Experience the magic of a European Christmas on a luxury cruise along the Rhine River through Strasbourg, Speyer, Heidelberg, Rudesheim, Koblenz, and Cologne. We extend our stay in Amsterdam before returning home. 

The Amadeus Riva features Panorama Restaurant & Bar/Lounge, "Cafe Vienna" with Viennese coffee specialties, outdoor glass-shielded "River Terrace," Sun Deck with Lounge, fitness room, massage room, gift shop, laundry service, complimentary bicycles on board, WiFi available, elevator. 

Cabins include mini-bar, walk-in wardrobe, choice of bed configuration (double or twin), flat screen television, individual climate control, bathrooms with walk-in shower, hair dryer, direct dial telephone, in-room safe. 

*Posted pricing includes estimated economy group air (base fare including taxes). Exact rates for airfare announced mid-January 2024. Prices are subject to change. 

Depart Philadelphia International Airport on overnight flight for Zurich Airport. 

GROUP FLIGHTS:  AA 92 30NOV PHLZRH 635P 815A(01DEC)

Upon arrival in Zurich, we meet our tour escort and board the coach.

Ship check-in at 4 PM.

Welcome Cocktail and Dinner on board.

Overnight on ship. (D)

SHIP: Amadeus Riva

Breakfast on the ship.

Celebrate Mass at Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg (subject to confirmation).

Visit the Strasbourg Cathedral of Notre Dame, with the famous astronomical clock.

See the Petite French Quarter, a former mill and tanner district that maintains its medieval charm. 

Our tour shows us half-timbered houses, the Ponts Couverts, the Palais de Rohan, and the Council of Europe await (outside views). The Grand Island, the city center, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Return to ship for lunch.

In the afternoon, explore the festively decorated facades and shops of Strasbourg on our way to the romantic ambience of the Christmas market.

Dinner on the ship, which departs at 10 PM for Germany.

Overnight on the ship. (B, L, D)

Our ship arrives in Speyer around 5 AM, just as we wake for breakfast on the ship.

We drive to Heidelberg city for a guided morning tour of this perfectly preserved medieval city nestled in the Neckar River Valley along Germany's Castle Road. Admire the panoramic view of the city by the Old Bridge to the other banks of the river, where Heidelberg Castle is located. Discover the interior of iconic red sandstone in Heidelberg Castle, a palace of kings and nobles for centuries. In the cellars we can see Heidelberg Tun, the world's largest wine barrel. Then it is on to the marketplace with Town Hall, the Church of the Holy Spirit, Students' Jail, and Old University, and a walk on the main street.

Celebrate Mass at a local church, and then enjoy one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Germany filled with numerous stalls selling enchanting gift ideas.  

Drive back to Speyer for lunch on the ship. 

After lunch, enjoy the tour of Speyer, one of the oldest cities in Germany founded by the Romans. Walk the popular squares of the city, and visit the Romanesque Cathedral, before experiencing the festive mood of the Christmas market of Speyer.

Drive back to the ship in time for 7 PM dinner.  At 8 PM the ship departs for Rudesheim. 

Overnight on ship. (B, L, D)

Our ship arrives in Rudesheim around 5 AM.  After breakfast, we explore this fascinating wine town which, together with Bingen on the opposite side, froms the southern gateway to the Middle Rhein Valley. The picturesque town is best discovered on a leisurely walk. 

After celebrating Mass in a local church, we enjoy mulled wine as we continue on to Koblenz, passing the most beautiful section of our trip: the dreamy, wintry Middle Rhein Valley, and the mysterious Lorelei rock, the source of many legends.

After lunch on the ship, we arrive at Koblenz, and enjoy a walking tour as we discover the 2000-year-old history of this former Roman settlement (one of the oldest cities in Germany). We have time to explore the little streets between the Basilica of Saint Kastor and the Schängel Fountain, before enjoying the Koblenzer Christmas market.

In the evening, the festive Captain's Gala Dinner awaits us. 

At 10 pm the ship leaves Koblenz.

Overnight on the ship. (B, L, D)

At 4 AM our ship arrives in Cologne. We have time for breakfast on the ship before our 9 AM disembarkation in Cologne. 

We board our coach and drive to the city to celebrate Mass at Cologne Cathedral (subject to confirmation).

Our guided tour shows us the city of Cologne, founded and established by the Romans in 50 AD, with numerous Romanesque churches, including the Cathedral - the most visited landmark in Germany!

There is time for lunch on our own before we continue on to Amsterdam, where we check in to our hotel and enjoy dinner.

Overnight at hotel in Amsterdam. (B, D)]

Hotel: Double Tree by Hilton, Amsterdam Centraal Station, Oosterdoksstraat 4, 1001 DK Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Following breakfast at the hotel, we board the coach for today's tour. 

We begin the day with Mass at the Church of Our Lady of All Nations Shrine (subject to confirmation). 

After Mass, we enjoy a guided tour of Amsterdam.  See the canals, Dam Square, Rijksmuseum, Royal Palace, National Monument, Opera House, City Hall, Begijnenhof, and Skinny Bridge (exterior views).

The afternoon allows time for lunch on our own, before a relaxing Amsterdam Canal Cruise.

We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Overnight at hotel in Amsterdam. (B, D)

Following breakfast at hotel and check out, we transfer to the airport for our flight back to Philadelphia. 

GROUP FLIGHTS:  AA 203 07DEC AMSPHL 105P 330P(07DEC).

This is an active itinerary that requires about 15,000 steps walking each day, sometimes on uneven surfaces, including stairs. Begin to prepare through a daily walking program. 

As a pilgrimage, we will commit ourselves to working together to cooperate and support one another, realizing that different foods, cultures, and experiences are why we are traveling! The unexpected is God's way of sharing with us something (or someone) we otherwise would not have encountered.  Be ready to travel in patience and trust. 

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Flights offered with this trip are Group Air Reservations.  All seating assignments are made by the airline. If you have very specific needs regarding seating and flight accommodations, you should make your own flight arrangements and book the pilgrimage without adding air.  Switches from Land with Air to Land only after booking incur a $100 fee. 

Posted pricing includes estimated economy group air (base fare including taxes). Exact rates for airfare announced mid-January 2024. Prices are subject to change.  

Individual deposits are refundable except for a $500/person handling fee for cancellations made 90 days or more prior to departure. 

For cancellations 90 to 60 days prior to departure, you will be refunded everything except your initial deposit ($1000). 

If you cancel the trip within 60 days of departure, all payments are non-refundable. 

Unused portions of the trip are non-refundable. 

Cloverdale Travel cannot refund credit card/bank fees, nor refund money paid for travel protection/insurance.

Trip cancellation/protection plan is optional, but highly encouraged. Travel protections plans are available through Travelex, or through your own carrier. A link to Travelex will be included in your confirmation email.  If I decline to purchase travel protection/insurance, I assume all financial liability for losses that might have been covered by appropriate travel insurance/protection.

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Please note that pricing is based on 40 pilgrims and based on an exchange rate of $1= € 1.15. Prices may be adjusted based on fewer than 20 pilgrims, a higher exchange rate, or increases in taxes and fuel surcharges. 

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