7-night Castles Along the Rhine Cruise

Cosmopolitan Amsterdam is most famous for its narrow, gabled houses lining the canals. Interesting attractions include the medieval weighhouse, Royal Palace on Dam Square, and New Church. Its most glamorous industry is the diamond trade. Not too far from Amsterdam are the flower centers of Aalsmeer, the picturesque fishing villages of Volendam and Marken, cheese markets at Edam and Gouda, and historic Haarlem, the main center of the bulb-growing industry. Enjoy the city’s sights from a glass-topped sightseeing boat which passes characteristic gabled houses and negotiates picturesque arched bridges. Facing Dam Square, the Royal Palace was built in 1648 and is still officially the royal residence, although the royal family resides in The Hague. The marbled Citizens Hall with inlaid maps of the world is worth seeing. One of Amsterdam’s most visited sites is historic Anne Frank House. Rijksmuseum, the city’s most prestigious museum, houses the largest collection of Dutch paintings in the world. Van Gogh Museum houses a striking collection.

Cologne is a city where cathedral spires tower over Germany's oldest city and its innumerable cultural and historical treasures, world-famous museums and active art scene. In Cologne, street music on the Hohe Strasse or galas in the modern opera house; pavement painting on the cathedral concourse or old masters in the Wallraf Richartz Museum; the annual music festival along the inner ring road or carnival in the entire city all becomes synthesized into a vivacious work of art in a cosmopolitan metropolis boasting more than a million inhabitants which has never lost its neighborly character. From venerable breweries offering unique Kolsch beer and typical Cologne delicacies to first-class restaurants - boasting well in excess of 3000 public houses, restaurants and breweries Cologne is one of Germany's leading gastronomic lights. The world feels at home in Cologne, where people meet for a Kolsch, a chat or simply a laugh.

This 2,000-year-old city at the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine rivers is the cultural and business centre of the Middle Rhine region. History buffs can explore the Neoclassic Residence Schloss, the Prince Elector's palace; the Deutsches Eck, a settlement founded by the German Order of Knights in 1216; and Ehrenbreitstein, the oldest fortress in Europe.

In the course of history, all kinds of people have felt at home in Boppard. Whether Celts, Romans or Franconians, each has left their mark on the 2,000-year-old history of the town. Present day Boppard is home to about 17,000 inhabitants and host to more than a million tourists annually. Boppard's history has been influenced by different royal families, electors and bishops, giving it a very unique cultural aspect.

In the course of history, all kinds of people have felt at home in Boppard. Whether Celts, Romans or Franconians, each has left their mark on the 2,000-year-old history of the town. Present day Boppard is home to about 17,000 inhabitants and host to more than a million tourists annually. Boppard's history has been influenced by different royal families, electors and bishops, giving it a very unique cultural aspect.

Rüdesheim is located in the heart of the Rhine river area at the southern entrance to the Lorelei valley. This romantic holiday town offers much to visitors seeking a fabulous German experience. As you cruise down the Rhine, if you listen carefully, you just might hear the siren calling as you pass the Rock of Lorelei. One attraction to visit is the Niederwald monument. Erected between 1877 and 1883, this huge monument symbolizes the re-establishment of the German Empire and unity. From Rudesheim, one can either take the foot path to the monument or the cablecar leading to the top. The panoramic views from the top are spectacular. Rudesheim is also famous for the Abbey of St. Hildegard. Some think the building is older than it is, but truly, it was built at the beginning of the 20th century. Other sites to see are the Wine Museum in Broemserburg Castle, Siegfried's Mechanical Music Instruments Museum and the Medieval Torture Museum, which boasts a wide collection of medeival relics.

One of the oldest Rhine cities, Speyer celebrated its 2,000th jubilee in 1990. It became a significant religious center early on when the Diet of Speyer, in 1529, united the followers of Luther in a protest against the Church of Rome.

The rich architectural heritage of Strasbourg makes it an excellent tourist city. It has always been a town of passage, and has all architectural styles. The past is written in its walls, and its streets have a timeless quality. Few people can resist the charm of its half-timbered houses and picturesque alleys. Discover the pretty colored facades and impressive portals. Strasbourg is a popular destination where one can forget his usual surroundings. The old city lies around the cathedral on an island formed by two arms of the Ill river. La Petite France is the district which is most reminiscent of old Strasbourg. It is home to many craftsmen and antiques dealers. Its narrow streets offer a series of half-timbered houses dating from the 16th and 17th centuries with large inner courtyards and high sloping roofs. The exceptional warmth and hospitality of the people and the gastronomic reputation of Strasbourg makes tourists want to stay.

The town of Breisach, located on the Rhine River in southwest Germany, is a major producer of wine, textiles, electrical goods and paper. This town has been long coveted because of its strategic location. Fortified by the Romans prior to the 13th century, it became an imperial town in 1275. Taken by Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar 1638, in 1648 it was secured by Louis XIV for France in the Peace of Westphalia and ceded back to the emperor in the Treaty of Ryswick in 1697. The French repeatedly captured Breisach during the 18th century but finally gave it to Baden in 1805.

The third-largest city in Switzerland, Basel stands on the Rhine at the point where the French, German, and Swiss borders meet. At the entrance to the Swiss Rhineland, Basel is the capital of the half-canton of Basel-Stadt. On its borders are the French Vosges, the German Black Forest, and the Swiss Jura Mountains. Grossbasel, or Greater Basel, lies on the steep left bank, and Kleinbasel, or Lesser Basel, is on the right bank.