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Join Vantage aboard the deluxe River Splendor and discover why our river cruises are award-winners. You’ll journey the entire length of the Rhine between Holland and Switzerland, also venturing up the breathtakingly scenic Moselle to take in its steep-sloped banks cloaked in vines.
Our 27 included excursions and Cultural Connections open your eyes to some of Europe’s most breathtaking landmarks, including six UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Admire the magnificent half-timbered houses of Bernkastel — the Moselle’s wine-growing town — and Colmar and Riquewihr, France’s delightful villages along the Alsatian Wine Route. Cruise the Upper Middle Rhine, a showstopper for its storybook hamlets and looming hillside castles. Tour the charming canals of Amsterdam and Strasbourg. And so much more.
Exclusive events and activities connect you to life and history along these storied rivers. Scholarly lectures, an engaging painting class, and fun and flavorful cooking classes round out your enrichment throughout your journey. Plus, you can explore even close — and get some exercise! — when you head out on one of the ship’s bicycles or on an active walk, either with a guide or on your own.
Come along with Vantage and immerse yourself in the many pleasures along the Rhine and Moselle!
Board your flight to Amsterdam
Board an overnight flight to Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Or begin your trip early with a pre-trip extension in Bruges, Belgium’s incredibly preserved medieval treasure.
Arrive in Amsterdam, embark your ship, and enjoy free time to explore the city
If you purchased your airfare from Vantage, a representative will meet you at the airport and assist with the transfer to your ship. This afternoon, attend a Welcome Briefing. This evening, enjoy a Welcome Drink.
Included meals:
Cruise Amsterdam's UNESCO-listed Canal Ring and visit the Rijksmuseum
Today, embark on a lovely cruise along Amsterdam’s 17th-century canal ring, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will then visit the Rijksmuseum, home of Amsterdam’s premier art collection, including works by such Dutch masters as Rembrandt and Vermeer. You can enjoy an afternoon at leisure — there’s even shuttle service available to the city if you’d like. Later, gather with your fellow travelers for a Dutch-themed Captain’s Welcome Dinner and Reception.
Tonight, enjoy the sweet sounds of classical strings as you get to know your fellow travelers and look forward to your enriching cruise ahead.
Enjoy a walking tour of Nijmegen, the oldest city in the Netherlands
This morning, step right off your ship for a walking tour of Nijmegen. This is the oldest city in the Netherlands — more than 2,000 years. You’ll stroll its compact medieval district and hear about the city’s role in World War II. Lunch is back onboard; after, enjoy some relaxing leisure time.
As you sail toward the Rhine River on scenic waterways this afternoon, you’ll learn a bit about the local language during a German lesson.
Later, head to the Captain’s Club for a fun interactive cooking lesson, perhaps seeing what goes into making the perfect Käsespätzle or similar. Solo travelers may mingle during a solo get-together, too. After dinner, it’s Movie Night on board: Fassbinder’s The Marriage of Maria Braun is our feature, chronicling the life of a woman during and after the war in Germany.
Explore Cologne and sample its distinctive beer
This morning, join a guided walking tour of Cologne, getting a chance to learn about this city’s rich Roman past and viewing the magnificent cathedral. One of Europe’s most stunning structures, its start-and-stop construction began in 1248 and ended in 1880.
Pause at a traditional restaurant to enjoy a special tasting of Kölsch beer, a distinctive style that the New York Times once stated was like "drinking an entire culture." After, you'll also have free time to explore on your own, perhaps taking out one of the ship’s bicycles for the afternoon or joining a more active walk in the city.
Following lunch on board, we provide shuttles into Cologne for those who would like to spend more time browsing its historic streets.
Some evening entertainment onboard the ship offers the perfect closing to your day.
Meet the “count” of Reichsburg Castle, sip some wine, soak up the scenery
Spend the morning taking in the scenery as you sail to Cochem, arriving after lunch. While here, marvel at the spectacular setting of the fairy-tale Reichsburg Castle, perched atop a steep hill in the quaint town of Cochem on the Moselle River.
Meet the “count” during a guided tour of the castle; as local musicians regale you, join him in a toast over a glass of the fine Riesling for which the vineyard-laden Moselle Valley is famous.
As your ship gets underway, learn more secrets of German cuisine as your chef shows you how to prepare another regional favorite, perhaps German Braised Beef Roulade. After tonight’s German-themed dinner, enjoy another Movie Night.
Explore Germany’s oldest city, including UNESCO-listed Roman ruins
Begin your day with a lecture on the ancient Roman presence in Germany after breakfast on board. After, you’ll head to Trier, said to be the oldest city in Germany, conquered by Romans in the first century. During a panoramic and walking tour, witness their epic legacy when you view the amphitheater, Porta Nigra stone gate, the Roman Bridge, Barbara Baths, and the Cathedral of St. Peter. Then, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
This evening, see how another German specialty is prepared during a cooking lesson with the chef. During dinner, the restaurant maître d'hotel will present you with four different wine pairings.
Cultural Connection:
Culinary Features:
Enjoy a walking exploration of Bernkastel and sample some local wines
Set out on a walking tour of Bernkastel to admire the charming timber-framed houses of this “International Town of Vines and Wine.” The surrounding landscape boasts massive fortresses and fairy-tale castles sure to enchant. Then have some time on your own to take in all its charms. This afternoon, enjoy a tasting of regional wines aboard your ship, followed by a cooking lesson to learn how Germany’s beloved potato dumplings and bread dumplings are prepared. Later, enjoy the lovely sounds of some of opera’s great arias during onboard entertainment.
