Alumni and Friends Cruise Europe
Join alumni, President Cindy and John Gnadinger, and friends on this exciting 7-day cruise on the Rhine River with AmaWaterways, July 10-17, 2025.
Contoured by vineyard-clad hills and castles from yesteryear, the legendary Rhine captivates. Experience the allure of France’s Alsace region in its welcoming capital, Strasbourg, and its priceless gem, Riquewihr. Discover Breisach, rising above the vineyards of the Rhine, and Freiburg, one of Germany’s sunniest cities and gateway to the Black Forest. Fabled towns lost in time present you with the chance to taste local flavors—Rüdesheimer coffee and legendary German beer—and to touch history up close with guided hikes and bike rides. From Amsterdam’s colorful canals to the majestic Swiss Alps, journey into the heart of the destinations you visit. Countries visited: France, Germany, Netherlands, and Switzerland.
Cost
- $4,229.00 per person, double occupancy in cabin category CA - includes french balcony.
- Other cabin categories available, prices vary, subject to availability.
- Single cabins available, single supplement applies.
Land Arrangements
Available for an additional cost.
- 2-Nights Pre-Cruise in Amsterdam $782.00 per person, double occupancy. Single supplement $414.
- 4-Nights Post-Cruise in Lucerne and Zurich, Switzerland $1,657.00 per person, double occupancy. Single supplement $829.
7-Day River Cruise Itinerary Includes
- Accommodation during the cruise.
- Daily shore excursions during the cruise with English-speaking expert guides. Use of Quietvox headsets is also included.
- Gourmet meals onboard (Early Riser Coffee and Croissants, a Rich Breakfast, a Festive Lunch, Afternoon Tea & Coffee with cake, cookies & sandwiches and a Multi-Course-Dinner). Choice of dining options at no additional cost including the Main Dining Salon and an intimate Chef’s Table Restaurant where the Chef prepares the meal in person.
- Free flowing red and white wine from the local regions, beer or soft drinks for lunch & dinner.
- Captain’s Welcome Champagne Reception and Gala Dinner and Captain’s Farewell Champagne Reception and Gala Dinner plus several theme-dinners.
- Complimentary cocktail hour offering a “Happy Hour Menu” on five evenings one hour before dinner (Captain’s Receptions on the other two evenings).
- Coffee, tea, ice-water and iced-tea are included all day. Cappuccino, latte and espresso can be requested free of charge during all meals!
- Bottled water, fluffy bathrobes and slippers are provided in each cabin.
- Use of fitness room and equipment.
- Daily wellness and fitness program with qualified fitness instructor.
- Use of the swimming pool on the Sun Deck. Use of the AMA bicycles and helmets in each port.
- Complimentary in-cabin movies.
- Unlimited Internet onboard – strictly subject to availability.
- Nightly piano music; also during Afternoon Tea & Coffee Time.
- Services of our professional English-speaking Cruise Director.
Exclusions
- International airfare.
- Travel insurance.
- Airport transfers.
- Pre- or post-cruise land arrangements.
- All other beverages except the ones mentioned above.
- Use of the telephone in each cabin.
- Items purchased in the Gift Shop or other personal charges (i.e. hair salon services or massages).
- Optional shore excursions offered in addition to our daily included shore excursion program.
Booking Process
10% per person deposit is due upon booking to confirm your spot. Limited spots are available on a first- come, first served basis! Book ASAP to reserve. Final payment due February 5, 2025. All payments are non-refundable, travel insurance is strongly recommended. Ask us how to save 3% on your booking!
Ready to book?
Complete this Booking Form
Upon receipt of your Booking Form, Wendy Radmer from Travel Leaders will contact you to confirm your requests and provide you with a personalized quote. Once you approve the quote, you will receive a Vacation Agreement via SignNow to collect your payment information. After completing the Vacation Agreement, Wendy will make the reservation on your behalf and provide you with an invoice from Travel Leaders. Once all of these steps are completed you will be confirmed on the 2025 Carroll University Alumni Trip.
Itinerary
http://www.amawaterways.com/destination/europe-river-cruises/2025/captivating-rhine
The Ship
The CU Alumni group will be sailing on AmaLucia. More information can be found on the links below.
http://www.amawaterways.com/ships/amalucia-river-cruise-ship
http://www.amawaterways.com/ships/amalucia-river-cruise-ship/gallery
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Depart for Amsterdam.
Thursday, July 10, 2025 - Arrive in Amsterdam
Day 1: Amsterdam
Board the ship in Amsterdam for your Captivating Rhine cruise.
