Great European Journey

• Journey from Basel, Switzerland to Amsterdam, Netherlands, aboard Viva One, an exclusively chartered, deluxe river boat.
• Seven-night cruise and 3 nights in Montreux, Switzerland at a first-class hotel.
• Specially arranged excursions throughout your journey.
• Four UNESCO World Heritage sites — Strasbourg, Grand Île, France; Upper Middle Rhine Valley and Cologne Cathedral, Germany; 17th-Century Canal Ring Area of Amsterdam inside the Singelgracht, Netherlands. One UNESCO Creative City — Montreux, Switzerland. • Included meals | 3 receptions, 10 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 7 dinners.
• Amsterdam Tour Extension. (Available at additional cost.)

*This program also operates in the reverse direction

Depart home city for Geneva, Switzerland. Please check your bags from your gateway city to your arrival city. Be sure to attach the provided Gohagan & Company luggage tags for each piece of luggage, including carry-ons.

Arrive in Geneva, Switzerland. Proceed through the immigration checkpoint to the baggage claim area and retrieve your luggage. After completing a customs screening, meet a Gohagan & Company representative.

Take a scenic guided transfer to beautiful Montreux, where you’ll check in to the first-class Royal Plaza Montreux, with panoramic views of Lake Geneva and the Alps.

Settle in and make your own plans for lunch. The Gohagan Travel Hospitality Desk at the hotel stands ready with dining suggestions.

This afternoon, take a guided walk of Montreux, known as the Jewel of the Swiss Riviera. Stroll along the lakeside promenade — lined by lush gardens and art installations — and revel in gorgeous mountain views. Montreux, known for its music scene, was home to Queen’s Freddie Mercury, who died here in 1991. Visit a statue of him here on the lakefront. Walk through the picturesque Old Town, with its cobbled streets and multi-colored stone buildings. Afterward, you will have free time to explore on your own, perhaps visiting some of the shops.

Join your fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception this evening at the hotel.

Make your own plans for dinner tonight.

Enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hotel, then spend the morning at leisure. Walk along the lakefront or continue to explore Montreux on your own. The Gohagan Travel Hospitality Desk stands ready with sightseeing suggestions.

In the late morning, depart to visit the 13th-century Chateau de Chillon, an imposing medieval castle situated at the lake’s edge. During your tour, note the painted walls in the Grand Burgrave Hall and the original 15th-century wooden ceiling in the Grand Ducal Hall. The castle was also famously used as a prison, and, completing the romantic image, the covered bridge was once a drawbridge.

Following the tour, board a Belle Époque paddlewheel steamboat for a two-hour cruise along the shores of Lake Geneva. This scenic body of water — the largest lake in central Europe — was a requisite stop on the Grand Tour of Europe during the 19th century, and its beautiful vistas inspired many artists and writers. In fact, Byron and Shelley met here and spent some days just as you are doing — boating on the serene waters! Savor a delicious lunch in the ship’s elegant dining room as forested hillsides and picturesque villages glide by.

Spend time this afternoon and evening at leisure, and make your own plans for dinner. Please visit the Gohagan Travel Hospitality Desk for sightseeing and dining suggestions.

Enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hotel this morning. Then depart for today’s excursion: a unique gourmet foray into two of Switzerland’s most beloved products, cheese and chocolate.

Board a comfortable, modern train to travel along the Golden Pass route — gazing out at breathtaking Alpine scenery — from Montreux to Montbovon. From there, a short countryside drive takes you to the charming medieval town of Gruyères. At La Maison du Gruyère, a local cheese factory, discover the secrets of the town’s world-famous cheese, watch its production and try some samples. Then set off to explore the picture-postcard historic town. Lunch on your own in one of the charming restaurants or cafes that line the cobblestoned main street.

Continue to the small village of Broc to the famous Maison Cailler chocolate factory for a fun and captivating tour. Learn the secrets of chocolate-making and, of course, taste the delicious final product! Transfer back to the hotel. Make your own plans for dinner tonight. The Gohagan Travel Hospitality Desk is happy to offer dining suggestions.

Savor a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Marvel at the beautiful scenery on a drive to Basel, Switzerland’s only port.

Basel, an Alpine Art Hub. Arrive in Basel, Switzerland’s only port. Ancient Basilia was a Roman settlement established in 44 B.C. — nowadays it’s a vibrant, modern city known for its annual Art Basel festival of contemporary art. Enjoy a guided city tour and lunch at a local restaurant.

Embark Viva One, settle in to your cabin and unpack. This afternoon, attend a Welcome Briefing and safety drill. Enjoy a relaxing dinner on board tonight (and every night on the cruise!).

