Great Journey Through Europe

Highlights:

• Visit Cologne, the birthplace of the world-famous eau-de-cologne perfume
• Cruise through the Rhine River Valley, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site for its scenic and architectural treasures
• Explore the imposing Heidelberg Castle, a magnificent red sandstone edifice perched 330 feet above the river
• Traverse the rolling Swiss countryside to the untouched medieval village of Gruyères, dominated by its 1,000-year-old namesake castle
• Experience the Pilatus Railway, the world’s steepest cogwheel railway

Day 1: U.S.

Depart from the U.S. for Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Day 2: Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Following your morning arrival, enjoy a private cruise along Amsterdam’s delightful canals lined with 16th- and 17th-century gabled row houses, which have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Embark the deluxe M.S. Amadeus Princess. Join fellow participants this evening for the Captain’s welcome toast and dinner.

Day 3: Cologne, Germany

Be on deck for this morning’s cruise on the picturesque Rhine River.

One of Germany’s most ancient cities, Cologne was founded as a Roman military outpost in 38 B.C. and from the time of Charlemagne to present day, it has flourished as the Rhineland’s foremost mercantile and religious center. It is the birthplace of the world-famous eau-de-cologne perfume and perhaps more noted for the historic Kölner Dom (cathedral), a UNESCO World Heritage site and the finest example of High Gothic architecture in Germany. On arrival, explore the Altstadt (Old Town) and visit the cathedral whose construction began in 1248 and lasted for six centuries. Its artistic treasures include the Altar of the Magi, the Milan Madonna and Child and the Shrine of the Three Kings.

Day 4: Koblenz/Rüdesheim

Dock this morning in Koblenz, another reminder of Germany’s Roman past.

Established in nine B.C. during the reign of Augustus Caesar, it occupies a strategic location at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. From the famous Deutsches Eck (German Corner), where the two rivers meet, enjoy a view of the impressive 17th-century fortress of Ehrenbreitstein, once the residence of the powerful Archbishop-Electors of Trier. The twin-towered Basilica of St. Castor, built between the 11th and 13th centuries, embodies the Rhineland’s distinctive style of Romanesque architecture.

Cruise through the Rhine River Valley, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site for its scenic and architectural treasures, past the medieval castles, tranquil villages and terraced vineyards. See the famous Lorelei Rock—ancient legend holds that a beautiful maiden lured sailors here with her enchanting siren’s song.

Go ashore in the medieval town of Rüdesheim, the heart of Germany’s wine country. Stroll along the Drosselgasse past picturesque half-timbered houses, see the 12th-century Brömserburg Castle, or savor local vintages in a traditional wine bar. Sail this evening from Rüdesheim.

Day 5: Mannheim/Heidelberg

This morning arrive in Mannheim and depart for Heidelberg, where luminaries such as Goethe and Schumann came to experience the intellectual atmosphere of Heidelberg University, Germany’s oldest, founded in 1386. To many on the “Grand Tour” of Europe, fashionable in the 18th and 19th centuries, Heidelberg was Germany. Nestled in the densely wooded valley of the Neckar River below the fascinating ruins of the 13th-century Heidelberg Castle, this city epitomized the spirit of German Romanticism. Heidelberg has preserved its authentic Renaissance-Baroque character, including the nine arches of the famous Alte Brücke (Old Bridge) that still span the Neckar River. Visit imposing Heidelberg Castle, a magnificent red sandstone edifice perched 330 feet above the river. The stately ruins preserve Heidelberg’s links to its medieval past. Reboard the ship in Mannheim and cruise to Strasbourg.

