Optional Old Delft Walk – 7 km, rated 1A

WELCOME TO THE NETHERLANDS!

Schiphol Airport is the airport best serving Amsterdam. Transfer by taxi (not included) to your first class hotel.

With a rich cultural life, a wide range of entertainment, and an excellent public transport system, Amsterdam has managed to retain its small-town feel and is easy to explore on your own.

The first official group activity is the Welcome Orientation this evening at our hotel. Tonight’s dinner is the only one during the tour that is not included, which gives us an opportunity to stroll into central Amsterdam for dinner on our own after this evening’s Orientation meeting.

Today’s Bonus Activity: Old Delft Walk Excursion

Travelers who arrive in the Netherlands one day early (May 18) are invited to join us today on a visit to one of Holland’s most historic towns.

The picturesque, canal-laced town of Delft is the birthplace of the nation of the Netherlands. William the Silent was leader of a dramatic 16th century independence movement that freed tiny Holland from the world power of the day, the Spanish Empire. William chose Delft as his base and was tragically murdered there by a Spanish assassin in an ineffective attempt to keep control of the 7 northern provinces of the Low Countries, what we know today as the Netherlands.

Delft was also home to Johannes Vermeer, the renowned Dutch painter who lived in Delft roughly 100 years after William the Silent. By then, the Dutch ruled the waves and were experiencing a golden age of wealth generated by trade with the East Indies and India. The club walk here is quintessentially Dutch, wandering picturesque cobblestone lanes and squares, alongside lazy canals, and passing the one remaining medieval tower.

We start the day with a walk from our Amsterdam hotel to the train station using public transport to and from Delft. Following the morning walk, time is available for lunch and enjoying more of the charms of Delft, including perhaps a visit to the Vermeer museum, Vermeer Centrum Delft. Other attractions include Royal Delft, producer of Delft Blue Pottery, Museum Prinsenhof Delft, chronicling the life and times of William the Silent, Father of the Netherlands, and the statuesque New Church and many delightful shops clustered around Delft Market Square.

Estimated price: $50 per person, including train fare, walk credit, and WAI guide service.

NOTE: This walk has been a sanctioned IVV walk on prior visits dating back to the late 1990s. We just learned (Feb 9) that the stamp has not been renewed for 2023. We are currently talking with Dutch volkssport personnel to pursue a solution. This would be the only possible sanctioned walk in the Netherlands. We also plan to offer IVV-sanctioned walks in Cologne, Germany and Strasbourg, France, both of which are confirmed for 2023.

After breakfast, we depart on a morning excursion to see the wonders of the windmills! Our first stop is at the village of Zaanse Schans, a famous open-air museum featuring 6 windmills and more than 30 houses built in 16-17th centuries, all of which invite us to discover the rural life of medieval Holland.

Then, continue to Edam, home of the famous Edam and Gouda cheeses. Here we visit a cheese factory that shows us how the cheese is made and offers free tasting!

Then it is on to the lovely village of Volendam renowned for its colorful timber houses and old fishing boats lining the harbor.

Our final stop is Marken where we visit a clog making factory that produces the famous hand-made Dutch wooden clogs.

Then it’s back to Amsterdam port to embark our floating hotel, the M/S Crucivita. Tonight a welcome cocktail and crew introduction will precede dinner.

Amsterdam Walking Tour
Optional Rijksmuseum to Ship Walk – 4 km, rated 1A

Morning activities begin with a one hour cruise through Amsterdam’s labyrinthine network of canals.  A walking tour of the city center features Dam Square, Anne Frank’s House (outside), Museum Square, the Flower market and other attractions! The historic, concentric loop of four primary canals, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is lined with traditional 17th and 18th century homes, churches, and warehouses capped by tall facades and ornate gables.

The balance of the day is free, rendezvousing aboard ship for dinner this evening about 7 pm.

Today’s Bonus Activity: Visit to the Rijksmuseum
We are currently working on an after-lunch excursion to the world famous Rijksmuseum, the national museum of the Netherlands in Amsterdam renowned for its collection of the Dutch masters. Dutch independence in the late 16th century (we learned about this on our visit to Delft on Day 1), and the mastery of the seas that followed, positioned this tiny, young republic in an increasingly dominant place in world trade.

From this wealth was birthed the Dutch Golden Age, and a flowering of culture and art. A guided tour helps us appreciate works of the Dutch masters—Rembrandt, Vermeer, and others—who depicted everyday scenes and provided a fascinating window into 17th century Holland.

