Exclusive Experiences by Amadeus AN INTRODUCTION TO THE WINES ALONG THE RHINE AND MOSELLE RIVERS A Product of Dr. W. Lüftner Reisen GmbH 1 “Beneath me flows the Rhine, and, like the stream of Time, it flows amid the ruinsHENRY WADSWORTH of the LONGFELLOW Past." 2 Dear Wine Enthusiasts and Food Lovers, We are excited to introduce you to Exclusive Experiences by AMADEUS; a masterfully created portfolio of immersive and inspiring adventures. This experience has been curated for the traveler who not only enjoys wine and food, but wants to elevate their knowledge to the next level and explore the specific flavors of a region. This Rhine River cruise takes you into the heart of the Alsace and Germany’s wine regions and invites you to experience one of our legacy itineraries. As a native of western Europe, I find it fascinating to watch well-traveled wine lovers discover the grapes of the Pfalz, Rhinegau and Moselle. I feel a strong sense of pride as old misconceptions are replaced by the thrill of new discoveries, for example, when a wine lover tastes a dry, high-quality Riesling for the first time. As enthusiasts travel along the soothing waters of the Rhine, past medieval castles speckled amid the stunning, hilly terrain, curiosity turns to amazement as steep vineyards carved into towering slopes come into view. Explore historical villages lined with cobblestone streets and stunning architecture during your travel from Basel to the Rhine Gorge where Lorelei the siren and her enchanting legend awaits your passage. Balance your thirst for history and wine with carefully selected tours and excursions created to immerse you in the region’s deeply-rooted culture. Enjoy this program during a 7-night journey with AMADEUS as we cruise on the Rhine and Moselle Rivers from Switzerland, through France and Germany, to the Netherlands. Your five-star AMADEUS river ship showcases our 40-year tradition of innovation and excellence with a focus on modern elegance and luxurious comfort. From the glass-protected River Terrace, to our signature drop-down panorama window fronts in most cabins, it’s all about your onboard experience and ultimate comfort as we introduce you to our European heritage and hospitality. We look forward to welcoming you onboard in the near future! Marcus Leskovar, Executive Vice President AMADEUS River Cruises 3 An Introduction to the Wines Along the Rhine and the Moselle Rivers 8 DAYS BASEL— AMSTERDAM Embark on a journey where every twist and turn brings new perspectives, inspires curiosity, and sparks amazement. Prepare yourself for discoveries in historic lands, and anticipate an awakening of the senses and a deepening of the soul. Picturesque landscapes speckled with charming villages and imposing castles captivate you as much as the vision of a Cathedral that has survived the assault of world wars. Realize what peace sounds like as the river flows beneath you; breathe in the earthy scent of Alpine forests surrounding you. Let your palate be your guide from one steep-sloped vineyard to another; marvel as you drink in the flavors of a land that embraces a robust wine region and an appreciation for culinary excellence. Immerse yourself in a part of the world that has offered centuries of masterpieces in art, architecture, culture, food and wine. Explore all of the authentic destinations on this spectacular river cruise along the Rhine and the Moselle, and enjoy the journey of a lifetime. 4 Your Itinerary DAY/PORT ARR DEP PROGRAM 1 BASEL 17:00 Embarkation from 16:00 Welcome Cocktail and Welcome Dinner in the evening 2 STRASBOURG 09:00 23:00 Experience Strasbourg and its culinary delights with wine tasting in the morning Alsace Wine Route to Obernai with wine tasting in the afternoon 3 SPEYER 07:00 12:00 Tour Along Romantic German Wine Route with lunch MANNHEIM 14:00 4 MANNHEIM 01:00 RÜDESHEIM 07:00 12:00 Visit Baron Knyphausen, a VDP winery Or Choral chant at Eberbach Monastery with wine tasting in the morning KOBLENZ 15:30 Overnight in Koblenz 5 KOBLENZ 06:00 COCHEM 13:30 18:00 The Moselle wine region with wine tasting at Schlagkamp Winery in the afternnoon 6 COLOGNE 07:00 14:30 Cologne walking tour & cathedral visit with Kölsch tasting in the morning 7 AMSTERDAM 08:00 Dutch windmills and cheese in the morning Or Discover Dutch wine & cheese-making Rejoin the ship Captain‘s Gala Dinner 8 AMSTERDAM Disembarkation after breakfast Excursions listed in blue are not included in the cruise price. Port times and itineraries are subject to change. Excursion packages must be booked in advance. Ijsselmeer lake Amsterdam North Sea R NETHERLANDS h GERMANY i n e BELGIUM Cologne Koblenz y lle Va Cochem e in Rüdesheim h LUXEMBOURG R le d d Mosellei M Speyer Mannheim FRANCE Strasbourg Rhine Basel SWITZERLAND 5 Exclusive Experiences by Amadeus With the next tier of our carefully crafted itineraries and land excursions, you can immerse yourself in the