Netherlands, Germany, France · December 2027
Amsterdam to Basel aboard AmaLucia, with Christopher J. H. Wright, Andy Crouch and Malcolm Guite
AmaWaterways
Seven nights of Advent on a private full-ship charter of AmaLucia, one of AmaWaterways' newest ships on the Rhine. By day, the lit squares of Cologne, Heidelberg, Strasbourg and Colmar, home to some of the river's most loved Christmas markets. By night, calm water and good company.
With just 78 staterooms, the ship holds one cohort of like-minded travelers. Three guest speakers teach in the lounge, and trip hosts from Chesterton House and the Society for Classical Learning travel with their groups.
Route drawn port to port for orientation; the ship's course varies with wind and weather.
Wed, Dec 8
Overnight flights to Amsterdam (AMS). We recommend leaving a day early; our office will suggest hotels.
02
Thu, Dec 9 · Amsterdam, stop 1 on the chart
Board AmaLucia from 3 pm (arrive earlier and the crew will hold your luggage while you walk the canals). Welcome reception, and an introduction from the speakers and hosts.
03
Fri, Dec 10 · Utrecht, stop 2 on the chart
A canal cruise through the old city, then by tree-lined waterways to medieval Utrecht, busy with carolers. A Dutch beer tasting or Castle de Haar. In the evening, our onboard poet reads for Advent.
04
Sat, Dec 11 · Cologne, stop 3 on the chart
A morning with the speakers as we sail. Then choose: Düsseldorf's themed markets, the Angel's Market among them, on foot or by bike; or the afternoon in Cologne, where the market sits beneath the cathedral, with time inside.
05
Sun, Dec 12 · Rüdesheim, stop 4 on the chart
Through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge, castle after castle on the winter banks, and worship aboard for the third Sunday of Advent. Ashore: the Christmas Market of Nations and its life-size nativity, Rüdesheimer coffee, or a vineyard walk up to the Niederwald Monument.
06
Mon, Dec 13 · Heidelberg, stop 5 on the chart
Home of the Heidelberg Catechism. The Baroque old town, its market and hilltop castle; or Speyer's Romanesque cathedral; or the Philosopher's Path on foot.
07
Tue, Dec 14 · Strasbourg, stop 6 on the chart
One of Europe's oldest and largest Christmas markets, and the cathedral's astronomical clock. In the afternoon, Baden-Baden at the edge of the Black Forest, its market outside the Kurhaus.
08
Wed, Dec 15 · Colmar, stop 7 on the chart
Colmar's half-timbered houses at their most lit, or a vineyard walk in the Kaiserstuhl. The last stretch to Switzerland, and the farewell dinner. Christmas is ten days away.
09
Thu, Dec 16 · Basel, stop 8 on the chart
Final breakfast aboard and disembarkation. Fly home today, or continue into Switzerland.
The ship · AmaWaterways
One of AmaWaterways' newest ships on the Rhine, chartered whole by FCV for Advent 2027: 78 staterooms.
Decks, cabins and sail planPer person, sharing a cabin, for the core itinerary.
| Category | Cabins | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| Stateroom E | Cabins 109–111. 160 sq ft, fixed windows. | $4,750 |
| Stateroom D | Cabins 101–108. 160 sq ft, fixed windows. | $4,950 |
| Stateroom CB | Cabins 331–334. 150 sq ft, French balcony. | $5,750 |
| Stateroom CA | Cabins 226–233, 325–330. 170 sq ft, French balcony. | $6,900 |
| Stateroom BB | Cabins 211–225. 210 sq ft, French and outside balcony. | $7,790 |
| Stateroom BA | Cabins 313–324. 210 sq ft, French and outside balcony. | $7,990 |
| Stateroom AB | Cabins 201–210. 235 sq ft, French and outside balcony. | $8,250 |
| Stateroom AA | Cabins 305–312. 235 sq ft, French and outside balcony. | $8,575 |
| Suite | Cabins 301–304. 350 sq ft, French and outside balcony. | $9,975 |
Special guests. Dr. Christopher J. H. Wright is Global Ambassador and Ministry Director of Langham Partnership and author of The Mission of God. Andy Crouch, Partner for Theology and Culture at Praxis, wrote Culture Making and The Tech-Wise Family. Rev. Dr. Malcolm Guite, poet, priest and Chaplain of Girton College, Cambridge, is the author of Waiting on the Word, a poem a day for Advent.
Trip hosts. Eric Cook is President and CEO of the Society for Classical Learning. Dr. Vivek Mathew directs Chesterton House at Cornell. Rev. Dr. Ryan O'Dowd is Chesterton House's Senior Academic Advisor and author of commentaries on Proverbs and Deuteronomy. Guests traveling with a host share some meals and gatherings with that group.
four nights. A walk through Basel, two nights at the Schweizerhof on Lake Lucerne, a lake cruise to Vitznau and Europe's first cogwheel railway up the Rigi, and Zurich, with Chagall's windows in the Fraumünster. $2,160 per person sharing; $3,240 single.
$2,000 per person to reserve. Final payment 185 days before departure.
Full terms and conditions (PDF)| Notice of cancellation | Charge |
|---|---|
| 185 days or more before departure | Deposit refunded, less a $600 per person administrative fee |
| 184 to 155 days | 35% of the tour cost |
| 154 to 90 days | 50% of the tour cost |
| 89 to 40 days | 75% of the tour cost |
| 39 days or fewer | The full cost of the tour |
Reserve your cabin