Rhine Enchantment, Milan to Amsterdam - Northbound

Tour begins: 6:30 PM. A transfer is included from Milano Malpensa or Milano Linate airports or Milano Centrale train station to Hotel Principe di Savoia, a splendid landmark building built in the 1920s, decorated in classic Italian and Art Deco style and centrally located on the Piazza della Repubblica. Join us this evening for a welcome aperitif and dinner, accompanied by live jazz / standards, at your hotel.

You're off for a day's exploring around Lake Como, one of Italy's most beautiful lakes, in the shadow of the snowcapped Alps – a mecca for the well-heeled on holiday since ancient Roman times. Drive to Tremezzo, where you'll board a boat for bellissima Bellagio. Your Tauck Director leads an orientation walk in this resort village, known as "the Pearl of the Lake," followed by free time. Take in the lake views and explore the centuries-old buildings, stone lanes, and cobbled stairways lined with shops. A boat cruise shows you more of Lake Como, which the poet William Wordsworth described as "a treasure whom the earth keeps to herself." The forested shoreline is punctuated by small towns with ancient stone bell towers and opulent villas owned by jet-setters and celebrities. Disembark in the town of Cernobbio and head back to Milan late afternoon. 

Immerse yourself in magnificent Milan on an orientation and walking tour that includes; a visit to Piazza della Scala, one of the most famous opera houses in the world, Palazzo Marina and an outside visit to the incredible Gothic Cathedral of Milan, il Duomo, the third largest Catholic church in the world. It took 500 years to finish this forest of spires and pinnacles topped by the iconic statue of the golden madonnina. Steps from il Duomo, stroll through the city's premier gathering place, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a.k.a. "the living room of Milan." This massive yet elegant shopping arcade, topped by an airy glass octagonal dome, was built as a symbol of Italian unity in the late 19th century and named after the first king of Italy. Your afternoon is free to explore as you please perhaps visiting Pinacoteca di Brera, a great art collection including works by Raphael, Bellini, Piero della Francesca, and Caravaggio… the fashion district between pedestrianized Via della Spiga, via Montenapoleone, via Manzoni, and Corso Venezia… or the Bohemian Navigli neighborhood of canal-side bars, restaurants, and shops. Tonight, you have reservations for a Tauck Exclusive – a private viewing of Leonardo da Vinci's famed mural, The Last Supper, which adorns the dining room at the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent (subject to availability; the day of visit may vary).

After breakfast, drive to Lugano, Switzerland, where you'll enjoy some free time to explore. Late afternoon, take the high-speed train to Basel. Have you ever ridden through a mountain? "Great things are done when men and mountain meet," wrote the poet William Blake, and he could have been talking about the Gotthard Base Tunnel, which you'll go through today, zipping through the base of the Alps. At 35 miles long, it's the longest railway tunnel in the world, a major feat of engineering that took 17 years to complete. Because you're heading north, you may enter the tunnel in one kind of weather and exit to find that the weather has completely changed. In Basel, embark your riverboat; attend a Discovery Briefing and enjoy cocktails in the lounge before dining onboard your ship.

Today you're off to explore the Swiss city of Basel on a choice of excursions. One possibility is to go on a walking tour in Old Town Basel with a local guide before setting off on your own. There's much to discover: the city is known for its many contemporary buildings by noted international architects, and it has the highest density of museums in the country, including the world-class Basel Art Museum.  Your other options explores Basel's culinary heritage. A melting pot of culinary influence due to its close proximity to Germany, France and of course, Switzerland, see and taste Basel on a walking tour indulging in the city's culinary delicacies of beer, cheese and chocolate. Regardless of your choice, make sure to save time to try a favorite local treat – honey cake. Have dinner back onboard your riverboat. You set sail tonight.

Head into the Alsatian wine country for a choice of excursions. On one, drive along the bucolic Alsatian wine route, through countryside where some of the world's best Rieslings are made to a quaint Alsatian village with half-timbered houses; after lunch, enjoy a tasting at one of the local wine cellars. One of the sunniest (and hottest) areas of Germany, the grapes in this region produce delicious Pinot Noir, pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc. Everyone has lunch at a local restaurant, then travels to an organic winery for a tasting before returning to the ship in Strasbourg. Your other option is an all-day bicycle excursion that explores Strasbourg, including Strasbourg Old Town. 

Dock in the port town of Mannheim, where you'll have two choices today. Drive from the riverboat to Heidelberg for a guided visit to the splendid ruins of Heidelberg Castle, a sprawling red sandstone compound high above the city, a reminder of 600 years of history. Check out the Heidelberg Tun, the biggest wine barrel in the world (and walk on top of it). Learn about centuries of movers and shakers, and the romantic story of the Elisabeth Gate, built in 1615 as a present from Elector Frederic V to his wife Elisabeth Stuart, the daughter of King James I of England. He had the triumphal arch secretly crafted in sections and put up as a whole the night before her birthday to surprise her the next morning. The views of the Neckar River Valley from the castle are unforgettable; your visit is followed an opportunity to explore Old Town Heidelberg. Board the riverboat in Mannheim and spends the afternoon cruising north. You'll have time to enjoy the gym, get a massage… or curl up in a chair on the Sun Deck with a snack and your favorite drink. Arrive in Wiesbaden and disembark for a Tauck Exclusive evening featuring dinner and entertainment at Schloss Biebrich, an 18th-century Baroque palace on the bank of the Rhine in Wiesbaden.

Enjoy a day of cruising along the Rhine, through the Middle Rhine Valley. Your Tauck Director provides commentary as you glide past sloping vineyards and rocky bluffs, sharing the stories of the Lorelei Rock and the castles standing watch onshore. Dock this evening in Remagen and go ashore with your Tauck Director for an orientation tour.

Following a leisurely morning's cruise, arrive after brunch in Düsseldorf – one of Germany's wealthiest cities, known for its charming Altstadt (Old Town) on the riverfront, as well as for its avant-garde architecture. Walk off the riverboat into town for your choice of a walking tour focused on the city's history and architecture; a tour of Düsseldorf's MedienHafen sector, formerly an abandoned old harbor, this area was transformed to become one of the most modern sectors of the city, view it's spectacular architecture designed by renowned architects such as Frank Gehry as well as a bird's eye view of the city from the Rhine tower; or a bicycling excursion along the city's Rhine River waterfront. During some free time following the excursion of your choice, you might want to visit Königsallee ("the Kö"), the city's super high-end shopping street; if you're a classic car buff, check out the Classic Remise Düsseldorf, displaying vintage automobiles in a historic roundhouse for locomotives; or take a walk along the lively promenade by the river. Back aboard the ship this evening, enjoy a reception, the Chef's Signature Dinner, and a party hosted by the crew as your riverboat charts a course for the Netherlands.

Arrive late morning in Amsterdam and disembark for an introduction to the Dutch capital aboard a canal boat cruise. As you float through the city's 17th-century network of canals, enjoy dessert as you pass under bridges, check out the houseboats, and view the historic buildings lining the canals. After your canal boat cruise, enjoy an afternoon exploring the city as you wish – perhaps visiting your choice of the city's museums, or strolling through the "Nine Streets" in the heart of the canal district, popping into unique shops and galleries, sampling cheeses or trying out Amsterdam's famed coffee shops. Return to the riverboat throughout the afternoon. During your final evening aboard ship tonight, join us for a farewell reception followed by dinner.

Tour ends: Amsterdam. Disembark by 9:00 AM. Fly home anytime; a transfer from your riverboat to Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport or Centraal Train Station is included. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport. For additional nights in Amsterdam, ask at booking.