Milan to Amsterdam Rhine River Golf Cruise

14 Night Tour with 7 Golf Games, 7 Nights on Cruise
plus Lake Como Cruise and Train Journey through Alps
16 to 30 May 2026*
from A$20,040 per person (singles from AUD 20,990 pp)

Trendsetter Travel Golf Tours invites you to join us on our Milan to Amsterdam golf cruise/tour onboard Tauck’s luxury MS Grace, a tour which sees us travel and stay in 5 countries – Italy, Switzerland, Germany, France and Netherlands.

After a complimentary airport transfer, your journey commences with a 4 night stay in Milan at the 5 star Hotel Principe di Savoia, a splendid landmark building built in the 1920s, decorated in classic Italian and Art Deco style. Our stay in Milan includes 2 games of golf, a day tour including a cruise on Lake Como, 2 x group dinners and a private evening viewing of of Leonardo da Vinci’s famed mural, The Last Supper, which adorns the dining room at the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent.

We then train though to Basel where we board MS Grace. Our cruise takes us north up the Rhine River from Basel to Amsterdam, commencing in Switzerland, and sails through areas of Germany, France and Netherlands. There is a special off the ship evening, including dinner, at the magnificent Schloss Mannheim.

While still on the cruise we have a free afternoon in Amsterdam including a lunch cruise as we sail through the many canals. After disembarking MS Grace in Amsterdam, we transfer 45 minutes by coach to the beautiful historic city of Utrecht, with its unique location among a series of canals. This city is a mini Amsterdam and is only a short train journey to Amsterdam. We stay 3 nights in Utrecht at the centrally located Inntel Hotel in their large 35 sqm Wellness Rooms which include walk in shower, separate spa pool and private sauna. The historic centre of Utrecht, with its many bars and restaurants, is but a short stroll from our hotel. We will have 2 x games of golf while based in Utrecht and a free day with no scheduled activities. On the free day, we recommend you either spend your day exploring Utrecht, or visit Amsterdam by train, with the station a short walk from the Inntel Hotel.

Golfers should not be concerned about joining the tour with non-golfing partners as the cruise and time in Milan includes daily complimentary shore excursions. This ensures your partner will be kept well entertained. There are countless sightseeing options for the non-golfer in both Milan and Utrecht.

Importantly, singles can join this cruise/tour with no single supplement on the Tauck 11 night component (that is Milan and cruise) of the tour provided Category 1 staterooms are booked on MS Grace. Within our group allotment, we have 4 of the 6 Category 1 staterooms. For couples we have secured 9 x Category 7 staterooms (the largest suites on the ship with an area of 27 sqm – all are located on the top deck) with the balance of our allocation in Middle Deck Category 6 staterooms (also large by European Riverboat standards at just over 20 sqm).

Your cruise includes all meals and beverages (all alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are available complimentary at any time with no price supplements, including all wines in the Tauck cellar), gratuities, wifi, standard shore excursions, use of the fitness centre and arrival airport/train transfers. The 7 nights pre and post-cruise hotel stays include breakfast daily and 3 dinners. In addition, golfing guests will enjoy 7 rounds of golf, return coach transfers, motorised carts, prize money, and drinks post golf. Your golf games are split 2 games in Milan, 3 games on cruise and 2 games when based in Utrecht.

Your tour hosts are Adrienne Witteman and David Cooper, Directors and Co-Owners of Trendsetter Travel Golf Tours. Both are enthusiastic golfers and longstanding members of one of Sydney’s most prestigious golf clubs. They have golfed and cruised extensively throughout the world (the image to the right is on the Nile River as part of our recent Egypt golf cruise). They invite you to join them on this fantastic tour, stopping at great towns and cities, with long port days combined with the chance to play 7 golf games, all at a wonderful selection of leading golf courses within the areas visited.

