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JEWELS OF THE RHINE aboard Crystal Bach

IN AFFILIATION WITH:

Crystal Bach

Frankfurt to Amsterdam Itinerary

(OR REVERSE)

Available Voyages:

Frankfurt to Amsterdam

  • June 24-July 8, 2018
  • August 19-September 2, 2018
  • September 16-30, 2018
  • October 14-28, 2018

Amsterdam to Frankfurt

  • August 5-19, 2018
  • September 2-16, 2018
  • September 30-October 14, 2018
  • October 28-November 11, 2018

Christmas Markets

  • November 11-25, 2018

ITINERARY

IItinerary also operates in the reverse.

Day 1

Arrive in Frankfurt. A high-powered international business hub with a bohemian spirit, Frankfurt is a city of contrasts. Visit the medieval buildings of Altstadt or the old town. Experience renowned collections of museums and galleries. You will depart Frankfurt at 9 PM.

Day 2

Begin your journey down the Rhine. Aboard your all-inclusive, all-suite Crystal river ship, luxury knows no bounds. While cruising from one storied European port to the next, your day’s adventure might include a morning in the Fitness Center using state-of-the-art TechnoGym equipment, or perhaps a yoga class followed by a soothing massage at the onboard Spa located on the Harmony deck. For lunch, dine on Michelin Star-level cuisine while watching the world drift slowly by.

Day 3

Arrive in Breisach, Germany at 8 AM. Situated along the Rhine about halfway between the supremely scenic towns of Freiburg and Colmar, Breisach is the perfect place from which to launch explorations into the surrounding Black Forest. You will depart Breisach at 10 PM.

Day 4

Arrive in Basel, Switzerland at 8 AM. This medieval town invites exploration by foot, while an abundance of museums and galleries suggest an indoor stroll amid works of art and relics of history. The Museum of Fine Arts is home to the world’s oldest art collection accessible to the public. The city itself hosts Switzerland’s oldest university, dating to 1460.

Day 5

A second day in Basel. Antiquity may be Basel’s strong suit, as it is in much of Europe, but this corner of Switzerland also reveals a more modern countenance: Architects Herzog & de Meuron, best known for the design of the Tate Modern in London and the Bird’s Nest in Beijing, and Frank Gehry of Bilbao Guggenheim Museum fame have contributed their considerable talents to buildings here. Spend the day discovering the rest of Basel's history. You will depart Basel at 7 PM.

Day 6

Arrive in Kehl, Germany at 8 AM. Located just across the Rhine from Strasbourg, Kehl is your access point to the capital of the Alsace region, the seat of the European Parliament and, simply, one of the most photogenic old towns in existence. Strasbourg boasts a breathtakingly gorgeous Gothic cathedral (with the tallest cathedral tower in France), twisting alleyways, and a charm that oozes from virtually every cozy corner of Grande Île. You will depart Kehl at 10 PM.

Day 7

Arrive in Speyer, Germany at 8 AM. Spared the destruction that befell much of Germany during World War II, Speyer is a preserved window on time, looking onto a history that reaches not only to the Roman age but farther back, to the time of settlement by the Celts. Cobbled streets wind through the centuries, passing half-timbered buildings, the remains of a medieval synagogue, fine museums and festive taverns, culminating at the town’s Romanesque cathedral, called Kaiserdom. Enormous both in scale and significance, the UNESCO-listed church dates to 1030 and houses the tombs of eight Holy Roman emperors and German kings. You will depart Speyer at 11:59 PM.

Day 8

Cruise the Rhine and arrive in Mainz at 6 AM followed by Rüdesheim, Germany. With roots as a Roman outpost that helped stand guard over the empire’s far-north territory, Mainz has a rich history. Of course, most visitors associate Mainz with its cultural treasure, an original Gutenberg Bible—one of only a few dozen remaining copies—housed at the Gutenberg Museum. Next you'll depart for Rüdesheim, Germany at 1 PM and arrive at 3 PM.

Day 9

A day in Rüdesheim followed by a cruise to Koblenz, Germany at 8 AM. If Rüdesheim’s scenic location on the Rhine Gorge doesn’t sweep you off your feet, then the town’s medieval Old Town with its half-timbered buildings and narrow lanes, especially the Drosselgasse overflowing with charming shops and taverns, surely will. Still more that promises to enchant and delight is the region’s renowned Rieslings, produced here for centuries from vineyards dating to Roman times. You'll then cruise to Koblenz, Germany. You'll arrive in Koblenz by 2 PM. Located where the Rhine and Moselle rivers and three low mountain ranges meet, Koblenz has a leg up in the scenery department. Add to that the city’s 2,000-year-old history, hilltop fortress and squares lined by classic Germanic architecture and you have a place ready made for photographs. You might start by aiming your lens at the Deutsches Eck, or German Corner, where the rivers merge around a corner of land marked by a monument to Emperor William I. Ambling along the river promenade and exploring the town’s narrow lanes, you might encounter medieval churches, flower-filled parks, sidewalk cafes and perhaps a weinstube, or wine tavern, an ideal venue for sipping dry Riesling and drinking in the atmosphere. You'll depart Koblenz, Germany at 11 PM.

Day 10

Cruise the Moselle River and arrive at Cochem, Germany at 6 AM. If a storybook village is to be found on the Moselle River, Cochem certainly is it, with its half-timbered buildings, steep terraced slopes, lush vineyards and a picturesque castle overlooking it all. A riverside promenade allows a chance to savor the atmosphere of the fairytale come to life. Walking along, you’ll take in the beauty of the surrounding hills, sometimes laced with mist, and see bridges spanning the lazy waters of the river. Perhaps you will feel somewhat lazy yourself, reluctant to move too quickly through a town seemingly stopped in time. You will depart Cochem at 2 PM.

