Tours

The Reformation & Enchanting Rhine Cruise with Guest Speaker David Buegler | Nov 1, 2023

9 days
France, Germany, Switzerland & The Netherlands
Starting from $3598*

Join us for 7 nights aboard AmaWaterways AmaSiena, with guest speaker Dr. David Buegler on the Reformation & Enchanting Rhine River Cruise starting at $3,598* (ground only) on November 1, 2023. You will see Breisach, Strasbourg, Ludwigshafen, Worms, Rüdesheim, Mainz, Cologne, Amsterdam, and much more!

*Rates are per person, based on double occupancy

Does not include International Airfare, Port Taxes, Transfers & Onboard Gratuities.

Special Airfare Pricing from Select Cities in the attached brochure

Purchase international Airfare through EO Includes Fuel Surcharges and Taxes (subject to change)

To fly from a city near you, call 1-800-247-0017, X590 or register online at www.eo.travel

What’s Included

  • Cruise
  • Guided Tours
  • Lecture Series
  • Meals on Ship
  • Select Shore Excursions
  • Wine, Beer & Soft Drinks
  • Deluxe cruise accommodations (based on double occupancy)
  • Free Internet
  • Use of Bicycles to explore on your own
  • Administrative Fees

Daily Itinerary

Day 1 NOVEMBER 1: DEPART THE USA

Board your overnight flight to Switzerland.

Day 2 NOVEMBER 2: ARRIVE IN ZURICH - EMBARKATION IN BASEL

Arrive in Zurich and enjoy a brief guided city tour with a focus on the Reformation in Switzerland before transferring to Basel. Embark on the ship in the afternoon. In the evening, gather on board and meet your fellow passengers. (D)

Day 3 NOVEMBER 3: BREISACH

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 to the Black Forest, a magical land full of cultural traditions, as well as home to elaborate cuckoo clocks, striking half-timber houses, ruined castles, and quaint towns. (B, L, D)

Day 4 NOVEMBER 4: STRASBOURG

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. Then, walk through its iconic UNESCO World Heritage “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. For the active adventurer, you can take a guided bicycle ride through this captivating city and Parc de l’Orangerie. (B, L, D)

Day 5 NOVEMBER 5: LUDWIGSHAFEN – WORMS – RÜDESHEIM

From Ludwigshafen journey to Worms. Explore the ancient city of Worms, site of the famous Diet of Worms, where Luther refused to back down from his criticism of the church. The city’s Reformation Monument features statues of major figures in the Reformation. Later in the day, sail to Rüdesheim, where you can visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum; or taste one of the town’s special delights, Rüdesheimer Coffee, ceremoniously made with brandy. (B,L,D)

Day 6 NOVEMBER 6: RÜDESHEIM – MAINZ –RHINE GORGE

Travel from Rudesheim to visit the Rhine River city of Mainz, where Johann Gutenberg developed the processes of movable type, which permitted printing to be done on a production scale. It was an essential tool that aided the Reformation, allowing the words of the reformers to be distributed to the masses. During the afternoon, set sail along the scenic Rhine River Gorge, with its fabled legends and many castles, to Lahnstein, where you’ll enjoy an exclusive festive celebration. (B,L,D)

Day 7 NOVEMBER 7: COLOGNE

Home to one of Germany’s most revered Gothic masterpieces, the Cologne Cathedral, this 2,000-year-old city is also a bustling cosmopolitan hotspot. Join a guided tour through the enchanting Old Town and explore the UNESCO-designated cathedral. Here, the remains of the fabled Three Kings—the Magi— are believed to rest. Alternatively, take a bicycle ride along the Rhine and through the historic Stadtgarten, or visit a local tavern to taste Kölsch beer and Reibekuchen—potato pancakes served with apple sauce. (B, L, D)

*Note: Guests traveling on the German Reformation Extension will disembark today and begin their Post-Tour.

Day 8 NOVEMBER 8: AMSTERDAM

Amsterdam boasts amazing history, art, architecture, and museums, and you have a choice as to how you wish to explore it. The famous canals of Amsterdam await discovery on your city tour, which begins with a scenic canal cruise. (B, L, D)

Day 9 NOVEMBER 9: AMSTERDAM – DISEMBARKATION

Bid Farewell to Amsterdam and prepare for your homeward flight or enjoy an extension. (B)

Enhance Your Journey

Swiss Reformation Pre-Tour Starting from $1699

Starting at $1,699* Oct. 29 - Nov. 2, 2023

OCTOBER 29: DEPART THE USA
Depart the USA on your overnight flight to Geneva

OCTOBER 30: ARRIVE IN GENEVA
Arrive in Geneva and check into your hotel for dinner and overnight.

