Rhine Enchantment, Italian Lakes to Amsterdam - Northbound

Tour begins: 6:00 PM. A transfer is included from Milano Malpensa or Milano Linate airports or Milano Centrale train station to Hotel Splendide Royal in Lugano, Switzerland, overlooking beautiful Lake Lugano. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for a welcome reception and dinner at your hotel. 

You're off for a day of exploring Lake Como, one of Italy's most beautiful lakes, nestled in the foothills of the Alps – and a favorite retreat for the well-heeled since ancient Roman times. Surrounded by mountains, its deep blue waters are framed by forested hillsides, picturesque villages, and elegant villas that have long attracted artists, aristocrats, and celebrities. A private boat cruise reveals the lake's beauty from the water, passing colorful waterfront towns, ancient stone bell towers, and grand estates tucked into lush gardens. It's easy to see why poet William Wordsworth described Lake Como as "a treasure whom the earth keeps to herself." Enjoy an included lunch in the Lake Como region before spending some free time exploring the town of Como, where narrow streets, inviting cafés, and historic piazzas offer a taste of Italian lakeside life. Return to Lugano later this afternoon, with the evening free to enjoy as you please.

Today, choose between discovering the architectural and cultural treasures of Milan or enjoying the mountain scenery of Switzerland's Ticino region. On a full-day excursion to Milan, explore Italy's celebrated fashion capital on a guided orientation and walking tour that takes you through its historic center. See Piazza della Scala, home to one of the world's most famous opera houses, along with Via degli Omenoni, Piazza San Fedele, and Palazzo Marino. Admire the magnificent Gothic Cathedral of Milan, il Duomo, a masterpiece of soaring spires and intricate stonework crowned by the golden Madonnina. Steps away, stroll through Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the city's elegant 19th-century shopping arcade, with its soaring glass dome and grand architecture. You may also have an opportunity to visit the cathedral's interior. Enjoy free time for lunch and independent exploration, perhaps discovering the art galleries and inviting streets of the Brera district, before returning to Lugano. Alternatively, head into the mountains for an excursion to Monte Tamaro, where a scenic gondola ride carries you nearly 2,000 meters above sea level for sweeping panoramas of the Swiss Alps and surrounding valleys. At the summit, discover the striking Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, designed by renowned Swiss architect Mario Botta, whose contemporary design makes a dramatic statement against the mountain landscape. Those looking for a little excitement can enjoy a ride on the mountain's alpine coaster. A rustic lunch featuring regional Ticinese specialties is included before descending by gondola and returning to Lugano, with time to explore the lakeside city on your own. Whichever excursion you choose, the evening is free to enjoy Lugano as you please.

Enjoy a leisurely morning in Lugano, with time to explore this picturesque lakeside city, where Swiss and Italian influences come together in a setting of palm-lined promenades, inviting piazzas, and mountain scenery. Stroll along the waterfront, browse the shops and cafés of the historic center, or enjoy an early lunch on your own before departing for the train station. This afternoon, board a train for a scenic journey north through Switzerland, traveling through the heart of the Alps. Along the way, take in the changing landscapes as the train winds through mountain valleys, passes traditional Swiss villages, and travels through impressive tunnels beneath towering peaks. Watch as the Mediterranean character of southern Switzerland gives way to the alpine scenery of central Switzerland, with green pastures, forested slopes, and mountain villages along the route. Arrive in Basel late this afternoon and transfer to your Tauck riverboat, your home for the next seven nights. Settle into your accommodations, attend a welcome and safety briefing, and join your fellow travelers for a welcome reception and dinner aboard ship.

Today, explore the Swiss city of Basel with your choice of two immersive excursions. Set out on a guided walking tour highlighting Basel's world-class art and architecture – renowned for striking contemporary works by celebrated international architects and boasting the highest concentration of museums in Switzerland. Your tour concludes with admission to one of the city's premier art museums. Alternatively, opt for a more active walking adventure that takes you deep into Basel's distinctive cultural traditions, complete with a tasting of local specialties along the way. Afterward, return to the ship for lunch or linger ashore to wander the storybook Old Town or stroll Freie Strasse, the city's elegant pedestrian shopping avenue. Return to the ship mid-afternoon, and continue cruising.

