Grace, 10 Night Rhine Connoisseur: Lake Geneva to Belgium – Northbound ex Basel, Switzerland to Brussels (Brugge), Belgium

Epicurean delights take center stage on this Rhine River cruise, with a feast of culinary experiences that showcase wine, cheese, chocolate and more in Strasbourg, Belgium and Switzerland…
You’ll sip wine in the Lavaux vineyards at a local wine-making cooperative. Taste craft beer and culinary specialties in Düsseldorf, French fare in Strasbourg and local beer in Antwerp. Enjoy a chocolate demo in Brussels. Dine like royalty during a Tauck-exclusive dinner at medieval Slot Loevestein, set on a private island. And spend three nights at a luxurious Fairmont Montreux resort amidst spectacular scenery.

Day 1
Tour begins: 6:00 PM. A transfer is included from Geneva Airport, Geneva train station (approximately 1.5 hour drive) or Montreux train station to Fairmont Montreux Palace, nestled on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland, overlooking the Alps. Join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner at your elegant hotel.

Day 2
Internationally famous as a terraced wine-growing region on the shores of Lake Geneva, the Lavaux region is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to the 12th century, when Cistercian monks built miles of terraces and walls on sloping glacial terrain for the cultivation of wine. Explore the vineyards on a choice of excursions, including a mini-train tour through the vineyards, a visit to one of the area’s quaint villages, and a wine tasting at a local cooperative cellar; or a gentle walk along unpaved paths through the vineyards, ending with a tasting at a local winery. You may also learn how Montreux attracted musicians with its peaceful surroundings on a walk with a local guide, who shares insights into Freddie Mercury and the time Queen spent here, using a tablet to showcase a collection of videos and photos not previously available to the public, along with the music they created here. Enjoy free time for lunch on your own along the shores of Lake Geneva, then spend the remainder of the day at leisure in Montreux. Your hotel is located in the city center, within walking distance of landmark sites and dining venues.

Day 3
Montreux has been a favorite lakeside resort destination since the 19th century, when artists and writers sought inspiration in its scenic Alpine beauty. Today, venture to Glacier 3000 for an Alpine adventure that truly makes your spirit soar. Ride a cable car to the summit and enjoy time to explore the attractions at the top. Walk across the Peak Walk by Tissot, the only suspension bridge in the world connecting two peaks, set amidst stunning views of the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, and Jungfrau, and experience a wonderland of glacier activities at your leisure. Alternatively, you may choose to stay behind and enjoy Montreux at your own pace. Have dinner as you like in Montreux this evening.

Day 4
After breakfast, visit nearby Chillon Castle, renowned as among the best-preserved medieval European castles. On a locally guided tour, view some its 40 rooms, including the Castellan’s Dining Hall, with walls depicting painted family crests. Drive to a quant Swiss village for free time and lunch before continuing on to Basel. Embark your riverboat in Basel; attend a Discovery Briefing and enjoy cocktails before dining onboard your ship.

Day 5
Spend the morning in Strasbourg, disembarking for a choice of excursions after breakfast. Blending Franco-Germanic culture, architecture, and ambiance, this Alsatian city is nestled on the Rhine across the border from Germany and boasts a compelling and complex history. Join a local guide for an epicurean-inspired walking tour of its city center, along with tastings of wine, cheese and other Alsatian specialties. See its Gothic-inspired Notre Dame Cathedral and half-timbered houses and explore its Petite France quarter, criss-crossed by canals and a swing bridge reminiscent of days gone by. Or do as the locals do and explore the sights by bicycle as your local guide leads the way. Have lunch onboard your riverboat as it sails for the Middle Rhine Valley.

Day 6
Spend a leisurely morning cruising through the Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage region renowned for iconic landscapes crowned by castles and fortresses, along with terraced vineyards established more than 1,000 years on the steep slopes of the valley. The strategic location of this dramatic stretch of the Rhine between Bingen, Rüdesheim and Koblenz reflects its importance as a transportation route; the sixty small towns, terraced vineyards and the castles ruins found here reflect how prosperous this trade route once was since prehistoric times. Your Tauck Director provides commentary as you glide past vine-covered, terraced slopes, and rocky bluffs, sharing the stories of the Lorelei Rock and ancient castles standing watch onshore. Arrive in Koblenz this afternoon for a guided e-bike ride* or a scavenger hunt across the city. Enjoy dinner and musical entertainment onboard ship.

