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Castles on the Rhine: Family Riverboat Adventure - Southbound
Castles on the Rhine: Family Riverboat Adventure - Southbound
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ATTENTION: Our system has identified that the title of this tour refers to a different length than the correct tour length. This is likely a discrepancy coming over to us from the tour company. Please see the "LENGTH" value listed below as well as the details in the "Tour Itinerary" tab below for the correct length.
Length
8 Days
Quality
This indicates the overall quality of the tour operator's products. A low rating does not mean it is not good - it just means that it does not include as much, or perhaps is of a more standard quality than the higher quality tours. For example, a 3 star quality rating means that it is a more standard/economical tour, while 5 stars is a very luxurious tour that often includes a lot of amenities.
Starts in
Amsterdam (Netherlands)
Ends in
Basel (Switzerland)
Available Tour Start Dates
JUN 28, 2028 to JUL 26, 2028 These are the tour start dates for instances of this tour that were available the last time Tauck sent us such information. There may be other departures for this tour that are not available (i.e. sold out or cancelled).
Activity Level
No Rating Provided These are tours that the vendor has not electronically communicated an activity level for. Contact us if you would like to know the activity level for any of these tours.
Style
Fully-Guided
Language
English
Guaranteed Date(s)
Yes means that there is at least one tour date that the vendor guarantees will occur. No means that there is not at least one tour date that the vendor guarantees will occur, which usually means that the vendor wants a certain amount of reservations on each tour in order for each one to occur. Of course, the terms and conditions of the vendor do allow for the vendor to cancel guaranteed tour dates for certain reasons (for example, a natural disaster).
No
Special Interest(s)
From
Pricing listed is per person, based on double occupancy, and is the least expensive price for at least one departure date of this tour. Price is for the tour only. Additional items, including but not limited to, airfare (unless noted otherwise), travel insurance, and more, are additional.
$6,190.00
Available
Contact Us for a Special Price!
Overview
Create cherished family memories on our unforgettable Basel to Amsterdam riverboat cruise along the Rhine River, exploring Switzerland, France, Germany and The Netherlands for a family adventure unlike any other.
Family travel experiences include a bicycle ride through forests and vineyards along the Rhine riverside; Swiss folklore and more in lakeside Lucerne; a ride aboard the world's steepest cogwheel train to the top of Mt. Pilatus in the Swiss Alps; exploring the fascinating ruins of hilltop Heidelberg Castle in the medieval university town of Heidelberg; learning about the Lorelei and other Rhine River legends while keeping an eye out for fairy tale castles; discovering the art treasures and historic canals of Amsterdam; an exclusive medieval dinner for Tauck guests only at Burg Satzvey, a medieval moated castle in Germany; becoming "French for a Day" with French language lessons, songs, and a chocolate tasting; and much more!
The following are Castles on the Rhine: Family Riverboat Adventure - Southbound tour dates available from Tauck. Select a bonus offer graphic to view its details, including its terms.
Pricing Type: Double Occupancy
Pricing is per person, based on two people per reservation
Start Date
End Date
Bonus Offers
From
Pricing listed is per person, based
on double occupancy, and is the least expensive price available on
this tour date. Price is for the tour only, unless noted otherwise. Additional items,
including but not limited to, airfare, travel insurance, and more, are additional.
Guaranteed?
Yes means that that the vendor guarantees that tour date will occur.
No means that the vendor does not guarantee the tour will occur on that date, which usually
means that the vendor wants a certain amount of reservations on that date in order to
confirm it. Of course, the terms and conditions of the vendor do allow for the vendor to
cancel guaranteed tour dates for certain reasons (for example, a natural disaster).
WednesdayJul 12, 2028
WednesdayJul 19, 2028
No Booking Fees!
No Booking Fees!
We do not charge booking fees on any Tauck vacations.
You're sure to enjoy an affordable Tauck tour package when booking with us!
Available for new bookings made starting 09/16/20. Subject to expire without advanced notice.
Bonus Offers are not combinable,
unless noted otherwise. Pricing may already reflect the
application of any applicable promotions. Additional
restrictions apply. Certain terms and conditions apply to
each offer. Additional restrictions apply. We reserve the
right to correct errors.
$6,190.00
Yes
(Departure #ZIY2028-268)
WednesdayJul 26, 2028
WednesdayAug 2, 2028
No Booking Fees!
No Booking Fees!
We do not charge booking fees on any Tauck vacations.
You're sure to enjoy an affordable Tauck tour package when booking with us!
Available for new bookings made starting 09/16/20. Subject to expire without advanced notice.
Bonus Offers are not combinable,
unless noted otherwise. Pricing may already reflect the
application of any applicable promotions. Additional
restrictions apply. Certain terms and conditions apply to
each offer. Additional restrictions apply. We reserve the
right to correct errors.
$6,190.00
Yes
(Departure #ZIY2028-269)
WednesdayJun 28, 2028
WednesdayJul 5, 2028
No Booking Fees!
No Booking Fees!
We do not charge booking fees on any Tauck vacations.
You're sure to enjoy an affordable Tauck tour package when booking with us!