Significant additional information on the Tauck component of our tour can be found on the following link:

https://www.tauck.com.au/tours/rhine-enchantment-milan-amsterdam-river-cruise?tcd=RTX2026

Tauck European river boats sailing the Rhine typically have significantly larger staterooms/suites than their competitors. On MS Grace, 70% of the guest rooms have a size of 20 sqm and above. We have a large group allocation of Category 7 rooms which are on the top deck and offer stand out value with their size of 27 sqm, Euro 100/room on board credit (not available to other room categories) – available for spa, laundry and gift shop. Guests electing Category 7 rooms are usually allocated to larger rooms in Milan, and an upgraded room may also be possible subject to availability.

*Important Disclosure – While the tour is advertised by Tauck as 10 nights, the actual Tauck tour is 11 nights with the extra night in Milan on 16 May 2026 made available by Tauck as a group incentive to Trendsetter Travel. The 3 nights in Utrecht are provided as part of the Trendsetter Travel golf programme with the additional charge.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Saturday 16 May 2026 – Milan

Enjoy a complimentary transfer from Milan International Airport to Hotel Principe di Savoia, a 5 star hotel and member of the Dorchester Collection of hotels.

Meet up at 6.30 pm for Trendsetter Travel welcome drinks and dinner at a local restaurant.

Tour Inclusions: transfer to hotel, pre-dinner drinks, dinner (including drinks) and accommodation

Day 2 – Sunday 17 May 2026 – Milan – Golf Game 1 – Golf Bergano

Golf (Round 1): our first game on tour will be at Golf Bergano. The course is ranked # 15 among 320+ golf course in Italy and has held many major tournaments including the Italian Open.

After returning to Milan, we meet up with the full Tauck tour party over cocktails and a welcome dinner at our hotel.

Tour Inclusions: breakfast, golf and welcome Tauck cocktail function plus dinner and accommodation

Day 3 – Monday 18 May 2026 – Milan

No golf is scheduled for today as the scheduled visit to Lake Como is considered a real highlight for golfers and non-golfers alike.

After an early breakfast, we depart at 8 am for Lake Como, one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe. By 9 am we are at Tremezzo and have boarded a boat to sail to Bellagio, one of the most famous towns fronting Lake Como. On arrival at Bellagio, there is an orientation walk in this resort village, known as “the Pearl of the Lake,” followed by free time. We then re-board our boat and sail to Menaggio with lunch at Victoria Beach. After a further sail on Lake Como, we disembark in the town of Cernobbio and head back to Milan late afternoon with an estimated return to our hotel prior to 5 pm.

Independent dining tonight.

Tour Inclusions: breakfast, golf and accommodation

Day 4 – Tuesday 19 May 2026 – Milan – Golf Game 2 - Villa d’Este Golf Club

For the non-golfers, Tauck offers a morning orientation and walking tour of Milan. This includes a visit to the Opera House, Il Duomo Catholic Cathedral and the shopping centre Galleria Vittorio. The afternoon is free to independently explore Milan.

Golf (Round 2): The golfers will play Villa d’Este Golf Club – ranked # 3 in Italy and given the course was constructed in 1926, we will be playing during its 100th anniversary. The course is situated just to the north of Milan, in the pine, chestnut and birch tree-clad Como hills beside Lake Montorfano. It is a magnificent course to play with one great golf hole after another. We know this from personal experience and can attest to the welcoming clubrooms and a the bar/terrace offering panoramic views of the golf course.

The golf course is a 45 minute drive from the famous Villa d’Este hotel and we understand that no connection remains between the hotel and golf course.

On our return from golf, we will join with all other passengers for the special event – a private evening viewing of of Leonardo da Vinci’s famed mural, The Last Supper, which adorns the dining room at the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent.

Tour Inclusions: breakfast, golf and Tauck evening excursion

Day 5 – Wednesday 20 May 2026 – Milan – Transfer to Basel (via Lugano)

After breakfast and check out, we drive approximately 75 minutes by coach to Lugano (Switzerland), where you will have some free time to explore this town. Late afternoon, we take a high-speed train to Basel (Switzerland), a journey of just under 3 hours. The train travels through the mountains making use of many tunnels including the Gotthard Base Tunnel as we journey through the base of the Alps. At 35 miles long, this is the longest railway tunnel in the world, a major feat of engineering that took 17 years to complete. On arrival in Basel, we embark our riverboat (MS Grace); attend a Discovery Briefing and enjoy cocktails in the lounge before dining onboard.