world of Europe’s major cities, small villages and landscapes, and get to know the art, culture and people of the countries visited during your cruise. Our à la carte excursion packages are tailored to allow you to customize your experience. On all our excursions you’ll be provided with a wireless AMADEUS listening device. The receiver can be worn around the neck or carried in a bag. The comfortable headphones allow you to listen to your experienced tour guide’s Unforgettable excursions curated exclusively for you explanations with the very best acoustic quality. Enjoy complete IMPORTANT INFORMATION freedom of movement, without • All excursions within this brochure must be booked in advance missing any of the interesting commentary. • Minimum participation for excursions: 30 people • The schedule of individual excursions can vary; this is partly due to the volume of traffic in the cities and the opening hours of facilities. • We recommend sturdy shoes, comfortable clothes and a waterproof jacket for excursions. Umbrellas are available in your stateroom. • When exploring on your own, please remember to return to the vessel in time for its departure. If you arrive after the scheduled departure time you will need to travel to the next port of call at your own expense. The scheduled all aboard time will be listed in the daily program. Itineraries and prices are subject to change. An Introduction to the Wines and Flavors of the Rhine and the Moselle is to be paired with the Classical Rhine itinerary. EXCURSION INFORMATION Some excursions involve a fair amount of walking, sometimes over uneven surfaces. The following coding system has been used to assist with identifying which excursions are appropriate for you. Please ask your cruise director for additional information as required. LEVEL 1: Minimum walking; excursion by bus with short photo stops. LEVEL 2: The excursion by bus is followed by a moderate walking tour. You may need to climb some stairs. LEVEL 3: The excursion by bus is followed by a longer walk. You may need to climb several stairs. LEVEL 4: Moderate walking tour. You may need to climb some stairs. LEVEL 5: Considerable walk with longer distances. This may include uneven surfaces and some stairs. 6 An Introduction to the Wines Along the Rhine and Moselle Rivers BASEL — AMSTERDAM Strasbourg DAY 1 | SWITZERLAND: BASEL moist, west winds from descending upon growing in this region of France, focusing on Your journey begins in Basel, the third largest them, and provides a perfect shelter to keep the Alsace, which surrounds Strasbourg’s city city in Switzerland. After embarking, explore the wine region dry which allows Riesling, limits. your AMADEUS ship and meet the cruise the Alsace grape nobiity, to thrive. It is in Your last stop delivers you to the Cathedral director on board for a Welcome Cocktail these rolling hills where the alignment of of Notre-Dame and a guided tour of the celebration. Your floating hotel departs for the rows of vines are positioned to capture masterpiece of medieval architecture. The Strasbourg shortly before the Welcome every possible minute of sunlight. The result red sandstone extracted from the nearby Dinner on board. is a strong wine that is bone dry, producing Vosges Range was used to build the Grand Cru varietals including Riesling, Pinot Romanesque façade and gives it its distinct DAY 2 | FRANCE: STRASBOURG Gris, Gewürztraminer and Muscat. These color. In 2015, this beautiful structure EXPERIENCE STRASBOURG wines pair perfectly with the staples of the celebrated 1,000 years of existence. AND ITS CULINARY DELIGHTS region: cheese, pork and goose, and the Discover some of the Cathedral’s most WITH WINE TASTING epicurean delight, foie gras. amazing architectural features including its Located in the heart of the Alsace wine Your introduction to Strasbourg starts with a legendary astronomical clock and see for region of France, the city of Strasbourg has a short, panoramic coach ride to the heart of yourself why Strasbourg’s Cathedral is history dating back to the 5th century. the city. An experienced local guide leads considered to be an outstanding piece of art. Strasbourg, the capital of the Grand-Est you on an educational stroll through lovely Duration: approx. 3.5 hrs region of France, was designated as a streets lined with centuries-old buildings and Walking grade: ll UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, structures that hold within its walls stories highlighting its treasure trove of historical of time gone by. The culinary exploration ALSACE WINE ROUTE TO OBERNAI architecture, culture and heritage. The Petite begins with a private tasting at a restaurant WITH WINE TASTING District’s well-preserved streets are lined with specifically selected for their expertise at From Strasbourg, board a motor coach and half-timbered houses, some dating back 500 preparing Strasbourg specialties.