Day 6: Strasbourg, France

The lively Alsatian city of Strasbourg fuses the Old and the New Europe. Tour the Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a treasure trove of medieval houses, and see the charming Ponts-Couverts, covered bridges flanked by watchtowers at each end, spanning the picturesque canals. It was in Strasbourg that John Calvin first established a reformed parish. The graceful sandstone Catholic Cathedral of Notre Dame, a Romanesque-Gothic masterpiece rising “like a most sublime, wide-arching tree of God,” in the words of German poet Goethe, and the beautiful Protestant Church of St-Pierre-le-Vieux testify to Strasbourg’s history of religious tolerance. In the Petite-France district, the historic millers’, tanners’ and fishermen’s quarter along the Ill River, the fairy tale look of a past era lives on, while nearby, 27 nations engage in spirited debates in the European Union Parliament.

Enjoy lunch aboard ship, followed by a free afternoon for independent pursuits. Depart from Strasbourg this evening.

Day 7: Basel, Switzerland/Gruyères/Montreaux/Zermatt

Disembark in Basel and traverse the rolling Swiss countryside to the untouched medieval village of Gruyères, dominated by its 1,000-year-old namesake castle. The residents of Gruyères still live close to the land and take justifiable pride in their world-renowned farm-made cheeses. After lunch, continue to the fashionable spa town of Montreux on the “Swiss Riviera,” Lake Geneva’s north shore. In the 19th century, such leading European literary figures as Lord Byron, Mary Shelley, Leo Tolstoy and Hans Christian Andersen were drawn here by its mild climate and Mediterranean flora.

Trace the course of the mighty Rhône River from the subtropical lowlands to the snow-crowned heights of the Alps. Just as the scenery changes abruptly, so too, does the language, as French gives way to Schwyzerdütsch (Swiss German). In the village of Täsch, board a shuttle train for the brief journey to the alpine resort of Zermatt, dramatically located beneath the craggy pinnacle of the iconic Matterhorn. Check into the chalet-style Hotel Alex for dinner and an evening at leisure.

Day 8: Zermatt

This morning, ride aboard the famous Gornergrat Bahn, the highest cog railway in Europe. Ascend through forests of pine and larch and cross meadows ablaze with wildflowers to the 10,000-foot-high Gornergrat, stopping en route at Riffelberg for the panoramic view of Monte Rosa and the majestic Matterhorn. From the observatory atop the Gornergrat, look out over sweeping vistas of Europe’s most breathtaking alpine scenery—the serrated profiles of the Matterhorn, the Liskamm and Dufourspitze mountains and vast Gorner Glacier. Following lunch, return to Zermatt at your leisure.

Day 9: Zermatt/Andermatt/Lucerne

Board the fabled Glacier Express, “the fastest slow train in the world,” and ride through the heart of the Alps. This rail trip showcases both natural and man-made wonders: the beauty of the Alps is rivaled by the skill and ingenuity of the engineers who created this route across Europe’s most challenging terrain—a task requiring the construction of 291 bridges and 91 tunnels. Arrive in Andermatt early this afternoon. After lunch, travel by motorcoach to Lucerne, and check into the deluxe, lakeside Hotel Schweizerhof.

Day 10: Lucerne

A long-favored destination for travelers, Lucerne is set against the backdrop of its deep blue lake and the rugged grandeur of Mounts Rigi and Pilatus. Begin your morning walking tour in the Weinmarkt (Wine Market) surrounded by historic burghers’ houses. See the Hofkirche (Court Church), one of the finest examples of Swiss Renaissance architecture, and the Lion Monument, dedicated to the Swiss Guards who gave their lives defending Louis XVI during the French Revolution. Walk across Lucerne’s most famous landmark, the quaint, 14th-century wooden Chapel Bridge, which spans the Reuss River and is adorned with medieval paintings.

Ascend Mount Pilatus by cable car to its 7,000-foot summit for a magnificent 360-degree panorama of central Switzerland’s mountains, peaks, forests and lakes. Enjoy lunch in the summit restaurant and free time before boarding the Pilatus Railway, the world’s steepest cogwheel railway. Descend more than 5,300 feet in under three miles on return to the shores of Lake Lucerne for a scenic lake cruise. The farewell reception will be held in the hotel tonight.

Day 11: Lucerne/Zurich/U.S.

Following breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight to the U.S.