Cruise the Rhine: Amsterdam to Switzerland

A maze of pretty waterways, coffeehouses and museums brimming with Golden Age masterpieces: Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most unforgettable capitals, its cool, laid-back collage of districts stitched together with cobbles and canals. On arrival, you are met and transferred to your hotel. After some time to relax, gather for a welcome dinner.

Pay a guided visit to the world-famous Rijksmuseum, home to an extensive collection of Dutch masters, followed by time for lunch at leisure. Embark on a private canal boat cruise, the best way to see this city linked by 165 canals spanning more than 30 miles, before taking advantage of priority boarding onto your river ship. After settling into your premium cabin or suite, gather for a welcome cocktail and dinner aboard.

This morning, transfer by coach to the university town of Leiden for a private, before-hours visit to the American Pilgrim Museum. Spend some time exploring Leiden at your own pace. Rejoin the ship in Utrecht for lunch as your cruise continues. Your evening includes a private cocktail party.

Arrive in Cologne, where you disembark to explore the major sites on a walking tour, including the Gothic cathedral, an edifice so massive its construction spanned centuries; it was only officially completed in 1880. Your afternoon is free for exploring on your own or just relaxing, then visit a 100-year-old brewery, where you experience a beer tasting and light snacks.

Arrive in Cochem on the Moselle River, a tributary of the Rhine, this afternoon. Disembark to visit the former secret bunker of the Deutsche Bundesbank – for decades one of the best-kept secrets in Germany. Built to survive a nuclear war, 15 billion German Marks of a secret emergency currency were stored here during the Cold War.

Cruise to Koblenz, where you rejoin the Rhine River. Take a guided walking tour of the city, whose history dates back to Roman times. Cruise the lovely Rhine Gorge, one of the most scenic stretches in all of Europe, with a magical mix of rocky, winding riverbanks, quaint riverside towns and castles perched high on cliffsides. Arrive in Rüdesheim, regionally renowned for its excellent wines, which you discover firsthand at a wine tasting and dinner ashore.

Set out on a full-day excursion to Heidelberg, starting with a visit to the Altstadt (old town) for time on your own; the Market Square is an excellent place to soak up local life. Then, ride by funicular to explore the ruins of Heidelberg Castle. Abandoned in the 18th century, the crumbling fortress nevertheless remained a source of inspiration for later Romantic painters and poets, who seized on it as a symbol of faded glory. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant followed by more time to explore before rejoining the ship in Speyer.

The capital of France's Alsace region, Strasbourg has been a focal point of French-German conflict for centuries, bearing the combined stamp of both nations as a result. Experience this for yourself on a walking tour of the old town that includes a specially arranged tasting at a historic Alsatian brasserie. Cruise to Basel, Switzerland's third-largest city. Tonight, attend a captain's gala dinner aboard your vessel.

Disembark and drive to Lucerne for a guided walk. Since the mid-19th century, this beautiful city has been the most visited in Switzerland, and today, it strikes an ideal balance between timeless historic beauty and modern development. Visit the Chapel Bridge to view its interior, decorated with vivid paintings that depict events from Lucerne's storied past. Also stop at the Lion Monument, a rock relief commemorating the Swiss Guard. After lunch at a traditional wirtshaus, ascend Mount Pilatus by cable car to absorb the postcard-worthy mountaintop views. After descending via cog railway, continue to Zurich and check in to your hotel.

Switzerland is synonymous with chocolate, and no visit here is complete without a stop at a Swiss chocolatier's workshop, where you enjoy some delectable treats. After lunch on your own, take in the city’s alluring mix of modern and Old World architecture on a guided walk. Zurich is known for its churches, and your route incorporates several noteworthy examples, including the Fraumünster, with its Marc Chagall-designed stained-glass windows, and the Grossmünster, supposedly founded by Charlemagne and later playing a key part in establishing the Reformation in Switzerland. Mark your journey’s end with a farewell dinner.

Transfer privately to the airport and board your homebound flight.