Detailed Itinerary:

DAY 1, SAT. April 18^th - DEPART USA
Board your overnight flight to Amsterdam, Holland. Flights are booked through the cruise line and can be booked for travel from most US cities.

DAY 2, SUN. April 19^th - ARRIVE IN AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

If you wish, join our optional excursion to the Keukenhof Gardens just 45 minutes outside Amsterdam

Passengers not choosing to take the optional excursion to the gardens will be met at the airport and transferred directly to our awaiting river cruise, the MS Amacello.  Passengers choosing to take the optional excursion to the gardens will be brought to the ship in the late afternoon following the visit to the gardens

AMA Waterways owns and operates the newest, most state-of-the-art fleet of river cruise vessels in Europe.  Since its debut in 2002, the line has redefined European river cruising with innovations that have set new standards in the industry.

The MS Amacello debuted in the Spring of 2008, joining the MS Amalegro (2007) and the MS Amadagio (2006). All three vessels set new standards in European river cruising and offer a number of features, which no other European river cruise ship can match. Each AMA Waterways vessel carries 148 passengers in unequaled luxury, comfort and style and is staffed by a highly-trained professional crew, with an ongoing emphasis on personal service.

The MS Amacello’s maiden voyage took place on March 8, 2008.  She is the most stunning of all river cruising vessels.

The latest high-tech features onboard:

• STATEROOMS: Inside your exquisitely decorated stateroom, you'll find all the amenities of a fine hotel with white-on-white plush bedding, a cozy sitting area, hair dryer, safe, plush terry bathrobes, individually controlled air-conditioning and ample closet space. All staterooms are outside cabins with picturesque river views; over 82% feature large French balconies, which are a true delight when relaxing in your stateroom.

• English language TV stations in each room, a large movie selection and numerous music programs. Our satellite telephone system allows you to call home for a nominal fee.

• WELLNESS AREA: Located in the aft area of the Violin Deck, this generously designed space includes a glassed-in fitness room with state of the art exercise equipment as you would find on large cruise ships, plus a massage and beauty salon; the aft lounge offers modern wicker furniture and French doors to enjoy the fresh river air.

• ELEVATOR: Each ship has an elevator, which very few river cruise ships feature. The elevator reaches four different levels: the Restaurant level (1), the Staterooms on the Cello Deck (2), the Lobby and Panorama Lounge (3) and the Staterooms on the Violin Deck (4).

• INFOTAINMENT SYSTEMS: Every stateroom is equipped with an Infotainment System, featuring a flat screen TV and computer keyboard offering complimentary internet access from the comfort of your own stateroom

•  BICYCLES: Each ship has plenty of bicycles onboard which can be used by passengers, free of charge, to explore the small towns at your leisure if you wish. Most regions offer well-maintained bicycle paths along the river.

           
PHOTO OF LUXURIOUSSLY APPOINTED RIVER VIEW ROOMS ON OUR SHIP   

   
INFOTAINMENT COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN EACH AND EVERY STATEROOM 
Providing complimentary internet access from the comfort of your room

Our ship offers a luxurious sun deck with lounge chairs and Jacuzzi for relaxing during our time sailing.  A lounge with dance floor and piano entertainment is also onboard. 

Each evening, we will enjoy local entertainment with native performances featuring song and dance shows representative of the region we visited that day. 

Selected evenings will also offer guided walking tours showing the highlights of the town as lit up in the evening sky.

Most nights are spent docked in a scenic town or major European tourist city, offering free time to explore at our own leisure, the nightlife of each, with the freedom to return to our ship at our own schedule each night.

DAILY EXCURSIONS:  each day brings a new and exciting adventure or activity.  Each day provides an included excursion to visit the sights of another magnificent port of call.  Free time is offered in many ports following our included excursion, so passengers may choose to explore further at their own pace, or sign up for optional excursions to nearby regions.

DINING ONBOARD SHIP

Our onboard culinary staff offers sophisticated menus comprised of wonderful soups, fresh produce, high quality choice cut meats, and fresh fish and seafood. Your Maitre d' always welcomes you to the restaurant with a bright smile.

Start your day with a lavish gourmet champagne breakfast buffet. Choose from a rich assortment of breads, croissants and pastries, a variety of fresh fruit, yogurt, cereals, and smoked salmon. Sample the delicious cheeses, cold cuts and local sausages, as well as our daily regional specials. An array of traditional breakfast items is also available from the menu.

Return from your included daily shore excursion to a delicious lunch onboard ship.  Start with mouth-watering hot or cold appetizers, homemade soups, then choose from a selection of great entrees and finish off with a delectable dessert and complimentary cappuccino.

In the evening, be our honored guest for an elegant dinner or a traditional theme night with a feast of regional specialties. Enjoy delicious cuisine and complimentary free-flowing wines from the local vintners with dinner each evening. Beer and soft drinks are also complimentary with each dinner onboard our ship.  Our ship’s kitchen crew knows how to orchestrate a truly memorable dining experience. 

