Europe: Cruise and land tour of cities along the Rhine River

Spend 14 days visiting historic cities in Germany and the Netherlands on a tour that combines a Rhine River cruise with a motor-coach tour, starting at $2,099 a person. Whether on water or land, there are lots of stops on this trip -- and lots of history too.

The excursion begins with a tour of Berlin then heads to Potsdam, Netherlands, to see the 18th century Sanssouci Castle and other sites. Travelers then are to continue on to Dresden, Weimar and Frankfurt in Germany before boarding the MS Allegra. Guests are scheduled to spend eight days on the small ship during an out-and-back cruise on the Rhine, stopping at Bonn, Cologne and Dusseldorf in Germany and Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Nijmegen in the Netherlands before heading back to Frankfurt. The itinerary then calls for a return to bus touring to visit Heidelberg and Munich, where the trip ends.

Date: The Romantic Rhine tour leaves July 15. (There’s also an April 11 departure that starts at $1,899 per person, but it’s almost sold out.)

Price: $2,099 a person plus tax and fees, double occupancy; $2,000 single supplement. It includes a seven-night river cruise, six nights in a hotel, many meals (including those on board the ship), sightseeing tours and services of a tour director. Airfare is extra.

Tested: This tour stops at 16 cities and includes nightly accommodations -- either on the ship or in a hotel -- for what pencils out to $149 a day per person. For anywhere in Europe, that’s a good rate, particularly when you add in many meals and transportation.

Contact: YMT Vacations, (800) 922-9000