Day 7
Wake up in in Düsseldorf, one of Germany’s wealthiest cities, known for its charming Altstadt (Old Town) and avant garde architecture. Walk off the riverboat into town for your choice of a walking tour focused on the city’s history, architecture and culinary traditions, along with some tasty local treats; or a craft beer tour where samplings of the varieties of dark Altbier the region is known for are sure to be a highlight. After lunch, you may either enjoy free time to explore Düsseldorf as you like, or join your Tauck Director for an optional activity. Dinner is at leisure onboard the riverboat this evening.

Day 8
Voted “the most beautiful fortified town in the Netherlands,” Gorinchem was founded in 1000 AD, fortified in the 13th and 14th centuries, and today boasts the largest fully intact fort in the country. This morning, choose how you explore: join a local guide for either a walking or biking tour of its historic heart, taking in charming canals, well-preserved Renaissance and medieval architecture, and pretty parks and gardens. Spend the afternoon exploring as you wish before joining us for a Tauck Exclusive reception and dinner at Slot Loevestein. Set in a nature reserve on a private island, the 14th-century castle has served as a prison, residence, and toll station, presiding over the strategic meeting point of the Maas and Waal rivers. Tonight, it is yours to enjoy exclusively, as the island and castle are open only to Tauck guests.

Day 9
With a history dating back to the Middle Ages, the port city of Antwerp was one of Europe’s most important cities in the mid-16th century. Home to the artist, Pieter Paul Rubens, it welcomes with cobblestone charms, a riverside fortress, guildhalls and a Gothic cathedral that took 169 years to build. Join a local guide for an insightful walking tour that explores the historic gems of this lively town, from bustling Grote Market to medieval guild houses, baroque churches, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and atmospheric squares. Following a morning of exploration in Antwerp proper and lunch aboard your ship, you’ll be met with a choice of excursions this afternoon! One option offers you a visit to the newly renovated and recently reopened Royal Museum of Fine Arts for a look at its impressive collection of art from the 14th through the 20th century, with an impressive hall dedicated to the art of its native son, Pieter Paul Rubens. The other takes you on brewery tour across the city highlighted by tastings of the city’s famous Belgian beers at local establishments. Tonight, please join us for the Chef’s Signature Dinner in the Compass Rose.

Day 10
Explore the best of Brussels today on your choice of guided excursions, including an informative city tour that views its landmark sights or a guided look at the Art Nouveau and Art Deco architecture that’s found throughout the city. Belgian chocolate is renowned the world over; a chocolate demonstration this afternoon reveals its delectable secrets. Join us tonight for a farewell toast and dinner.

Day 11
Tour ends: Brussels. Disembark ship by 9:00 AM. Fly home anytime; a transfer from your riverboat to Brussels Airport is included. Allow three hours for flight check-in.

Our new Inspiration Class ships maintain Tauck’s high standards for luxury and comfort… ms Grace will cruise exclusively on the Rhine River. With a maximum of 130 guests, ms Grace and her sister ships ms Joy, ms Savor and ms Inspire continue our tradition of providing the most space per guest on Europe’s inland waterways – we will transport the fewest passengers of any longship (135 meters). Our deck plan for our Inspiration Class riverboats is innovative. With a total of 67 cabins, our most popular cabins tend to be our largest… so we have used the added ship length to offer twenty-two 300-square-foot-suites aboard ms Grace and her sister ships – the most of any river cruise ship on any European river. To increase the amount of natural sunlight on the lower deck, we’ve created 8 loft cabins that extend from the first to the second decks, providing guests with an additional view; all windows in these loft cabins open.

Inspirational cruising… and the promise of fun. Cruise travel at its best.

What makes Tauck’s Small Ship Cruising and River Cruising unique is our focus on the destination – in scenic ports of call that connect you with people and places… moving, compelling and heart-warming experiences onboard and ashore… inspiration through Tauck’s cruise travel. We cast anchor in pristine bays, off island beaches and at docks accustomed to personal yachts… in small towns and villages along the great rivers of Europe… and in some of the world’s favorite cities. Our time ashore is enriched by in-depth cultural exploration and insider access that ensures up-close-and-personal connections with the locals and daily life. Our cruise travel adventures include guided sightseeing with local experts such as naturalists, historians, and accomplished lecturers. You’ll dine on regional cuisine on land at aboard ship that showcases specialties of the destination. And after a day of extraordinary sightseeing, we welcome you back onboard our hand-picked vessels for warm camaraderie and lively conversation that’s inherent on every Tauck cruise travel experience. The stories are endless, the memories are timeless and the connections priceless.

Select the Deck to view detail.

Grace - Emerald Deck

Grace - Ruby Deck

Grace - Diamond Deck

Grace - Sun Deck

Select the Cabin to view detail.

Category 1 Cabin

Situated on the Emerald Deck, six 150-square-foot Category 1 cabins each feature Molton Brown toiletries, a Tauck Exclusive.

