Alruna, Oberammergau Innsbruck & the Rhine ex Amsterdam to Oberammergau – 04 Jun 2022

7 Night Cruise sailing from Amsterdam to Basel aboard Viking Alruna. Hotel stays post-cruise in Innsbruck and Oberammergau.

Day 1 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Arrive in Amsterdam, then embark your ship. After boarding, the afternoon is yours to relax or explore the city on your own. If your arrival schedule permits, you may wish to visit the Rijksmuseum, or the van Gogh Museum next door. (Dinner)

Day 2 Kinderdijk, The Netherlands
This morning we sail to Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a tour of this ingenious network of windmills and other flood management devices. You learn why the windmills were built and see how they work, plus you enter a working windmill for a tour of its mechanisms and living quarters. Return on board for lunch and an enjoyable afternoon of Dutch diversions: sample handcrafted Dutch cheeses and jenever, a distilled juniper liquor, and take in a culturally enriching presentation on the Dutch Golden Age. We cruise through the night. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3 Cologne, Germany
Begin your day with a morning tour of Cologne, Germany’s fourth largest city. Stroll through Old Town past St. Martin’s Church and see the Dom, Germany’s largest cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend your free time enjoying Cologne’s atmospheric waterfront, or perhaps join an optional excursion on which you ascend to the Dom’s roof for up-close views of the cathedral’s architecture and bird’s-eye vistas of Cologne. Afterward, return on board for dinner. Alternately, you may set off on an optional excursion to explore Cologne’s spirited beer culture, sampling Kölsch, a light, crisp beer brewed only in Cologne, and enjoying a brauhaus dinner. After, return to your ship for a late-evening departure. (B, L, D)

Day 4 Koblenz & Rüdesheim, Germany
Proceed along the Rhine, disembarking for a lively and informative tour of Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Alternately, choose an optional excursion to tour the 700-year old Marksburg Castle, or enjoy an optional guided exploration of Koblenz on foot. After, enjoy an onboard lunch as you cruise the scenic Middle Rhine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where turreted castles and fortresses overlook the river from their hilltop posts. Arrive in Rüdesheim in the late afternoon. Spend free time in the pedestrian-only Drosselgasse and sample a glass of locally produced wine at one of the restaurants or wine bars. Dine on board your ship, or in town if you prefer. You may also choose to experience one of our optional dinners on shore tonight. We depart after midnight. (B, L, D)

Day 5 Speyer, Germany
Cruise into midmorning as you enjoy the passing scenery. After lunch, 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. Built in the 11th century on the site of a former basilica, the building’s design influenced Romanesque architecture for centuries to come, and is the final resting place of eight German monarchs. Alternatively, after breakfast, you may choose to disembark for a full day tour of Heidelberg, the home of Germany’s oldest university, founded in 1386. Visit the beautiful sandstone ruins of imposing Heidelberg Castle and admire the Neckar River Valley. Continue with a walking tour through Old Town to Heidelberg’s renowned gates. After lunch, visit the historic town of Speyer on your way back to your ship. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6 Strasbourg
We dock this morning in Kehl and disembark for 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 this Alsatian city’s blend of French and German cultures, resplendent churches, medieval covered bridges, verdant parks and handsome art nouveau and modernist architecture. Alternately, join our optional excursion into Alsatian wine country for an informative winery tour and tasting. Or, spend your full day exploring culinary Strasbourg on an optional excursion; as you explore the city and take in its sights, savor samples of the renowned Alsatian cuisine, from regional dessert specialties and meats to wine pairings with local foods. On board this evening, enjoy a Taste of Germany dinner event. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 7 Breisach, Germany
Arrive in Breisach this morning, gateway to the Black Forest. Take a scenic excursion through the area’s renowned mountain landscape, rolling meadows and dense forests. Once there, visit a local workshop to see a cuckoo clock-making demonstration, and learn how Black Forest Cake is made. Return to your ship for lunch. This afternoon, perhaps join an optional excursion to the quaint Alsatian town of Colmar to discover the storybook charm of its streets lined with medieval, Gothic and Renaissance buildings, and visit a fine arts museum. Alternately, choose an optional excursion that explores Colmar’s World War II history. Dine on board this evening and cruise on through the night. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 8 Basel, Switzerland & Innsbruck, Austria
Disembark your ship in Basel and set out on a scenic drive through an alpine landscape to Innsbruck. Along the way, enjoy a short stop in Vaduz—the quaint capital city of one of the world’s smallest and wealthiest countries, Liechtenstein. Enjoy free time for lunch and take a stroll around the town before continuing your journey. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure to explore on your own. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time here so you can make the most of your visit. (Breakfast)

Day 9 Innsbruck, Austria
This morning, enjoy a guided walking tour of historic Innsbruck and explore the Old Town, where a wealth of imperial architecture awaits. See the Goldenes Dachl, a gold-colored roof that covers the balcony where Emperor Maximilian once stood and a symbol of the city’s heritage. The afternoon is free for you to explore at your leisure. Perhaps take a cable car ride to the Nordkette for spectacular panoramic views over the valley and the surrounding peaks of the Alps. Or, you may choose to visit the grand Imperial Palace and discover the history of the Hapsburgs, one of Europe’s most distinguished royal houses. This evening, join an optional excursion to a traditional Austrian folklore dinner at a local restaurant or enjoy free time to dine on your own. (B)

Day 10 Oberammergau, Germany
Set out on a scenic drive to Oberammergau. Along the way, stop in the charming hamlet of Mittenwald, renowned for the art of violin making and known as the “Village of a Thousand Violins.” This afternoon, visit Ettal for a guided visit of the baroque-style monastery located in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps. Arrive in Oberammergau and check in to your hotel, then enjoy free time before dinner at your hotel this evening. (B, D)

Day 11 Oberammergau, Germany
After breakfast, enjoy a morning at your leisure, or you may choose to join an optional tour to Linderhof Palace, the former residence of Bavarian King Ludwig II. After lunch, take your seats for a performance of Passionsspiele, The Passion Play. The play’s origins date back to 1633 when the Great Plague descended upon the village. After many lives were lost, the villagers made a promise to God that they would tell the story of Christ, should no more lives be lost. The tradition continues today and it is a great honor for Oberammergau’s residents to be a part of this powerful dramatic performance. During the intermission, enjoy a traditional Bavarian dinner at a local restaurant.
(B, L, D)

Day 12 Oberammergau, Germany
After breakfast, check out of your hotel. (B)