April 02, Sun

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

Embark PM

-

CULTURE & CANALS

Everyone has an image of Amsterdam. For some, it's small boats gliding on the canals and locals two-wheeling on bikes to work and, as frequently, to meet friends for drinks. For others, it's gabled buildings leaning, seemingly precariously, over cobbled streets and cozy taverns illuminated by candles. Still others imagine tulips in bloom and the paintings Vermeer, Van Gogh and Rembrandt. Each vision is even more beguiling when experienced in person.

2

April 03, Mon

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

-

1:00 PM

CULTURE & CANALS

Everyone has an image of Amsterdam. For some, it's small boats gliding on the canals and locals two-wheeling on bikes to work and, as frequently, to meet friends for drinks. For others, it's gabled buildings leaning, seemingly precariously, over cobbled streets and cozy taverns illuminated by candles. Still others imagine tulips in bloom and the paintings Vermeer, Van Gogh and Rembrandt. Each vision is even more beguiling when experienced in person.

3

April 04, Tue

COLOGNE, GERMANY

2:00 PM

11:00 PM

GOTHIC FILIGREE & BEAUTY

Germany's most visited landmark - the UNESCO-listed Cologne Cathedral - dominates the skyline here, its magnificent Gothic twin-spires reaching toward the heavens. Peel your eyes away from the Kölner Dom, its local name, to see the space needle-like Rhine Tower, ancient Roman ruins, a modern museum, cozy beerhalls and the arches of the Hohenzollern Bridge, reconstructed after the war.

4

April 05, Wed

KOBLENZ, GERMANY

8:00 AM

-

SCENIC CITY OF PARKS & HISTORY

Located where the Rhine and Moselle rivers and three mountain ranges meet, Koblenz' scenery is unmatched. Add to that the city's 2,000-year-old history, hilltop fortress and squares lined by classic Germanic architecture and you have a place ready made for photos. Ambling along the town's narrow lanes and river promenade, you might encounter medieval churches, flower-filled parks, sidewalk cafes and perhaps a weinstube, or wine tavern, ideal for sipping Riesling and drinking in the atmosphere.

5

April 06, Thu

KOBLENZ, GERMANY

-

7:00 AM

SCENIC CITY OF PARKS & HISTORY

Located where the Rhine and Moselle rivers and three mountain ranges meet, Koblenz' scenery is unmatched. Add to that the city's 2,000-year-old history, hilltop fortress and squares lined by classic Germanic architecture and you have a place ready made for photos. Ambling along the town's narrow lanes and river promenade, you might encounter medieval churches, flower-filled parks, sidewalk cafes and perhaps a weinstube, or wine tavern, ideal for sipping Riesling and drinking in the atmosphere.

CRUISING THE MIDDLE RHINE VALLEY

LORELEI - CRUISING

RÜDESHEIM, GERMANY

2:00 PM

10:00 PM

RENOWNED RIESLINGS

If Rüdesheim's scenic location on the UNESCO-designated Rhine Gorge doesn't sweep you off your feet, then the town's medieval Old Town with its half-timbered buildings and narrow lanes, especially the Drosselgasse overflowing with charming shops and taverns, surely will. The region's renowned Rieslings, produced here for centuries from vineyards dating to Roman times, promise to delight, too.

6

April 07, Fri

MANNHEIM, GERMANY

9:00 AM

5:00 PM

WHERE INNOVATION FLOWS

The name Benz is synonymous with automotive innovation, and here is where this legacy began. Also born here was the “man-powered running machine” (or bicycle), the Lanz Bulldog tractor and first rocket-powered aircraft, firmly establishing the city as the place for innovation and industry. The university town is also alive with hubs of diverse food, drink and shopping, as well as a thriving art and musical culture.

7

April 08, Sat

STRASBOURG, FRANCE

8:00 AM

1:00 PM

THE CAPITAL OF EUROPE

The seat of the European Parliament, Strasbourg is one of the world's most photogenic towns. It boasts a breathtaking Gothic cathedral and a remarkable charm that oozes from virtually every cozy corner of Grande Île, or “Large Island,” the first city center to be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

8

April 09, Sun

BASEL, SWITZERLAND

7:00 AM

Disembark AM

VIBRANT & PICTURESQUE

Even with its international flair and reputation as an iconic center for progressive art and design, Basel's medieval town center invites exploration by foot with an abundance of museums and galleries. While antiquity may be Basel's strong suit, two of its native sons - architects Herzog & de Meuron renowned design London's Tate Modern Beijing's Bird's Nest - bring a modern flair to the city's design along with other notable architects including Frank Gehry