About your itinerary
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Don't forget that if something isn't quite right we can make changes to the itinerary.
It was so lovely to speak with you yesterday and find out more about you and your plans for a stunning river cruise next year, as well as some time in wonderful Amsterdam. I am therefore very pleased to present to you your gorgeous itinerary for your 2025 trip.
Welcome to a beautifully curated LGBTQ+ charter riverboat tour of some beautiful spots in Europe – the Rhine River. You'll visit a host of beautiful cities and towns along the river, including Basel, Strasbourg, Cologne, and more along the way.
On board the gorgeous Amadeus Queen, you will be pampered by a crew of forty in an atmosphere of total relaxation. Your cruise includes superb dining, as well as complimentary beers, wines, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages throughout. Priced in here is the gorgeous C-1 cabin, which will give you the perfect base from which to relax after your days exploring the best this region has to offer. With a panoramic window, you can sit back and enjoy watching the Rhine glide past from the comfort of your cabin.
I have also extended your stay in Amsterdam for 2 nights as we discussed, allowing you to spend some time in this amazing capital before your onward journey to the USA. I have chosen the stunning Kimpton De Witt Amsterdam which is one of my favorite hotels in the city – I'm sure you're going to love it as much as I do!
I have included estimated flights for 2025 in this itinerary too – as schedules for flights are not released until about 11 months prior to departure, the flight times, layovers and prices are all estimated. We have a complex system that uses lots of information to work out pricing and although we are very good at getting this right in advance, the price can fluctuate. As we discussed yesterday, flights are something that we don't have to include in your itinerary, so if you would rather I remove them, just let me know.
I am so looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this amazing trip Thomas!
Best travels,
Alice Evans 
Your Itinerary In Detail
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This itinerary has been tailor-made for you. No two itineraries are the same and we are always able to make changes if something isn't quite right.
Sunday 6th July 2025
Flight on LH 401
Flight on LH 401
| From | To |
|---|---|
| John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) |
Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) |
| Departs | Arrives |
| 06-Jul-2025 15:45:00 | 06-Jul-2025 15:45:00 |
| Airline | Cabin |
| Lufthansa | Economy |
Monday 7th July 2025
Flight on LH 1200
Flight on LH 1200
| From | To |
|---|---|
| Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) |
Basel International Airport (BSL) |
| Departs | Arrives |
| 07-Jul-2025 07:10:00 | 07-Jul-2025 08:00:00 |
| Airline | Cabin |
| Lufthansa | Economy |
Mövenpick Hotel Basel for 2 nights
Mövenpick Hotel Basel for 2 nights
Nestled in the heart of Basel, the Mövenpick Hotel offers a seamless blend of contemporary luxury and timeless charm. This stylish haven welcomes guests with its striking architecture and warm hospitality. The hotel boasts meticulously designed rooms and suites, each adorned with modern furnishings and thoughtful touches. The Mövenpick's commitment to sustainability is evident in every corner, from energy-efficient practices to locally sourced amenities.
Indulge your senses in the hotel's exquisite dining options, where culinary delights are crafted with precision and flair. Whether savouring Swiss specialities or international cuisine, guests are treated to an unforgettable gastronomic experience. The Mövenpick's central location provides easy access to Basel's cultural gems and vibrant city life, ensuring a perfect balance between relaxation and exploration. After a day of sightseeing or business meetings, unwind at the rooftop terrace, offering panoramic views of the city and the Rhine River. With its exceptional service and prime location, the Mövenpick Hotel Basel promises an unparalleled stay for those seeking sophistication and comfort in the heart of Switzerland.
Your room: Classic Room
Step into understated elegance with the Classic Room at Mövenpick Hotel Basel. This thoughtfully appointed space combines modern comfort with timeless design, creating a haven for relaxation after a day of exploration. The room features plush furnishings, complemented by a soothing colour palette, creating an inviting atmosphere that is both calming and sophisticated. With ample natural light streaming through the windows, guests can enjoy the subtle interplay between the city's ambience and the room's tasteful decor.
Unwind in the well-appointed en-suite bathroom, equipped with luxurious amenities and a rainfall shower, providing a rejuvenating retreat. The Classic Room is a tranquil escape where attention to detail meets comfort, ensuring a restful night's sleep. Whether you're here for business or leisure, this room offers a perfect blend of style and functionality, promising a delightful stay in the heart of Basel.
Day 1 | Basel, Switzerland
Day 1 | Basel, Switzerland
Arrive in Basel and transfer to your host hotel.
Meet your fellow guests at a welcome gathering at approximately 5:30pm this evening.
(Welcome Reception)
Tuesday 8th July 2025
Day 2 | Basel, Switzerland
Day 2 | Basel, Switzerland
Following an included breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a city tour of the highlights of Basel, including the Basel Münster (big church), town hall, marketplace, and the oldest hotel in Switzerland (3kings).
