Travel Program: Rhine River Cruise

Fairytale settings await on the Rhine River cruise with Avalon Waterways! Glide from untouched villages to touching cities throughout Holland, Germany and France. View clifftop castles, rolling vineyards and cobblestone lanes, and experience a range of excursions from culinary walks and beer tours, to caves and castle explorations. With Avalon Waterways, you choose exactly how to toast the joys of the Rhine and your moving journey on it! Optional trip extension to Switzerland!

ITINERARY
October 2, 2026 – Fly St. Louis to Amsterdam

October 3, 2026 – Arrive in Amsterdam & board the ship (ship overnights in Amsterdam)

October 4, 2026 – Amsterdam, Netherlands. Optional excursions: Guided kayak tour through the canals, guided walking tour through the city, or a day time canal cruise (cruise at night)

October 5, 2026 – Dusseldorf, Germany. Optional excursions: City biking tour, experience Dusseldorf’s old town and its culinary diversity, or join a guided tour of Dusseldorf. (cruise at night)

October 6, 2026 – Koblenz, Germany – Rhine Gorge. Optional excursions: Guided e-bike tour in the vineyards, join an excursion to the “Lava City” of Mendig for a volcano encounter, leisurely guided walk of ancient Koblenz including a cable car ride to Ehrenbreistein Fortress. Enroute to Bingen, sail through the Rhine Gorge (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) then join an excursion for a private reception at Rheinstein Castle (overnight docking in Bingen)

October 7, 2026 – Speyer, Germany with excursions to Heidelberg, Germany. Optional Excursions: Guided hike along the Philosophers’ Way, learn the art of beer making with a guided tour of four breweries in and out of Old Heidelberg, or a guided tour to Heidelberg Castle and a city visit to taste local specialties (cruise at night)

October 8, 2026 – Kehl, Germany with excursions to Strasbourg, France. Optional Excursions: Walking tour along the river, culinary walk to discover cuisine and traditions, or city sightseeing tour including Strasbourg’s Gothic cathedral, and the LA Petite France District (cruise at night)

October 9, 2026 – Breisach, Germany with excursions to Black Forest. Optional excursions: E-bike tour through the Black Forest, full-day guided tour to the Black Forest to experience Vogtsbauernohf open-air museum, or join a guided tour to explore Freiburg’s medieval gardens and vineyards (cruise at night)

October 10, 2026 – Basel, Switzerland (disembarkation) & travel back to U.S.

Option three-night extension in Zurich
October 10, 2026 – Transfer from ship in Basel to Lucerne for two nights in Lucerne with tour of Lucerne and dinner.

October 11, 2026 – Top of Europe day trip to UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jungfraujoch (night in Lucerne)

October 12, 2026 – Transfer from Lucerne to Zurich for one-night in Zurich

October 13, 2026 – Transfer from Zurich hotel to airport. Flight back to the U.S. with ground transfer from St. Louis to Cape Girardeau.

For more information, contact 1st Class Travel at 573-651-0088 or email shari@gofirstclasstravel.com. You do not have to be associated with Notre Dame to attend or go on trips! Space is limited, so book NOW!

Cost Is Per Person (based on double occupancy – two passengers per room required):
Deluxe Stateroom: $6,700 per person
Category B Suite: $8,400 per person
Category A Suite: $8,500 per person
Category P Suite: $8,600 per person

Switzerland Extension: $1,999 per person (based on double occupancy)