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Ralph Grizzle's Dream Cruise | October 2-13, 2024
Save $2,500 | Reserve Your Stateroom For $500
Unpack Once & Enjoy 11 Nights On This Incredible Journey
Amsterdam To Basel | Rhine & Moselle Rivers
October 2, 2024 – October 13, 2024
Special Savings For 11-Night Dream Cruise
| Category | Configuration | Square Feet | Brochure Rate | Savings | Per Person Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E | Fixed Window | 160 | $6,599 | $1,250 | $5,349 |
| D | Fixed Window | 160 | $7,098 | $1,250 | $5,848 |
| C | French Balcony | 170 | $8,648 | $1,250 | $7,398 |
| BB | Twin Balcony | 210 | $9,598 | $1,250 | $8,348 |
| BA | Twin Balcony | 210 | $9,898 | $1,250 | $8,648 |
| AB | Twin Balcony | 235 | $10,248 | $1,250 | $8,998 |
| AA | Twin Balcony | 235 | $10,598 | $1,250 | $9,348 |
| AA+ SOLD OUT | Twin Balcony | 290 | $11,498 | SOLD OUT | SOLD OUT |
| SS SOLD OUT | Twin Balcony | 300 | $12,598 | SOLD OUT | SOLD OUT |
Reserve Your Space Now!
Use the form below to put down a $500 per person deposit.
Staterooms
NOTES:
Important Dates, prices & itineraries are subject to change.
Port Charges not included in cruise price $352 per person.
Bedding Please select bedding configuration at the time of booking. The Options are: Option A: Two twin beds Option B: One large bed (larger than queen size).
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
All rates are per person for cruise only, based on double occupancy in an entry level category stateroom unless stated otherwise. Offer is valid on select sailings only and applicable to new bookings only. Offer is not combinable with any other promotions/discounts, limited to availability, capacity controlled and subject to change or termination without notice. Port charges, land programs and round-trip airfare are not included in cruise price. Other restrictions apply.
All staterooms have river views and more than half feature AmaWaterways’ unique twin balconies, comprised of a French balcony plus a walkout balcony. I enjoyed the white marble bathrooms with glass-enclosed, multi-jet showers and granite countertops.
What’s a Dream Cruise? It’s river cruise that pulls together the best of Europe. For me, that’s traveling in comfort along enchanting waterways, with multiple opportunities for destination immersion, cultural encounters, pedaling and hiking – and sharing the experience with others who are passionate about travel.
It’s also a river cruise of the proper duration. As our readers know, seven nights is just too short for a fully satisfying experience. My Dream Cruise spans 11 nights, with optional pre- and post-cruise extensions (Amsterdam, Lake Lucerne & Zurich) that extend this epic adventure to 17 nights.
Our floating boutique hotel will be AmaWaterways’ AmaPrima. When she debuted in 2013, I wrote a piece called 12 Things To Like About The New AmaPrima. The lovely AmaPrima features 82 cabins and accommodation for 164 guests.
The ship features two restaurants: the Main Restaurant and The Chef’s Table, which features regionally inspired menus. You have the option to dine at the reservations-only Chef’s Table during our 11-night Dream Cruise. There is no additional charge for dining in this aft-situated upscale restaurant. The Chef’s Table is surrounded by windows and offers spectacular views of the rivers
But as nice as AmaPrima is, the ship is not the star of the show. The stars are the rivers, the destinations along them and the activities available to us each day. The Moselle ranks among my favorite rivers in all of Europe. In one post, I called the Moselle: Europe’s Most Beautiful River – At Least During The Fall.
While I prefer active excursions (and there will be plenty of those for us), you need not be at a high fitness level to enjoy the Dream Cruise. We’ll have excursions and tours for any level of fitness, whether you’re mobility challenged or fit as a fiddle.
Why Travel With Me?
