerland's most visited cities. Thanks to its attractions, its souvenir and watch shops, the beautiful lakeside setting and the nearby excursion mountains of the Rigi, Pilatus and Stanserhorn, the town is a destination for many travel groups and individuals on their journey through central Switzerland. Tradition and modernity stand side-by-side with ease in Lucerne, as the town has also earned a reputation for itself with innovative design. The futuristic Culture and Convention Centre, designed by leading French architect Jean Nouvel, is one the architectural highlights of the town.

Day 2 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.

Day 3 Breisach, Germany

Breisach upon Rhine, a town with a long-standing history is where the Black Forest spills into Alsace. Cobbled streets lined with pastel-painted houses are the main characteristic of the town. The museum for municipal history has an impressive collection dating from the Stone Age to the present. The Romanesque St. Stephansmunster,the cathedral in Breisach, has a late Gothic altar by an unknown craftsman and paintings by Martin Schongauer, who is also the eponym of the Gymnasium in the city.

Day 4 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 5 Rudesheim, Germany

Rudesheim is a German town in the Rhine Gorge, and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in this region. Rudesheim is known for two things: wine and the Rhein (Rhine) river. A historical landmark Drosselgasse is an integral part of the town's past. Rudesheim offers restaurants, cafes, bars, wine stalls, gelaterias, souvenirs shops and hotels. Next to its extensive vineyards, the city's rich cultural and historic background make it one of the most intriguing places to visit in the country.

Day 6 Rhine Gorge, Germany

Rhine Gorge, Germany. Cruising Rhine. Germany river cruise.

Day 7 Bernkastel-Kues, Germany

Bernkastel-Kues is a a state-recognized health resort, well-known winegrowing centre on the river Moselle in Germany. The old town square of Bernkastel-Kues is deemed to be among the most well-preserved in Germany, and still exists much the same way it used to stand several centuries back. The square is lined with rows of gabled, half-timbered houses, the best cafes and restaurants in town, most of which offer traditional German cuisine.

Day 8 Remich, Luxembourg

Remich is a small tourist town and lies on the left bank of the Moselle River, which forms part of the border between Luxembourg and Germany. With an outstanding panorama of vineyards and forests, circle the town like an amphitheatre, Remich offers a broad range of activities. Several kilometres of promenade in the shade of the trees along the Moselle is perfect for a relaxed stroll

Day 9 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 10 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 11 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 12 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.