GoldenPass & The Romantic Rhine

Your vacation begins today in the capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam. As you arrive, make your own way to the waterfront, where our magnificent Amadeus ship awaits boarding on the River Rhine. The friendly crew welcomes you on board, and you can take some time to enjoy a welcome cocktail while soaking up the waterside views. Afterward, take some time to familiarize yourself with our hotel on the river and settle into your comfortable cabin before you are joined on board by the Tour Manager and your fellow travelers.

Later this evening, we have our first dinner in the ship's Panorama Restaurant and enjoy our meal while accompanied by the songs of a traditional Dutch Sea Shanty choir performance - the perfect start to our cultural cruise vacation. Overnight ship.

• Dinner

After breakfast this morning, we step ashore with two incredible excursion options for the day. The first choice is a tour of Amsterdam featuring a canal boat cruise with stunning views of the city's picturesque waterways and architecture. Crossed by more than a thousand bridges and lined by gabled mansions, the canals reveal the history and charm of Amsterdam - a city unlike anywhere else.

Alternatively, you could choose a visit to Volendam and Edam to uncover the unique cheese heritage of the Netherlands. As well as being famed for Dutch cheese, Volendam is a stunning old town, with traditional houses lining serene canals and a small harbor. 

We return to the ship in time for lunch, at which time we begin our first sail toward the historic city of Cologne. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Awaking on the ship this morning, you could head out to the sun deck to soak up the changing scenery before sitting down to breakfast and lunch onboard. We dock in Cologne this afternoon, where we embark on a guided tour that introduces us to its squares and Romanesque townhouses. This German city sits beside the Rhine and was founded as a military camp by the Romans, who named it Colonia, from which the modern term "colony" is derived. 

The city's most iconic landmark is its impressive cathedral, the largest in northern Europe. Construction of this UNESCO-listed edifice began in 1248 to house relics of the Three Wise Men. Rising more than 515 feet with spectacular twin spires, this Gothic masterpiece is the most visited attraction in Germany. There is time here to stand in awe and marvel at its ornate carvings and stained-glass windows.

We also enjoy a tasting of Cologne's local beer before some free time to continue admiring this riverside city at your own pace. Dinner is back on the ship this evening. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy a morning of relaxed sailing as we leave Cologne and continue along the Rhine. After lunch, we dock in Königswinter for a fantastic trip on the Drachenfels Cog Railway. Rising high into the forests, we pass the fairytale Drachenburg Castle - the name of which translates as "Dragon's Rock" and has inspired many of the dragon-related legends still heard today. Traveling to the summit, we can admire wonderful views across the rolling hills of the Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany. 

Back on board this afternoon, we continue our cruise through beautiful scenery toward Koblenz. As the boat nears Andernach, keep your eyes peeled for the highest cold-water geyser in the world that erupts up to heights of nearly 200 feet. Enjoy dinner with excellent views of the river before arriving in Koblenz, where we dock for the night, late this evening. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

There is time at leisure this morning to explore Koblenz, once a Roman stronghold. Perhaps stroll to Deutsches Eck at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers to witness inspiring vistas, including Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. We then begin sailing again, and, after lunch, enjoy a cruise highlight: the Rhine Gorge. 

This section of the Rhine is renowned for its spectacular views, and the best place to witness them is from the top deck of our ship. We wind around bends surrounded by miles of vineyards, ancient castles and riverside towns. As we sail, we hear the story of the legendary Lorelei Rock, which soars almost 500 feet out of the water. 

Docking in Rüdesheim, a land train takes us through steep vineyards to the town center. Here is a choice of excursions. You could experience why this town is famous for its wine with a tasting experience or visit Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet to discover Europe's largest collection of mechanical instruments.

After dinner this evening, there is time to explore the town's cobbled streets at your own pace. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast is served onboard as we approach the city of Mannheim, where we dock this morning. Stepping on land, we journey by coach to Heidelberg for a guided tour. This university town is known for its Old Town and riverfront, which is perfect for a relaxing stroll. Our tour includes a visit to the magnificent ruined red sandstone castle that towers over the city, providing views of the surrounding forests, river and cityscape. 

Alternatively, you could stay onboard as we take the short cruise to Speyer. Arriving later this afternoon, you can discover the city at your own pace. There is a beautiful Old Town, and among the highlights is the city's cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Returning to our ship this evening, we enjoy dinner and a restful overnight sailing upstream. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sailing into the city of Strasbourg after breakfast, you have a choice of two excursions. The first is a trip into the Black Forest to witness its fairytale panoramas. Experience the beauty of Germany's largest nature park, filled with rolling hills, picturesque villages, dense forests and meadows dotted with wildflowers. As you explore, learn about the enchanting history and folklore of the region. 

Alternatively, you could join a city tour of Strasbourg, discovering its history and grand architecture. The city sits on the French-German border and blends the best of the two cultures, with half-timbered houses and cobbled streets. On the tour, we visit its cathedral and the La Petite France District. 

Following your chosen excursion, return to our ship this afternoon for lunch and to begin our final cruise toward Switzerland, enjoying the vistas en route. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Following our last breakfast onboard this morning, we disembark in the Swiss city of Basel. From here, a coach transfer takes us to the station, where we join a scenic rail route to Interlaken. This resort town has a spectacular location between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, with the peaks of the Bernese Oberland within view in the distance.

On arrival, we check into our hotel, which has spectacular views of the surrounding scenery. The town's compact size means that most of its sights can be discovered on foot, and with an afternoon at leisure, you can do just that. You might like to wander along one of the lakeshores or to stroll round the town center before returning to the hotel in time for dinner with the group this evening. Overnight Interlaken.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today, we board the stylish, royal blue and gold panoramic carriages of the GoldenPass Express for an incredible journey. This route is a feat of engineering that has been more than 100 years in the making.

Leaving Interlaken, we pass Lake Thun at Spiez, and our panoramic carriages provide better views of the lake and fairytale castle than any other tours of the region. We then wind up the hills to the halfway point of this three-hour journey - Gstaad, the mountain resort favored by Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and Roger Moore. The last stretch of our journey to Montreux takes us through pine forests and rolling mountains of the Pays-d'Enhaut Highlands, dotted with small villages and alpine meadows.

Arriving in Montreux, we continue by local rail to Vevey, where we stay for the night. Upon checking into our hotel, you are at leisure on the shores of Lake Geneva, framed by the Alps, for the remainder of the afternoon until our final dinner this evening. Overnight Vevey.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Along the Rhine, we experienced fantastic destinations, including Amsterdam, Cologne, Rüdesheim, Heidelberg and Strasbourg, and experienced the fairytale scenery of the Rhine Gorge, where legends meet picturesque views. Our cruise took us all the way to Basel in Switzerland, where our journey ended with sights of mountainous Switzerland, enjoyed from Interlaken, the GoldenPass Express and Vevey.

Your journey comes to a close today after breakfast as you check out of the hotel and make your way to the railway station to join the train to Geneva's airport. On arrival, you are free to continue your travels home independently.

• Breakfast