During a walking tour, discover the medieval grandeur of Grand-Île, the historic center of Strasbourg and a UNESCO World Heritage site. See the bridges and watchtowers of the 13th-century Ponts Couverts, and meander past the many half-timbered houses in the canal-lined Petite France district, where tanners, millers and fishermen once lived during the Middle Ages. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral, an exquisitely ornamented Gothic beauty. Gaze at its famed Astrological Clock, created by a team of artists, mathematicians and technicians during the Renaissance. Across from the Cathedral, notice the Kammerzell House, now a hotel and restaurant. This beautiful building dates to 1427; cheese merchant Martin Braun, then owner, commissioned the incredible exterior work in 1589.

Return to the ship for a delicious lunch. Spend the afternoon at your leisure. If you’d like to return to town, hop on a shuttle or borrow a bicycle from the ship.

This evening, join the Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner.

Dock in Mannheim and journey to romantic Heidelberg to visit the ruins of its grand castle, built in the 13th century, overlooking the picturesque Neckar Valley. Take in the ancient castle walls, surrounding grounds and gorgeous views. One of the more intriguing features of the castle is the world’s largest wine barrel in its basement, complete with a dance floor on top. Take a walking tour in the lively, cobblestoned Altstadt (Old Town), filled with Renaissance and Baroque gems, such as the old bridge, Alte Brücke. As you cross it, keep your eyes peeled for a singular statue—of a monkey with a mirror!

Return to the ship for a delicious lunch and free time in the afternoon.

Arrive in the heart of Riesling wine country today. Ride on the Winzerexpress, a mini-train that will take you on an informative tour through the vineyards, including a stunning view of Rüdesheim and the Rhine. The tour ends with a wine tasting in the picturesque old town. Head back to the ship to settle in for a delicious lunch on board, or stay and lunch in town, if you wish.

The Rhine has been an important passage connecting Europe's northern and southern parts since prehistoric times, making trade and cultural exchange possible. Small settlements sprang up along the riverbanks 2,000 years ago and evolved into a string of small villages and towns. Now this enchanting Upper Middle Rhine Valley, also known as the Rhine Gorge and a UNESCO World Heritage site, is dotted with some 40 hilltop castles, palaces and fortresses. Marvel at the breathtaking vistas, complete with vineyard terraces along the steep valley walls. These views have inspired great artists, poets and composers over the past few hundred years—as you glide along this magnificent stretch of river, perhaps you will be reminded of the paintings of J.M.W. Turner, the words of Lord Byron or the music of Richard Wagner’s “Ring Cycle.” Admire the striking outcrop called Lorelei Rock—a symbol of Rhine Romanticism that inspired myriad poems and songs.

Sail through a splendid, narrow section of the Moselle River, lined with colorful towns and tiered vineyards, then dock in charming Cochem. As you disembark, delight in the brightly painted houses on the riverfront. On a walking tour, stroll the narrow cobblestoned streets and take in the squares and half-timbered houses. Visit Reichsburg Castle, perched atop a tree-covered cliff high above the town. The castle offers the most stunning views of the river, valley and town…a wonderful photo opportunity!

Return to the ship for lunch on board. Spend the afternoon at your leisure. If you wish, stay in town to lunch and explore Cochem on your own.

One of the largest European cities in medieval and Renaissance times, Cologne is known for its lively spirit. On a walking tour, meander down winding lanes in the medieval old town, appreciating the colorful houses, leafy squares and picturesque courtyards. Have you ever wondered why your bottled fragrance is called Eau de Cologne? The term is French for “water of Cologne,” and the world’s oldest perfume factory has been located here since 1723.

But Cologne may be most famous for its magnificent Gothic cathedral, Kölner Dom, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Christian churches have occupied this location since the 4th century, and the current cathedral was built over a period of more than 630 years, finally completed in 1880. The cathedral houses the Shrine of the Three Kings, a gilded reliquary, the largest one in Europe. Admire the cathedral’s impressive exterior on our walking tour.

Return to the ship for lunch on board. Spend the afternoon at your leisure. If you wish, stay in town to lunch and explore Cologne on your own.

As we sail to the Netherlands, enjoy time on the ship this morning. Exercise in the fitness center, indulge in a sauna or steam bath in the wellness area, or simply relax on deck with a book. After a delicious lunch, disembark in Amsterdam.

Embark on a private cruise through Amsterdam’s world-famous UNESCO-inscribed canals, which have been connecting the city since the early 17th century. Glide under iconic bridges and past brightly colored houses, stately stone buildings and hundreds of cyclists!

This evening, attend the Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner, and raise a glass to your great European journey!

Following breakfast, disembark and transfer to the airport for your return flight home.