Description

Departure Date: August 8, 2021

11 Days • 23 Meals Enjoy a relaxing and inspiring cruise on the Romantic Rhine, Europe’s longest river. Travel onboard a modern luxurious ship, visiting iconic ports of call, sampling incredible cuisine, and absorbing the local culture and atmosphere.

Tour Activity Level 3/5 – Energetic

Passport Required

Tour Highlights

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

23 Meals: 9 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 8 dinners
Airport transfers on tour dates when air is provided by Mayflower Cruises & Tours
Visit four countries
Two-night hotel stay and touring in Lucerne
Seven-nights in a suite or stateroom of your choice onboard the vessel
All gratuities included once aboard ship
First-class service by an English-speaking crew
Shore excursions with English-speaking local guides
Personal listening device for shore excursions
Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites
All meals included onboard with a variety of international cuisine
Complimentary regional wines, beer and soft drinks with onboard lunches and dinners
New onboard Activity Manager will support all EmeraldACTIVE excursions and host daily onboard wellness activities, games, classes and evening entertainment
Complimentary bottled water in your stateroom
Complimentary WiFi onboard
Complimentary bicycles onboard for use ashore
All port charges included
$55 in Mayflower Money

Itinerary

Tour Itinerary

Itinerary is subject to change.

DAY 1 – Depart the USA

Today you’ll depart the USA on your overnight flight to Zurich, Switzerland.

DAY 2 – Zurich to Lucerne, Switzerland

Upon arrival in Zurich, transfer to your hotel in Lucerne to begin your Swiss adventure. The afternoon is at leisure to begin discovering your beautiful new surroundings. This evening, join your Mayflower Cruise Directors and traveling companions for an included dinner at the hotel.

Meal: D

DAY 3 – Lucerne

After breakfast, an included walking tour highlights the city’s landmark, the famous 14th-century Chapel Bridge with its paintings of heroic town events, that crosses the Reuss River. See the 17th-century Renaissance Town Hall and town squares, all set amongst the beautiful backdrop of the Swiss Alps. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Meal: B

DAY 4 – Optional Excursion: Mt. Pilatus/Embark in Basel

Before departing for your ship in Basel, the day is free to enjoy at leisure or join the morning optional excursion to Mt. Pilatus – a mountain overlooking Lucerne that offers a unique alpine experience! This afternoon, travel by motorcoach to Basel, Switzerland for embarkation of your Emerald Waterways Star-Ship. This evening, join your fellow travelers for dinner onboard.
DiscoverMORE: Mt. Pilatus (additional expense)

Meals: B, D

DAY 5 – Breisach, Germany

Today you have a choice to visit a typical Black Forest Village, full of charm, cuckoo clocks and other German specialties or, take part in a guided hike along some of the Black Forest trails.
EmeraldPLUS: Black Forest cake demonstration and tasting
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided hike in the Black Forest

Meals: B, L, D

DAY 6 – Strasbourg, France

Once docked in Kehl, coaches await to take you across the river to Strasbourg, the capital city of the Alsace Region in France. Your guided walking tour includes the Grande Île, the historical city center and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known for its medieval black and white timber-framed buildings, old tanning houses, baroque sandstone buildings, canals and river locks, the city’s star attraction is the cathedral, dominating the main square.
EmeraldPLUS: Guided Tour of Strasbourg

Meals: B, L, D

DAY 7 –Mannheim – Heidelberg, Germany

Enjoy the morning cruising to Mannheim, located at the confluence of the Rhine and Neckar Rivers. Travel by coach to Heidelberg for a wine tasting, visit to the ruins of Heidelberg Castle and walking tour of the city center. Alternatively, take part in an active hike to Heidelberg Hill.
EmeraldACTIVE: Hike from Mount Königstuhl to Heidelberg

Meals: B, L, D

DAY 8 – Koblenz, Germany

Cruise to the 2,000-year-old city of Koblenz and enjoy a walking tour through the heart of the city. Stroll down cobblestone streets as you pass historic and picturesque sites. Visit the German monument at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, and enjoy idyllic panoramic views of the Rhine from Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.
DiscoverMORE: Moselle & Cochem (Reichsburg) Castle Visit (additional expense)

Meals: B, L, D

DAY 9 – Cologne, Germany

Cruise along the Rhine River to Cologne. Founded by the Romans, the city is one of Germany’s oldest and is famous for its magnificent World–Heritage listed Gothic cathedral. Join your local guide for an included walking tour of the city as you learn how the air raids of WWII turned its streets into a blank canvas. The tour concludes at the cathedral, whose twin spires dominate the skyline. This evening, back onboard, join your Captain for a farewell reception and dinner.

Meals: B, L, D

DAY 10 – Amsterdam, the Netherlands

This morning, relax during a glass-top canal boat cruise through Amsterdam’s canal system, viewing the medieval center of the city. Alternatively, if you are feeling more active, embark on a guided bike tour to Waterland. Return to the ship in the afternoon to explore the city of Amsterdam at your leisure.
EmeraldACTIVE: A guided bike tour to Waterland

Meals: B, L, D

DAY 11 – Amsterdam / USA

Bid farewell to Europe and return home with memories of life enriching experiences from your European adventure and cruise along the Rhine River.

Meal: B

Itinerary is subject to change.

Prices

Free airfare from Albany International Airport (ALB) when reservations are made by May 31, 2020.

Starting June 1, 2020 add 2-for-1 airfare (call for air pricing details) and ground transportation to and from the airport.

Air itineraries may not be available until documents are received. Air seats are assigned by the airline for the entire group. Seat changes can only be attempted upon receipt of tickets and documents at which time availability may be limited. If specific seat assignments are vital to your reservation, we recommend individual air reservations rather than booking air with the group.

Hotel Accommodations

CRUISE AND HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

Days 2 and 3 – Hotel Europe or similar, Lucerne, Switzerland
Days 4 through 10 – Aboard an Emerald Waterways Star-Ship

Pre or post-cruise hotel stays available in Amsterdam. Call for details.

Travelers Protection Plan

Travelers Protection Plan (TPP) for River Cruises – $450 per person (optional)

This nonrefundable fee will provide a refund to you during the instance that you have to cancel your trip. The cancellation has to be for a covered reason (see Plan for details on coverage) and we have to be notified at least one day prior to departure. If you must leave the tour early due to personal illness or the illness or death of an immediate family member, TPP will provide a refund for any unused services after the departure of the tour. Other benefits include medical expenses for illness and injury, emergency transportation, 24 hour hot line and lost or stolen baggage assistance. Return air transportation is included ONLY if your air tickets are purchased through Mayflower Cruises & Tours. Please review the Plan for details on coverage. Should you choose not to purchase our TPP, the following per person cancellation charges will be assessed for all tours and optional excursion costs:

91 days or more prior to departure: Deposit Amount
90 days to day of departure: 100% of total tour
No refund on unused portions of the tour

Exclusions: Mayflower Cruises & Tours reserves the right to alter its Refund and Cancellation Policy when a substantial amount of cancellation or postponement of travel is attributable to: conditions resulting from an act of God, natural or manmade disaster, fire, government action, civil disorder, war, hostilities between nations, or unavailability of transportation through no fault of Mayflower Cruises & Tours. Plan and benefits offered and administered by Trip Mate, Inc.