Tauck Castles on the Rhine: Family Riverboat Adventure

• Tauck’s private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at £1,464!
• All gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides and drivers
• Riding the world’s highest cogwheel train with sweeping views of the Swiss Alps
• Private dinner and evening at a castle, Burg Satzvey
• Fondue, chocolate, and French lessons, becoming “French for a Day”
• Bicycling through forests and vineyards beside the Rhine – Moselle Rivers
• Visit to the legendary ruins of Heidelberg Castle
• All shore excursions and onboard briefings
• Airport transfers on arrival and departure as noted
• 20 meals, service charges, admission fees, taxes and porterage

Day 1: Arrive Basel for your Amsterdam riverboat cruise

Your family’s Amsterdam riverboat cruise begins at 4:00 PM in Basel. A transfer is included from Euroairport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg or Basel SBB Bahnhof to ms Grace or ms Inspire for the start of your Basel to Amsterdam riverboat cruise along the Rhine. Meet your riverboat crew for a welcome briefing, then kick off your fun family river cruise by joining your shipmates for a welcome dinner aboard the riverboat this evening.

Day 2: Alpine fun by rail to Mt. Pilatus & in Lucerne

Disembark this morning for an excursion to the Lake Lucerne area and Mt. Pilatus – where mountain peaks, forests and meadows straight out of a picture book await your family. Travel to Alpnachstad at the edge of shimmering Lake Lucerne, where you’ll board the world’s steepest cogwheel train for your ascent to the summit of Mt. Pilatus. Climbing to the very top (Oberhaupt), nearly 7,000 feet high, is most definitely part of the fun, as you travel upward at a really steep 48° angle, while drinking in the views of Alpine meadows and mountain streams. Head back down the mountain at your leisure to lovely Lucerne for some time to explore on your own; sights in this “city of lights” include Altstadt (the Old City), whose narrow cobblestone lanes lead to centuries-old buildings painted with frescoes,etc.

Day 3: French for a day in Strasbourg

Wake up this morning aboard your riverboat, docked on the Rhine outside 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, a sing-along featuring French songs, and a chocolate tasting!

Day 4: Castles on the Rhine

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. This morning, your family can choose to spend time on your own in Speyer, a medieval German town that thrived on trade in the 10th and 11th centuries, when construction began on its double-domed cathedral – built with natural glass windows and the first in Europe with a roof made entirely of stone; it’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Or you can head off on a morning excursion to Heidelberg, Germany’s oldest university town.

Day 5: Koblenz or cycling and an evening at a castle

During a morning spent cruising the Rhine aboard the riverboat, keep your eyes peeled for riverside castles as you play our “I Spy a Castle” game, and hear legends and lore of the Lorelei – the mythical siren that was said to rise from the rocky bank of the river and bewitch passing sailors – from your Tauck Directors. Have lunch on the riverboat’s Sun Deck (weather permitting) before your arrival 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. This afternoon, you can choose to join your local guide on a walking tour of Koblenz’s Altstadt (Old Town), a delightful mix of medieval town squares, tucked-away corners, medieval churches, baroque residences and wine taverns.

Day 6: Historic Köln & Carnival traditions onboard

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. Start your exploration with a 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. The riverboat departs Köln midday; during an afternoon and evening spent cruising the Rhine, learn about the colourful history and traditions of “Carnival”; it grew out of celebrations leading up to the Christian observance of Lent, and has been an important part of the cultural scene in Germany (and in Köln in particular) for centuries.

Day 7: Canals, van Gogh & 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 – and you’ll start your day with a unique view of Amsterdam on a canal boat cruise through these historic waterways, hopping on and off to explore the city’s heart, which feels more like a village than the compact center of a cosmopolitan city, with your local guide. 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.

Day 8: Journey home

Disembark your riverboat this morning by 9:00 AM. A transfer is included from the riverboat to Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport or Central Station. Fly home anytime. Allow 3 hours for flight check-in. For guests wishing to spend more time in Amsterdam, ask at booking about extending your stay with an additional hotel night at Tauck’s hotel.

Aboard your 443-ft. riverboat

The 443-foot (135-meter) riverboats of Tauck’s Destination Fleet – including ms Joy and ms Savor (operating on the Danube), and ms Grace and ms Inspire (operating on the Rhine) – continue to set standards for quality, comfort, the most space per guest, and the most suites on Europe’s rivers. These longer ships (443 feet or 135 meters in length) accommodate a maximum of 130 guests in a total of 67 cabins. 22 suites (300 sq. ft.) offer walk-in closets, spacious baths, and two French balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows. 32 cabins (225 sq. ft.) include 8 innovative “loft cabins” providing additional light and views on the lower deck. Standard cabins (150 sq. ft.) are comfortable and similar in décor to our suites. All have in-room movies, minibar, adjustable heating & cooling, a private bathroom with shower and sumptuous toiletries and bedding. Public spaces boast panoramic windows, a Sun Deck, a casual dining venue – Arthur’s – a panoramic cocktail lounge and our main dining room, The Compass Rose.

Please note, prices listed are guide prices only and are based on 2 people sharing and don’t include any additional supplements. Holiday prices are fluid and dynamic and may be changed at a moment’s notice, prior to booking, at which point they are confirmed. Please call the team free on 0800 707 6229 for more departure dates available and a quote.