DAY 1: UK - Paris.
Fly to Paris where you will be met and transferred to your hotel for two nights.

DAY 2: Paris.
A living, breathing museum, the glamour of the French capital is almost impossible to capture in words. Today, marvel at this elegant city's most famous landmarks on a sightseeing tour around the amazing Eiffel Tower, breathtaking Notre Dame, graceful Louvre Museum and imperious Arc de Triomphe, Opera, Madeleine and Champs Elysees. Tonight, throw yourself into the city's vibrant nightlife, perhaps taking in an exciting cabaret show. (B)

DAY 3: Paris - Remich.
After breakfast, travel on the renowned high speed TGV train to Metz and transfer to Remich for embarkation of your cruise ship, MS Avalon Affinity. (B, D)

DAY 4: Trier.
Located where the Moselle enters Germany from France, Trier is Germany's oldest city and was home to six Roman Emperors, as well as being the birthplace of Karl Marx. In fact, many say the town is older than Rome, a claim backed by a house on its marketplace, which bears the inscription 'Trier was standing 1,300 years before Rome'. This morning, view the city's stunning Porta Nigra - its sole surviving fortified Roman gate, which still gives access to the quaint centre. (B, L, D)

DAY 5: Bernkastel.
The beautifully preserved wine village of Bernkastel sits in the heart of the Moselle region and comprises half-timbered, mullion-windowed houses clustered around a romantic marketplace. The hub of Germany's largest expanse of vineyards, the town is famous for producing the celebrated 'Bernkastel Doktor' - an intense and sweet white wine. This evening, you're invited to visit a local wine cellar to sample some of the region's other famous varieties. (B, L, D)

DAY 6: Beilstein - Cochem.
This morning, enjoy time at leisure to explore the charming town of Beilstein before continuing your cruise, along the picturesque Moselle River and past lush vineyards growing the region's famous Riesling grape. After mooring at the enchanting medieval town of Cochem, visit Reichsburg Castle, a colossal, turreted monolith perched above the town. Completely restored according to its original 11th century floor plan, this stunning edifice typifies everyone's vision of a Rhineland castle and commands breathtaking views over the Moselle valley. (B, L, D)

DAY 7: Rhine Gorge - Rüdesheim.
Wake to a highlight today as we cruise through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, passing the majestic Lorelei Rock, which legend says lured sailors to their death by emitting the siren calls of local beauties. Later, arrive in the picturebook Rhine Valley wine town of Rüdesheim, where you can join an excursion to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, showcasing over 350 weird and wonderful mechanised instruments. Afterwards, stroll along Rüdesheim's charming paved Drosselgasse, which is lined with inviting shops and convivial wine taverns. (B, L, D)

DAY 8: Cologne.
Dating back to Roman times, Cologne is one of Germany's largest cities and renowned for its architectural splendour. The capital of the Rhineland, its river skyline is dwarfed by the soaring twin steeples of its spectacular Gothic cathedral - the largest in northern Europe. Next door is the fascinating Germano-Roman Museum, packed with splendid examples of Cologne's Roman past. After enjoying these landmarks, delve into the city's charismatic old town, maybe relaxing in its pavement cafes, sampling 'Kölsch', the much-loved local beer in a traditional tavern or buying some '4711', the original, lavender-infused 'Eau de Cologne'. (B, L, D)

DAY 9: Arnhem - Dordrecht.
Arnhem became infamous during World War II, when US and British airborne troops tried to capture the town's bridge on the Dutch-German border. The campaign, which was foiled by the Germans and immortalised in the film 'A Bridge Too Far', resulted in terrible losses and its story is told in vivid detail at the moving Arnhem Airborne Museum. Cruise on to Dordrecht, to visit a wonderful collection of windmills at Kinderdijk on an included excursion. (B, L, D)

DAY 10: Ghent.
Dubbed the 'Diamond of Flanders', charming Ghent manages to balance rich medieval character with a lively, modern-day ambience. Today, enjoy a guided tour of its beautiful centre - a showpiece of medieval Flemish wealth and commercial success, with gabled merchants' houses and cobbled lanes crowned by the photogenic St Baaf's Cathedral. Alternatively, you may prefer an optional excursion to fascinating Bruges. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe's best-preserved medieval towns, this sparkling gem boasts a honeycomb of canals overlooked by quaint, half-timbered houses. (B, L, D)

DAY 11: Middelburg - Veere.
Originally built as a stronghold to protect Zeeland from enemies and the sea, Middelburg was a prosperous merchant city in the Middle Ages and Holland's 'Golden Age'. Today, it boasts historic canals, lavish 17th century merchants' houses and a splendid town hall. Next, visit the harbour town of Veere, standing on the shores of an inland lagoon. Filled with cobbled streets and medieval houses, this chocolate-box settlement was once an important wool-trading centre and is dominated by a fine Gothic town hall. From here, travel on to view the Delta Works, one of the world's most impressive engineering projects. The giant works, which include a six-mile-long flood barrier, are considered a technical miracle and took 30 years to construct. (B, L, D)

DAY 12: Amsterdam.
Holland's sophisticated and historic capital sits on a latticework of gentle, 17th-century canals and is known for its Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh art museums, which display superb collections of paintings by the Dutch masters. Today enjoy a leisurely canal boat cruise around its lovely 'grachten', which are flanked by step-gabled homes built during its 'Golden Age'. There's also plenty of time to explore Amsterdam in your own time, perhaps shopping for souvenirs or enjoying its buzzing restaurants - your cruise director will have suggestions of how to best enjoy your visit. (B, L, D)

DAY 13: Amsterdam - UK
Transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK. (B)