Cruise & Tour: Delight in Switzerland & the Rhine (2027) - 19 days Geneva to Amsterdam

Join your Local Expert for a walking tour around remarkably cosmopolitan Geneva. Stop for photos at the alluring outdoor Floral Clock and admire the Reformation Monument in the Parc des Bastions. Hear more on the diplomatic history of the city.

Visit the inspiring Red Cross Museum, dedicated to the globally recognized organization that was founded by Geneva's own Henri Dunant.

Relax on a boat cruise as you glide on the pristine waters of Lake Geneva.

Chocolate-lovers will enjoy a truly immersive experience at Maison Cailler, in the village of Broc, that takes you through the history of the sweet in a multi-sensory tour. The chocolate manufacturer is one of the oldest in the world.

Sample an authentic fondue in the cheese capital of Switzerland. Gather around a bubbling pot of melted goodness and savor a truly Swiss dining experience with a chilled glass of wine.

Enjoy free time in the traditional resort town of Montreux on Lake Geneva. Nestled between steep hills and the lakeside, it is known for its mild microclimate and the Montreux Jazz Festival.

Enjoy priority access to Europe’s highest open-air cogwheel train, taking you to the summit of the mountain for a glimpse of some of Switzerland’s highest peaks, including Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn. The sunny observation platform at Gornergrat offers incredible views of 29 mountains all year round.

Take your seat onboard this world-famous train, the most spectacular way to travel through the Swiss Alps. Marvel at unrivaled views of snow-covered peaks, alpine villages, and the Rhine Gorge, known as the Grand Canyon of Switzerland. Enjoy a three-course lunch onboard.

Accompanied by a Swiss Mountain Guide, explore the serene alpine landscape of St. Moritz on a gentle hike amid majestic peaks. As you go, you’ll learn about the plants and animals native to the area, along with the ongoing efforts to sustain them.

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports Global Goal 15: Life on Land.

Attend an enlightening conservation talk on the unique landscape of St. Moritz and its native wildlife. A local expert will share meaningful insight into the region’s delicate ecosystem and the ongoing efforts to preserve its natural beauty.

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports Global Goal 15: Life on Land.

Known for being one of Europe's smallest countries, Liechtenstein welcomes you with stately medieval castles, quaint villages, and dramatic mountains. Admire the hillside Vaduz Castle where the Prince of Liechtenstein, ruler and descendent of one of the world’s oldest noble families, still resides.

Wander the art-filled halls of the Rosengart Collection, where you’ll enjoy an after-hours private tour and drinks reception surrounded by the masterpieces of Chagall, Renoir, Kandinsky, and Picasso.

Enjoy a visit with your Travel Concierge to Lucerne’s poignant Lion Monument, a moving tribute to the Swiss Guards who lost their lives during the French Revolution. Carved into sandstone, this powerful sculpture is one of Switzerland’s most emotive landmarks and a must-see in the heart of the city.

Cruise across the serene waters of Lake Lucerne before ascending Mount Stanserhorn by scenic cable car. At the summit, take in sweeping Alpine views as you dine at a panoramic rotating restaurant.

Visit the Swiss Transportation Museum, an interactive and engaging exhibition displaying a wide range of transport from luxury Monteverdi cars to alpine trains. Switzerland's natural ruggedness required a lot of effort to connect to the remote communities, and the museum does a spectacular job in revealing not only the history, but glimpses into the future of transportation by showcasing sustainable forms of travel.

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports Global Goal 13: Climate Action.

Begin in Eguisheim, a town so pretty it is regularly ranked among the most beautiful in France. Walk its cobbled streets to admire timber-framed buildings painted in every color of the rainbow. During your tour of this enchanting village, indulge in a tasting of an Alsatian specialty, Kugelhopf, a delicious yeast-based cake traditionally baked in a circular, Bundt mold.

Next, take a drive down the road from Eguisheim to Kaysersberg for quintessential wine road scenery: lush foothills, famous vineyards, castle ruins, and quaint villages.

Though the remains of a 12th-century castle speak to Kaysersberg’s strategic importance in the Middle Ages, today it is an idyllic village nestled among vineyards. Join a local guide for a one-hour walking tour, passing storybook medieval houses with steeply pitched roofs and a gorgeous Gothic cathedral that a 12th-century Holy Roman emperor began. After, you'll enjoy some free time to explore the town at your own pace.

If you're looking for advice on how to spend your time, you may find inspiration in an unlikely place: an old stone well in Kaysersberg that bears an inscription warning against drinking water with the words “Drink with moderation old and subtil wine...and leave the water to the side.” Our tip: pick any of the many little wine bars in town and help yourself to a tasting.