Tour Inclusions: breakfast, lunch, dinner plus standard Tauck tours.

Day 6 – Thursday 21 May 2026 – Basel – Golf Game 3 – Golf du Rhin - Depart 4 pm

For the non-golfers, Tauck provides a choice of excursions to explore the Swiss city of Basel. These include a walking tour in the Old Town. Other options include exploring Basel’s culinary heritage with a walking tour indulging in the city’s culinary delicacies of beer, cheese and chocolate. We have dinner back on board the ship as we set sail down the Rhine River.

Golf (Round 3): While we are berthed in Switzerland, we will golf today in France, a 35 minute drive from our berth. We will play Golf du Rhin (1969), a popular golf course located on a nature reserve between The River Rhine and the Grand Canal of Alsace.

Tour Inclusions: breakfast, golf and dinner

Day 7 – Friday 22 May 2026 – Strasbourg – Golf Game 4 – Le Kempferhof Golf Club - berth 8.30 am to 6.00 pm

Either during or shortly after breakfast, we berth in Strasbourg, the largest city in the Alsace region of France. The city sits on the border with Germany and for nearly 55 years over the past 150 years, the city was part of Germany. Not surprisingly, both German and French are spoken fluently in Strasbourg. For the non golfers, there are options including visits to a winery or an all-day e-bike ride through the scenic Alsace vineyards. One of the sunniest (and hottest) areas of France/Germany, the grapes in this region produce delicious Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc.

Golf (Round 4): After a 30 minute coach transfer, we will golf at Le Kempferhof Golf Club, the # 14 ranked golf course in all France and a course which ranks in the top 100 golf courses in Europe. The course was designed by Robert van Hagge, an American designer who was responsible for many of France’s best golf courses. Where possible, our tours never miss an opportunity to play a van Hagge golf course. The course is constructed over rolling countryside with many large bunkers and 13 water hazards. The course is located in France but has a German sounding name reflecting its close location to the border with Germany. Most likely, this will be the best loved golf course on our golf cruise.

Tour Inclusions: breakfast, golf and dinner

Day 8 – Saturday 23 May 2026 – Mannheim – Golf Game 5 - Golf Club Pfalz - berth 3.30 am and stays Overnight

We will wake up this morning with our ship berthed in Mannheim (Germany). For the non golfers there is a guided visit to the splendid ruins of Heidelberg Castle, a sprawling red sandstone compound high above the city, a reminder of 600 years of history.

Golf (Round 5): golf today involves a 30 minute drive to Golf Club Pfalz, one of the leading golf courses in this region of Germany. The 18-hole course was built over 50 years ago by the American army after a forest fire on an old tank training area. The course is one of the oldest courses in Baden-Württemberg and was designed by Bernhard von Limburger, a German golf course architect and former pioneer of golf in Germany. The somewhat hilly terrain, criss-crossed by centuries-old sand dunes, is enclosed by dense pine forest to the south and west. In the east, the view extends over the fields to Heidelberg and the Odenwald. The old tree population gives the Par 71 golf course a unique atmosphere and allows a pleasant game even in hot weather. There are few water obstacles, but bunkers defend the difficult greens. Due to the very attractive scenic location as well as the free draining sandy soil conditions, this course is one of the most popular courses in Germany and playable all year round.

This evening (golfers and non golfers), we disembark for a Tauck Exclusive evening featuring dinner and entertainment at the magnificent Schloss Mannheim. Located just a short drive from our riverboat’s docking location, this extraordinary venue promises to be a memorable highlight of your journey. Schloss Mannheim stands as one of Europe’s most significant baroque palaces, known for its immense scale and architectural brilliance. Your evening will commence with a guided tour of the palace, allowing you to explore its stunning architectural details, followed by a concert in the breathtaking baroque Rittersaal (Knights’ Hall), where the palace’s rich history will come alive through music. A memorable dinner will be served in the elegant Gartensaal (Garden Hall).