Well, for starters, it’s my “Dream Cruise.” No one else is offering such a cruise. Plus, I’ve cruised a lot on these rivers and will not only share my knowledge along the way but also participate in many of the activities. And I will help you find “secret” jewels along the way that other tourists fail to discover. To give you one example, when we’re in Amsterdam, one of the things I like to do is take a bike from the ship, board the free ferries across from Amsterdam’s Central Station and pedal into the region known as Waterland. It’s a region of fishing villages and picturesque countryside. As I’ve done before, I’ll find a small restaurant where I can enjoy mussels and fries (along with a beer) as I gaze out over a gorgeous landscape. I’d love to take a small group out on this adventure during the Dream Cruise.
RHINE & MOSELLE FAIRYTALES
Amsterdam to Basel | 11 Nights | October 2, 2024 - October 13, 2024
Itinerary & Tours
October 2, 2024 AMSTERDAM
Board AmaPrima for our Rhine & Moselle Fairytales cruise
October 3, 2024 | AMSTERDAM
There are 165 canals in Amsterdam, and you’ll get to enjoy some of them on your canal cruise. Later in the day, set sail out of Amsterdam.
Amsterdam
- Canal cruise
October 4, 2024 | COLOGNE, GERMANY
Enjoy cruising to Cologne, home to one of Germany’s most revered Gothic masterpieces, the Cologne Cathedral. Join a guided tour through the Old Town and explore the UNESCO-designated cathedral. You’ll also pass by the Cologne Rathaus, Germany’s oldest town hall, and other local sights. For a different view of the city, visit a local tavern to taste its famous Kölsch beer, only made in Cologne, and reibekuchen, potato pancakes typically served with applesauce. Active adventurists will want to join a guided bike ride along the Rhine.
Cologne
- Holy City” tour and cathedral visit
- OR Kölsch beer tasting
- OR Cologne bike tour (different from our last time here, led by Ralph Grizzle)
October 5, 2024 | LAHNSTEIN
You have a choice to visit Burg Lahneck, a medieval 13th-century castle, located in the city of Lahnstein; or you can go to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress to take the aerial cable car over the Rhine to Koblenz, which boasts a rich history spanning more than 2,000 years. For those seeking a more active adventure, explore the area on the “Two Rivers Bike Tour,” which takes you along both the Rhine and Moselle rivers; or go on a hike around Lahnstein to Lahneck Castle.
Lahnstein
- Unique Lahneck Castle visit
- OR Ehrenbreitstein Fortress and cable car ride to Koblenz
- OR Lahneck Castle hike
- OR “Two Rivers” bike tour (led by Ralph Grizzle)
October 6, 2024 | COCHEM
Spend the morning taking in the beauty of the Moselle on this scenic stretch of the river before reaching Cochem with its half-timbered houses and Reichsburg Castle. Join a guided tour through the castle and then walk through its Old Town. For those wishing to have a more active exploration of the area, you can go on a guided hike to the castle or a bike tour through Cochem. Or for a different adventure, follow your palate to one of Europe’s oldest mustard mills in Cochem for a taste of its finest mustard recipe.
Cochem
- Scenic cruising
- Reichsburg Castle and walking tour
- OR Cochem Mustard Mill
- OR Cochem hike
- OR Cochem bike tour (led by Ralph Grizzle)
October 7, 2024 | TRIER
Set sail for Trier, Germany’s oldest city, where you can discover on a city tour why it has been called the “Rome of the North” as it has impressive Roman relics and nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Alternatively, go in search of the secrets of the Porta Nigra Gate on a tour that takes you back to a time when Rome ruled the world from the Emperor’s seat in Trier. You also have the choice of a bike tour through the historic city center and along the Moselle River; or hike high above Trier to Petrisberg.
Trier
- Scenic cruising
- “Rome of the North” tour
- OR “Ancient tales of the Porta Nigra” tour
- OR Petrisberg hike
- OR Trier bike tour (led by Ralph Grizzle)
October 8, 2024 | BERNKASTEL
Enjoy a scenic cruise to Bernkastel that will enchant you. Walk through its colorful Old Town center and past many medieval and Renaissance buildings on a guided tour that also includes a winery visit and tasting. Cycling enthusiasts can choose to join a bike tour and hikers can opt to trek up to the ruins of Landshut Castle, which dates all the way back to the 9th century.