Following our visit to the Rijksmuseum, the plan is to walk back to our ship, a distance of about 4 km (2.5 miles). Travelers who prefer not to walk may use a taxi or ride sharing service to return to the ship.

Pricing for this Bonus Activity will be announced by the end of February.

North of the port of Arnhem lies one of The Netherlands most popular attractions, the Open Air Museum of Arnhem.

Here, completely reconstructed historical monuments are manned by costumed volunteers who will immerse you into the life of the past. This experience takes us into a setting of 19th century merchant homes, farmhouses, and mills with samples of life on the farms, fields, factories, wine taverns, and shops. The people, in authentic settings and dressed in authentic costumes, will regale you with stories about their “way of life” and perhaps serve you a cup of coffee or a pint of beer in ‘the good old way’. We look forward to this lively and humorous presentation of old Dutch customs and habits.

WAI guides will be looking to extend walking possibilities on this day.

Cologne Walking Tour
Optional Cologne IVV Walk – 6 km, rated 1A

WELCOME TO GERMANY!

We spend the full day in the 2000-year-old Rhine River city of Cologne, Germany. Our walking tour of this major German Rhine city features the Hey Market, Festival Halls, Town Hall, Jewish Baths, Old Market, and famous Dom, the remarkable Gothic cathedral whose construction began in 1248 and was only completed in 1880! Boasting the largest facade of any church in the world, this 13th century house of worship is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After returning to the ship for lunch, the balance of the day is free for optional tours and activities.

Today’s Bonus Activity: Volkswalk in Cologne – OR –
Cologne Chocolate Museum
Cologne Walk: Cologne hosts an IVV walk (volkswalk) and WAI guides will lead a walk through parts of the city not covered during this morning’s walking tour. This is the only opportunity on the tour for an IVV-sanctioned walk in Germany.
Price: 3 EUR per person

Cologne Chocolate Museum: Other travelers may be more interested in the Cologne Chocolate Museum. The Museum is located directly on the Rhine River, walkable from where our ship is docked.

This is a self-guided experience through exhibits that unveil what the museum claims is the world’s most comprehensive history of the 5,000-year existence of chocolate. Don’t miss the massive chocolate fountain. TripAdvisor ranks this museum as 24 out of 340 activities to consider in Cologne.
Entrance fee: 14.50 EUR per person.

Koblenz Walking Tour
Optional Rüdesheim Evening Walk – 2 km, rated 1A

Koblenz is a city with ancient beginnings, going back to the Roman period and earlier. A primary reason for this is its enviable location at the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine Rivers. Enjoy a colorful guided walking tour this morning of the Old Town including St. Castor’s Basilica, the Monument of Emperor Wilhelm I and the town’s landmark, the humorous, spitting “Schängel” Fountain.

Leaving Koblenz, make sure to be on deck for as we cruise past the famous Loreley cliff where the rushing Rhine is less than 300 feet wide. Cruising this section of the river offers more medieval castles per glass of Riesling wine than anywhere else on the planet and is recognized as such with a notation on the UNESCO World Heritage List!

Today’s Bonus Activity: After-Dinner Walk in Rüdesheim
After dinner on board, join us this evening for a stroll from our ship through lively Rüdesheim, another venerable Rhine town, deeply connected to the wine trade. Behind Rüdesheim, vineyards drape the hills, with the famous, oversized Watch on the Rhine Monument looming above the vineyards. Price: Complementary

Heidelberg Walking Tour
Optional Philosopher’s Way Walk – 3 km, rated 2B

Located on the confluence of the Rhine and Neckar rivers, and home to Mercedes Benz and other major corporations, Mannheim is the launching point for today’s excursion to Heidelberg.

Home of Germany’s oldest university, and the German Romanticism movement, Heidelberg is also one of the country’s most endearing small cities, famous for its historical baroque center, spirited student atmosphere, beautiful riverside setting and ancient bridge crossing the Neckar River.

Our primary activity in Heidelberg is a visit to its famous castle. The impressive hilltop castle is home to the largest wine barrel in the world, holding over 220.000 liters of wine! Following the Heidelberg Castle visit, travelers will have free time to enjoy the ambiance of the market square and Old Bridge in Old Town.