Note: Lunch today will be on your own.

Controlled over the centuries by either France or Germany, Strasbourg is both cross-cultural and bilingual. Old and new, French and German all blend together in this wonderful city, which is also considered the legislative and democratic capital of the European Union. Get a glimpse of Strasbourg's grand political role as we drive by the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, where the European Court of Human Rights sits. Then get a feel for the cultural side of the city on a walking tour through its enchanting streets.

For a different spin on the Palatinate wine region, visit the Weinessiggut Doktorenhof estate for a special vinegar tasting. Yes, you read that right—a vinegar tasting. Founded by Georg Wiedemann some 30 years ago, Doktorenhof produces vinegars from premium wines, rather than inexpensive ones. Gewürztraminer, Sylvaner, Riesling, and Pinot Noir are aged with a century-old vinegar “mother,” as the bacteria that makes vinegar is known, and flavored with a variety of herbs and fruits. Most importantly, Wiedemann and his family run their farm and vineyards with the utmost care, tending to them with natural materials only.

The results make complex and elegant aperitifs, intended to be sipped from a specially designed long-stemmed glass between courses or after a meal. The atmospheric tasting room (think candles, cloaks, and choir music) is like no other you’ll ever experience. You’ll have plenty of time to explore their enticing gift shop, too.

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports Global Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

Please note: In the event that this tour falls on a Sunday, when the estate is closed, an alternative tour will be offered instead.

Drive out to the forest for a private tour at a unique old flour mill. Though the silos here are still used to store grain—and the delicious bread you’ll get to sample at the end of your visit is evidence of that—the mill itself is no longer active. Instead, it has been transformed into a beautiful little sanctuary by the owner. An avid world traveler and collector, the owner has filled the inside of the mill with mementos from his expeditions (not trinkets, either, but life-sized Buddha statues, gorgeous photography, and much more). The highlight though, is the award-winning garden he has curated.

With its pale walls, slate-gray roof, and unusually slender towers and turrets, Marksburg looks as though it has been lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. But don’t be deceived: this is a powerful fortress, built to withstand attack. Marksburg’s defenses were so daunting that enemies generally chose to leave it alone. That’s why this is the only hill castle in Germany that has never been destroyed—a remarkable fact when you consider its 700-year-long history. Enter the fortress through a drawbridge gate and vaulted tunnel—just the first of the many defensive features you’ll encounter on your tour. Notice the “murder holes” in the walls; these would have let defenders pour boiling pitch on would-be invaders. Horsemen once thundered up the Riders’ Stairway, which was hewn into the bedrock, but you can take the steps at a more leisurely pace. Guides will show you the cannons of the Great Battery, once aimed at the Rhine River, and the castle kitchen with its enormous fireplace. You’ll tour the bedchamber, the great banquet hall, the armory, the stables, and, if you’re feeling brave, the torture chamber. Don’t miss the re-created medieval garden, with 150 plants used in the Middle Ages for curative (or magical) purposes.

Nestled in the rolling, vineyard-covered hills of the Rheingau, Castle Vollrads has a square tower that dates back to the 14th century, as does the moat. Just one family owned the castle for 700 years, until 1997, adding on to it and remodeling it over the centuries. While the interior of the castle is rarely open to the public, you will have the opportunity to step inside to see some of the elegantly appointed rooms, including the beautiful gold-embossed Flemish leather wall covering in the 17th-century dining room. Grapes have been grown here for more than a thousand years; records show that Castle Vollrads wines were first sold in 1211. These days the excellence of its Riesling is well known; it’s so well known, in fact, that Schloss Vollrads is one of the few German vineyards whose name stands alone on a wine label—no village name is required. Accompanied by a local wine expert, you will sample three wines in three different locations. There will also be time to wander through the grounds at your leisure.

Immerse yourselves in the vines today with a refreshing walk through the vineyards by Rüdesheim. Starting with a walk by the river, you’ll wind your way past the markets square and up through the Weinlehrpfad, the Wine Trail. Along the way, you’ll pass several historic buildings and monuments, learning their stories from your guide as you go, enjoy a glass of wine made from the vines around you, and discover some beautiful views of the surrounding landscapes, including the Nahe river with its Roman Bridge.