Tour Inclusions: breakfast and dinner plus golf.

Day 9 – Sunday 24 May 2026 – Arrive Remagen at 2 pm – stay overnight

We spend an enjoyable day cruising along the Rhine, through the Middle Rhine Valley, and if weather permits best views will be from the roof top deck. We will cruise past sloping vineyards and rocky bluffs, together with numerous castles standing watch onshore. We dock mid afternoon in Remagen with a late afternoon orientation tour on offer.

Tour Inclusions: breakfast, lunch and dinner plus standard Tauck tours

Day 10 – Monday 25 May 2026 – Dusseldorf – 1 to 7 pm

Following a leisurely morning’s cruise, we arrive in Düsseldorf, one of Germany’s wealthiest cities, known for its charming Altstadt (Old Town) on the riverfront, as well as for its avant-garde architecture. We are offered the choice of a walking tour focused on the city’s history and architecture or a tour of Düsseldorf’s Medienhafen sector. Medienhafen was formerly an abandoned old harbor and the area was transformed to become one of the most modern sectors of the city with its spectacular architecture. Alternatively, there is cycling excursion along the city’s Rhine River waterfront. There will be free time to independently explore Dusseldorf and the many sights on offer. Back aboard the ship this evening, we will enjoy the Chef’s Signature Dinner and a party hosted by the crew as our riverboat sails down the Rhine to the Netherlands.

Tour Inclusions: breakfast, lunch, dinner plus standard Tauck tours

Day 11 – Tuesday 26 May 2026 – Amsterdam – Arrive 11.30 am

We arrive late morning in Amsterdam and disembark for an introduction to the Dutch capital aboard a canal boat cruise. You will float through the city’s 17th-century network of canals, passing under bridges, viewing the many houseboats and historic buildings lining the canals. After your canal boat cruise, you will have a free afternoon in Amsterdam to explore the city as you wish. Walking around Amsterdam is easy but do watch out for the many cyclists who seem not to follow any road rules! Amsterdam has many famous museums to visit including the world famous Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum. On return to the riverboat, there will be a farewell reception and tour dinner for all MS Grace guests.

Tour Inclusions: breakfast, lunch and dinner plus standard Tauck tours

Day 12 – Wednesday 27 May 2026 – Amsterdam - Disembark Cruise – Golf Game 6 - De Lage Vuursche

We disembark after breakfast and your Trendsetter tour continues for a further 3 nights and 2 games of golf in the Netherlands. We transfer by coach 45 minutes to Utrecht, the 4^th largest city in The Netherlands, with a history dating back to the Middle Ages. Utrecht has been the religious centre of The Netherlands since the 8^th century. It is a beautiful city with a medieval centre, many canals and tree lined streets – in fact, several of the canals were concreted over for roads until, following a two decade long engineering project, they were reopened in 2020 to much acclaim. In many respects, it is a mini Amsterdam. We have chosen Utrecht to base our 3 nights for a range of reasons including the cost/value ratio for larger hotel rooms, easy access for coaches (now banned from much of Amsterdam) and Utrecht being centrally located to the golf courses we will play. Importantly, there is a direct rail connection from Utrecht to Amsterdam (45 minutes) and every 10 minutes there is a train from Utrecht to Amsterdam Airport (Schiphol), taking just 30 minutes. Adrienne and David stayed 5 nights in Utrecht 2 years ago when checking out the local golf courses and it was an easy decision to have this tour base itself in Utrecht rather than Amsterdam.

