04 - 11 AUGUST, 2025

Day 1

EMBARKATION – AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

Board the AMAVenita in Amsterdam for the start of our Captivating Rhine Knit Retreat cruise. Late this afternoon, we will  meet our special guests during a special Meet & Greet ahead of dinner. (Dinner)

Meet & Greet with Grocery Girls Knit, Cabin Boy Knits and Patty Lyons

Day 2

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

With 165 canals in Amsterdam, you’ll get to enjoy some of them on our morning canal cruise. Later in the day, we set sail out of Amsterdam. (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

* Afternoon Knitting Talk with Patty Lyons

Day 3

COLOGNE, GERMANY

Home to one of Germany’s most revered Gothic masterpieces, the Cologne Cathedral, this 2,000-year-old city is also a bustling cosmopolitan hotspot. Join a guided tour through the enchanting Old Town and explore the UNESCO-designated cathedral, where the remains of the fabled Three Kings—the Magi— are believed to rest. Alternatively, ride a bike along the Rhine and through the historic Stadtgarten; or visit a local tavern to taste Kölsch beer and reibekuchen mit apfelmus—potato pancakes served with applesauce. We will announce a yarn shopping experience in Cologne in the Fall of 2024.  (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

* Morning Knitting Class with Patty Lyons

* Morning KAL with Cabin Boy Knits on Upper Deck (weather permitting)

Day 4

RHINE GORGE - RÜDESHEIM

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 Musical Instrument Museum charm you with its remarkable collection of self-playing musical instruments; or taste one of the town’s special delights, Rüdesheimer coffee, ceremoniously made with brandy, coffee and whipped cream. (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

*General KAL on Upper Deck while cruising down Castle Alley (or inside Lounge if inclement weather)

* Evening Knitter's Circle with Grocery Girls Knit, Patty Lyons and Cabin Boy Knits

Day 5

LUDWIGSHAFEN

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 18th-century, 49,000-gallon 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.

(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

* Morning Knitting Class with Patty Lyons

* Morning KAL with Cabin Boy Knits on Upper Deck (weather permitting)

* Yarn Shopping Opportunity in Heidelberg

* Evening Trivia Night hosted by Grocery Girls Knit

Day 6

STRASBOURG, FRANCE

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. (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

* Yarn Shopping Opportunity in Strasbourg

* Afternoon LIVE PODCAST with Grocery Girls Knit

*Evening Performance by Bleu Belle Bijoux

Day 7

BASEL, SWITZERLAND (OVERNIGHT)

Enjoy getting to know Basel, Switzerland’s third largest city. Long an important university, banking and trade center, Basel’s glorious past is still evident in its medieval town hall, richly decorated market square and exquisite 18th-century patrician homes. Tour the city by foot or on a guided bike tour that takes you through three countries: Switzerland, France and Germany. Alternatively, go on a full-day excursion to Lucerne, or opt for one of the morning excursions and visit Lucerne in the afternoon. With either Lucerne excursion, you’ll have the opportunity to see its Lion Monument – the figure of a dying lion carved into a hillside in memory of the Swiss Guards massacred during the French Revolution in 1792 – which Mark Twain described as “the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world.” You’ll also see Lucerne’s spectacular medieval walls and towers, dating back to the 13th century. (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

* Private Dinner Experience with Patty Lyons, Cabin Boy Knits and Grocery Girls (this is a charity event - tickets will go on sale whilst onboard.  Proceeds go towards a Canadian charity)

Day 8

DISEMBARK - BASEL, SWITZERLAND

Bid farewell to Basel and prepare for your flight home. (Breakfast)