Cruise Amsterdam-Basel in 2023

Note: The itineraries presented are subject to modification due to water levels, closures because of public holidays or other uncontrollable factors. Every effort will be made to operate programs as planned, but changes may still be necessary throughout the cruise. This day-to-day schedule is subject to change. Your final day-to-day schedule will be provided onboard on the first day of your cruise.

This cruise operates Amsterdam to Basel or Basel to Amsterdam. The following itinerary is based on the Amsterdam to Basel cruise:

DAY 1: Amsterdam (Embark)

Arrive at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and be transferred to your ship. If your cruise package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship.

DAY 2: Amsterdam

Enjoy the luxury of a full day in the “Venice of the North,” starting with a private “Morning with the Masters” tour of the Amsterdam Hermitage, where you’ll have the museum’s extraordinary collection of Dutch Masters all to yourself, as an art historian shows you Portrait Gallery highlights. Afterwards, choice of Floriade Visit (select sailings)Amsterdam Canal Cruise or opt for a Jewish Heritage tour, with stops at the Portuguese Synagogue and Jewish Museum.

This evening, a special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you.

DAY 3: Harlingen

Spend your day exploring the coastal Netherlands city of Harlingen, an attractive port town on the Wadden Sea.

After exploring the town on foot, you’ll have the opportunity to dive deeper into the Frisian area with one of three different experiences:

• Head to a horse farm where the characteristically large and agile black Friesian horse is raised. After learning about the farm’s work and Frisian culture, you’ll be treated to a horse show.

• Take a short drive to the city of Franeker, where you’ll find the oldest working planetarium in the world hanging from the ceiling of a beautiful canal house. This accurately moving model of the solar system was built between 1774 and 1781 by the Frisian wool comber, Eise Eisinga.

• Visit a historic mill, still active today as a grain mill. Afterward, a little boat will take you to a nearby butterfly garden.

DAY 4: Arnhem

Arnhem, once almost completely destroyed by WWII, has blossomed into a burgeoning Dutch city, with several wonderful museums, charming shop-lined streets and historically significant landmarks. Choose to visit the Helene Kroller-Muller Museum founded in 1930's and features some 97 works by the Van Gogh.The museum is devoted to modern art including exceptional works by Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian and Auguste Rodin.Or opt for more active exploration on the Arnhem Airborne Cycle route. Bike past major battle landmarks such as John Frost Bridge, Doorwerth Castle and the Airborne Cemetery as you travel along the river banks.

Choice of Krollen-Muller Museum or "Let's Go" Arnhem airborne cycle route

DAY 5: Cologne

You simply cannot visit Cologne without paying homage to its most notorious site, the Gothic masterpiece that serves as the city’s cathedral. A local expert will show you favourite haunts around the Old Town and share some of the cathedral’s most intriguing and Magi-cal secrets with you. And guests interested in the city’s Jewish past are welcome to explore the centuries-old mikveh and other notable sites in Cologne’s Jewish quarter, once home to Europe’s first Jewish settlement north of the Alps. No matter which excursion you choose, you’ll also have ample free time to explore the city on your own.

Featured Excursion: Cologne walking tour with Cologne Cathedral

DAY 6: Oberwesel

Bacharach is an ancient village that appears straight out of the pages of a storybook. Enjoy a guided stroll through town and taste some locally grown Rieslings, a specialty of the region. Alternatively, join a “Let's Go” hike that will take you past the old town walls and up to a fortified 12th-century castle.

Choice of Bacharach village stroll with Riesling tasting or “Let’s Go” Castle Stahleck hike

DAY 7: Frankfurt

Frankfurt is known as the “Mainhattan” of Europe, a financial powerhouse with soaring skyscrapers as well as traditional Old Town architecture. Experience the city with your choice of adventures today—visit Germany’s oldest museum, take a guided bike ride or learn about the Rothschild family’s rags-to-riches saga. Step ashore and walk a short distance to the Old Town for our “Do as the Locals Do” walking tour. This part of the city has charming old homes, stately churches and a lively covered market where you can sample all sorts of local delicacies. Later, you can visit Germany’s oldest museum, the Städel, with 700 years of European art housed under a single roof. If you prefer, opt for a guided bike ride that takes you through the Old Town, along the Main River promenade and down the city’s world-famous “Museum Mile”—which boasts no fewer than 13 acclaimed institutions. For something completely different, you can spend your time in Frankfurt delving into the city’s fascinating Jewish legacy.

Choice of Frankfurt City Tour

DAY 8: Speyer (Mannheim)

Expect the unexpected in Speyer, where ancient treasures harmoniously co-exist with modern day innovation. Take it all in during a walk with a local expert, or—for something really unexpected—venture into a spooky, candlelit tasting room to sample flavourful elixirs made from wine vinegars. Utterly unique and (surprisingly) delicious! A third option is our Jewish Heritage excursion to Worms, an ancient centre of learning and religion. Join a local expert for a guided stroll through the historic small town of Speyer, famous for its vast Romanesque cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll also have some free time to wander on your own, perhaps to have a coffee at a sidewalk café on the town’s bustling central plaza.

