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7 Night river cruise from Basel to Amsterdam

Nov 17 to 24, 2025

GET AN EARLY START ON THE HOLIDAY SEASON THIS YEAR AND COME HOME FULL OF THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT!

VISIT MAGICAL TOWNS & THE EARLY CHRISTMAS MARKETS WITH LIKEMINDED FELLOW TRAVELLERS!

EXTEND YOUR STAY WITH AN OPTIONAL  3-NIGHT LAKE COMO LAND PACKAGE PRE-CRUISE!

TRAVEL IN STYLE TO PEARSON AIRPORT WITH A COMPLIMENTARY PRIVATE LIMO RIDE, OR TAKE $80 LIMO CREDIT!

FARES START AT $5685CAD PER PERSON IN DOUBLE OCCUPANCY

All of this is included:

Bottled water replenished daily

Wine with Lunch & Dinner

Unlimited sparkling wine and fresh juice with breakfast

Sip & Sail Cocktail Hour with complimentary wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks

Tapas, sandwiches, snacks and refreshments served daily in the Main Lounge

Immersive tours in every destination

Gentle, regular, active and late-riser tour options

Personal headset for easy exploration

Why we think you will like it!

Visit  some of the most scenic and romantic regions of our world

Experience the old world charm,  of castles, mountain ranges and cities all in the throes of dressing for the Christmas Season

Enjoy complimentary  guided tours  to delve deep into the cultural and historical aspects of places visited.

Start your Holiday shopping in the Christmas Market of Cologne

Be spoiled by the attentive staff on the AmaVenita

Enjoy wonderful dining experiences and the opportunity to meet  new friends

Come home relaxed and ready to embrace the Holiday Season with full force!

“…years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So, sail away from the safe harbour. Explore. Dream.”

Mark Twain

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

DAY 1
BASEL, SWITZERLAND – EMBARKATION
Arrive in Basel and transfer to the pier to embark your river cruise ship. (D)

Basel Switzerland Amawaterways

DAY 2
BASEL – LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND
Enjoy getting to know Basel, Switzerland’s third largest city. Long an important university, banking and trade center, Basel’s glorious past is still evident in its medieval town hall, richly decorated market square and exquisite 18th-century patrician homes. Tour the city by foot or on a guided bike tour that takes you through three countries: Switzerland, France and Germany. Alternatively, go on a full-day excursion to Lucerne, or opt for one of the morning excursions and visit Lucerne in the afternoon. With either Lucerne excursion, you’ll have the opportunity to see its Lion Monument – the figure of a dying lion carved into a hillside in memory of the Swiss Guards massacred during the French Revolution in 1792 – which Mark Twain described as “the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world.” You’ll also see Lucerne’s spectacular medieval walls and towers, dating back to the 13th century. (B,L,D)

Lucerne bridge

DAY 3
STRASBOURG, FRANCE
Strasbourg offers flavors of both France and Germany because of its borderline location. Enjoy a panoramic tour past the stunning Parc de l’Orangerie, the European Parliament and the Place de la République before walking through its iconic “La Petite France” district, lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. Wander through charming streets past the Cathédrale de Nôtre Dame with its famous astronomical clock. Alternatively, take a guided bike ride through the city and Parc de l’Orangerie. (B,L,D)

Strasbourg France Amawaterways

DAY 4
LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY – RÜDESHEIM
Ludwigshafen is your gateway to a choice of four excursions. Visit Heidelberg, the perfectly preserved medieval city nestled in the Neckar River Valley along Germany’s Castle Road. Discover the iconic red sandstone Heidelberg Castle and Great Vat, an 18th-century, 49,000-gallon wine cask. For a more active adventure while in Heidelberg, join a guided hike up the Philosopher’s Path, aptly named during the Romantic Period, and enjoy panoramic views of the city. Alternatively, you can visit one of Germany’s oldest cities, Speyer, known for the largest Romanesque cathedral in Europe—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and the medieval Old Gate, Altpörtel. Or pedal along the river Neckar to the picturesque medieval city center of Ladenburg and enjoy some free time to explore the shops. Later in the day, cruise to the charming village of Rüdesheim and let Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum charm you with its remarkable collection of self-playing musical instruments; or taste one of the town’s special delights, Rüdesheimer coffee, ceremoniously made with brandy, coffee and whipped cream. (B,L,D)

Ludwigshafen Germany

DAY 5
RÜDESHEIM
Join a wine tasting to discover the flavors of the town’s iconic vineyards and drink up the stunning views by soaring high above the vineyards with a gondola ride to the Niederwalddenkmal. For a more active adventure, hike through the town’s beautiful vineyards or join a guided bike tour along the scenic Rhine River. Later in the day, cruise through the captivating UNESCO-designated Rhine Gorge, the most stunningly beautiful stretch of the river before reaching Lahnstein, where you will enjoy a unique evening visit at Lahneck Castle. (B,L,D)

DAY 6
COLOGNE, GERMANY
Enjoy cruising to Cologne. Join a guided tour through the Old Town and explore the UNESCO-designated Cologne Cathedral, one of Germany’s most revered Gothic masterpieces. Continue to the Cologne Rathaus, Germany’s oldest town hall, the Overstolzenhaus, and the Festival Hall. For a different view, visit a local tavern to taste its famous Kölsch beer, only made in Cologne, and reibekuchen mit apfelmus, potato pancakes typically served with applesauce. Active adventurists will want to join a guided bike ride along the Rhine and through the historic Stadtgarten. (B,L,D)

DAY 7
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
There are 165 canals in Amsterdam, and you’ll get to enjoy some of them on your canal cruise. Alternatively, get a taste of local flavor, passing iconic canals, gabled houses, narrow bridges and house boats while tasting Dutch specialties at one of Amsterdam’s grand cafes. Please note: tour depends upon docking location and may be replaced with Jordaan District Walking Tour. (B,L,D)

DAY 8
AMSTERDAM – DISEMBARKATION
Bid Farewell to Amsterdam and prepare for your homeward flight. (B)

Why We Love AmaWaterways!

“The trip itself was both spectacular and amazing! I cannot say enough about AMA, it is a first class operation and we felt more like honored guests than passengers. Everything went smoothly, especially transfers, and even when it didn’t, it was handled so fast and professionally that it did not matter at all.

Rachel, our Cruise Director was a big part of that, she was not only so much fun and so energetic and upbeat, she was also truly an amazing person, and any cruise she is on don’t hesitate to recommend, as she is the ‘secret sauce’! The wines were good to excellent and the food was excellent to gourmet, far above a standard cruise. Service was awesome. The crew was great. Truly for us it was the “trip of a lifetime” kind of thing, that trip would be a really, really hard one to top.”

– John and Debby M.

About AmaWaterways with Co-owner Kristin Karst

Europe's Magical Christmas Markets

Lifestyle on board AmaVenita

On Shore - Ports of Call

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Fares are subject to change and space cannot be guaranteed. Book early for best availability and fares!