Category 2 Cabin

Three Category 2 cabins are located on the Ruby Deck, measuring 150 square feet and featuring one floor-to-ceiling French Balcony with one sliding door.

Category 3 Cabin

1. One-and-a-half deck window that opens at the top, electronically controlled
2. Loft sitting area
3. 4 steps up to loft area
4. Railing
5. Full-sized bathroom featuring enhanced lighting, additional storage and a hair dryer
6. Large shower featuring rainfall shower head
7. Closets
8. Storage / drawers
9. Safe
10. Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks, replenished daily
11. Pillow top queen-sized bed, 62 inches x 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)
12. Padded headboard with reading lamps
13. Storage / drawers (credenza not visible from this perspective)
14. 32” LED TV (on credenza below; not visible from this perspective)

Additional Amenities

Innovatively designed 225 sq. ft. “split-level” loft cabins

400 thread count cotton linens / white duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

Window (98 inches x 114 inches) can be partially opened

Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

Terry-cloth bathrobes plus slippers

220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

Built-in closet with drawers

Easy under-bed luggage storage

Telephone and individual climate control

Onboard wi-fi available

Category 4 Cabin

Elegantly designed 190 sq. ft. cabins

Bed size: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)

400 thread count cotton linenswhite duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

One floor-to-ceiling French Balcony (98 inches wide x 75 inches high) with one sliding door that opens

Bathroom with marble counters, larger showers with rainfall shower heads, enhanced lighting, and under-sink storage space

Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

Terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers

Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily

32” LED TV

220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

Built-in closet and drawers

Easy under-bed luggage storage

Telephone, safe and individual climate control

2 chairs

Onboard wi-fi available

Category 5 Cabin

Located on Diamond Deck and Ruby Deck. (Images shown are of the Ruby Deck cabins)

Two 190-square-foot Category 5 corner cabins are set extreme forward on the Diamond Deck.

Eight spacious, Category 5 cabins on the Ruby Deck measuring 225 square feet.

1. One floor-to-ceiling French balcony (98 inches x 75 inches) with one sliding door that opens
2. 32” LED TV
3. Storage / drawers
4. Pillow top queen-sized bed, 62 inches x 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)
5. Padded headboard with reading lamps
6. Safe
7. Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks, replenished daily
8. Large closet
9. Full-size bathroom featuring enhanced lighting, additional storage and hair dryer
10. Large shower featuring rainfall shower head

Additional Amentities:

400 thread count cotton linens / white duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

Terry-cloth bathrobes plus slippers

220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

Easy under-bed luggage storage

Telephone and individual climate control

Onboard wi-fi available

Category 6 Cabin

Sixteen elegant 225-square-foot Category 6 cabins, each featuring a floor-to-ceiling French balcony with one sliding door, are situated aft on the Ruby Deck.

1. One floor-to-ceiling French balcony (98 inches x 75 inches) with one sliding door that opens
2. 32” LED TV
3. Full-sized window (98 inches x 37.5 inches)
4. Pillow top queen-sized bed, 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)
5. Padded headboard with reading lamps
6. Storage / drawers
7. Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks, replenished daily
8. Large closet
9. Safe
10. Full-sized bathroom featuring enhanced lighting, additional storage and hair dryer
11. Large shower featuring rainfall shower head

Additional Amenities

Elegantly designed 225 sq. ft. cabins

400 thread count cotton linens / white duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

Terry-cloth bathrobes plus slippers

220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

Easy under-bed luggage storage

Telephone and individual climate control

Onboard wi-fi available

Category 7 Suite

22 luxurious 300-square-foot Category 7 suites on the Diamond Deck boast two floor-to-ceiling French balconies with sliding doors and full-size bathrooms.

1. Two floor-to-ceiling French balconies, each 98 inches x 75 inches with one sliding door that opens
2. 32″ LED TV
3. Pull-out sleeping couch (triple & quad capacity; quads for children only)
4. Walk-in closet with built-in shelves and a safe
5. Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks, replenished daily
6. Storage / drawers
7. Coffee maker
8. Full-size bathroom featuring enhanced lighting, marble counters, additional storage and a hair dryer
9. Large shower featuring rainfall shower head (note: no bathtub)
10. Pillow top queen-sized bed, 62 inches x 77 inches (with optional twin-bed capacity)
11. Padded headboard with reading lamps

Additional Amentities

Elegantly designed 300 sq. ft. suites

400 thread count cotton linens / white duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

Terry-cloth bathrobes plus slippers

Breakfast room service

Iron plus ironing board

220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

Easy under-bed luggage storage

Telephone and individual climate control

Onboard wi-fi available