Choice of Private Doktorenhof vinegar estate visit and tasting or Speyer walking tour or Baroque Palace of Mannheim.

DAY 9: Strasbourg

Strasbourg is invariably described as quaint, a rather overused word that in this case is perfectly apropos. Whether you see it by bicycle, on foot with an insightful local expert or opt to delve into the town’s Jewish past, Strasbourg’s cobbled lanes, half-timbered homes, giant stork nests and impossible-to-resist pastry shops will win your heart. After docking in town, you’ll have a chance to discover Strasbourg’s many charms with a choice of excursions: A guided “Do as the Locals Do” walking tour of the Petit France district, stopping to try traditional Alsatian treats along the way; a “Let's Go” bike tour that covers a bit more ground, including the European district; or an in-depth look at the city’s rich Jewish history, which dates back an astonishing 2,000 years. After lunch onboard, spend the afternoon at your leisure, perhaps shopping for handcrafted souvenirs bearing images of white storks—a beloved symbol of the city.

Choice of “Do as the Locals Do” Strasbourg walking tour or “Let’s Go” Strasbourg by bike

DAY 10: Basel

Basel historically has been divided by the Rhine into two sections: Greater Basel, on the south bank, and Lesser Basel, on the north bank—and the Lällekönig has been sticking his long red tongue out at Lesser Basel since 1640. Though the original beaten-copper head with its crown and clockwork mechanism now resides in a museum, a replica still reigns near the Middle Bridge, insulting the grittier side of the city in its time-honoured way. It’s on your itinerary today as you explore both sides of this most walkable of cities, crossing between them via a traditional ferry that is powered solely by the Rhine’s current. Ramble with your guide through the historic heart of Basel, stopping to nibble some of the city’s delectable specialties, including its celebrated honey-almond cookies, and getting a glimpse of the remarkable range of shops, which display everything from designer fabrics, antique books, quirky figurines and, of course, timepieces. Every historic square you see will hold a special charm: The spectacular red sandstone 16th-century town hall faces Market Square; Barfüsser Square is named for the de-onsecrated church that now houses the city museum; Cathedral Square is dominated by Basel’s 800-year-old red sandstone Münster, where Erasmus is buried.

Choice of “Let’s Go” Basel by bike or “Do as the Locals Do” Basel walking tour

DAY 11: Basel (Disembark)

Disembark the ship and be transferred to Basel airport for your flight home.

Receive an Air Credit or Cruise Credit of $1,500 pp* on new cruise bookings made before 31 January 2023.

Prices based on departure dates 8 May, 18 May, 22 Oct & 1 Nov 2023:

• Classic Stateroom - from $7,099 pp twin share / $8,494 pp sole use
• Deluxe Stateroom - from $7,999 pp twin share / $9,619 pp sole use
• French Balcony - from $8,899 pp twin share / $10,744 pp sole use
• Suite - from $11,899 pp twin share / $24,278 pp sole use

Alternative departure dates and pricing available. Call today and speak with one of our experienced Travel advisors to discuss this outstanding travel opportunity on 1300 414 198

NOTE: all prices correct at the time of publishing, prices are subject to availability and change at the time of booking.

The cosmopolitan style of River Empress, with its rich jewel tones and vibrant atmosphere, is certain to captivate you. Whether you’re dining in the ship’s sleek restaurant—reminiscent of a New York jazz and supper club—or relaxing over a cup of tea on the Sun Deck as you gaze out at the 360-degree view, there is no better or more relaxing way to travel through the scenic heartland of Europe.

Classic Stateroom:

• Lavishly appointed riverview stateroom (151 sq ft - 14 sq m)
• Handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV with infotainment centre and satellite, and bottled water
• Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, backlit magnifying mirror, cosy bathrobes, and slippers

Deluxe Stateroom:

• Lavishly appointed riverview stateroom (151 sq ft - 14 sq m)
• Handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV with infotainment centre and satellite, and bottled water
• Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, backlit magnifying mirror, cosy bathrobes, and slippers

French Balcony Stateroom:

• Lavishly appointed riverview stateroom (151 sq ft - 14 sq m) with a French balcony
• Handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV with infotainment centre and satellite, and bottled water
• Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, towel warmer, waffle bathrobes, and slippers

Suite:

• Lavishly appointed riverview suite (214 sq ft - 20 sq m) with a French balcony
• Handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV with infotainment centre and satellite, and bottled water
• Marble bathroom with Hermès bath and body products, plush towels, towel warmer, waffle bathrobes, and slippers
• Additional special amenities and services