Included Feature:
Discover Bernkastel on your own
You’ll have the entire day at leisure to explore Bernkastel on your own. Your Concierge can help you with cycling plans if you’d like to set out on two wheels. This evening, see how another German specialty is prepared during a cooking lesson with the chef. Culinary Features:
Discover Koblenz and sail the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley
This morning, enjoy a walking tour of Koblenz, the scenic baroque gem where the Rhine and Moselle meet. Its dramatic German Corner juts into the rivers’ meeting point like the prow of a proud ship, a giant equestrian statue of William I its figurehead. After seeing the main sights of the Old Town, there’ll be time on your own. In the afternoon you set off for a breathtaking scenic cruise through the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its spectacular array of medieval castles and charming wine villages. As you approach the steep, slate Lorelei Rock, learn about its legends during shipboard commentary. This evening’s onboard cooking lesson highlights the pleasures of a Swabian delicacy. You arrive in Mainz, at the scenic confluence of the Main and Rhine Rivers, in time to join your Cruise Director in town for a pub crawl, perhaps sampling one of Germany’s popular wheat, pale, or dark beers. Included Feature:
See the Gutenberg Bible in Mainz and learn how to paint
Mainz was once the seat of the Holy Roman Empire. It was also the city where Johannes Gutenberg invented the movable-type printing press, changing communication forever. Learn more about his revolutionary creation during a guided visit to the Johannes Gutenberg Museum, home to one of the original Gutenberg Bibles. Then, choose from an array of options this afternoon. Later, our cooking lesson shows you how to make German sour cabbage, sampling some local Riesling with your creation. Or, join a local artist to gain insight into capturing riverside vistas on canvas during a painting lesson. Onboard entertainment will serenade you as you depart Mainz. Included Feature:
Marvel at the Speyer Cathedral and savor the warmth of a home-hosted dinner
This morning you arrive in Speyer, a pretty town of church towers and red-roof houses. Your morning is at leisure. After lunch on board, pay a visit to a local Speyer household to share coffee, cake, and conversation. Later, you’ll set off on a tour of Speyer and its eponymous 11th-century cathedral, a wonder of Romanesque architecture. Once one of the largest cathedrals in the world, this UNESCO World Heritage Site remains the final resting place for many emperors and heads of state. Back on the ship, get ready to celebrate German-style during a festive party! Vantage Exclusive:
Discover Strasbourg on a walking and canal tour
Today in Strasbourg, an included walking and canal boat tour take you to the UNESCO-listed Grande-Île, where you will see the elegant Palais Rohan, the quaint shops and parks of “La Petite France”, and the Tanners’ Quarter. You will also step inside the glorious Cathedral Notre Dame and see the ultra-modern European Union Parliament. If you want to, explore more of Strasbourg on your own, a shuttle bus from our pier makes it easy. On board tonight, savor more of this delightful region of France with a special French Alsatian dinner. Vantage Exclusive:
Immerse yourself in the Alsatian Wine Route on a full-day tour
Today you’ll enjoy a full-day Alsatian Wine Route tour, stopping first to stroll through the charming colorful streets of Colmar, renowned as the capital of Alsatian wine. Visit its famous Unterlinden Museum, a 13th-century Dominican convent housing the beloved Isenheim Altarpiece, a lush and moving polyptych. We provide some euros so you can find a place for lunch while in town. Continue to another beautiful French town steeped in charm, Riquewihr, renowned for its Riesling wine. Later, learn more about the European Union during a fascinating lecture. And enjoy a final evening of music as your spirit soars with selections from operetta to Broadway. Included Feature:
Set off on a half-day tour of Basel
Dock in Basel, Switzerland, near the borders of Germany and France, early this morning. Located on the Rhine River, Basel traces its history as far back as the early Celts and Roman Empire. Today, its Old Town is a delight to browse and its many galleries draw art lovers from all over Europe. You’ll get acquainted during a walking tour, then enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. We will have shuttles to the city center available for those who are interested in returning for further independent exploration after lunch on board. Join in on an evening dinner onboard featuring traditional Swiss dishes. Included Feature:
Depart Basel for Montreux or your flight home
Depart for home today or experience more of magnificent Switzerland during an optional extension in Montreux, a resort haven on the shores of Lake Geneva.
The 19th-century luminaries who once visited Montreux — Tolstoy, Nabokov, Flaubert, Dostoyevsky — were no doubt drawn by the pleasant climate, idyllic surroundings, and shimmering waters of Lake Geneva. This resort town remains an elegant escape, and you’ll experience its many charms on this extension. Enjoy a full-day tour of the Château de Chillon and Gruyère region — which includes some time at the Lavaux Vineyard Terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Witness the art of chocolate-making with a local chocolatier. And take time on your own to revel in the beauty of this lakeside gem.
Important Notice:The above day-by-day itinerary is preliminary and subject to change. If changes occur while on tour, you will be notified by your Cruise Director or regional expert. In addition, should there be an extreme change in water levels, Vantage will do everything possible to provide either the included excursion or an alternate excursion at Vantage’s discretion.
