Click Here to View Your Vacation
Swiss Alps & Rhine Castles
AmaWaterways | 7 Nights | Basel to Amsterdam
March - December 2026 Departures
Discover fairytale castles, historic vineyards and the stunning remnant of a world frozen over with glaciers as part of this Rhine River cruise fantasy. Embark your ship in Basel before crossing the border into France’s Alsace region in enchanting Strasbourg. Then it’s off to Germany, where you’ll discover not only the grand city of Cologne but charming villages like the winemaking hamlet of Rüdesheim and the university town of Heidelberg. You’ll also enjoy cruising through the UNESCO-designated Rhine Gorge, where 40 castles are strung like pearls along the river banks. Conclude your cruise by exploring the canal-laden city of Amsterdam, with its neat rows of buildings and rich history. Encompassing the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland, as well as iconic landmarks and majestic mountain landscapes, this distinctive itinerary is truly a dream come true.
AAA Member Benefits and Special Offers:
- Member Benefits
- Up to $300 per stateroom savings
- Bottle of wine & box of chocolates
- AAA Vacations® Amenities
- Up to an additional $200 per stateroom savings
- Up to $150 per stateroom onboard spending credit
- Available on select sailings & combinable with Member Benefits
Call to Book
1-800-529-3222
Included With Your Trip
What's Included?
Spacious Staterooms
- 7 nights luxury accommodation in an outside stateroom (most with twin balconies)
- Entertainment-On-Demand in all staterooms featuring free high-speed internet access, movies, a music library and English language TV stations
- Mini-fridge, desk and sitting area
- Bottled water replenished daily
An Array of Amenities
- Wellness Activities with a dedicated Wellness Host leading various exercise classes
- Personalized service from a highly trained Cruise Manager during both cruise and land packages
- Internet and Wi-Fi access
- Sun-deck pool with swim-up bar and walking track
- Fitness room
- Main Lounge with panoramic views and bar
- Bottled water in every stateroom replenished daily
- Daily entertainment including cultural performances
Award-Winning Dining
- All onboard dining in a variety of venues
- Regionally inspired cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients
- The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant
- Welcome Cocktail, Welcome Dinner, La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Dinner, Captain's Cocktail and Gala Dinner
- La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs exclusive dining experience
- Unlimited fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and 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
A World of Exploration
- Immersive tours in every destination
- Gentle, regular, active and late-riser tour options
- Bike tours and hikes
- Special interest tours
- Knowledgeable guides
- Personal headset for easy exploration
- Airport transfers with purchase of air from AmaWaterways
Additional Information
Day 1: Basel, Switzerland - Embarkation
Embark your ship in Basel for your Swiss Alps & Rhine Castles cruise.
Day 2: Basel
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 to explore its medieval towers. In the afternoon, for guests who have not chosen the full-day Lucerne excursion, visit a local winery to sample Swiss wines, tour Wildegg Castle, a fortress built by the Habsburgs in the early 13th century that features a 3,300 square meter garden, or embark on an exhilarating hike to the castle.
Day 3: Strasbourg, France
Strasbourg offers flavors of both France and Germany because of its borderline location. Enjoy walking through the 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.
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 Instrument Cabinet 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.
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.
Day 6: Cologne, Germany
Enjoy cruising to Cologne, then join a guided tour through the enchanting Old Town, where you will see sites such as the Cologne Rathaus, Germany’s oldest town hall; the Fischmarkt, which dates back to the 12th century and the Great St. Martin Church. End your city tour with a visit to a local tavern to taste its famous Kölsch beer. Active guests will want to join a guided bike ride along the Rhine and through the historic Stadtgarten.
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.
**May be replaced with alternate tour based on docking location.
Price My Trip
Product Code: AAA-AmaWaterways_LF
All pricing and offers for accommodations and other non-air travel are per person, based on double occupancy, capacity controlled and subject to availability and change without notice. Pricing does not include taxes, fees, fuel surcharges, gratuities, resort fees, or airfare unless otherwise noted and is valid on new bookings only. Prices, fees, and other restrictions are subject to supplier policies. All offers, including but not limited to, bonus amenities, upgrades, prices, and group benefits are based on select dates, resorts, room categories, and/or fare codes. Specialty pricing may require proper identification. Cancellation penalties, blackout dates, and other restrictions may apply. When traveling outside the United States a valid passport is required. It is the sole responsibility of the passenger to have the proper documentation and identification required by the United States and other governments at the time of travel. When passports are required, it must be valid for a minimum of six months past your date of return. AAA strongly recommends the purchase of Travel Insurance. Usage of a credit card for travel arrangements may provide additional protection, please consult your credit card policies. Under certain circumstances the package price may be subject to supplemental price increases imposed by the supplier. Price increases include, but are not limited to fuel surcharges, taxes or fluctuations in foreign exchange markets that may be imposed after the date of purchase. Air-inclusive prices do not include government imposed taxes and fees, including but not limited to a September 11th Security Fee, U.S. or international government imposed taxes and fees, Federal Excise Fees, among others. Some carriers charge additional fees for checked bags, fuel surcharge, meals, etc. Please check the carriers website for details. Air-inclusive pricing is based on select departure cities. Prices from other cities may vary. AAA Oregon/Idaho acts solely as a sales agent for travel suppliers and is not responsible for the actions or inactions of such suppliers. We monitor all of the information presented on our website; however, we do not assume responsibility for any errors or omissions in the content of the offers displayed. Review full Travel Disclosure and Consent at time of booking.