OCTOBER 31: GENEVA
Geneva was the center of the Swiss Reformation movement, with John Calvin as its chief theologian. Begin the day by visiting St. Peter’s Cathedral, where Calvin taught. See Calvin’s chair and climb the 157 steps to the top of the North Tower, where the view is worth the effort! Under the cathedral lie the ruins of a Roman sanctuary, a 4th-century basilica, and a 6th-century church! Calvin’s Academy, also called The Protestant Lecture Hall, is nearby. This is where John Knox taught for three years. You’ll also get to see the Reformation Monument, which was constructed between 1909 to 1917. This impressive monument is also referred to as the “Protestant Rome!” The giant wall is 325 feet long and 30 feet high and displays 15-foot-tall statues of four Geneva Reformation leaders: Guillaume Farel, John Calvin, Theodore Beza, and John Knox. Spend the afternoon shopping or relax by the lake. Overnight in Geneva.

NOVEMBER 1: GENEVA to ZURICH
Depart for Zurich, a beautiful city filled with history and ambiance and framed by the breathtaking Alps. Zurich was at the center of the Swiss Reformation in the 16th century under the leadership of Ulrich Zwingli. Visit the Grossmunster Church, the mother church of the Reformation in Switzerland. Here, Zwingli began the teaching that led to Zurich’s freedom from Rome’s control. You will also see the Helferei, where Zwingli lived before visiting the shore of the Limmat River, where the Anabaptists were drowned. Dinner & overnight in Zurich.

NOVEMBER 2: ZURICH to BASEL
Enjoy a free morning at your hotel in Zurich before driving to Basel to embark on your journey up the Rhine river.

Guests taking an extension may be on a different flight than their group and/or traveling companion.

*A 3.5% surcharge will be added to all credit card transactions

German Reformation Post-Tour Starting from $1699

Starting at $1,699* November 7 - 12, 2023

NOVEMBER 7: DISEMBARK IN COLOGNE
Home to one of Germany’s most revered Gothic masterpieces, the Cologne Cathedral, this 2,000-year-old city is also a bustling cosmopolitan hotspot. Join a guided tour through the enchanting Old Town and explore the UNESCO-designated cathedral. Learn about Cologne’s Jewish history as you explore the town. Drive to Erfurt for dinner & overnight.

NOVEMBER 8: ERFURT & EISLEBEN
Continue to Eisleben, situated in the countryside of the Harz mountains. Visit the house in Eisleben where Luther was born and learn about the city where he was baptized and eventually died. In Erfurt, the spiritual home of Martin Luther, visit several sites including a visit to the Augustinian Monastery, where Luther served as a monk. See the Franciscan church, where Luther preached in 1529, and also St. Mary’s Church, where he was ordained as a priest. Explore the Luther House, where Luther was educated from 1498 to 1501. Finally, continue to the Wartburg Castle, where Luther took shelter from the wrath of the pope and where he translated the New Testament from Greek to German.

NOVEMBER 9: WITTENBERG & OVERNIGHT
Today’s journey in Wittenberg recalls the life and work of Martin Luther. See the gates of the Schlosskirche (Castle Church), where he nailed his 95 Theses in 1517 challenging the Catholic Church. Then, visit the Stadtkirche (City Church), where Luther and his associates preached the gospel to the common people. Visit the Lutherhalle, an important museum located in the Augustinian monastery in which Luther lived, first as a monk and then later as owner with his wife Katharina von Bora and family. Lutherhalle’s collection of objects related to the history of the German Reformation includes Luther’s own desk, the pulpit from which he preached at the Stadtkirche, his teaching robe, and first editions of his books. Return to your hotel in Wittenberg for dinner & overnight.

NOVEMBER 10: BERLIN TOUR & OVERNIGHT
Drive to Berlin in the morning and begin with a city tour that showcases the three centers of Berlin: the west around Kurfuerstendamm Boulevard and the Memorial Church, the new center around Potsdamer Square, and finally the eastern section around Unter Den Linden, the Brandenburg Gate, and Alexanderplatz. Check into your hotel in Berlin for dinner and overnight.

NOVEMBER 11: BERLIN TOUR & OVERNIGHT
Your full day in this once-divided metropolis includes a visit to the restored Reichstag, the monumental Brandenburg Gate, Charlottenburg Palace, the 210-foot Victory Column in the vast Tiergarten Park, and a visit to the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. Visit the Pergamon Museum, one of the five wonderful museums that sit on Berlin’s Museum Island. There, you’ll discover antiquities and the history of the Near East. Return to your hotel in Berlin for dinner & overnight.

NOVEMBER 12: RETURN TO USA

Guests taking an extension may be on a different flight than their group and/or traveling companion.

*A 3.5% surcharge will be added to all credit card transactions.

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