Today’s Bonus Activity: Philosopher’s Way Walk

WAI planners are negotiating for additional time in Heidelberg to offer the Philosopher’s Way Walk. We cannot yet guarantee this experience. If possible, the plan is to ascend the hillside across the Neckar River from Heidelberg Old Town. The Philosopher’s Way footpath parallels the river and offers stunning views of the river, the Old Bridge, the tile roofs of Old Town, and the ruins of Heidelberg Castle. A steep ascent and a long set of stairs called the Snake Path are required to participate in this walk.

Price: Complementary if available

Strasbourg Walking Tour
Optional Strasbourg Petite France Walk – 5 km, rated 1A

WELCOME TO FRANCE!

Situated in the Alsace region of northeastern France, Strasbourg is a blend of French and German influences, a push-pull between cultures and countries that has, in the past, often resulted in conflict.

Our morning boat/bus/walking tour of this UNESCO’s World Heritage city begins with a 1 hour boat cruise along the canals, offering unique views of half-timbered houses and impressive European institutions.

Following the canal cruise, a walking tour features sights such as the Palace de la Republique, Orangerie, EU Parliament, and Cathédrale de Nôtre Dame.

Lunch will be served at a typical French restaurant followed by free time to explore on your own or return to the ship.

Today’s Bonus Activity: Strasbourg Petite France Walk

WAI guides will offer an after lunch walk through Petite France, the UNESCO listed historic core of the city perched on the Grande Île, an island of meandering lanes lined with colorful photogenic, medieval houses.

Price: Complementary

Our cruise ends this morning after breakfast aboard the Crucivita. We bid your crew goodbye, say farewell to walking friends, old and new, and leave the Rhine River with a suitcase full of memories!

Today’s Bonus Activity: Gutenberg Museum

Due to the fact that our ship does not arrive Mainz until mid-morning, travelers are likely to be departing nearby Frankfurt Airport late in the day, allowing time for a value-added experience in historic Mainz.

Mainz is the home of the Gutenberg Museum. In the year 2000, Johann Gutenberg ranked at the top of at least 2 different lists of the most influential people of the 2nd millennium. Coming as it did at the junction of the Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation, his invention of the printing press had an impact impossible to fully measure.

A guided tour of the museum introduces us to the technology with a printing press demonstration and a chance to enter the vault to see some of the world’s most valuable books, the Gutenberg Bibles. Estimated Price: $20 per person

To register, a non-refundable $300 deposit is required to hold your spot. A final payment is due 90 days before departure and is non-refundable after the due date. You will receive a prompt email from us 2 to 3 weeks in advance.

Soon after registration, an “Adventure Advice” email will be sent with critical information on flight arrangements as well as important steps to take in the months before your trip. Please do not buy your airline tickets until you review this Adventure Advice email.

Please follow this link to read our full General Tour Conditions.

A Walking LITE itinerary widens the range of travelers who can comfortably enjoy a WAI travel experience. Travelers who prefer a slower pace and less walking than a standard WAI Adventure, but still appreciate a non-sedentary, experiential approach to travel, can join a Walking LITE group knowing that the itinerary will be less demanding physically.

Travelers can enjoy the standard ship itinerary, which normally includes a number of walking tours, knowing that, where possible, WAI will offer more and longer walking opportunities on an optional basis. Further, travelers have the assurance that the ship, our floating hotel, is always a ready refuge where they can relax and transition from participant to observer as they choose.

In addition, using itineraries of trusted small ship cruise partners, WAI planners are able to take advantage of a wider range of destinations, confident that our creativity and the wide WAI knowledge base (30 years’ worth) allows WAI guides and planners to amplify and enhance any itinerary by inserting walks of various lengths, some directly from the ship, and some using land transportation to nearby trails with which we are familiar.

Finally, adding Walking LITE small ship cruise experiences captures the value of unpacking only once and enjoying the floating hotel model of river cruising with its slower pace and relaxed tempo.

This elegant, luxurious, boutique style vessel, the M/S Crucevita was designed in an old world grand yacht style. Superb public areas, accented in oak and leather, include a panorama restaurant, cozy bar and lounge, a fire-place, a gym, sauna, library, and sun deck!

The cabins area spacious 14 sq m (150 sq ft) and are fitted with beds that are stowed away during the day to create extra space to relax. All cabins include air-conditioning/heating that can be regulated individually, a multi-channel satellite TV with remote control, a mini safety deposit box, a telephone and a hair dryer. The luxury bathroom contains a toilet, enclosed shower, and a stylish wash basin.