Bernkastel
- Walking tour and wine tasting
- OR Moselle bike tour (led by Ralph Grizzle)
- OR Landshut Castle hike
October 9, 2024 | RHINE GORGE – RÜDESHEIM
Cruise through the captivating UNESCO-designated Rhine Gorge, the most stunningly beautiful stretch of the river, before reaching Rüdesheim. Drink up the stunning views by soaring high above the vineyards with a gondola ride to the Niederwalddenkmal Statue, and afterwards, be treated to a wine tasting. For a more active adventure, hike through the town’s beautiful vineyards or join a guided bike tour along the scenic Rhine River to Schloss Johannisberg. Later in the day, let Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum charm you or taste one of the town’s special delights, Rüdesheimer coffee, ceremoniously made with brandy, coffee and whipped cream.
Rhine Gorge
Castles along the Rhine scenic cruising
Rüdesheim
- Gondola ride and Wine tasting
- OR Vineyard hike
- OR Schloss Johannisberg bike tour (led by Ralph Grizzle)
- Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
- OR Rüdesheimer coffee
October 10, 2024 | LUDWIGSHAFEN
You have a choice of several excursions, depending on your interest. Visit Heidelberg, a perfectly preserved medieval city nestled in the Neckar River Valley along Germany’s Castle Road. Alternatively, relive a bygone era on an excursion to the glorious Schwetzingen Baroque Palace. Tour this splendid palace furnished with over 800 exhibits. Or, you may decide to visit Schwetzingen Palace Gardens with more than 100 sculptures and admire an assortment of whimsical buildings. The Apollotempel houses a statue of the ancient Greek god of light and the arts, playing the lyre; and the most spectacular, the Türkischer Garten with a mosque, are a few of the many highlights you will see. You can also hike the historic Philosopher’s Path along the Neckar River or bike to the charming town of Ladenburg and glide past its half-timbered architecture.
Ludwigshafen
- “Romantic Heidelberg” excursion
- OR Mannheim Baroque Palace
- OR Schwetzingen Gardens
- OR Heidleberg Philosopher’s Path hike
- OR Ladenburg bike tour (led by Ralph Grizzle)
October 11, 2024 | STRASBOURG, FRANCE
Strasbourg, the capital city of Alsace, offers flavors of both France and Germany because of its borderline location. Enjoy a panoramic tour past the stunning Parc de l’Orangerie, the European Parliament and the Place de la République before walking through its iconic “La Petite France” district, which appears to have been lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. Wander through these charming streets and past the Cathédrale de Nôtre Dame with its famous astronomical clock. Alternatively, the active adventurer can take a guided bike ride through the city and Parc de l’Orangerie.
Strasbourg
- “The Gem of the Alsace” tour
- OR Strasbourg bike tour (led by Ralph Grizzle)
October 12, 2024 | BREISACH, GERMANY
Breisach is your gateway to several different excursions, depending on your interests. Step back in time with a visit to the enchanting Alsatian town of Riquewihr, which looks almost the same as it did in the 16th century. On your walking tour, admire historic architecture as well as famous sights, such as the Dolder Gate. Alternatively, you may wish to go to Freiburg, founded in 1120 and home to the Freiburg’s Münster, a Gothic cathedral said to have “the most beautiful spire on earth.” Those wishing a more active excursion can cycle through the scenic countryside, or go on a hike in the Black Forest*, a magical land full of cultural traditions. (B,L,D)
*Please Note: Black forest hike is weather dependent and may only operate at certain times of year. Please refer to your final documents for details.
Breisach
- Riquewihr walking tour
- OR Freiburg excursion
- OR Black Forest hike
- OR Breisach wine country bike tour (led by Ralph Grizzle)
October 13, 2024 | BASEL, SWITZERLAND – DISEMBARKATION
Disembark the ship and bid farewell to Switzerland as you prepare for your return flight home – or continue on a Switzerland extension.
