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Vacations By Rail · Rail & River Cruise

Top of Europe & The Majestic Rhine Cruise

Swiss Alps to Amsterdam: Jungfrau railway, seven-night Rhine cruise from Basel

Illustration of Top of Europe & The Majestic Rhine Cruise

Vacations By Rail's Top of Europe and The Majestic Rhine Cruise combines a two-night Swiss alpine stay with a seven-night river journey, spanning ten days from Interlaken to Amsterdam. The tour opens with a ride on the Jungfrau Railway to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railway station at 11,333 feet, where you visit the Sphinx Observatory, the Aletsch Glacier, and Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven. From there, you descend to Basel to board a luxury river ship for a cruise down the Rhine through Switzerland, France, and Germany. Days on the water include guided tours of Strasbourg and Cologne, visits to the historic castles and vineyards of the Rhine Gorge, and a ride on the Drachenfels Cog Railway, Germany's oldest operational mountain railway. An optional excursion to Volendam and a gala dinner with a Dutch sea shanty choir precede your arrival in Amsterdam. The escorted package includes a four-star hotel, five-star ship accommodations, all meals except lunch on Day 3, daily breakfast and dinner, wines with dinner each evening, and most entry fees. This trip suits couples, repeat rail travellers, and those seeking guided comfort with the flexibility of optional excursions.

What to know before you look closer

  • Flights and airport transfers are not included; arrange these separately.
  • Day 4 (Strasbourg) and Day 5 (Heidelberg or Speyer) are choice-based excursions, not guided for all passengers; some time is unguided.
  • The ship sails overnight on Days 3 and 8; you will sleep aboard rather than at a hotel on those nights.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Interlaken

    Between the lakes in Interlaken

    Arrival in Zürich, then rail via Bern to Interlaken, nestled between lakes Thun and Brienz. Check in for the first of two nights, then meet the Tour Manager and travel group for dinner in the hotel's restaurant.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2railovernight: Interlaken

    Riding the Jungfrau Railway to the "Top of Europe"

    A journey to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest train station, boarding the iconic Jungfrau Express at Kleine Scheidegg through a tunnel dug into the Eiger. At the summit, visit the Sphinx observatory, the Aletsch Glacier, Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven and the Alpine Sensation exhibition, then return to Interlaken via Grindelwald.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  3. Day 3railovernight: Ship

    Boarding our luxurious ship in Basel

    A free morning in Interlaken, then rail to Basel and a coach transfer to the Rhine to board the luxury cruise ship. First dinner in the ship's panoramic restaurant, setting sail overnight toward Strasbourg.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  4. Day 4overnight: Ship

    Strasbourg and optional excursion into the Black Forest

    A choice of a trip into the Black Forest or a tour of Strasbourg, including its cathedral and the La Petite France District, then a free afternoon before returning to the ship for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  5. Day 5overnight: Ship

    Exploring Speyer or Heidelberg

    A choice of a guided tour of Heidelberg, including its ruined red sandstone castle, or independent exploration of Speyer's Old Town and UNESCO-listed cathedral. Afternoon cruise passing Mainz and Wiesbaden, arriving in Rüdesheim.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  6. Day 6railovernight: Ship

    From Rüdesheim into the magical Rhine Gorge

    A land-train ride through Rüdesheim with a choice of a wine tasting or a visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet, then an afternoon sailing through the Rhine Gorge past the Lorelei Rock, arriving in Koblenz.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  7. Day 7railovernight: Ship

    Riding the scenic Drachenfelsbahn and arrival in Cologne

    Sailing north from Koblenz, passing the world's highest cold-water geyser near Andernach, then docking in Königswinter for the Drachenfels Cog Railway before continuing to Cologne for dinner and an overnight stay.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  8. Day 8overnight: Ship

    Exploring Cologne and onward to the Netherlands

    A guided tour of Cologne including its UNESCO-listed cathedral, followed by a beer tasting, lunch, and setting sail toward the Netherlands on an overnight cruise.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  9. Day 9overnight: Ship

    Exploring Amsterdam or Volendam

    Arrival in Amsterdam for a canal sightseeing cruise, or an optional excursion to Volendam and Edam. A gala dinner onboard this evening accompanied by a Dutch sea shanty choir.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  10. Day 10

    Traveling home

    After breakfast, disembark the ship for the final time and begin travels home independently.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Ride the Jungfrau Express through a tunnel in the Eiger to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railway station, then visit the Sphinx Observatory and Aletsch Glacier.
  • Day 6Cruise through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge past the Lorelei Rock, castles, and forests between Rüdesheim and Koblenz.
  • Day 7Board the Drachenfels Cog Railway, Germany's oldest operational rack railway, from Königswinter.
  • Day 8Tour Cologne's UNESCO-listed cathedral and enjoy a beer tasting before an overnight cruise toward the Netherlands.

Included

  • Escorted throughout your tour by our experienced Tour Manager/Cruise Director team
  • 2 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
  • 7-night cruise onboard MS Amadeus Amara
  • Five-Star service onboard
  • Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
  • Standard Class rail travel
  • All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
  • Breakfast and dinner each day, 6 lunches
  • Drinks package with dinner every night of your cruise
  • Swiss Half Fare Card, permitting 50% discounted fares on free days for rail, boat and most mountain railway journeys
  • A superb choice of excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Flights and Airport transfers not included

Questions travellers ask

Who operates this tour?
Vacations By Rail operates the tour with an escorted Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout the ten days.
Is the train travel included?
Yes. Standard Class rail travel on the Jungfrau Express, TGV, and other rail and coach journeys throughout the tour is included. Vacations By Rail also provides a Swiss Half Fare Card for 50 percent discounts on additional mountain railway, boat, and rail journeys on free days.
Which trains are featured?
The itinerary includes the Jungfrau Railway from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch (the Top of Europe), the Drachenfels Cog Railway from Königswinter, and TGV high-speed rail in France.
What is included in the price?
Two nights in a four-star hotel in Interlaken, seven nights on a luxury cruise ship (MS Amadeus Amara), five-star service onboard, all rail and coach travel, breakfast and dinner daily, six lunches, drinks with dinner every night on the cruise, complimentary Wi-Fi onboard, and escorted excursions.
How much walking is involved each day?
The tour has a Mobility Rating of 2, involving city walking tours and stairs in historic towns. Optional excursions (like the Black Forest visit or Heidelberg castle tour) allow you to choose your activity level on some days.
What cities are visited?
Interlaken, Basel, Strasbourg, Speyer, Heidelberg, Rüdesheim, Koblenz, Cologne, and Amsterdam, plus Jungfraujoch (the highest railway station in Europe) and optional Volendam.

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