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
- $4,395
Early booking SAVINGS!
- Trip Type
- Group Travel Tour, International Land & Rail Voyages, International River Voyages
- Departure Dates
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May 31, 2025 - Jun 11, 2025
Jun 10, 2025 - Jun 21, 2025
AMSTERDAM OPTIONAL EXTENSION
Post-Program for May 31 Departure
Pre-Program for June 10 Departure
Get acquainted with this captivating city graced with leafy canals and gabled houses on a 2-night extension at the deluxe DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station. Enjoy a cruise along its delightful, 17th‑century waterways, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and view acclaimed art by the great Dutch Golden Age masters at the Rijksmuseum. Venture to Hoorn, a picturesque, 17th-century harbor town and key Dutch East India Company port, and soak up the inviting ambience and historic architecture of Edam, legendary for its tasty cheese.
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.
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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.
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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.
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
ITINERARY
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day 1
Depart Home City
Depart your home city for an overnight flight. The 6/10 departure operates in reverse order.
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day 2
Geneva, Switzerland/ Täsch/Zermatt
Arrive in Geneva and enjoy a panoramic drive to Täsch. Then, board a shuttle train that takes you up to Zermatt, a cozy, car-free, mountain resort town nestled near the Matterhorn at 5,276 feet. Check into the first‑class Hotel and gather for a Welcome Reception, followed by dinner on your own.
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day 3
Gornergrat/Zermatt
Today, revel in a ride aboard the Gornergrat Bahn, the world’s highest open-air cog railway. Ascend through pine and larch forests, take in picture-perfect views of the Matterhorn, and then alight at the Gornergrat, an alpine ridge at roughly 10,000 feet. Glorious, expansive vistas of snowcapped peaks await you! Enjoy free time and return to Zermatt at your own pace.
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day 4
Zermatt/Andermatt/ Lucerne
Check out today and embark the celebrated Glacier Express. Settle in for a marvelous journey as you glide amid ever-changing panoramas of lush mountains, tranquil valleys, and sparkling lakes. Arrive in Andermatt and savor a delicious lunch. Head on to Lucerne and check into the deluxe Hotel Schweizerhof. Your evening is at leisure.
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day 5
Lucerne/ Mount Pilatus
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. Afterward, continue to majestic Mount Pilatus, a massif with numerous summits. Ride by cable car to one summit and then ascend in a gondola up to Pilatus Kulm at 6,795 feet. From this vantage point, gaze in all directions at spectacular vistas of Lake Lucerne, forested countryside, and if the weather is clear, dozens of alpine peaks. Relish free time and lunch at the mountaintop complex. On your descent, appreciate the scenery on the other side of the mountain aboard the Pilatus Railway, the world’s steepest cogwheel train. Wrap up with a pleasant cruise across Lake Lucerne. This evening, make your own dinner plans.
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day 6
Lucerne/Basel/ Embark river boat
Check out this morning and admire the scenery on the way to Basel, where you will enjoy a guided tour, lunch, and free time. Embark the MS Viva Enjoy and join the Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner later tonight.
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day 7
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.
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day 8
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.
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day 9
Rüdesheim
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.
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day 10
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.
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day 11
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. This evening, attend the Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner.
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day 12
Cruising/Amsterdam
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day 13
Amsterdam, Netherlands/ Disembark/Return to Home City
After breakfast, disembark the ship in Amsterdam and transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
Everything you need to know about the tour
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Be prepared with the National Trust Travel Plan
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