viking.com | 47
ITALY
N o r t h S ea
Rüdesheim
MOSELLE
Lucerne
Lake Maggiore
Lake Como
Breisach
THE NETHERLANDS
GERMANY
SWITZERLAND
FRANCE
RHINE
RHINE
Speyer
Strasbourg
Basel
Amsterdam
Cologne
Koblenz
Kinderdijk
Antwerp
BELGIUM
–
C r ui s e
VIEW
VOYAGE
GETTING THERE: An 8-day Rhine
Getaway itinerary, departing from
Amsterdam to Basel, or in reverse.
the narrow Rue Mercière. Inside, passing
between the immense columns of the nave, I
came upon the elaborate astronomical clock,
though I had missed the daily procession of
apostle figurines that forms part of workings
so complex they make Gutenberg's printing
press look rudimentary.
This clock does not have a cuckoo, but we
learnt about those that do deep in the Black
Forest at the hamlet of Hofgut Stemen. The
timepiece's origins may be hazy but we did
discover how they became the emblem of
this wild and woody corner of Germany,
before inspecting the giant version on the
end of one of the buildings.
We had driven here from Breisach through
countless fir trees and lush pastures; it was
beautiful enough for me to yearn for a closer
look, which a hardy little group of guests
managed on a ravine trail after our spot of
clock-watching. The Swiss border slipped by
silently in the night and I awoke to step out
on to my veranda to view a panorama of
leafy Basel, our final destination. I realised
now why this cruise is called the Rhine
Getaway. With an elegant stateroom as my
constant travel companion, unearthing such
a wonderful assortment of historical nuggets
had been as easy as taking a single-city
break – and a lot more satisfying.
H I S TO R Y & A R C H I T E C T U R E I S S U E 2 2
RHINE GETAWAY
Amsterdam to Basel or vice versa
8 Days | 6 Guided Tours | 4 Countries
DAY 1
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
Arrive in Amsterdam and board your ship.
Enjoy free time to relax or start exploring.
DAY 2
KINDERDIJK, THE NETHERLANDS
This afternoon, your ship arrives in
Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Enjoy a tour of this ingenious network of
windmills and other flood management
devices.
DAY 3
COLOGNE, GERMANY
Take a morning tour of Cologne, stroll
through Old Town, pass St. Martin's Church
and view the Dom, Germany's largest
cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
DAY 4
KOBLENZ, GERMANY
Cruise the scenic Middle Rhine, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site. Arrive in Koblenz this
afternoon and disembark for a guided
exploration of Koblenz on foot. You may also
join an optional excursion to Ehrenbreitstein
Fortress or the Moselle wine country.
DAY 5
SPEYER & RÜDESHEIM, GERMANY
Enjoy an included tour to visit the historic
town of Speyer and take in views of the
imposing Speyer Cathedral, a UNESCO
World Heritage site.
DAY 6
STRASBOURG, FRANCE
Embark on a guided tour of Strasbourg.
See the European Parliament and tour
the interior of the city's famed cathedral.
The afternoon is free to further explore
Strasbourg. Alternatively, join our optional
excursion into Alsatian wine country.
DAY 7
BREISACH, GERMANY
Take a scenic excursion through Breisach's
renowned mountain landscape, rolling
meadows and dense forests. See a cuckoo
clock-making demonstration.
DAY 8
BASEL, SWITZERLAND
After breakfast, disembark and proceed
to the airport for your return flight.
Alternatively, extend your journey with two
additional nights in Basel.
Clockwise from above: Rheinstein Castle,
Germany; The origins of the cuckoo clock proved
fascinating
Admiring castles & cathedrals from Heidelberg to Strasbourg
