River cruise

Rhine river cruise

From Amsterdam up the Rhine past castles and vineyards to Switzerland. Every ship has its own ports, so pick the countries on your ticket.

Say: Hallo (HAH-loh), HelloDank u wel (DAHNK uu vel), Thank you very much (polite)
Try: Stroopwafel, Raw herring (Hollandse Nieuwe), Bitterballen
See: Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank House, Amsterdam Canal Ring
Money: Euro (€), since 1999 (notes and coins since 2002); before that, the Dutch guilder. The Caribbean islands use the US dollar
Good to know: Watch out for bicycles. Cycle paths are everywhere, often paved in red asphalt or marked with a round blue sign with a white bike. Do not walk on them, and look both ways for bikes, not only cars, before you cross.

Say: Guten Morgen (GOO-ten MOR-gen), Good morningVielen Dank (FEE-len DAHNK), Thank you very much
Try: Currywurst, Weisswurst, Pretzel
See: Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island, Berlin Wall Memorial
Money: Euro (€), since 1999 (notes and coins since 2002); before that, the Deutsche Mark, introduced in 1948
Good to know: Shops close on Sundays. Most shops, including supermarkets, are closed on Sundays and public holidays. Bakeries often open for a few hours, and shops in large railway stations and airports stay open, so plan your shopping for Saturday.

Say: Bonjour (bohn-ZHOOR), Hello, good dayMerci beaucoup (mair-SEE boh-KOO), Thank you very much
Try: Baguette, Croissant, Crêpes
See: The Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, Notre-Dame de Paris
Money: Euro (€)
Good to know: Always start with 'Bonjour'. Say 'Bonjour, Madame' or 'Bonjour, Monsieur' when you walk into a shop or café, and 'Au revoir' when you leave. Skipping it is seen as rude. After about 6 pm, say 'Bonsoir'.

Say: Grüezi mitenand (GRUE-uht-see MIT-uh-nand), Hello, everyone (Swiss German)Merci vielmal (MEHR-see FEEL-mahl), Thank you very much (Swiss German)
Try: Cheese fondue, Raclette, Rösti
See: Matterhorn, Jungfraujoch and the Aletsch Glacier, Old City of Bern and the Zytglogge
Money: Swiss franc (CHF), since 1850, divided into 100 Rappen or centimes
Good to know: Trains run like clockwork. Swiss trains, buses, boats and mountain railways connect almost everywhere, and in 2024 about 93 percent of SBB passengers arrived less than three minutes late. As of 2026, a Half Fare travelcard costs 190 francs for the first year and roughly halves most fares, so it quickly pays off if you travel a lot.