DETAILS
Visit the horticultural wonders of Ettenbuehl Castle’s Garden, the rose gardens of Mainz, Leverkusen’s Japanese Gardens, Cologne’s Botanic Gardens, and historic De Wiersse Castle & Gardens. Cruise the dramatic Rhine Gorge where castles rise above vineyard-clad slopes, visit Cologne’s Cathedral and Kinderdijk’s windmills, and step back in time in Strasbourg & Heidelberg’s historic centers. Explore medieval cathedrals and Renaissance squares to modern design in Basel and Cologne, with visits to top collections like the Unterlinden Museum, Kröller-Müller Museum, and Mainz Gutenberg. Enjoy a private wine tasting in the heart of the Alsace wine region, learn about Cologne Kölsch beer from a brew master, and sample local specialties including a food tour in Heidelberg
- Pricing from
- $5,990
- Trip Type
- Group Travel Tour, International River Voyages
- Departure Dates
-
Jun 17, 2027 - Jun 26, 2027
We are delighted to have chartered the elegant 100-passenger MS River Crown, a spacious and well designed vessel built in 2008 and currently undergoing a comprehensive upgrade to be completed by the
end of 2025. The ship features a lounge, bar and restaurant all on the Upper Deck with large panoramic windows for viewing riverside scenery. Other amenities include a sun deck, sauna and fitness room. The ship’s well-planned cabins span three decks. Premium cabins (167 sq ft) on the Middle and Upper Decks offer twin or queen beds and floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that open to a French Balcony. Deluxe cabins (237 sq ft) on the same decks include a fixed double bed and a seating area with sofa, armchair and table, also with a French Balcony. The Upper Deck has four Queen Suites (323 sq ft) with a living room separated by sliding doors, a double bed, a spacious bathroom, and both a French Balcony and a private balcony. The Main Deck offers five Standard single cabins (130 sq ft) with portholes. All cabins provide ample storage, a writing/dressing table, TV, safe, hairdryer, small refrigerator and individually controlled air-conditioning.
OPTIONAL PRECRUISE EXTENSION IN SWITZERLAND
Optional two-night pre-cruise extension in Switzerland, staying at the Grand Hotel Euler, an upscale
boutique hotel offering opulent historic touches. Arrive Switzerland early to immerse yourself in the
beauty of Basel and alpine scenery of Lake Lucerne. Visit several of Basel’s renowned chocolatiers to
learn about the history and traditions that make Swiss chocolates some of the most sought after in the
world.
Approximate Extension Fee:
Per person, sharing accommodations……………………………………………………………… $2,590
Single Supplement …………………………………………………………………………………………..$690
OPTIONAL POST-CRUISE EXTENSION IN HOLLAND
Optional three-night post-cruise extension in Amsterdam staying at the Sir Albert Hotel steps
from Museum Square. Take in highlights of Amsterdam including guided visits to several worldrenown
museums: The Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and the Anne Frank House, along
with a boat cruise through the canals. Travel to Aalsmeer to witness the flower auction and
Haarlem to visit the eclectic Teyler’s Museum in Haarlem home to exquisite Rembrandt and
Michelangelo masterpieces and enjoy special access to the drawing and etching “cupboards .”
Passenger Cancellations & Refunds Upon payment of a deposit, all reservations are subject to the cancellation provisions set forth below and by which the passenger agrees to be bound. Cancellations shall not be effective until they are received in writing and confirmed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Deposits are refundable (less a $250 per person admin fee) if written notice of cancellation is received within 30 days of booking; after that, deposits are 100% nonrefundable. After May 20, 2026 final payment deadline: All payments are 100% nonrefundable, regardless of booking date. For this reason, we strongly urge participants to purchase trip cancellation insurance. No refunds will be made for any part of this program on which you choose not to participate. NOTE: Neither the National Trust for Historic Preservation not Criterion Travel, the tour operator, accepts liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of nonrefundable tickets. Travel Insurance National Trust Tours strongly recommends the purchase of trip cancellation insurance, which is available for coverage of expenses in conjunction with cancellation due to covered illness or accident. In the event that you must cancel your participation in a travel program, trip cancellation insurance may be the only source of reimbursement. USI Travel Insurance Services offers a plan designed specifically for National Trust Tours travelers, providing coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical, and more. Plus, you can upgrade your plan with Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage for the utmost flexibility. CFAR allows you to cancel your trip for ANY reason at all and be reimbursed up to 75% of your pre-paid, nonrefundable trip costs (conditions apply, see plan for details). To purchase travel insurance today, call: (800) 937-1387.
TOUR MAP
ITINERARY
-
day 1
Depart U.S.
Overnight flight to Basel, Switzerland
-
day 2
Basel, Switzerland
Arrive Basel; Embark Royal Crown for welcome reception & dinner on board.
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day 3
Breisach, Germany
Today starts with a lecture followed by options 1) medieval town of Colmar, Battle of
the Colmar Pocket and art of Unterlinden Museum ; or 2) Ettenbuehl Castle and Garden boasting over 10,000 flowers; afternoon of cruising to Strasbourg. -
day 4
Strasbourg, France
Like many of the region’s border cities, Strasbourg has traded hands several times between France and Germany; today, the French capital of Alsace and seat of the European Parliament reflects both cultures—linguistically, architecturally, and gastronomically. Strasbourg features a historic UNESCO World Heritage-designated city center with 16th-century half-timbered houses and a Gothic cathedral built of red sandstone. Explore the city by coach and on foot, then meander on local boats through the canals of Strasbourg’s “Petite France” (the former tanners’ and fishmongers’ districts).
This afternoon, choose from one of two options.
OPTION 1: Ouvrage Schoenenbourg (Fort Schoenenbourg), a Maginot Line fortification. Although heavily bombarded during the Battle of France in 1940, it retains all of its original structural elements.
OPTION 2: A wine tasting in Alsace, an important wine-producing region in France. -
day 5
Heidelberg, Germany
Enjoy a morning lecture then tour Heidelberg, the UNESCO City of Literature, the Heidelberg Castle and garden (Hortus Palatinus); food tasting tour in the Old Town; PM options: 1) free time in Heidelberg; 2) Mainz with Guttenberg Museum with River Walk.
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day 6
Rhine Gorge Cruising
This morning traverse the scenic Rhine Gorge, the popular name for the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, which earned UNESCO World Heritage designation in 2002 for its unique combination of geological, historical, cultural, and industrial reasons. Options: Koblenz Old Town including “German Corner,” where the Rhine and Moselle meet; or 2) Bridge Towers of Remagen tour.
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day 7
Cologne
Morning lecture; Cologne’s Old Town and Cathedral; options 1) Netherlands American Cemetery and Gestapo headquarters 2) Kölsch beer tasting with brew master; or 3) Japanese Gardens in Leverkusen; overnight in Cologne to dine ashore.
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day 8
Dordecht & Kinderdijk, Netherlands
Morning lecture; UNESCO-protected Windmills of Kinderdijk; options: 1) walk through artists’ quarter with canal-house visit; or 2) free time in Dordrecht’s quaint shops, cottages and canals.
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day 9
Arnhem
options: 1) Operation Market Garden at Airborne Museum with walk on Oversteek Bridge; 2)Kröller-Müller Art Museum with optional cycling in Park Hoge Velwe; or 3) De Wiersse Castle & Gardens. PM cruising to Rotterdam with farewell reception and dinner on board.
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day 10
Amsterdam/ Home
After breakfast and disembarkation, transfer to the airport for flights home.
Everything you need to know about the tour
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