Uniworld Cruise

Basel to Amsterdam - Castles Along the Rhine

This tour really lives up to its name with castles, castles and more castles. Gracing the shores of the Rhine are more Medieval castles than in any river valley in the world. The fairytale castles, combined with the breathtaking landscape of rolling carpets of terraced vineyards and old-world towns, create a dreamlike setting so much so that the Rhine became synonymous with the Romantic Movement in the 1800s. Artists, musicians, writers and poets from all over Europe immortalized the Rhine’s unadulterated natural beauty in their songs, art, stories and poetry. And even today, the Rhine continues to inspire those who visit, especially Germany’s upper Middle Rhine Valley, approximately 40 miles between Koblenz and Rüdesheim, as it is part of the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. As you travel along the Rhine, each bend and twist affords new surprises that are certain to inspire you the way countless others have been inspired for centuries.

Who will enjoy this cruise: Romantics, history enthusiasts, epicures, and nature and wine lovers will look forward to Medieval little wine towns, quaint half-timbered buildings, enchanted castles, the Lorelei myth, majestic cathedrals, historical cities and, of course, the Romantic Rhine’s scenic natural beauty. Prepare to be inspired by the river and the legendary landscape, just as great poets and thinkers were many years ago.

Included Features

• 7-night cruise in an outside stateroom on River Ambassador
• All meals onboard the ship
• 6 shore excursions with English speaking guides
• Captain’s Welcome & Farewell Dinners
• Exciting onboard entertainment and insightful lectures

Included Highlights

• Alsatian Wine Road
• Strasbourg Canal Cruise
• Speyer Walking Tour
• Castle Vollrads Wine Tasting
• Koblenz Walking Tour
• Cologne Walking Tour and Cathedral Visit

The Ship

Itinerary

Day 3 Breisach and Strasbourg
Starting from Medieval Breisach, the gateway to the Black Forest, you cross the Rhine and head for the Alsatian wine route, which hugs the foothills of the Vosges mountains. Charming villages and lush vineyards, producing great white wine, line this winding scenic route. Stops in the Medieval town of Colmar and the picturesque village of Riquewihr are included.

Day 4 Strasbourg
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, Medieval watchtowers and modern building that houses the European Parliament, you will see Petite France, a picturesque district that seems as if it has been lifted from the pages of a fairytale.

Day 5 Speyer
Your guided tour through Speyer reveals a Medieval town with a grand heritage and a compact historical center. While on tour, you’ll visit the largest Romanesque cathedral in Europe, yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a basilica that includes four towers and two domes.

Day 6 Rüdesheim
Rüdesheim has a long history dating back to Roman times, and is considered one of the most charming of the Rhine Valley ports of call. The town is famous for, among other things, its long avenue of shops and wine bars, the Drosselgasse. Enjoy a morning exploring the town on your own, and then in the afternoon join us for a visit to picture-perfect Castle Vollrads, surrounded by vineyards producing the famous Rheingau Rieslings. Join us for a unique wine tasting at the castle.

Day 7 Cruising the Romantic Rhine and Koblenz
Departing early in the morning from Rüdesheim to Koblenz, you’ll sail along one of the most beautiful sections of the Rhine River Valley, the scenic 40 miles of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. Historical monuments have been preserved in a quantity and density that can be found in almost no other European cultural region. With its vine-filled slopes leading to the valley, its 40 castles strung like pearls on the ledges, and the famous Lorelei Rock, the valley is the perfect example of the romantic Rhine. Arrive in Koblenz, situated on the beautiful corner at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle. Our 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.

Day 8 Cologne
You’ll meet up with your guide on the pier and begin your walking tour. Stroll through the narrow streets of Old Town, passing by tiny squares and little churches as you make your way to the Cathedral, the city’s most famous landmark and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. It took 632 years for Germany’s largest cathedral to be completed and it is one of the most important gothic churches in Europe. A visit inside features the Shrine of the Three Magi and the beautiful glass windows that survived WWII.

Day 9 Depart Amsterdam
Disembark the ship and transfer to the airport in Amsterdam for your flight home.

Cost of This Trip