After the tour, you can enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure exploring the beautiful city of Basel independently.
Meals included: Breakfast
Wednesday 9th July 2025
Day 3 | Basel, Switzerland (Embarkation Day)
Day 3 | Basel, Switzerland (Embarkation Day)
Today, following breakfast we’ll set off for a tour across the border to Germany’s Black Forest. Today’s tour includes a visit to the Rothaus Brewery, where you’ll have the chance to partake in some of their famous beer.
Afterwards, enjoy an included lunch at the brewery before we depart for a scenic drive through the famed Black Forest en route to the Amadeus Queen.
Once onboard the attentive staff will welcome you and get you checked in to your stateroom, where your luggage will already be waiting for you.
Take some time to refresh, unpack, and explore the ship before your official welcome cocktail and a festive welcome dinner. Tonight, regale in the signature LGBTQ+ entertainment before turning in.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
AMADEUS Queen for 7 nights
AMADEUS Queen for 7 nights
The Amadeus Queen is the 15th river cruise ship of the Austrian ship operator, Luftner Cruises. Similar to its prominent predecessors, this ship continues with the company’s orientation to high-quality river cruises in Europe.
This ship offers 72 spacious deluxe cabins and 12 Amadeus suites in total. The Amadeus Imperial cabins on the Mozart and Strauss decks also feature lowerable panoramic windows along the entire cabin width. All deluxe cabins and suites are equipped with comfortable spacious bathrooms, a flat-screen television with an infotainment system, a telephone, a cabin safe, a minibar and individually adjustable air conditioning. The suites also have an accessible outdoor balcony with a seating area.
Your room: Amadeus Suite
Suites are 284 sq. ft. with comfortable corner sofa, luxurious bathroom, walk-out exterior balcony, mini-bar, walk-in wardrobe, choice of bed configuration (double or twin bed), flat-screen television, individual climate control, en-suite bathroom with shower/WC, bathrobe, hair dryer, direct dial telephone and in-room safe.
Entertainment Onboard AMADEUS Queen
Entertainment Onboard AMADEUS Queen
Entertainment
On your European river cruise, every night is opening night. The cruises always include two featured Signature Entertainers who provide nightly entertainment throughout the cruise.
Onboard Parties and Activities
Although the cruises focus mainly on sightseeing and socializing, they do like to mix in a bit of frivolity as well. With that in mind, there will be a couple of themed deck parties during the cruise, for which details will be released closer to the cruise. If you should choose to participate great, if you’d rather just be a voyeur that is totally fine as well.
LGBTQ+
The cruises are full-ship charters, welcoming only LGBQ+ guests (and their straight allies). A ship is never block-booked for a couple of rooms on a straight cruise. So, relax – you’re among friends! The intimate size (generally 40-200 passengers) provides an opportunity for people to get to know each other in a way not at all possible on large ocean cruises.
Thursday 10th July 2025
Day 4 | Strasbourg, France
Day 4 | Strasbourg, France
Tour of Alsace – Morning
On this tour, you will drive through picturesque landscapes, romantic wine villages and parts of the famous wine route. One stop will be at a local winery, where you can try some of the wines during a wine tasting. Also, you will drive to the beautiful village of Obernai.
During a stroll through this idyllic Alsatian town, steeped in rich history you will get to know the charm of its traditional half-timbered houses, its Belfry and its town centre.
Walking Grade 2/5: Easy amount of walking which may include stairs and uneven surfaces.
Duration approx: 4 hours
Tour of Strasbourg with canal boat tour – Afternoon
Enjoy a discovery tour through the beautiful city of Strasbourg. After a short coach trip through the city, the tour continues with a walk through the lovely, historic old part of the town and includes a visit to the famous cathedral Straßburger Münster.
During a boat cruise on the river, discover the famous quarter, “Petite France.” This former mill and tanner district still maintains its medieval charm. Some of the beautiful, half-timbered houses on the banks of the river Ill are up to 500 years old. You will enjoy Strasbourg’s half-timbered houses, the Ponts Couverts, the Palais de Rohan, the Council of Europe and all the other wonders that Strasbourg holds in store for you.
Walking Grade 2/5: Easy amount of walking which may include stairs and uneven surfaces.
Duration approx: 4 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Friday 11th July 2025
Day 5 | Speyer / Mannheim, Germany
Day 5 | Speyer / Mannheim, Germany
Tour of Speyer – Morning
Speyer, the time-honoured imperial city on the Rhine, looks back on a rich and eventful past. Historic testimonies of ecclesiastical architecture, impressive facades of different building epochs, winding alleys and romantic squares characterize the face of the city today.