Available for new bookings made starting 09/16/20. Subject to expire without advanced notice.
Bonus Offers are not combinable,
unless noted otherwise. Pricing may already reflect the
application of any applicable promotions. Additional
restrictions apply. Certain terms and conditions apply to
each offer. Additional restrictions apply. We reserve the
right to correct errors.
$6,690.00
Yes
(Departure #ZIY2028-267)
Tour Itinerary
Note: The version of the tour that is currently selected (via the "Select Season" options above) will be in the reverse order of what is listed below. Please select a different version of this tour above (that doesn't indicate "Reverse") if you'd prefer the tour in the order listed below.
Castles on the Rhine: Family Riverboat Adventure - Southbound
Tauck Tour Code ZIY2028
Day 1
Welcome to Amsterdam & embark your riverboat
Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Amsterdam. A transfer is included from Amsterdam's Schipol Airport or Centraal Station to your riverboat for the beginning of your cruise along the Rhine. Meet your riverboat crew for a welcome briefing, then we invite you to join us for a sea shanty performance followed by a welcome reception and dinner aboard the riverboat this evening.
Meals Included:
Dinner
Accommodations:ms Inspire
Day 2
A canal cruise & more in Amsterdam
Amsterdam, the remarkable capital of The Netherlands, is all about water; like Venice in Italy, it's dominated by a series of canals that link its many tiny islands. Known to the Dutch as grachten, the city's 17th-century canals fan out in crescent-shaped rings from the northern waterfront. Start your day with a unique view of the city on a canal boat cruise through these historic waterways with a local guide – the city's heart feels more like a village than the compact center of a cosmopolitan city. Aboard the canal boat, you'll glide beneath curved bridges carrying walkers and cyclists – as well as trams and cars – and past the narrow former homes of merchants who stored their goods on the upper floors. Along the way, see a host of 17th- and 18th-century structures, the 19th-century Centraal Station, the city flower market and more. Following the canal cruise, you'll make a visit to STRAAT—an inspiring museum showcasing vibrant street art and graffiti from talented artists around the world, offering a unique glimpse into urban creativity and contemporary expression. Rejoin your riverboat in Utrecht as she sets off along the Rhine, bound for Köln (Cologne), Germany; this afternoon, you'll have an opportunity to attend an ice cream social followed by Dutch clog-painting workshop.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Accommodations:ms Inspire
Day 3
Historic Köln & dinner at a castle
Germany's fourth-largest city, historic Köln (also known as Cologne) was founded by the Romans in the 1st century AD; nearly destroyed by Allied bombing during World War II, modern Köln's unique mix of rebuilt, restored and new structures sprawls across both sides of the Rhine. After a full morning of cruising, arrive in Köln and begin your exploration with a guided walking tour of the city, dominated by the immense, twin-spired Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), whose construction only took six hundred years! Completed in 1880, this Gothic "Dom" was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Throughout your tour, your family will have the opportunity to partake in a virtual reality historical experience, transporting you back in time to see what life was like here during in the 1920s! This evening, head to Burg Satzvey, a moated castle in Germany's Rhineland region dating back to the 12th-century, for a rustic dinner in the castle's banquet hall that transports your family back to the Middle Ages for some medieval fun! Later, return to the ship and continue your cruise to Koblenz.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Accommodations:ms Inspire
Day 4
Koblenz, cycling & cruise the Middle Rhine Valley
Awaken this morning in Koblenz, a beautiful city set at Deutsches Eck – the "German Corner" – where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet. The city's roots go way back to the Middle Ages, when its prime location made it a powerful controller of trade along these important waterways. Today you can choose to join your local guide on a walk down to Deutsches Eck before making your way into town where a local treat is sure to tantalize your taste buds. Or set off on a bicycling tour* up hills and through fields, forests and vineyards along the Rhine-Moselle (Rheinradweg) bicycle route. Bicycling is a countrywide passion in Germany, and the route's riverside trails take you through woods, meadows and Riesling winelands, offering views of passing pleasure boats and freighters on the river. Rejoin the riverboat for lunch and cruise the Middle Rhine – the historic legacy is rich and the scenery stunning, with castles and vineyards around many bends.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Accommodations:ms Inspire
Day 5
Heidelberg & castles on the Rhine
Arrive late morning in Mannheim before traveling to Heidelberg, Germany's oldest university town. As a major transport link across the heart of central Europe for centuries, the mighty Rhine River was a source of great riches for those who controlled the trade that plied its waters... and today, the cities, towns and castles along its banks remind us of that wealth and the power it created. You'll have a choice of excursion today. Visit the romantic ruins of Heidelberg Castle, perched high above the city of Heidelberg; you'll be awed by the castle's imposing ensemble of buildings from different centuries and architectural periods, radiating out from a central courtyard. Within its walls, you can feel the sweep of hundreds of years of history that was made here – and enjoy the sweeping views of the riverscapes from its terrace and gardens. Alternatively, visit Speyer, home to the largest Romanesque cathedral in the world, for a visit to the Technik Museum, introducing technological innovation from the underwater world to space. Cruise overnight to Strasbourg.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Accommodations:ms Inspire
Day 6
French for a day in Strasbourg