We will stay at Inntel Hotel, located in the city centre near the Central Railway Station. Inntel Hotels is a chain of Dutch hotels that we have stayed at previously. We have checked that noise will not be an issue having a location near the railway station and based upon client reviews, this is not an issue. Further, all windows are double glazed. We are advised all our rooms should have good views of the city and surrounding areas. Importantly, we have booked our group into the Wellness Rooms, some of the best category rooms in the hotel. Our Wellness Rooms are large at 35 sqm, king bedded, with walk in shower, private sauna and large spa bath. Because of the hotel’s central location, restaurants and bars are but a short walk through this historic city where walking and bicycles are the main mode of transport (just like Amsterdam).

Golf (Round 6): After unloading our luggage at Inntel Hotel, we will travel a short distance to play De Lage Vuursche. Designed by Kyle Phillips and ranked top 10 in Netherlands (there are over 270 golf courses in The Netherlands), this is the highest ranked golf course we can access for our group. Importantly the course provides sufficient motorised buggies for our group. You will enjoy this challenging golf course with its many water hazards and welcoming clubrooms and terrace.

After we return to Utrecht, the evening is free for you to explore and dine at a restaurant of your choice.

Tour Inclusions: accommodation, breakfast and dinner plus golf

Day 13 – Thursday 28 May 2026 – Utrecht – Golf

Golf (Round 7): After a relaxing breakfast, we will transfer to Anderstein Golf Club for our final round on tour. If there are insufficient motorised carts (an issue common with most golf courses in the Netherlands), we will split our group and have some play at the 27 hole Zeegersloot Golf Club (1984) – with play on the Heuvelbaan Championship course (rated # 84 out of 277 golf courses in the Netherlands and # 665 out of 7,000 golf courses in Europe).

Tour inclusions: breakfast and a day of golf

Day 14 – Friday 29 May 2026

Today is a rest day with plenty of options. For many, it will be a less than 5 minute walk to the train station, a short wait for a 45 minute train journey to the Central Railway Station in Amsterdam and a day of exploring possibly including many of the famous museums or perhaps a visit to the Heineken Brewery with its delightful outside restaurant. Regardless, Amsterdam is one of the world’s most fascinating cities. Tonight we will have our farewell drinks and dinner at a local Utrecht restaurant.

Tour inclusions: breakfast, farewell tour dinner, accommodation and golf

Day 15 – Saturday 30 May 2026 – Tour Ends

After breakfast, our tour ends. If flying back home or to another country, it is either a train or car transfer to Schiphol International Airport. Alternatively, The Netherlands has an excellent train network of which Utrecht is the main hub. You can travel on fast train to the likes of Paris much faster (and cheaper) than flying.

MS Grace – Specifications & Deck Plan

MS Grace is of a similar specification to most Tauck European river boats with a maximum of 67 staterooms and a maximum accommodation of 130 guests. The 3 x key unique aspects of Tauck’s European riverboats (with specific reference to MS Grace) are:

The top deck constitutes 22 x CAT 7 staterooms of 27 sqm, some 50% larger than most comparable standard top deck staterooms on other European riverboats;
most middle deck rooms are CAT 6 staterooms which at over 20 sqm is larger than the average stateroom size of Tauck’s competitor European riverboats; and
the bottom deck rooms are split between the comparatively small CAT 1 staterooms at 13.5 sqm (but are ideal for single travellers with a zero single supplement) or the larger CAT 3 rooms at 20 sqm. However, the bottom deck is partly below the water line and only has ¼ windows (cannot be opened) whereas the middle and top deck staterooms have floor to ceiling windows which do open.

The deck plan for MS Grace is shown below:

Trendsetter Travel has a limited allocation of:

4 x Category 1 (no single supplement) waterline window with “Swan View”
9 x Category 7 suites on the top deck with french balcony
5 x Category 6 staterooms on the middle deck with French balcony

For couples or twin share, we strongly recommend the top deck Category 7 rooms as offering the best relative value and indeed our guests in these rooms on previous Tauck tours share this view. With an internal room area of 27 sqm, they approach the internal room areas of the standard lead-in suites on both Silversea and Seabourn, the two ocean cruise lines we have used extensively for most of our past ocean cruise golf programmes. Category 7 staterooms receive a bonus Euro 100 per stateroom on board credit to be used in the spa, gift shop or for laundry service (note there is no guest laundry). And subject to availability (not guaranteed), Category 7 rooms have a priority requested upgrade at Principe di Savoia from the Classic Rooms (27 sqm) to Deluxe Rooms (34 sqm).

