Bound to be the most memorable trip of 2020 (or a lifetime), author of the No. 1 New York Times-bestselling OUTLANDER series Diana Gabaldon is exclusively hosting an AUTHOR CRUISE with Avalon Waterways on the Rhine River in 2020. It’s your chance to get insider OUTLANDER insight, with your favorite author… FOR A WEEK! Diana Gabaldon has added to the storytelling tapestry of our lives while also inspiring travel with her literature. In her OUTLANDER series of novels and novellas – now an award-winning series on STARZ – she has brought to life the backdrops of Scotland, North America, France, Germany as well as dozens of destinations across the globe. With 35 million copies of her books in print worldwide, OUTLANDER can be found in 43 countries and 39 languages. On the June 9, 2020 departure of the Romantic Rhine cruise from Basel to Amsterdam, this inspiring storyteller will share an inspired cruise – and daily excursions – with an intimate group of her fans. A MAGICAL ITINERARY... From the German Black Forest of fairytales to the historic canals of Amsterdam, disappear in the magic of this Rhine River cruise with Author Diana Gabaldon. This week-long vacation – set onboard the Avalon Expression – delivers you to the heart of Europe to explore all the towns and cities along the Rhine River while enjoying panoramic views and spectacular, castle-lined backdrops days and night. Your 8-day Romantic Rhine river cruise begins in Switzerland where you will board your Suite Ship and home-away-from-home for the week before heading to the foot of Kaiserstuhl Mountain (on the French-German border) to find your gateway to Germany’s Black Forest. From there, set sail for Strasbourg, France with its ancient murals and astronomical clock, not to mention quaint shops, delightful bistros and waterfront promenade. The journey continues through Germany with a visit to the ruins of Heidelberg’s castle, the charming wine town of Rüdesheim and, of course, an awe-inspiring pass through the dramatic Rhine Gorge – the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine where dozens of ancient castles tower over the river from cliffs that seem to touch the sky. The last stop in Germany is in the gothic city of Cologne. End this cruise with an exclamation point in the picturesque, canal city of Amsterdam with its world-famous museums and tilting, gabled homes that date back to the “Golden Age.”