Day 11

Cruise back up the Rhine and arrive at Cologne, Germany at 8 AM. A scan of Cologne’s skyline offers a short-hand of a long essay of architecture, varying from the space-needle-type Rhine Tower to the avant-garde buildings along the river to the spectacular spires of the cathedral. One look at the magnificent church and you can’t help but draw a breath of amazement—the structure is enormous and intricately glorious, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Germany’s most visited landmark. Peel your eyes away from the famed Kölner Dom, as it is locally called, to discover other architectural notables, including remains of the Roman wall, a modern museum complex, the contemporary philharmonic hall, cozy beerhalls and the span of the Hohenzollern Bridge, reconstructed after the war. You will depart Cologne at 11 PM.

Day 12

Continue cruising up the Rhine and arrive at Nijmegen, Netherlands at 8 AM. Situated alongside the Waal River near the German border, Nijmegen marries classic waterside scenery with a unique regional history, touched by war. The city’s history is more than a little impressive, as Nijmegen is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, founded more than 2,000 years ago. A smattering of Roman ruins can be seen in town, including a remnant of the old city wall and foundations of the amphitheater. End the day cruising towards Antwerp, Belgium at 2 PM.

Day 13

Arrive in Antwerp, Belgium at 8 AM. What Milan is to Italy, Antwerp is to Belgium, a historic city that is on-trend with a finger on the pulse of fashion, art and entertainment. A dynamic energy fills Antwerp’s old squares, gorgeous with cobbled centers and edged, like a cake with decorative icing, by ornate buildings. High-reaching church towers and fountains with cherubic sculptures add to the feeling of antiquity, while the port—the largest in Belgium and one of the largest in the world—brings a sense of purpose and prosperity. Surely, you associate Antwerp with diamonds. More than 70 percent of all diamonds are traded through this sparkling city, one that also shines under the light of celebrated painter Peter Paul Rubens, who lived and worked in an Italianate city manse, now a museum. End the day cruising to Amsterdam, Netherlands at 8 PM.

Day 14

Arrive in Amsterdam, Netherlands at 9 AM. Everyone has an image of Amsterdam. For some, it’s small boats gliding on the canals and locals two-wheeling on bikes to and from work and, as frequently, to meet friends for drinks. For others, it’s gabled buildings leaning, seemingly precariously, over cobbled streets and cozy taverns illuminated by candles. Still others imagine tulips in bloom and the colors, both muted and vibrant, of the paintings Vermeer, Van Gogh and Rembrandt. All images are true and even more beguiling when experienced in person.

Day 15

Disembark the Crystal Bach in Amsterdam. Make your flight connections home.

CRYSTAL VOYAGE INCLUSIONS

All-Exclusive Luxuries Aboard Crystal River Cruises as stated below:

  • THIRDHOME Members receive a $100 Shipboard Credit per person on all voyages
  • Gratuities included for all shipboard staff throughout the River Ships including housekeeping, bar, dining staff and butlers
  • All meals included, featuring Crystal's innovative and acclaimed six-star cuisine, highlighted by regional specialties within multiple dining venues offering open-seating dining
  • A la carte, buffet and early risers breakfast offerings
  • Unlimited soft drinks and premium beverages including champagne, fine wine and spirits throughout the River Ships
  • All soft drinks, beer and bottled water in-suite
  • 24-hour self-service pantry featuring specialty coffees, teas, wines and nonalcoholic beverages
  • 24-hour room service
  • 24-hour Wi-Fi access (via satellite)
  • State-of-the-art interactive TV system including in-suite movies on demand, extensive music library
  • Destination-focused entertainment and enrichment program, including onboard lecture series
  • Daily yoga and fitness classes
  • Daily choice of electronic international newspapers
  • Self-service guest laundry
  • Choice of complimentary curated Crystal Adventures shore excursions in every port
  • Culinary experiences at highly renowned local establishments on many sailings
  • Nordic walking poles
  • Audio headphones on all organized Crystal Adventures
  • Complimentary airport transfers to/from river ship to airport
  • Michelin-Star Culinary Experience for select room categories
  • All transfers will be group transfers by motor coach on embarkation and disembarkation days only: Airport/River Ship - Transfers will operate between 8am and 6pm on embarkation day. River Ship /Airport - Transfers will operate until at least 12noon on the day of disembarkation. Actual service times may vary depending on local traffic conditions and guests' departure schedules.

LIFESTYLE TIPS

  • Crystal Casual dress code (details below)
  • Non-smoking environment in all indoor spaces
  • Suite Amenities include - Twice daily housekeeping services including evening turndown service; In-suite hors d'oeuvres; Individual climate control; Flat-screen TV in each suite; English-speaking and international TV stations; and personal Butler service

Women’s Crystal Casual includes:

  • Blouse
  • Sweater
  • Dressy slacks
  • Skirt
  • Dress

Men’s Crystal Casual includes:

  • Open collar shirt
  • Collared polo shirt
  • Button-down shirt
  • Dress shirt (no tie required)
  • Dress pants or European smart trousers
  • Sport coat (optional)

NOT INCLUDED:

  • Port Taxes per person vary depending on voyage
  • International airfare

INTERESTED?

Please contact Liz Bates - Director of Travel & Concierge Services

or call at 615-997-3181

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