For singles, subject to availability, there are also attractive single supplements in the Category 3 to 5 staterooms located on the middle and top decks.

The Finer Details

ALL Trendsetter Travel guests, as part of our golf tour, will enjoy the following:

a 15 day, 14 night golf tour with 7 nights onboard Tauck’s MS Grace and inclusions per the cruise
4 nights in 5 star hotel in Milan including breakfast
3 nights in 4.5 star Utrecht hotel including breakfast
7 games of golf, including shared motorised cart where available
coach transfers, prize money, drinks post golf
10 dinners (inclusive of drinks)
airport arrival transfer in Milan

Separate lower pricing is provided for non golfers with the 7 games of golf removed.

A special note regarding the Milan accommodation:

Your room at the Principe di Savoia (https://www.dorchestercollection.com/milan/hotel-principe-di-savoia) is booked in the lead-in Classic category (27 sqm). For those booked in Category 7 rooms on MS Grace, your room is upgradable (subject to availability and not guaranteed) to a Deluxe room (34 sqm). The bathroom configuration for both Classic and Deluxe rooms is shower over bath however if you wish to upgrade to the larger Mosaic Room (38sqm) with separate walk in shower and bath, you can do so for an extra AUD 1600 per person/AUD3,200 per room (this is for 4 nights and is AUD 800/room night). Please advise if you require this, at time of booking.

The deposit on the Trendsetter/Tauck tour is 15% of the total tour price per person (e.g. the deposit on a CAT 7 room for 2 x golfers is AUD 7,240/room).
The deposit is non refundable. However, if you choose to cancel prior to the date of final payment (16 January 2026), subject to our finding a replacement to take your place on the tour, we will refund your deposit less an administration fee of AUD 1,500 per room.
The full tour balance is payable no later than 16 January 2026.
Payments can be made by direct bank transfer or by credit card with merchant fees payable of 1% for standard Visa and Mastercard and 2% for AMEX. Note that International Visa and Mastercard credit cards surcharges are 2% due to higher merchant fees.
The above pricing is subject to change up until the time your deposit is paid – thereafter the tour pricing is locked in and all foreign exchange risk is assumed by Trendsetter Travel Golf Tours.
Once full tour payment is made, the Tauck Tour and golf programme are subject to a cancellation fee of 50% if cancelled up until 60 days from departure. No refunds are paid should cancellation occur within 60 days.
TRAVEL INSURANCE IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED – Trendsetter can assist as necessary

The golf package price does NOT include golf club hire. It does include green fees, motorised cart hire (subject to availability), coach transfers, prize money each game, drinks post golf and your 3 extra nights in Utrecht. Golf will be played on the courses as specified but Trendsetter cannot be held responsible for any cancellation/s necessitated by a change to Tauck’s itinerary due to weather or any other event, or late amendment by the golf course or if Trendsetter considers it in the best interests of the tour party as a whole to make a change in the specified golf course (eg due to course maintenance issues or lack of motorised carts or a better golf course having been found). In the event of a cancellation and if Trendsetter cannot organise an alternative golf course, Trendsetter will pass through any refund available. For those walking and not using a golf cart, a small refund will be provided. Where a golf course has a limitation on golf carts (most courses should have sufficient golf carts), carts will be allocated in the chronological order of tour bookings. If we are still short of motorised golf carts, we expect to split our group over 2 x golf courses.

Contact Trendsetter Travel & Cruise Centre (www.trendsettertravel.com.au) for further information on this tour by phone +61 2 9428 5900 (Longueville/Northwood office) or email david@trendsettertravel.com.au or Mob 0413 010 638.

Milan to Amsterdam Rhine River Golf Cruise – 16 to 30 May 2026*