7 Night Rhine Highlights Cruise from Zurich

Welcome to Zurich and transfer to Basel where the crew of your Scenic Space-Ship will warmly greet you. Raise your glass to the marvelous cruise ahead of you at this evening's welcome reception. Please book your flight to arrive into Zurich prior to 1:30 PM.

Enjoy a leisurely morning sailing towards Kehl. Relax in the sunshine on the Sun Deck as you relish the scenery rolling by. Words of Discovery: This morning Dr. Robert Watson will host an engaging lecture in the Panorama Lounge. Arrive in the city of Kehl, the gateway to Strasbourg, this afternoon. It's the capital city of the Alsace region, where sherbert-colored, half-timbered houses heave together on the banks of a complex network of canals. On its central island, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Grande Ile, Petite France - named so for the 15th-century hospital that was built here for patients suffering from syphilis, 'the French disease' - was a medieval Tanners' Quarter. Its meandering cobbled laneways are lined with a medley of buildings with shuttered windows and bright flowerboxes.

This morning, your Scenic Space-Ship will dock in Rastatt, home to an elegant, perfectly proportioned Baroque palace, which will be the setting for tonight's Scenic Enrich. But first, you will explore Baden-Baden, famous for its Roman baths. Located on the fringes of the Black Forest, this luxurious town was a favored summer escape during the Belle Epoque and is UNESCO World Heritage-listed as part of the Great Spa Towns of Europe. It oozes relaxation, has tranquil green spaces, pretty public gardens, and grand historical architecture.

You will arrive in Mannheim early this morning. It is known as a 'chessboard city' for its streets that were methodically laid out like a grid in the 17th century, as well as being home to some of the world's most brilliant engineering minds, including Carl Benz, founder of Mercedes-Benz who set up his workshop in the city. Nearby, the city of Heidelberg is a truly romantic setting, with an 18th-century arch bridge that straddles the Neckar River and a 16th-century ruined castle on the hillside looming above town.

This morning, you will cruise along the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rhine Gorge in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. This 65-kilometer stretch of the river is dotted with some 40 hilltop castles and fortresses that span a period of 1,000 years. Sailing down this section of the river is like being transported through the pages of a fairytale book. The Rhine is abounded in myths and legends; folklore that has been passed on for generations, including the story of Lorelei. This enchanting female was betrayed by her sweetheart and spent her days bewitching men. As her punishment, she was sent to a nunnery, however on her way she jumped to her death in the river. Legend has her spirit casting spells on sailors who passed the rock, where a bronze statue sits today. You will arrive in Koblenz after lunch. Located where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet, Koblenz is a melange of French and German cultures and one of Germany's oldest cities with a history spanning 2,000 years. Koblenz is surrounded by vineyards, forest, and mountain ranges and is also known as the gateway to the Upper Middle Rhine Valley.

You will arrive in Cologne early this morning, a city known for its liberal and laidback lifestyle, a unique beer culture, auto industry, and the jaw-dropping cathedral that dominates its skyline. Settled by the Romans, this major cultural center for the Rhineland was built during the Middle Ages but was largely destroyed during WWII. The magnificent Gothic cathedral, an enormous UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates to 1248, was badly damaged but stood tall above the ruins of the city.

This morning, your Scenic Space-Ship arrives in Amsterdam. The capital city of the Netherlands is a treasure trove of architectural beauty, masterpiece-filled galleries, tranquil scenes of boats putting along 16th-century canals, narrow cobbled laneways filled with boutiques and cafes, and streets busy with cyclists criss-crossing their way about town. Often referred to as the Venice of the North, much of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed canal system exists today as it did hundreds of years ago, lined with well-preserved canal houses and intersected by charming bridges.

After a hearty breakfast, you'll be transferred to Amsterdam airport for your onward or homebound flight.