Friday, July 11, 2025
Day 2: Amsterdam
Canal Cruise Tour - Scenic Cruising out of Amsterdam
Tour Highlight: There are 165 canals in Amsterdam, and you'll enjoy some of them on your canal cruise.
Saturday, July 12, 2025
DAY 3: DÜSSELDORF
- Cologne walking tour
- or Düsseldorf walking tour and Albier tasting
- or Düsseldorf bike tour
Tour Highlight: As a leading hub for German culture, commerce, and architecture, Düsseldorf is a mustvisit city for any travelers on the Rhine. Here, you will have multiple options for the day’s excursion. Explore this grand city on the Rhine by joining a walking tour, concluding with a tasting of Altbier, a local specialty brewed using traditional techniques. Alternatively, cover more ground with an active bike tour of the city. If you’re feeling adventurous, take a brief trip to the nearby city of Cologne. Join a guided tour through the enchanting Old Town, where you will see sites such as the Cologne Rathaus, Germany’s oldest town hall; the Fishmarkt, which dates back to the 12th century and the Great St. Martin Church.
Sunday, July 13, 2025
DAY 4: RHINE GORGE, RÜDESHEIM
- Castles along the Rhine scenic cruising Rüdesheim wine tasting
- or Gondola ride
- or Guided bike tour of the Rheingau Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
- Rüdesheimer Coffee
Tour Highlight: Cruise through the captivating UNESCO designated Rhine Gorge, the most stunningly beautiful stretch of the river before reaching the winemaking town of Rüdesheim*. Join a wine tasting to discover the flavors of the town’s iconic vineyards. Or drink up the stunning views by soaring high above the vineyards with a gondola ride to the Niederwalddenkmal. For a more active adventure, hike through the town’s beautiful vineyards or join a guided bike tour along the scenic Rhine River. Later in the day, let Siegfried’s Mechanical Instrument Cabinet charm you with its remarkable collection of selfplaying musical instruments; or taste one of the town’s special delights, Rüdesheimer coffee, ceremoniously made with brandy, coffee and whipped cream.
Monday, July 14, 2025
DAY 5: LUDWIGSHAFEN
- "Romantic Heidelberg" excurison
- or "Secrets of Speyer" tour
- or Heidelberg Philosopher's hike
- or Ladenburg bike tour
Tour Highlight: Ludwigshafen is your gateway to a choice of three excursions. Visit Heidelberg, the perfectly preserved medieval city nestled in the Neckar River Valley along Germany’s Castle Road. Discover the iconic red sandstone Heidelberg Castle and Great Vat, an 18thcentury, 49,000gallon wine cask. For a more active adventure while in Heidelberg, join a guided hike up the Philosopher’s Path, aptly named during the Romantic Period, and enjoy panoramic views of the city. Alternatively, you can visit one of Germany’s oldest cities, Speyer, known for the largest Romanesque cathedral in Europe—a UNESCO World Heritage Site —and the medieval Old Gate, Altpörtel. Or join a guided bike tour along the shores of the river Neckar and enjoy a cycling break to explore the picturesque medieval town of Ladenburg.
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
DAY 6: STRASBOURG
- The Gem of Alsace" tour
- or Strasbourg bike tour
Tour Highlight: Strasbourg offers flavors of both France and Germany because of its borderline location. Enjoy a panoramic tour past the stunning Parc de l’Orangerie, the European Parliament and the Place de la République before walking through its iconic “La Petite France” district, lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. Wander through charming streets past the Cathédrale de Nôtre Dame with its famous astronomical clock. Alternatively, take a guided bike ride through the city and Parc de l’Orangerie.
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
DAY 7: BREISACH
- Colmar walking tour
- or Freiburg excursion
- or Black Forest hike
- or Breisach wine country bike tour
Tour Highlight: Breisach is your gateway to several different excursions. Step back in time with a visit to the enchanting Alsatian town of Colmar, which looks almost the same as it did in the 16th century. On your walking tour, admire historic architecture and perhaps get a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty, a small replica of the famous version in New York, to commemorate the sculptor’s Colmar birthplace. Alternatively, head to Freiburg, founded in 1120 and home to the Freiburg’s Münster, a Gothic cathedral said to have “the most beautiful spire on earth.” Those wishing a more active excursion can cycle through the countryside, or hike in the Black Forest, a magical land full of cultural traditions.
Thursday, July 17, 2025
DAY 8: DEPART: BASEL
After breakfast, bid farewell to Switzerland and prepare for your return flight home.
Safe Travels! Until we meet again.
*Itinerary is subject to change.
To book your spot(s), please see "Booking Process" above.
Travel Leaders
If you have questions prior to booking, you may contact Wendy Radmer at:
Office of Alumni Engagement