Your riverboat arrives this morning in Strasbourg, the capital city of the Grand Est region (formerly known as the Alsace). Here, a choice of excursions offers you the chance to seize the day your way! On one, leave Strasbourg en route to Colmar, France, located in the heart of the Alsace for a walking tour followed by free time to explore on your own. Another option takes you to the streets of Strasbourg for a guided walking tour and time to explore on foot. Finally, choose an all-day bicycle excursion that explores Strasbourg, including its Old Town and other residential neighborhoods.  

Dock in the port town of Mannheim this morning, before heading out from the riverboat to Heidelberg for a guided visit to the splendid ruins of Heidelberg Castle, a sprawling red sandstone compound high above the city, a reminder of 600 years of history. While here, check out the Heidelberg Tun, the biggest wine barrel in the world, learn about centuries of movers and shakers, and the romantic story of the Elisabeth Gate, built in 1615 as a present from Elector Frederic V to his wife Elisabeth Stuart, the daughter of King James I of England. He had the triumphal arch secretly crafted in sections and put up as a whole the night before her birthday to surprise her the next morning. The views of the Neckar River Valley from the castle are unforgettable; your visit is followed an opportunity to explore Old Town Heidelberg. Board the riverboat in Mannheim and spends the afternoon cruising north. You'll have time to enjoy the gym, get a massage… or curl up in a chair on the Sun Deck with a snack and your favorite drink. Arrive in Wiesbaden and disembark for a Tauck Exclusive evening featuring dinner and entertainment at Schloss Biebrich, an 18th-century Baroque palace on the bank of the Rhine in Wiesbaden.

Enjoy a day of cruising along the Rhine, through the Middle Rhine Valley. Your Tauck Director provides commentary as you glide past sloping vineyards and rocky bluffs, sharing the stories of the Lorelei Rock and the castles standing watch onshore. Dock this evening in Remagen and go ashore with your Tauck Director for an orientation tour.

Following a leisurely morning's cruise, arrive after brunch in Nijmegen – the largest city in the Dutch province of Gelderland and the oldest city in the Netherlands as a whole. An overlooked gem, Nijmegen is well known for its blend of ancient ruins, breathtaking medieval architecture, stunning natural beauty and lively atmosphere. Walk off the riverboat into town for your choice of excursions. Choices include; a guided walk of Nijmegen, a visit and guided tour of the Vrijheidsmuseum (Freedom Museum), detailing the liberation of the Netherlands at the end of World War II or a visit to the village of Appeltern, highlighted with a stop at its pumping station. Built between 1918 and 1919, this was one of the last steam pumpking stations. It was eventually decomissioned in 1969 and replaced with a Diesel-powered pumping station. Next, enjoy a visit to the Appeltern Gardens, an ideal choice for garden lovers. Back aboard the ship this evening, enjoy a reception, the Chef's Signature Dinner, and a party hosted by the crew as your riverboat charts a course for the Netherlands.

Arrive late morning in Amsterdam and disembark for an introduction to the Dutch capital aboard a canal boat cruise. As you float through the city's 17th-century network of canals, enjoy dessert as you pass under bridges, check out the houseboats, and view the historic buildings lining the canals. After your canal boat cruise, a final choice of excursions! Choose from either a tour of the Rembrandt House Museum, the former home and studio of famed Dutch painter, Rembrandt van Rijn from 1639 to 1658 or a walking tour of the city's Jewish Quarter. During your final evening aboard ship tonight, join us for a farewell reception followed by dinner.

Tour ends: Amsterdam. Disembark by 9:00 AM. Fly home anytime; a transfer from your riverboat to Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport or Centraal Train Station is included. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport. For additional nights in Amsterdam, ask at booking.