Today your riverboat calls on the historic city of Strasbourg, France, surrounded by the hills of southern Alsace. Renowned for its fairy-tale charm – and as the "Crossroads of Europe" for its role as home to the European Union – Strasbourg is the cultural capital of the French region of Alsace. Have some Franco-styled fun as your family becomes "French for a Day" in Strasbourg during a morning filled with learning French phrases and a chocolate tasting! Afterwards choose between a tarte flambee making demonstration or a visit to a local Cathedral. If you wish, return to the riverboat for lunch, or stay in Strasbourg and spend the afternoon exploring as you please. Among the treasures you'll see here are the medieval canals, watchtowers and half-timbered houses of La Petite France, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; stately city residences; the modern buildings of the European Parliament' and the 11th-century Gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg. Tonight, join us for a farewell reception followed by dinner as your ships charts a course for your final destination - Basel.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Accommodations:ms Inspire
Day 7
Mt. Pilatus by Cogwheel Rail and Gondola, with Time in Lucerne
Depart your riverboat this morning for Switzerland's Lake Lucerne region, where alpine meadows, forested slopes, and jagged peaks create a storybook backdrop. Local lore adds another layer to the day: some say Mt. Pilatus was named because the Roman governor Pontius Pilate was buried there, others because its silhouette resembles a reclining giant. Either way, the mountain has inspired legends for centuries. Ascend by gondola to its summit, where, weather permitting, sweeping views extend across lakes and snow-dusted ranges. Your descent follows a different path – aboard the world's steepest cogwheel railway, winding past wildflower meadows and tumbling streams. Returning to Lucerne, experience a Swiss folklore performance paired with a taste of cheese fondue before rejoining your riverboat in the historic city of Basel late afternoon. Lying at the center of the "Three Corners," where France, Germany and Switzerland meet at the Rhine, Basel's city skyline is dominated by Münster Cathedral. Join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner – the end of a special family river cruise along the Rhine.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Accommodations:ms Inspire
Day 8
Journey home
Tour ends: Basel. Fly home anytime. Upon disembarking the riverboat (no later than 9:00 AM), transfers are included to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg or Basel's SBB train station; guests can also transfer to Zürich Airport or Zurich Hauptbahnhof (train station). Please allow 3 hours for flight check-in.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
More Details
Tauck is informing us of the following additional details regarding their Castles on the Rhine: Family Riverboat Adventure - Southbound tour:
Travelers Notes
Meals Included
Tauck Values
The following is being included by Tauck on this tour:
TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Private medieval evening including tour and dinner at a historic moated castle
All gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides and drivers
Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $2,672
Descending Mt. Pilatus aboard the world's highest cogwheel train with sweeping views of the Swiss Alps
Tarte flambée, chocolate and French lessons – become "French for a Day"
Bicycling through forests and vineyards beside the Rhine
Visit to the legendary ruins of Heidelberg Castle
Pricing listed above for tours is per person, in US Dollars, and is based on double occupancy. Pricing may change for other occupancy types. Pricing is based on the last time the vendor electronically sent us pricing data, which varies by vendor (usually occurs overnight or multiple times throughout each day).
Pricing and availability are subject to change and must be confirmed by one of our travel advisors, who can contact the vendor to do so. Intra-vacation air (also referred to as internal air) is usually based on economy class seating (do not assume otherwise, unless explicity noted otherwise) and may be 100% non-refundable at time of final payment. Air quotes (including intra-vacation airfare) may be subject to change until final payment has been received by the vendor. Flight confirmation may be based on availability. Air reservations may not be able to be confirmed until a passport copy is received by the vendor. The following charges are not included in the vacation price unless otherwise noted: airfare to and from the start of your vacation; airline baggage fees including checked and/or excess baggage fees; Federal inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigrations; International Air Transportation tax; agricultural tax; other per person taxes imposed by government entities; airport taxes and fees, including the September 11th Security fee, passenger facility charges, Federal domestic flight segment fees, and U.S. and international arrival and departure and other government-imposed fees added by the airline and applicable at time of booking; port taxes; passports; visas and vaccinations; tips to your Cruise Director, Local Host, driver, Local Guides, and/or ship's crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant or onboard your vessel (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; optional excursions; additional activities and excursions purchased online; porterage at airports and train stations; Travel Protection; and all other items of a personal nature. Itinerary details are provided by the vendor. Vendors may reserve the right to change itineraries, even on existing reservations. There may be instances where the name of a tour contains a tour length in it, but where there is a version of the tour that is a different number of days in length. You can check the true length of a tour by referring to the length value listed in association with that tour. Destination images displayed on this web page, some which are supplied by the related vendor and some which are not, are intended to simply give a general representation of the region of the world being visited during the tour. Such images are not necessarily of the exact areas being visited during the tour. Hotel details (including, but not limited to: rating/class, descriptions, images, amenities and addresses) are provided by Tauck. Hotel amenities may be communicated in shorthand by Tauck (for example, if "Laundry" is listed that may only mean that the hotel has an optional fee-based service that would allow for your laundry to be done by their staff). We reserve the right to correct errors.
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