Day 1

Overnight flight.

Day 2

Arrive in Amsterdam. Tour members who purchased their airline tickets from YMT Vacations will be met in the baggage claim area and transferred to their ship, the Viking Helvetia. After boarding, enjoy free time and get acquainted with the city—or join our “welcome walk” to stretch your legs and start getting oriented (time permitting). Remain docked overnight. (D)

Day 3

Sail to Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a tour of this ingenious network of windmills and other flood management devices. You learn why the windmills were built and see how they work, plus you enter an actual working windmill for a tour of its mechanisms and living quarters. Return aboard for lunch and an enjoyable afternoon of Dutch diversions: sample some of the many handcrafted Dutch cheeses and jenever, a distilled juniper liquor, and try your hand at sjoelen (Dutch table shuffleboard). Cruise through the night. (B, L, D)

Day 4

Cruise along the Rhine this morning, arriving just after lunch in Cologne. Disembark for a walking tour of this gem of the Rhine. Stroll through Old Town past St. Martin’s Church, and spend some time inside Cologne’s Dom, a remarkable Gothic cathedral. Then visit a local brewery and sample Kölsch, the hometown brew. Your evening is free to explore the dockside taverns, cafés and shops—as always, your Program Director can help you plan your free time. Dine aboard; depart late tonight. (B, L, D)

Day 5

After breakfast, disembark for a tour of 700-year-old Marksburg Castle and its museum. Return to your ship for lunch and sail along the most scenic stretch of the Rhine, where castles overlook the river from their hilltop locations. Arrive in Rüdesheim this afternoon and take a mini-train up the hill to tour Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum, filled with self-playing instruments. After dinner, spend free time in the pedestrian-only Drosselgasse and sample a glass of locally produced wine at one of the restaurants or wine bars. Remain docked overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 6

Cruise through the morning enjoying brunch and the passing scenery. Arrive in Mannheim and disembark for a tour. Journey to Heidelberg to see Germany’s oldest university, founded in 1386. Then visit the beautiful sandstone ruins of imposing Heidelberg Castle, and take in the scenery of the Neckar River Valley and the city’s many red rooftops from its hilltop location. Continue with a walking tour from the Old Town to Heidelberg’s renowned gates. Rejoin your ship in Speyer; take evening free time to see the town’s six majestic towers and Romanesque cathedral. (B, L, D)

Day 7

The morning is highlighted by scenic cruising followed by lunch aboard. Arrive in Kehl in the early afternoon and disembark for a guided tour of Strasbourg. See the European Parliament and tour the interior of the city’s famed cathedral. Free time to further explore the old section of this French-German city. Dine aboard and enjoy free time this evening in the quaint little city of Kehl. (B, L, D)

Day 8

After cruising through the night you arrive during breakfast in Breisach, gateway to the Black Forest. Take a scenic excursion through the area’s renowned mountain landscape, rolling meadows and dense forests. Once there, visit a local workshop and see a cuckoo clock-making demonstration. Return to Breisach for some free time before an early evening departure. Or, take our optional excursion to Colmar, a quaint Alsatian town. A guided walking tour shows you the Maison des Têtes, Dominican Church and more. Dine aboard while you cruise on to Basel, arriving around midnight. (B, L, D)

Day 9

After breakfast, disembark and we take you to the airport for your return flight. (B)

Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Because our tour arrangements are often made a year or more in advance, YMT Vacations reserves the right to alter the itinerary. Itinerary changes are made to improve your vacation experience, as well as respond to any unforeseen circumstances that mandate alterations.

Picture Window - Category D

Main Deck

Stateroom size: 155 sq. ft. Deluxe staterooms have hotel-style beds; half-high picture window 2.13 ft. x 4.76 ft. (cannot be opened); private bathroom with shower; TV, telephone, safe & hair dryer; individual climate control; hotel-style beds 6.56ft. x 5.25 ft. x 1.48 ft. (can be separated); height under bed for suitcases: 1.15 ft.; closet space: 6.30 ft. x 2.69 ft.; converter in the bathroom outlet

Panoramic Window - Category C

Middle Deck

Stateroom size: 155 sq. ft. Deluxe staterooms have hotel-style beds; panoramic window 3.28 ft. x 6.56 ft. (can be opened); private bathroom with shower; TV, telephone, safe & hair dryer; individual climate control; hotel-style beds 6.56ft. x 5.25 ft. x 1.48 ft. (can be separated); height under bed for suitcases: 1.15 ft.; closet space: 6.30 ft. x 2.69 ft.; converter in the bathroom outlet

Panoramic Window - Category B

Middle Deck

Stateroom size: 155 sq. ft. Deluxe staterooms have hotel-style beds; panoramic window 3.28 ft. x 6.56 ft. (can be opened); private bathroom with shower; TV, telephone, safe & hair dryer; individual climate control; hotel-style beds 6.56ft. x 5.25 ft. x 1.48 ft. (can be separated); height under bed for suitcases: 1.15 ft.; closet space: 6.30 ft. x 2.69 ft.; converter in the bathroom outlet

French Balcony - Category A

Upper Deck

Stateroom size: 155 sq. ft. Deluxe staterooms have hotel-style beds; French balconies (can be opened); private bathroom with shower; TV, telephone, safe & hair dryer; individual climate control; hotel-style beds 6.56ft. x 5.25 ft. x 1.48 ft. (can be separated); height under bed for suitcases: 1.15 ft.; closet space: 6.30 ft. x 2.69 ft.; converter in the bathroom outlet

Images courtesy of YMT Vacations’ cruise line partners. Please note that the images, descriptions, and deck plans are for representation purposes only and actual cabin accommodation layout and/or amenities may vary according to the cruise line’s discretion.