There are no formal dress requirements, so all passengers can feel at ease to dine in their own choice of informal dining attire

Welcome to Amsterdam, a modern city with a rich and fascinating history. Explore the 700-year-old European capital with its elegant and classic architecture, cafés, restaurants, lively marketplaces and exciting nightlife. Perhaps visit one of the city's renowned museums such as the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum or the Anne Frank House. Tonight, meet your fellow passengers onboard for a welcome cocktail party with complimentary beer and wine followed by our Welcome Dinner. Dinner each evening of our cruise, is accompanied by complimentary beer and local wines of the region being visited that day.  Our ship is docked in Amsterdam tonight, so all passengers are at their leisure to explore the hopping nightlife that Amsterdam is famous for and return to the ship at their own leisure.  (D) 

DAY 3, MON. AMSTERDAM
After breakfast, admire beautiful 17th-century homes, charming churches and 16th-century merchant houses on our guided canal boat tour. We will return to our ship at mid day, enjoy a gourmet lunch onboard and then enjoy scenic cruising aboard ship as we sail away from Amsterdam. This afternoon is free to relax on the ship’s sun deck, soak in the Jacuzzi on the sun deck, savor a workout in the 1^st class exercise room on board or relax in your stateroom.  Later this afternoon, enjoy an information briefing of the sights and events we will see over the duration of your tour.   This evening, enjoy a show featuring local Dutch singers and dancers onboard ship. (B,L,D)

DAY 4, TUE. DÜSSELDORF – COLOGNE, GERMANY
This morning, arrive in Düsseldorf for a guided walking tour. See the Burgplatz with its Old Castle Tower, the Marketplatz Town Hall and the sophisticated shopping of Kings Avenue. Old-town Düsseldorf is also home of the “Old Beer“ and this area of the city is also known as “the world’s longest bar” with more than 200 restaurants and bars. Nowhere else in the world does beer taste as delicious as here, so don’t miss the opportunity to sample and savor the local fare.   We will return to our ship at mid day for lunch onboard and then cruise the beautiful Rhine River to Cologne Germany.

Arriving in Cologne in the late afternoon, we will enjoy a guided visit to the fabled 13th-century Gothic cathedral, the Koln Dome. The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore Cologne by foot or on one of the complimentary bicycles available on our ship for any passenger to use in exploring the scenic towns along the waterways of our voyage.   Our ship remains docked in Cologne tonight so passengers can explore the nightlife of Cologne or simply stroll the town at leisure if desired.  Onboard, a show of local entertainment from the region is provided in the ship’s lounge.  (B,L,D)

  Koln Dome Cathedral in Cologne Germany

DAY 5, WED. FRANKFURT
This morning, we will enjoy a tour to see the stunning beauty of the Rhine castles and the famous Lorelei Rock as you sail through the fascinating Rhine Gorge. The Lorelei Rock rises up almost vertically to 145 yards above the water.

 In the afternoon, we arrive in Frankfurt, the bustling metropolis on the Main River. Enjoy a guided walking tour of its historic city center “The Romer.” The ship moors overnight in Frankfurt, so passengers are free to explore the city at their leisure tonight. (B,L,D)

A castle along the Lorelei coast                          The Lorelei Rock

DAY 6, THU. MAINZ (HEIDELBERG) – KOBLENZ
Today, decide between two included excursions: take a guided walking tour of beautiful Mainz and see the famous Gutenberg Museum, home of the world’s first printed bible and then return to the ship for lunch. Or, travel by motor coach to Heidelberg, Germany’s oldest university town, to visit the red-walled Heidelberg Castle with its  “Great Vat”, the world’s largest wine barrel and take a walking tour of Old Heidelberg. Heidelberg represents the essence of German Romanticism with its picturesque lanes and maze of roofs.  

Heidelberg Castle

The Great Vat

On the summit of Jetten which dominates the eastern portion of the city, is Heidelberg Castle (mainly 14th-17th century), one of the most impressive historic landmarks of Germany, called the red walled castle. The structure preserves numerous examples of medieval, Renaissance, and baroque German architecture. Of particular interest are the four granite columns located in the castle courtyard, which were once part of a castle belonging to Charlemagne. 

The Great Vat is a great attraction here.  It holds a capacity of 58,000 gallons and is the world’s largest wine barrel.  It was designed to serve the large banquet hall inside the castle and if you climb a set of stairs, you will actually see a small dance floor perched atop of the Great vat.

Enjoy some free time for lunch on your own in Heidelberg before returning to Mainz. The ship continues on to Koblenz, which is situated at the confluence of the Mosel and Rhine rivers; arriving in the early evening. After dinner, join your Cruise Director for an escorted evening walk through town, then, if you wish, explore further at your leisure, with the ship docked here overnight. (B,L,D)

DAY 7, FRI. COCHEM
This morning is at leisure as we sail the beautiful Rhine & Mosel Rivers with steep sided banks of vineyards, on the way to the town of Cochem. After lunch onboard ship, we arrive in Cochem, where we will enjoy a guided visit of the Reichsburg Castle and its spectacular views of the river.

