Great European Journey-By River and Rail

Great European Journey-By River and Rail

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DETAILS

Embark on a European “Grand Tour” steeped in storied history, impressive architecture, and breathtaking scenery. A first-class seven-night cruise reveals the timeless beauty of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers as you wind past storybook towns, terraced vineyards, and forested hills crowned by castles. After embarking in Amsterdam, call at Cologne, Germany; Cochem; Rüdesheim; Heidelberg; and Strasbourg, France. Disembark in Switzerland and explore the unforgettable cities of Basel and Lucerne. Marvel at the sweeping grandeur of the Alps on a panoramic train ride and cable car journey that afford gorgeous views.

Pricing from
$5,094

Early booking SAVINGS up to $2,000 per cabin!

Trip Type
Group Travel Tour, International Land & Rail Voyages, International River Voyages
Departure Dates
May 31, 2025 - Jun 11, 2025
Jun 10, 2025 - Jun 21, 2025

SHIP

Viva Enjoy
The newest member of the Scylla family is the Viva Enjoy, which debuts in 2024. Guests are welcomed on board by friendly, multilingual and international crew members who take care of guests’ well-being and comfort from morning til night. The ship’s appointments are luxurious, yet the feeling is relaxed and easygoing. All staterooms and suites are equipped with flat screen TV, included minibar, beauty products from RITUALS®, hair dryer, safe, air conditioning and en-suite bathrooms. The upper and middle deck staterooms and suites all have French balconies.

EXTENSIONS

AMSTERDAM OPTIONAL EXTENSION
Post-Tour for 5/31 Departure
June 11 to 13, 2025 (Program Ends: June 13)
Pre-Tour for 6/10 Departure
June 8 to 11, 2025 (Program Begins: June 9)
Get acquainted with this captivating city graced with leafy canals and gabled houses on a 2-night, post-tour extension at the deluxe DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station. Stop at a family-run farm located in the Beemster region, a UNESCO World Heritage site. During a private workshop, learn the basics of cheesemaking. Take a scenic drive through the polder and see the windmills at Schermerhorn. Soak up the inviting ambience and historic architecture of Edam, legendary for its tasty cheese. View acclaimed art by the great Dutch Golden Age masters at the Rijksmuseum, then savor a guided tasting tour through Amsterdam’s many food stalls and specialty shops.
Price per person, based on double occupancy: $1,195
Price per person, based on single occupancy: $1,495

 

TRANSFER INFORMATION

Airport transfers and luggage handling abroad are only included if air arrangements are booked through Gohagan & Company. If travelers make their own air arrangements, transfers and luggage handling are not included; transfers can be organized through Gohagan & Company and purchased by the traveler.

EDUCATIONAL EXPERTS

  • Barbara Horlbeck

    Barbara Horlbeck

    Barbara Horlbeck, M.A., is an arts and culture professional with extensive global experience. She is a lecturer, writer, independent researcher, and adjunct instructor of art history, and has developed and taught a wide range of university-level courses. Founder of Arts and Influences, Barbara also developed in-depth seminars, several topics of which include “Arts of the Islamic World”, “Arts of the Ancient World,” “Arts of China, India, and Japan”, “Renaissance and Baroque Art”, and “Collectors, Collections, and the Modern Museum”.  As a docent at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts for more than 20 years, Barbara led tours for educators, specialists, and the general public on the museum’s encyclopedic collections.  She has traveled in just 45 countries, including five continents and the North Pole.  Barbara adores helping our travelers develop a deeper understanding of the world’s rich artistic and cultural legacy, while, at the same time, she helps to place works of art and architecture in their broad historical context.

  • David J. Brown

    David J. Brown

    Few names over the past twenty-plus years have been as synonymous with the National Trust for Historic Preservation as David J. Brown. David served as EVP and the organization’s founding Chief Preservation Officer, where he led the Trust’s advocacy, educational, field work, research, and historic sites programs. A national leader, speaker, and author with a four-decade record of achievement in saving historic places and supporting thriving communities, David is the founder of Bearden Brown LLC, which works to build nonprofit leadership and grow organizational impact. An affiliate fellow at the American Academy in Rome and a founding board member of the International National Trusts Organisation, David brings an international perspective to his discussions of preservation, history, and architecture.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

A non-refundable administrative fee of $300 per person will apply for all cancellations received more than 7 days after booking and before other fees take effect at 120 days:
120 days $300 per person admin fee after 7-day grace period from booking
120 – 91 days 25% of full invoice fare
90 – 61 days 50% of full invoice fare
60 – 31 days 75% of full invoice fare
30 – 0 days 100% of full invoice fare
Separate airfare Terms & Conditions applyAirport transfers and luggage handling abroad are only included if air arrangements are booked through Gohagan & Company. If travelers make their own air arrangements, transfers and luggage handling are not included; transfers can be organized through Gohagan & Company and purchased by the traveler.

