Cruise itinerary
12-Night Europe Cruise from Lucerne
12 nights · Europe · 14 ports of call
12-night Europe cruise aboard Avalon Tranquility II, departing Lucerne and calling at Swiss Alps, Basel, Breisach, Strasbourg, Ludwigshafen and Rüdesheim and 7 more.
- Free advisor
- No booking fees
- 10,000+ sailings
At a glance
- Cruise line
- Avalon Waterways
- Duration
- 12 nights
- Region
- Europe · Western Europe · Rhine · Moselle
- Departs
- Lucerne
- Returns
- Amsterdam
How NestCruise works:we're advisor-led, not a booking engine. No fares are listed and there are no booking fees — tell an advisor your dates and party and they price your exact Avalon Tranquility II sailing, typically within 24 hours.
Where this voyage takes you
- History & Culture
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day1
Lucerne
A Swiss city on the lake of the same name, ringed by the peaks of Pilatus and Rigi. The wooden Chapel Bridge with its painted gables crosses the river Reuss in the medieval old town, and cogwheel railways and boats reach the surrounding mountains.
- Chapel Bridge
- Mount Pilatus
- Old town squares
- Day2
Lucerne
A Swiss city on the lake of the same name, ringed by the peaks of Pilatus and Rigi. The wooden Chapel Bridge with its painted gables crosses the river Reuss in the medieval old town, and cogwheel railways and boats reach the surrounding mountains.
- Chapel Bridge
- Mount Pilatus
- Old town squares
- Day3
Lucerne
A Swiss city on the lake of the same name, ringed by the peaks of Pilatus and Rigi. The wooden Chapel Bridge with its painted gables crosses the river Reuss in the medieval old town, and cogwheel railways and boats reach the surrounding mountains.
- Chapel Bridge
- Mount Pilatus
- Old town squares
Swiss Alps
Basel
A Swiss city on the Rhine where Switzerland, France and Germany meet, and a common starting point for Rhine cruises. Its old town climbs from the river to a red sandstone cathedral and a medieval market square ringed by guild houses.
- Basel Münster
- Old town
- Rhine starting point
- Day4
Breisach
A small town on the Rhine at the edge of Germany's Kaiserstuhl wine country, just across the river from France's Alsace. It is crowned by the St. Stephan minster on its hilltop and serves as the river gateway to Freiburg and the southern Black Forest.
- St. Stephan minster
- Kaiserstuhl vineyards
- Black Forest gateway
- Day5
Strasbourg
The capital of France's Alsace, set on the Rhine close to the German border. Its Grande Île old town centres on a soaring pink-sandstone cathedral and the canal-laced lanes of Petite France, while the modern European Parliament sits across the city.
- Strasbourg Cathedral
- Petite France
- European Parliament
- Day6
Ludwigshafen
An industrial city on the Rhine in southwest Germany, facing Mannheim across the river. It is chiefly a river-cruise and rail gateway, within easy reach of Heidelberg, Speyer's cathedral, and the vineyards of the Palatinate wine country.
- Heidelberg gateway
- Speyer Cathedral
- Palatinate wines
- Day7
Rüdesheim
A small wine town on the Rhine, set where the river enters its dramatic gorge. River ships call here for the half-timbered lanes of the Drosselgasse, the vineyards of the Rheingau and the cable car up to the Niederwald monument above.
- Drosselgasse
- Rheingau vineyards
- Niederwald monument
Rhine Gorge, Germany
A scenic stretch of the Rhine in western Germany, where the river cuts a steep gorge between vine-clad slopes. Castle after castle crowns the heights above the water, including the legendary Lorelei rock on a sharp bend.
- Clifftop castles
- Lorelei rock
- Riverside vineyards
Koblenz
A German city at the meeting of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, the point known as the Deutsches Eck or 'German Corner'. A cable car climbs from the headland to the Ehrenbreitstein fortress, and the town marks the northern end of the Rhine Gorge.
- Deutsches Eck
- Ehrenbreitstein Fortress
- Rhine cable car
- Day8
Bernkastel-Kues
A picturesque wine town on the Moselle in Germany, famous among Riesling growers. Half-timbered houses crowd the sloping market square, the ruined Landshut castle stands above, and steep vineyards line the river on either bank.
- Marktplatz houses
- Landshut castle
- Moselle Riesling
- Day9
Trier
- Day10
Cochem
A small wine town on a horseshoe bend of the Moselle in western Germany. Half-timbered houses surround its market square, terraced Riesling vineyards rise on the slopes, and the Reichsburg castle looks down from the hill above.
- Reichsburg castle
- Riesling vineyards
- Market square
- Day11
Cologne
A Rhineland city dominated by its twin-spired Gothic cathedral, the tallest in Germany when built. River cruises call beside the old town, where the cathedral, riverside promenade and 12 Romanesque churches sit within easy walking distance.
- Cologne Cathedral
- Old town
- Rhine promenade
- Day12
Amsterdam
The Dutch capital, laced with concentric canals and gabled merchant houses from its 17th-century golden age. Most river sailings depart from here, leaving time for the Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House or a stroll through the Jordaan before lines cast off.
- Rijksmuseum
- Anne Frank House
- Jordaan canals
- Day13
Amsterdam
The Dutch capital, laced with concentric canals and gabled merchant houses from its 17th-century golden age. Most river sailings depart from here, leaving time for the Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House or a stroll through the Jordaan before lines cast off.
- Rijksmuseum
- Anne Frank House
- Jordaan canals
Upcoming departures
- 17 May 2027
- 12 Jun 2027
- 15 Jul 2027
- 4 Aug 2027
- 6 Sep 2027
Upcoming sailings of this itinerary — a NestCruise advisor confirms current availability and your fare.
12-Night Europe Cruise from Lucerne FAQ
Which ports does this cruise visit?
This 12-night Europe cruise calls at Lucerne, Swiss Alps, Basel, Breisach, Strasbourg, Ludwigshafen, Rüdesheim, Rhine Gorge, Germany, Koblenz, Bernkastel-Kues, Trier, Cochem, Cologne and Amsterdam.
How many days are spent at sea?
This is a port-intensive itinerary with no full days at sea.
Where does this cruise depart from?
It departs from Lucerne and ends in Amsterdam.
How long is this cruise?
12 nights aboard Avalon Tranquility II.
When does this itinerary sail?
Upcoming departures include 17 May 2027, 12 Jun 2027, 15 Jul 2027 and 4 Aug 2027. A NestCruise advisor can confirm current availability.