The Rhine and Moselle

•   Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director

Day 1: Arrive Basel
A transfer is included from Basel-Mulhouse International Airport to the ms Swiss Sapphire. Check-in for all guests is at 4:00 PM. Please join us for a welcome briefing followed by dinner aboard ship.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Old Town Basel
Spend the day in Basel; this quintessentially Swiss city, set on the Rhine at Switzerland’s border with France and Germany, has ranked among the country’s key ports for centuries. Your guided sightseeing features an orientation tour of the city, followed by a walking tour of Basel’s Old Town, including the red-painted 16th-century Rathaus (city hall). Meet the crew at the Captain’s welcome reception and dinner aboard ship tonight.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3: Strasbourg, Crossroads of Europe
Your riverboat docks today in Strasbourg, France, the capital of the Alsace wine-growing region and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its fairy-tale charm. View its European Parliament buildings en route to La Petite France, enchanting with historic canals, medieval watchtowers and half-timbered houses. Visit the 11th-century Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, enticing with beautiful 12th- to 14th-century stained glass windows and a ‘dancing’ astronomical clock, and enjoy time to explore on your own. There are cobblestone streets to stroll, works of art by Rubens and Rembrandt to discover in the Palais de Rohan, and pâté de foie gras to sample in the town credited with the original recipe for this delicacy.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4: Elegant Baden-Baden
Disembark in Plittersdorf for a trip to Baden-Baden in the Black Forest. Its healing waters were said to have attracted an arthritic Roman emperor centuries ago before it was rediscovered by European nobility in the 19th century. Today, Baden-Baden has become one of the most elegant celebrity playgrounds in Germany and still evokes an aura of privilege. Accompany our local guide on a walking tour to see the castle ruins, the Roman baths, and its richly decorated Belle Èpoque Casino, described by Marlene Dietrich as “the most beautiful casino in the world.” The afternoon is free.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5: Historic Heidelberg
Journey to Heidelberg, Germany’s oldest university town, on a full day excursion that includes a scenic funicular ride; a walking tour of Old Town, with its medieval square, Gothic walls and gates, and 17th-century Baroque homes and palaces; and a visit to the romantic, partially restored Heidelberger Schloss, one of Europe’s prime examples of a Gothic-Renaissance castle. Enjoy lunch in a Heidelberg restaurant and continue on to Speyer.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6: Boppard and Koblenz
Enjoy a guided shore excursion in Boppard today. Learn about the legacies of the Celts, Romans and Franconians in this 2,000-year-old town on a walking tour. Hear about the legend of the Lorelei as you cruise through the Middle Rhine Valley, home to castles, medieval towns and vineyards and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its powerful influence on writers, artists and composers. Your riverboat continues on to Koblenz this afternoon. Enjoy local entertainment aboard ship tonight.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7: Fairy-Tale Landscapes of Cochem
Romantic legends and folk tales come to life as you cruise through the fairy-tale landscapes of the Moselle Valley to Cochem. Exploring Cochem, famous since the Romans first became enthralled with its scenic beauty, is like stepping into a history book. Tauck makes the past come alive during a walking tour and a visit to Reichsburg Castle; evoking images of Walt Disney’s Cinderella, the 1,000-year-old Gothic castle was destroyed by Louis XIV’s troops in 1689, but rebuilt in the 19th century. Tauck takes you to a family-owned winery in Cochem’s vineyard-covered hills for a tasting of some of the best locally harvested wines in the region – a cruise highlight!
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8: Bernkastel / Luxembourg
Dock in Bernkastel, a wine-growing center famous for its half-timbered houses. A day trip to the tiny Grand Duchy of Luxembourg includes a walking tour of the Old Town and a look inside the cathedral. Local guides wait to host your poignant afternoon visit to the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial, final resting place of over 5,000 U.S. troops who fell in battle here during World War II. Return to Bernkastel for guided exploration of sites chronicling 700 years of history here – 17th-century homes, a medieval market square, a Renaissance city hall, and castle ruins overlooking the town.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9: Trier / Bernkastel