Watch the waters of the Moselle meld with the Rhine’s as you stand on the spit of land called German Corner: It’s the perfect spot for a symbol of German unity, an equestrian statue of Kaiser Wilhelm I, who united the nation in the 19th century. (There’s another symbol of German unity here too: three panels of the Berlin Wall.) Behind it is Koblenz’s oldest church, St. Castor’s Basilica, first erected in the ninth century, and just one of the charming churches and squares you’ll encounter as you wander through Old Town. Like many Rhineland towns, Koblenz suffered at the hands of Louis XIV’s forces—that’s why you’ll see so many baroque features in the buildings you pass, since so many needed to be reconstructed after the French left. That’s also why the Church of Our Lady has twin onion domes. Despite their travails over the ages, though, Koblenz’s citizens kept their sense of humor: One example of it might catch you by surprise as you pass the fountain known as the Spitting Boy, which spits water without warning.

After the tour, you’ll have some free time to enjoy the Marktplatz (Market Square) and its bounty of shopping and wine bars.

Hop on your custom Uniworld bicycle and follow your guide along 12.5 miles of scenic paths. Make your way through the Rhine promenade in Koblenz, head towards the castles of Stolzenfels and Lahneck for an incredible viewing point, and find another great view of the Marksburg shortly after. You’ll see the beautiful fishing village of Spay before turning back towards Koblenz, where we’ll take a 30-minute break at a local beer garden. While we rest, you can purchase a refreshment if you’d like, and then we’ll bike back along the Rhine Cycle Path to return to the ship.

Follow your guide around some of the most popular sites of Cologne, the largest city on the Rhine. You’ll pass the old fish market, City Hall with its Renaissance façade, and the old Jewish mikvah (a bath used for ritual cleansing).

Meander through the narrow, cobbled lanes of Old Town, lined with traditional houses in every color and a plethora of restaurants and pubs. One of the city’s 12 Romanesque churches provides a castle-like backdrop to this quaint, riverside quarter of Cologne.

Your local expert will take you all the way to the Domplatte, the square where you’ll find the Cologne Cathedral. Should you wish, you can head inside this Gothic building on your own to see the Shrine of the Magi and the beautiful stained-glass windows. Otherwise, try asking your guide for tips on what to explore. Whatever your interests, our local expert knows all the best spots in town!

Meet with your guide and walk to the canal dock, where you’ll board a boat to enjoy the city’s most famous pastime: a canal cruise. Amsterdam is called the Venice of the North for a reason: canals crisscross the heart of the old city, and bridges link approximately 90 islands. As the principal city in a newly independent Holland, Amsterdam was a boom town in the early 17th century, rapidly outgrowing its medieval walls. The city’s fathers responded by demolishing most of the old city and building anew, creating Europe’s first planned city. That “new” district is now 400 years old, and as you glide along the main canals, you’ll pass stately merchants’ houses that were built centuries ago. But the canals are not merely scenic; they are essential thoroughfares—people take water buses to work and live in houseboats along the banks—so a canal cruise gives you a look at the busy modern city too.

The Red Light District—or, as it is referred to locally, De Wallen—has been the center of Amsterdam’s sex work industry for several hundred years. It’s famous for the neon lights, partygoers, and “coffeeshops” that proliferate in the area, as well as the windows where some of the sex workers stand to attract clients. Today, you’ll visit the Prostitution Information Center to discover the important work they’re doing to educate visitors on the lives of sex workers for a respectful take on the popular Red Light District tour. Meet one of their experts, a current De Wallen sex worker, for a fascinating talk on the history of the district and her story. After, she will give you pointers on places to explore in the area (guided walking tours past the windows are not allowed here), followed by a Q&A back at the center.

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports Global Goal 4: Quality Education; and Global Goal 5: Gender Equality.

Begin with a visit to Westergasfabriek, a 19^th-century gas factory that has long since been abandoned, reclaimed, and transformed into a thriving cultural space. Many festivals and galleries are hosted here, including the stunning Fabrique des Lumières. The “Factory of Lights,” as it translates, is an immersive digital art experience. A complex system of projectors covers every surface of the factory’s interior with larger-than-life displays of art.

For centuries, Amsterdam has been one of the world’s leading centers of diamond craftsmanship. Located in a beautiful, historic building in the heart of the city, HOUSE of GASSAN is one of the most prestigious names in Dutch diamonds.

Exclusively for Uniworld guests, a private car and driver will collect you from the ship and escort you to the showroom. Enjoy a guided tour with a glass of champagne while learning about the famous 4 Cs of diamond quality—carat, color, clarity, and cut—and watch master diamond polishers at work.

GASSAN also offers complimentary jewelry cleaning and inspection, so you are welcome to bring your own jewelry at no additional cost.

Following the experience, explore the Boutique’s jewelry and watch collections, including the in-house Rolex Boutique, before your driver returns you to the ship.