11 Days • Basel to Amsterdam • River Queen
May 31, 2024
Starting from $4,609
CRUISE/TOUR SNAPSHOT
- 10 Nights Cruising
- 9 Days of Included Excursions
- 1 Private Experience
- 5 UNESCO Heritage Sites
- 29 Meals (including 2 Welcome Dinners and 2 Farewell Dinners
THE MOST ALL-INCLUSIVE AMENITIES
- All gratuities onboard
- All scheduled airport transfers
- Choice of excursions curated exclusively for Uniworld guests
- Unlimited choice of premium spirits and wines
- Masterfully prepared fine dining
- Outstanding service and special in-room pampering
- Elegant and well-appointed riverview suites
- Multitude of wellness opportunities
- Shipwide internet and Wi-Fi access
Optional 3 night Amsterdam extension with John Paul Thornton.
John Paul Thornton will be lecturing on two topics paired perfectly with this itinerary.
“Jerusalem on the Rhine” and the Art of the Jewish Enlightenment
The revitalized Jewish history of Speyer, Worms and Mainz has generated so much warm enthusiasm and attention! As we prepare to visit this UNESCO World Heritage region, discover the early Roman history of Mainz, presumably settled with Jews. Home of the 10th century scholar Moses Calonymus and many famed Rabbis, this medieval town was a seat of Hebraic culture. Speyer, Worms and Mainz, (known by the Jews collectively as “Shum”) was a thriving safe-haven for the devout Ashkenazi community. Learn about the history and rich traces of the Jewish people still evident here.
Next, we take a reverent look at Baroque master Rembrandt van Rijn, who painted in the neighborhood of Amsterdam’s bustling Portuguese Synagogue. Finally, we discover the incredible “Haskallah” or “Jewish Enlightenment” of the nineteenth century, which opened the doors to Jewish painters and writers! This inspiring visual presentation by artist and historian John Paul Thornton brings the stories of the Rhine to life!
Castles and Legends of the Rhine
Explore the historic and picturesque castles, towers and imposing fortresses set upon the terraced banks of the Romantic Rhine. Steeped in medieval folklore, each structure tells a story of family rivalry, wealth, chivalry and power. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, poets and travelers on the grand tour penned dreamy accounts of the region, and after the Napoleonic wars and the Unification of Germany, the Rhine became a destination to satisfy the yearning for a pre-industrial world.
We will learn the origins of many fantastic local tales, like that of the famed “Lorelei,” an alluring siren whose songs coaxed sailors towards the dramatic rocky outcropping that bears still her name.
Learn about the regional wine, economic importance and current cultural popularity of the gorge. This stirring visual presentation by artist and historian John Paul Thornton will bring the history and Romanticism of the Rhine to life, preparing us for our passage along this unforgettable waterway, listed since 2002 among UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
John Paul Thornton is a passionate speaker who brings art history to life. Dedicated to creating internationally recognized art projects which shine light on humanity, he has received honors from the United Nations Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Congress for his work as an artist, educator and speaker.
Having enjoyed decades of global adventures, he lectures extensively on painting, sculpture and architecture.
Download your free brochure here
To book, please contact Lisa Eidman at Seymour & Associates Travel
805-522-3743 | lisa@seymourassociatestravel.com
All guests to receive $150.00pp Onboard Credit
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