A morning visit takes you to Trier, Germany’s oldest town, nestled in a basin in the Moselle Valley. Its importance in ancient times is showcased by its impressive Roman ruins, found nowhere else north of the Alps. Take a walking tour of Trier and return to the riverboat for lunch. Spend the afternoon at leisure, enjoying the sights of Bernkastel as you wish.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 10: Cultural Gems of Bonn
Explore Bonn today, the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1949 to 1991 and seat of the reunited German government before it was moved to Berlin. Bonn boasts a rich political, intellectual and musical heritage; it was the birthplace of legendary composer Ludwig von Beethoven and home to musicians Robert and Clara Schumann, among others. Enjoy a special lunch at the Grand Hotel Steigenberger in neighboring Petersberg, with commanding views of Bonn and the Rhine River; the hotel often hosts visiting dignitaries, heads of state and other guests of the German government. Walk off your meal on a tour of the old town, followed by free time.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 11: Kröller-Müller Museum / Nijmegen
Wake up in Rees this morning, gateway for today’s visit to De Hoge Veluwe National Park. Your excursion combines the natural treasures of the Netherlands’ largest nature reserve – including dense forests, drifting sand dunes, grassy plains and a wide variety of wildlife – with a visit to the renowned Kröller-Müller Museum, whose celebrated art collection boasts more than 275 works by Vincent van Gogh. Meet the riverboat in Nijmegen and explore this 2,000-year-old city as you please. Enjoy the Captain’s farewell reception and dinner aboard ship tonight.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 12: Canals and Museums of Amsterdam
What better way to end your cruise than in a city that rivals Venice for the number of canals that are found here. Join us this morning for an informative cruise along Amsterdam’s tree-lined 17th-century canals – there are 160 of them in this capital city, spanned by more than 1,200 bridges. Glide by gabled Golden Age merchants’ houses that speak to Amsterdam’s storied past to the gardens, walkways and museums of Museumplein. Enjoy an eye-opening visit to the famed Rijksmuseum, home to one of the world’s most important collections of artwork by the Dutch Masters, including Rembrandt’s The Night Watch. Return to your riverboat for lunch or spend free time exploring the city sights on your own.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 13: Disembark Ship / Journey Home
Tour Ends: Amsterdam. A transfer is included from the riverboat to Schiphol International Airport in Amsterdam; please allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Don't miss our current specials: Tauck Tour Special Offer Whether you choose to explore Europe on a Tauck "Yellow Roads of Europe" land journey, sail away on our award-winning European river cruises, find yourself someplace new on a Tauck Culturious trip or share the joy of European travel with your family on a Tauck Bridges adventure, your Tauck travel experience is built around these "cornerstones": Personalized Service We take care of every detail on your Tauck European vacation so you connect with the destination and experience the genuine emotion, the camaraderie, the little things that comprise day-to-day European life.   Quality Experience Tauck's expertise and local access provide guests with the best possible travel experience in Europe, including exclusive cultural events, fine hotels in the best locations and dining featuring authentic regional cuisine. Inclusive Value One up-front price with virtually everything included – no hidden costs, no surprises, no options sold on tour.   Peace of Mind Purchasing clarity – you know the quality of Tauck's travel experiences and full cost before you leave home. TAKE OFF WITH TAUCK makes flying to Europe easy with one flat up-front air price of $1,290 per person economy or $3,290 per person business and other benefits!* Call us today for more information!
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
5/15/2012 - 5/28/2012	$5,190
7/22/2012 - 8/4/2012	$4,890
8/31/2012 - 9/13/2012	$5,790
9/24/2012 - 10/7/2012	$5,790
10/18/2012 - 10/31/2012	$5,390
Note: Departures appearing above in green are guaranteed to operate by the tour operator.
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Tauck Tour Special Offer

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