Cabins on Main deck have panorama windows while cabins on the upper Promenade deck will have new French balconies (renovation scheduled for 2019 winter-season)

The decks are interconnected by a regular elevator suitable to carry up to 4 persons. The Sun Deck is accessible from the Promenade Deck by an outside chair lift. Maximum capacity 110 passengers serviced by a young and vivacious crew of 36. Non-smoking interiors. Currency: Euro

Cabin Upgrades

The Adventure price includes cabins in CATEGORY C. Upgrades are available in CATEGORIES B and A. Space in all categories is limited. See pricing options below:

• CATEGORY C: Included in tour price (Main Deck aft)
• CATEGORY B: $225 per person upgrade (Main Deck forward)
• CATEGORY A: $550 per person upgrade (Promenade Deck with French balconies)

Our official start point is in our hotel in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. which is a 15-20 minute taxi ride from Schiphol Airport (AMS). Our official finish point is the ship dock in Mainz, Germany. Travelers would likely use the Frankfurt Airport (FRA) for departure.

We recommend that you contact Laura Pfahler, the travel agent we work with, to help book your flight arrangements.

Details about flight arrangements and recommended travel agent contact information will be provided by email after you register for the Adventure. Please do not book your airfare prior to receiving these flight details from us!

WAI believes strongly in the importance of travel insurance for financial and medical protection from any number of unforeseen circumstances that can arise before departure or during your Adventure. Many travel insurance providers are available for you to consider. Laura Pfahler and Sharon Mitchell of World Travel Inc. are travel agents who provides air travel and insurance services to many WAI travelers.

Laura Pfahler: 503-434-6401 or [email protected]
Sharon Mitchell: 971-261-2091 or [email protected]

Check out Insurance Tips from World Travel for a short introduction to travel insurance. (NOTE: WAI receives no commission or financial remuneration from World Travel Inc.).

As always, do some shopping to ensure you are getting the best value. Using the SquareMouth.com website can be a good way to compare pricing.

Other options include:

Allianz
Betins
Travel Guard
Travel Insured International

WAI bears no responsibility for travel insurance benefits advertised by various credit card companies. If you are relying on this type of benefit for insurance, we advise you to verify coverage types and limits and that your purchase does in fact qualify you for this insurance.

NOTE: We suggest purchasing from a reputable, well-established insurance company (avoid buying insurance from an unknown company found only online). Travelers interested in purchasing “cancel for any reason” insurance coverage should be careful to check pricing and terms BEFORE they register for a tour. Recent changes in the international travel landscape has caused changes in the policies of some insurance companies, and made the purchase of this particular type of policy even more time-sensitive.

Walking Adventures International reserves the right to cancel this tour departure with fewer than 12 participants, in which case registered participants will receive a 100% refund of payments received.

This refund policy contains one exclusion. Many suppliers require non-refundable deposits as a condition of booking services. Though it is rare, unforeseen circumstances can force us to cancel a tour. In cases where supplier’s non-refundable policies are imposed, WAI attempts to retrieve as much of these deposits as possible but cannot guarantee a 100% refund. In cases where full refunds cannot be obtained for a cancelled tour, we will do our best to transfer unrefunded money as traveler credits to be applied to a future tour to that destination.

WAI has relaxed our policies and currently require no mitigation procedures (current WAI Wellness on Tour Policy). However, Walking Adventures International policy includes endeavoring to comply with any COVID-19 policies in place in the destinations through which we travel.

We are not aware of any COVID-19 policies or restrictions that will impact this tour in Europe along the Rhine River.

WAI will update travelers upon learning of any changes.

Travelers participating in the Rhine River Walking LITE Cruise must agree to abide by policies in place at the time of travel.

Soon after registration, an “Adventure Advice” email will be sent with critical information on flight arrangements as well as important steps to take in the months before your trip. Please do not buy your airline tickets until you review this Adventure Advice email.

A final payment is due 90 days before departure (February 17, 2023) and is non-refundable after the due date. You will receive a prompt email from us a week or two in advance. Please see our General Tour Conditions for the full terms and conditions for participation in this Adventure.

Around 2-3 weeks before departure, you will receive a final email packet with details of the program, including hotel names and contact information, a list of fellow travelers, and a more detailed daily schedule.

We look forward to enjoying this fascinating region of Europe with you as we set sail on the Rhine River Cruise!