During the city tour enjoy a short guided tour of the Romanesque Imperial cathedral with its striking twin-towered portal, visit the beautiful baroque Church of the Holy Spirit, the Old Gate of Speyer and visit the medieval Judenhof, one of the most important Jewish medieval sites in Germany. The Jewish community had a storied history in Speyer reaching back over 1,000 years. View the remains of the Jewish courtyard, which was the central area of the Jewish quarter and consisted of the synagogues, and a ritual bath (Mikveh).
Walking Grade 4/5: Moderate walking including stairs and uneven surfaces.
Duration approx: 2.5 hours
Tour of Mannheim – Afternoon
A comfortable coach will take you to the Heidelberg, the world-famous University City on the Neckar River. The town is one of the few German cities with a widely preserved baroque Old Town.
Heidelberg was discovered quite early by romantics to use for diverse literature, songs and paintings. The tour through Heidelberg begins with a visit to the castle. The formerly splendid residence made of red sandstone has been a ruin, maybe the most beautiful ruin in all of Germany.
The castle tour leads also into the castle garden. From the Grand Terrace, you will have a wonderful view of the city and the Neckar River. The tour continues with a stroll through the enchanting old town, to the Karl-Theodor Bridge, the late gothic Church of the Holy Spirit and the town hall.
Walking Grade 3/5: Moderate amount of walking which will include stairs and uneven surfaces.
Duration approx: 4.5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Saturday 12th July 2025
Day 6 | Rüdesheim / Koblenz, Germany
Day 6 | Rüdesheim / Koblenz, Germany
Tour of Ruedesheim – Morning
Enjoy an unforgettable tram ride on the Winzerexpress and discover the beauty of the Rhine Valley. Visit a typical winery and taste different wines of the region. Afterwards, stroll along the famous Drosselgasse, which is a narrow cobblestone street, first mentioned in the 15th century as an alley used by the Rhine boatmen to reach their homes. Here you can still find numerous half-timbered wine houses, restaurants and shops. Immerse yourself in the history of the village before returning to the ship on the Winzerexpress.
Walking Grade 4/5: Moderate walking including stairs and uneven surfaces.
Duration approx: 2 hours
Tour of Koblenz – Afternoon
Discover Koblenz, one of the most beautiful and oldest cities in Germany with more than 2,000 years of history. During a walking tour in the romantic side streets between the Basilica of St. Kastor and the Church of Our Lady, view the most important sights of Koblenz. Continue your excursion by cable car, built for the International Garden Show, high above the Rhine to the impressively situated Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.
Ehrenbreitstein Fortress is the second-largest preserved fortress in Europe. The fortress dates back to 1000 CE and evolved to its present form between 1817 and 1828. Today, the fortress houses the Koblenz State Museum with its diverse exhibitions including the history of the fortress, the Army Memorial and a youth hostel.
Walking Grade 5/5: Hard amount of walking will include stairs and uneven surfaces.
Duration approx: 3 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sunday 13th July 2025
Day 7 | Koblenz / Cochem, Germany
Day 7 | Koblenz / Cochem, Germany
Enjoy scenic cruising along the river.
Tour of Cochem – Afternoon
Located along the beautiful Moselle wine valley, the harmonious triad of unique Moselle landscape, millennia-old wine culture and history make Cochem a popular destination. Discover the town with its narrow, winding streets during a city tour. Next, visit the Reichsburg castle with its imposing complex which dominates the area landscape due to its size and its location on a rugged rock high above the town.
Enjoy the impressive view from the castle of the Moselle valley with its dreamy mixed forests and vineyards, as well as the old town. Inside the castle you will find a collection of Renaissance and Baroque furniture, as well as other treasures, carefully collected by the Ravene family who owned the castle until 1978, when it was turned over to the town of Cochem, for all to enjoy.
Walking Grade 4/5: Moderate walking including stairs and uneven surfaces.
Duration approx: 3 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Monday 14th July 2025
Day 8 | Cologne, Germany
Day 8 | Cologne, Germany
Tour of Cologne – Morning
The morning is dedicated to the fascinating cathedral city of Cologne, which has over a million inhabitants. You can expect a young, vibrant metropolis with a rich cultural history and world-famous sights, in particular the Cologne Cathedral.
The cathedral city dates back over 2,000 years and is full of history, the traces of which can be seen everywhere in the Rhine region. During the walking tour, explore the area around the cathedral all the way to the old town. As you travel through the narrow, cobbled streets, and the lively squares such as the Alter Markt or the Heumarkt, you will get a feel for life in Cologne from yesterday and today.
Since its completion in 1880, the Cologne Cathedral with its two 515ft high towers has been the city’s landmark, as well as the most famous architectural monument and most frequently visited sight in Germany.
As your excursion concludes, we invite you to enjoy a glass of typical Kölsch, which is the number one beer in Cologne and large parts of the Rhineland.