  Perhaps one of the most visually impressive castles of Germany, certainly not the largest, oldest or historically important, but upon approach along the banks of the Mosel River of western Germany or from above on the winding road from the A 48, the Reichsburg Imperial castle’s cone roof spired tower stands above the walls like a jewel in a crown, perched on a steep sloped hilltop, high above the town of Cochem. The original castle was first built around the year 1,000, as the seat of a Palatine Count Ezzo of Erenfriede.

 Cochem has an idyllic setting amid vine-clad hills, overlooked by the magical neo-Gothic castle which was romantically restored in the 19th century. The little town has three fortified gates, quaint narrow alleys and beautiful half-timbered houses. Cochem is best known for its cozy wine taverns and colorful riverside promenades.   Tonight enjoy another onboard show of local German singing and dancing or explore at your leisure the town sights by night.  We sail at 11pm.  (B,L,D)

DAY 8, SAT. BERNKASTEL – TRIER
Arrive in Bernkastel early this morning and explore this quaint little town on your included walking tour. Strategically located in the middle of the Mosel wine-producing region, it boasts over 500 years of documented wine history. Even with its twin city of Kues across the river, Bernkastel-Kues has a population of fewer than 10,000 inhabitants. The famous Mosel Wine Museum is situated here. The 13th century town gate still stands and there are numerous beautiful half-timbered houses in this charming town. From here, cruise on to Trier, Germany’s oldest city, for a guided tour of the city’s rich Roman past, including the Roman Baths and Amphitheater. Trier has played an important role in history since Roman times. The city retains many ancient monuments including the impressive Porta Nigra, an imposing and well-preserved fortified gate, the basilica and the ruins of the imperial baths. Only Trajan's baths in Rome (built 104-109) were larger than the Roman baths of Trier.

Porta Nigra and Trier's Main street.

 Trier also possesses an abundance of Gothic churches and Baroque palaces and a Romanesque cathedral. Today, Trier is an important industrial city and the main center of the Mosel wine region.   Tonight, enjoy a farewell to our cruise dinner theme party and show after our cruise and enjoy a final night to explore another quaint town aglow at night.  (B,L,D)

DAY 9, SUN. TRIER – DISEMBARK – LUXEMBOURG – PARIS, FRANCE
This morning, bid farewell to your cruise ship and head via motor coach to Luxembourg for a city tour of the Grand Duchy. In the 1990s Luxembourg became one of the most prosperous countries of Western Europe with a highly developed industry. Banking and finance came to be the staples of the country’s economy and today, Luxembourg is one of Europe's financial centers.

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a walkers’ paradise. Its 5,000 km hiking network, with over 500 signposted trails and walks, is one of Europe’s densest. Fascinating walks through the country’s five regions are an excellent way of discovering its flora and fauna and its cultural heritage

After lunch, we will continue on to Paris, where we will arrive in the late afternoon and check into our 4 star hotel for the next 3 nights.  

The luxury Pullman Paris Bercy hotel is in the heart of the Bercy Village pedestrian quarter.  The hotel was established as part of the well respected Sofitel Hotel chain and was recently purchased by Pullman hotels, maintaining the same high standard of Sofitel.  The hotel has a fitness center, Jacuzzi, sauna, as well as a piano bar, lobby bar and terrace bar with musical entertainment. The Pullman Paris Bercy is rated one of the top 50 hotels (amongst close to 1500 hotels ) in Paris.   It is also very close to a metro station, making it easy to come and go at your leisure.  (B)

Click these links to read more about our hotel:    http://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-390050-sofitel_paris_bercy-i  

                                                                       http://www.accorhotels.com/accorhotels/fichehotel/gb/pul/2192/fiche_hotel.shtml

The rest of the day and the evening is at your leisure to enjoy the famed sights of Paris.  If you wish, take in an optional show. 

DAY 10, MON. PARIS
Enjoy Paris’ famous sights during this morning’s guided tour. See Notre Dame Cathedral, pass the Louvre Museum, the commemorative l’Arc de Triomphe, the Opéra, the Madeleine, Les Champs Elysées and much more. The remainder of the day is yours to shop, explore, or join the Parisians for a long and leisurely lunch at a sidewalk café.   (B)

 
The famed Arc De’ Triomphe in Paris   

 
Notre Dame Cathedral

DAY 11, TUE. PARIS
Your last day in the “City of Lights” is free for you to enjoy. Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World’s Fair; gaze at the impressionist collection at the Musée D’Orsay; stroll along the Seine; gaze upon the Mona Lisa inside the Louvre Museum, or choose one of the various optional tours that are available, such as a visit to the gardens of Monet at Giverney, a visit to the Palace of Versailles, or a full day tour to the sights of the World War II landings along the beaches of Normandy. (B)

DAY 12, WED. PARIS
Transfer to the airport for your homebound flight. (B)

Our Luxury River Cruise of Holland, Germany & Luxemburg with 3 night post cruise hotel stay in Paris includes:

7 nights luxury river cruise aboard the 5 STAR AMACELLO of AMA WATERWAYS (visit www.amawaterways.com for more details)

3 nights 4 star hotel accommodations in Paris at the Pullman Paris Bercy hotel (Sofitel) with breakfast daily

Guaranteed river view cabin onboard ship with large picture windows in all cabins (upgrade to balcony cabin with large French balcony available upon request)