TOUR MAP

Great Journey map

ITINERARY

  • day 1

    Depart Home City

    Depart your home city for an overnight flight. The 6/10 departure operates in reverse order.

  • day 2

    Zurich, Switzerland/ Engelberg

    Arrive in Zurich, Switzerland. Marvel at the beautiful scenery as you transfer to Engelberg. Check in to the deluxe Belle Époque Kempinski Palace Engelberg. Enjoy a day at leisure, and make your own plans for lunch. This evening, gather at the hotel with your fellow passengers for a Welcome Reception, then enjoy dinner on your own.

  • day 3

    Engelberg/Lucerne

    A compact city on Lake Lucerne and the Reuss River, Lucerne boasts wonderfully painted buildings, stately churches, and two medieval, covered wooden footbridges. On a walking tour, see the imposing Water Tower and the famous Chapel Bridge with an inner roof adorned with 17th-century paintings. Savor a traditional Swiss lunch, including fondue, at an authentic restaurant in town. Enjoy music and folklore entertainment during the meal. Wrap up with a cruise across Lake Lucerne. This evening, enjoy dinner on your own.

  • day 4

    Engelberg/ Lauterbrunnen/ Grindelwald

    Visit Lauterbrunnen, a valley of incredible vistas, and Staubbach Falls, one of the highest, and most spectacular, free-falling waterfalls in Europe. Take an amazing cogwheel train ride up to Kleine Scheidegg, elevation 6,761 feet. This mountain pass is known for its stunning, unparalleled views of three mighty peaks—the Eiger, Jungfrau and Monch—which together make up a UNESCO World Heritage site. Descend the mountain in a cable car through incredible alpine scenery to the picturesque village of Grindelwald. Spend time exploring this charming village. Return to the resort and make your own plans for dinner.

  • day 5

    Engelberg/Basel/Embark

    Check out this morning and admire the scenery on the way to Basel, where you will enjoy a guided tour and lunch at a local restaurant. Embark the Viva Enjoy and settle in.

  • day 6

    Strasbourg, France

    Discover the medieval grandeur of Grand-Île, the historic center of Strasbourg and a UNESCO World Heritage site, during a walking tour. See the bridges and towers of the 13th-century Ponts Couverts, and meander past the many half‑timbered houses in the canal-lined Petite France district, where tanners, millers and fishermen once lived during the Middle Ages. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral, an exquisitely ornamented Gothic beauty. Join the Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner.

  • day 7

    Mannheim, Germany for Heidelberg

    Dock in Mannheim and journey to romantic Heidelberg to visit the Renaissance-era ruins of its grand castle overlooking the picturesque Neckar Valley. Take a walking tour in the lively old town filled with Renaissance and Baroque gems, such as the old bridge, Alte Brücke.

  • day 8

    Rüdesheim/ Cruise the Rhine Gorge

    Arrive in the heart of Riesling wine country today. Take in the vineyards near Rüdesheim on a mini-train before sampling fine wines in town. Afterward, cruise through the enchanting Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site dotted with some 40 castles, and see the fabled Lorelei Rock.

  • day 9

    Cochem

    Sail through a splendid, narrow section of the Moselle River lined with colorful towns and tiered vineyards, then dock in charming Cochem. Delight in its half-timbered houses on a walking tour, and visit hilltop Reichsburg Castle, which offers stunning river views.

  • day 10

    Cologne

    One of Germany’s oldest cities, Cologne is renowned for its magnificent Gothic cathedral, Kölner Dom, built over a period of more than 630 years. Admire the old town’s top sites and the cathedral’s impressive exterior on a walking tour. Enjoy free time afterward and, if you’d like, go inside the cathedral to see the Shrine of the Three Kings, a gilded reliquary.

  • day 11

    Cruising/Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Embark on a private cruise and sail through Amsterdam’s world‑famous UNESCO‑inscribed canals, which have been connecting the city since the early 17th century. Glide under iconic bridges and past brightly colored houses, stately stone buildings and hundreds of cyclists! This evening, attend the Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner, and raise a glass to your great European journey!

  • day 12

    Disembark boat/ Return to home city

    Following breakfast, disembark and transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
    *6/10 departure operates in reverse

Everything you need to know about the tour

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Be prepared with the National Trust Travel Plan

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