Your Itinerary
Our journey begins in Basel, where we board our AmaWaterways ship and set sail on the Rhine. As we settle into life on the river, we meet our fellow travellers at a welcome dinner.Special InformationInternational airfares and transfers are not included. Final travel documentation will be provided approximately 30 days prior to departure.
From Breisach we have a choice of excursions. We might take a walking tour of Colmar, with its 16th-century architecture and a small replica of the Statue of Liberty, or hike the Kaiserstuhl, a volcanic wine region.Inspiring HighlightsColmar excursion, or Kaiserstuhl vineyard hike
Day 3 - Strasbourg [Ship]
We explore Strasbourg, where French and German influences meet, wandering the UNESCO-listed La Petite France and past the Cathedrale de Notre Dame with its astronomical clock. Alternatively we take a guided bike ride through the city and the Parc de l’Orangerie.Inspiring HighlightsStrasbourg “Gem of Alsace” tour, or Strasbourg bike tour
Day 4 - Ludwigshafen [Ship]
From Ludwigshafen we explore Heidelberg and its red sandstone castle, hike the Philosopher’s Path, or visit the medieval town of Ladenburg. Alternatively we see Speyer’s Romanesque cathedral, then sail to Rudesheim for Siegfried’s Mechanical Instrument Cabinet or a Rudesheimer Coffee.Inspiring HighlightsRomantic Heidelberg / Philosopher’s Hike / Secrets of Speyer / Siegfried’s Mechanical Instrument Cabinet / Rudesheimer Coffee
We continue in Rudesheim with a gondola ride to the Niederwalddenkmal statue and a Riesling tasting, or a hike through the hills past castles and Roman ruins. In the afternoon we cruise the Rhine Gorge to Lahnstein and the medieval Lahneck Castle.Inspiring HighlightsGondola ride and wine tasting / Vineyard hike / Rhine Gorge scenic cruising / Burg Lahneck visit
From Monheim we explore Cologne, with its Old Town and Gothic Cathedral holding the relics of the Three Kings, or Dusseldorf on a walking or biking tour.Inspiring HighlightsCologne full-day excursion / Dusseldorf walking tour and Altbier tasting / Dusseldorf bike tour
We reach Amsterdam. We might take a canal cruise through the waterways and past the bridges and canal houses, or explore the historic streets and sample a regional specialty.Inspiring HighlightsAmsterdam canal cruise / Tastes of Holland
Day 8 - Amsterdam [Train] Rotterdam
This morning we disembark our river ship in Amsterdam. We make our own way to Rotterdam, around 40 minutes by train, and check in to our hotel for a two-night stay before the ocean cruise.The rest of the day is at leisure.Special InformationThe connection from Amsterdam to Rotterdam is self-arranged and not included; frequent trains run between the two cities.
A day at leisure in Rotterdam between our two cruises, to explore the city’s modern architecture and waterfront at our own pace.The evening is at leisure.
Day 10 - Rotterdam [Ship]
Today we make our own way to the Rotterdam Cruise Terminal to board Holland America’s Nieuw Statendam. We settle into our stateroom as our Baltic and Scandinavian voyage begins.Special InformationThe ship sails mid-afternoon. Transfers to the port are not included.
A day at sea aboard Nieuw Statendam as we head into the Baltic.
Day 12 - Copenhagen [Ship]
We arrive in Copenhagen, the Danish capital, with its harbour at Nyhavn, the royal palaces and the Little Mermaid.
We call at Aarhus on Denmark’s Jutland peninsula, known for its old town museum and cathedral.
Day 14 - Warnemunde [Ship]
We dock at Warnemunde, the gateway to Berlin, and a seaside resort town in its own right on Germany’s Baltic coast.
We arrive in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, with one of the best-preserved medieval old towns in Europe.
We call at Helsinki, the Finnish capital, known for its Senate Square, the Rock Church and its harbour market.
Day 18 - Stockholm [Ship]
We arrive in Stockholm, the Swedish capital, spread across islands, with the old town of Gamla Stan and the Vasa Museum.
We call at Visby on the island of Gotland, a walled Hanseatic town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We arrive in Oslo, the Norwegian capital, sailing in along the scenic Oslofjord, with the Viking Ship and Fram museums and the Vigeland Sculpture Park ashore.Special InformationScenic cruising along the Oslofjord on arrival.
A day at sea as we cruise towards England.
We call at Dover on England’s south coast, the gateway to London and a historic port beneath its white cliffs and castle.
Day 24 - Amsterdam or Rotterdam
This morning we disembark and make our own way onward.Thank you for travelling with Inspiring Vacations. We hope you had a memorable journey.Please note: Your disembarkation port depends on your departure date. The 17 June 2027 departure disembarks in Rotterdam on 10 July 2027, and the 12 August 2027 departure disembarks in Amsterdam on 4 September 2027.Transfers from the ship and international airfares are not included.