Walking Grade 4/5: Moderate walking including stairs and uneven surfaces.
Duration approx: 2.5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tuesday 15th July 2025
Day 9 | Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Day 9 | Amsterdam, The Netherlands
By breakfast you will have crossed yet another country border to arrive in the Dutch city of Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands.
Founded as a small fishing village in the late 12th century, Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world during the Dutch Golden Age as the result of its innovative developments in trade. Today, the city has one of the largest historic centres in Europe, with about 7,500 registered historic buildings.
The street pattern is largely unchanged since the 19th century. The center consists of 90 islands, linked by 400 bridges. On the city tour through the Dutch metropolis, you will see the Royal Palace, numerous canals and the Museum Quarter.
As there is no better way to see the city than cruising on the water, the tour will end with a canal cruise boat trip.
Walking Grade 3/5: Moderate amount of walking which will include stairs and uneven surfaces. Duration approx: 4 hours The vessel remains in Amsterdam overnight.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Wednesday 16th July 2025
Day 10 | Amsterdam, The Netherlands (Disembarkation)
Day 10 | Amsterdam, The Netherlands (Disembarkation)
Today you will disembark ready to head to the airport ahead of your flight home, taking with you fabulous memories made with new friends.
Meals included: Breakfast
Kimpton De Witt for 2 nights
Kimpton De Witt for 2 nights
Picture yourself in a vibrant city buzzing with eclectic energy. Now imagine staying in the heart of it all in a chic and stylish hotel where the city’s history lives on and its pulsing energy thrives. The Kimpton De Witt Hotel inspires standout stays with features including elements of a 17th century poet’s home, local art, swank accommodations, a cocktail bar that pours with creative verve and an all-day dining restaurant serving modern-American cuisine. Come discover the ultimate address for an authentic Amsterdammer stay.
Your room: King Essential Room
Revive yourself inside a light-filled, King Essential Room with tailored design. Channel that inner bliss and sink into our plush king-size bed. Indulgent bathrooms feature amenities like Marie-Stella-Maris toiletries and cozy robes. This room ranges from 19 to 20m².
Friday 18th July 2025
Flight on AC 901
Flight on AC 901
| From | To |
|---|---|
| Schipol Airport (AMS) |
Montreal Dorval Airport (YUL) |
| Departs | Arrives |
| 18-Jul-2025 12:35:00 | 18-Jul-2025 14:00:00 |
| Airline | Cabin |
| Air Canada | Economy |
Flight on AC 8640
Flight on AC 8640
| From | To |
|---|---|
| Montreal Dorval Airport (YUL) |
La Guardia Airport (LGA) |
| Departs | Arrives |
| 18-Jul-2025 15:30:00 | 18-Jul-2025 17:00:00 |
| Airline | Cabin |
| Air Canada | Economy |
What's Included
Your itinerary includes
- International flights from the States to Switzerland
- Guaranteed all-LGBTQ+ charter
- Two nights in beautiful Basel, Switzerland
- Tour of Basel including the Muenster Cathedral, and beautiful old town
- 7 nights cruise accommodation
- C-1 Cabin
- Canal Boat Tour of Strasbourg, France
- Walking Tour of Speyer, Germany where you’ll see the Imperial Cathedral
- Daytime cruising through the Rhine Gorge past Castles and Lorelei Rock
- Complimentary shore excursions offered daily including tours of Mannheim, Ruedesheim, Koblenz, Cochem, Cologne and Amsterdam
- Complimentary beer, wine, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages throughout the cruise
- Superb Dining: all meals included during your cruise
- Signature entertainment onboard
- Arrival and Departure airport transfers in Basel and Amsterdam
- Port Fees
- Gratuities
- 2 nights at the Kimpton De Witt Amsterdam
- King Essential Room
- Breakfast
- International flights from the Amsterdam to the States
- 24/7 emergency concierge service
Your itinerary excludes
- Travel insurance
- Resort Fees / City Taxes
- Visas (if applicable)
- Gratuities
Important Information
Travel Advice
It is important to seek independent and up-to-date advice when travelling to any foreign country. Many of our customers ask us to keep them up-to-date on the existing legal position regarding LGBT rights in the country to which they are travelling. You can find up-to-date details on our website under the country which you are travelling to. They are provided as a guide only and laws can change frequently. You should seek advice from the relevant authorities and embassies before travel (if applicable).
Travel Insurance and Terms and Conditions
It is a condition of booking with Out Of Office that you have adequate insurance cover for your trip at the time of booking. Please also ensure you have referred to our terms and conditions which can be found at www.outofoffice.com/terms-and-conditions. Please note that as each booking is tailor-made for you we only confirm the itinerary once we have received a deposit. There is a small chance that availability on some items quoted may change. If this is the case we will book similar accommodation and let you know.