Rhine River Cruise + Switzerland Getaway: Amsterdam to Lucerne with Avalon Waterways
RHINE RIVER CRUISE + SWITZERLAND GETAWAY — JUST BOOKED!
One of Europe's most legendary river journeys is officially on the books, and this one is going to be incredible.
Castles perched high above the river. Vineyard-covered hillsides. Medieval villages. Historic European cities. French cafés. German wine towns. And, to top it all off, a few dreamy days surrounded by the lakes and mountains of Switzerland.
Seriously, who doesn't want to experience all of THAT while floating down the Rhine River?
This group is heading to Europe for a Rhine River cruise with Avalon Waterways, beginning in Amsterdam and traveling through some of the most beautiful destinations in the Netherlands, Germany and France before finishing their adventure with two nights in Lucerne, Switzerland.
And the best part?
They're experiencing it all together with friends and family.
Talk about a bucket-list group vacation.
Beginning the Rhine River Cruise in Amsterdam
The adventure begins in Amsterdam, Netherlands, one of my favorite cities to pair with a European river cruise.
From Amsterdam, they'll board their Avalon Waterways river cruise and settle in for a completely different way to experience Europe.
One of the reasons I love recommending river cruising is how easy it makes seeing multiple European destinations.
Instead of packing and unpacking every few days, changing hotels, navigating train stations and figuring out transportation between cities, your floating hotel travels with you.
Wake up, look out the window and there's an entirely new European destination waiting to be explored.
Not a bad way to travel!
Cruising Germany's Legendary Rhine River
As the cruise makes its way along the Rhine River, this group will visit some of Germany's most iconic destinations, including Cologne and Rüdesheim.
Then comes one of the stretches I've been most excited about for them: the Rhine Gorge.
This UNESCO-recognized section of the Rhine is famous for its dramatic scenery, historic castles, vineyards and picturesque villages lining the riverbanks.
This is the Europe people picture when they dream about taking a Rhine River cruise.
Grab a drink, find a spot with a view and watch castles pass by from the ship.
Sign. Me. Up.
Strasbourg, France
The itinerary also includes time in Strasbourg, France, where French and German influences come together in one seriously beautiful city. They'll have the opportunity to explore the historic center, wander through the canals and half-timbered buildings of La Petite France and see Strasbourg's incredible Gothic cathedral.
This is one of the things I love most about a Rhine River cruise: the variety.
One day you're exploring a German wine village. The next you're wandering cobblestone streets in France.
And your suitcase can stay exactly where it is.
Exploring Germany's Black Forest
Next up: the Black Forest.
This region of southwestern Germany is known for its dense forests, charming villages, traditional cuckoo clocks and, yes, Black Forest cake.
It's another chance to experience a completely different side of Germany before this group's river cruise portion comes to an end.
But their European adventure isn't over yet.
Two Nights in Lucerne, Switzerland
Because why fly all the way to Europe and stop there?
After their Rhine River cruise, this group will continue on to Lucerne, Switzerland for two additional nights.
Surrounded by mountains and set along beautiful Lake Lucerne, the city is the perfect way to slow down and finish an already incredible European itinerary.
They'll have time to explore Lucerne, enjoy the lake and mountain scenery and soak in alllllll those Swiss views before heading home.
Adding a Switzerland extension to a Rhine River cruise is one of those itinerary combinations that just makes sense.
You get the ease and convenience of river cruising combined with a little extra time to experience Switzerland independently.
Best of both worlds.
Exploring Europe by E-Bike
And here's another feature I absolutely love about this itinerary.
Avalon Waterways offers bicycles on its European ships, including e-bikes on select vessels, giving travelers another way to explore destinations along their route.
For this particular group, having opportunities to get out and explore on two wheels was a huge bonus.
Rather than experiencing every destination exclusively through organized sightseeing, they can have opportunities to get outside, explore and experience Europe at their own pace.
River cruise + biking through Europe?
Ahhh-mazing.
Why Take a Rhine River Cruise?
If you've always wanted to experience Europe but the thought of coordinating transportation between several cities feels overwhelming, a European river cruise can be an incredible option.
River cruises offer the ability to experience multiple destinations while unpacking once and letting much of the transportation happen while you're relaxing, eating dinner or sleeping.
They're especially great for travelers who want to experience the history, food, wine, architecture and smaller towns of Europe without spending half their vacation figuring out how to get from Point A to Point B.
And unlike a traditional ocean cruise, river cruise ships are much smaller and can dock close to the cities and towns you're actually there to experience.
That means more time exploring and less time getting there.
Planning a Rhine River Cruise with Friends + Family
River cruising can also be an incredible option for a group trip to Europe.
For this group, the itinerary is amazing—but the fact that they're experiencing it alongside friends and family makes it even better.
Everyone gets to experience the destinations together while still having flexibility when it comes to excursions and how they spend their days.
Some travelers might want a guided walking tour. Others may want to hop on a bike. Someone else may prefer to find a café, order a glass of wine and watch the world go by.
Then everyone can come back together aboard the ship.
That balance makes European river cruising especially appealing for groups.
Thinking About a European River Cruise?
If you've been curious about taking a Rhine River cruise, Danube River cruise or another European river cruise, I'd love to help you figure out where to start.
As a travel advisor, I can help compare river cruise lines, ships, itineraries, cabin categories and destinations to find the experience that best fits how you want to travel.
I can also help you think beyond the cruise itself.
Want to arrive in Amsterdam a few days early?
Add Switzerland afterward?
Turn your river cruise into a two-week European adventure?
Travel with a group of friends or extended family?
Let's do it.
There are so many incredible ways to experience Europe by river, and the right itinerary isn't necessarily the same for every traveler.
My job is to help you find yours.
If castles, vineyards, medieval villages, European cities and waking up somewhere new each morning sound like your kind of vacation, give your girl a call.
Let's get your European river cruise on the books.
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